Category: General

Odomase-Okanta Kwadwo Fosu, E/R, March 13, GNA, Family leader Asah Bekoe of Asare Kofi Asona Mensah Family of Akuapem Akropong, has appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support residents of Odomase Okanta near Nsawam, whose farms have been destroyed by some illegal land guards.

The family leader said last weekend some illegal land guards with guns and dangerous weapons invaded the community and destroyed about 15 to 20 acres of foodstuffs including maize, cassava, plantains, cocoyam, and palm nuts.

Mr Bekoe made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after a meeting organized by the community on how to stop land guards from destroying farmlands, saying, the community land of 2,900 acres and over had been registered since 1895.

Abrewatiaa Juliana Akosua Ampemaa said because of the activities of these land guards, the community was currently experiencing a shortage of food. ‘Our women are all afraid to go about their normal farming activity to bring food for their families.’

Na
na Kwame Donkor Kissiedu II, Chief of Odomase-Okanta Kwadwo Fosu, also appealed to the Government to come to the aid of the community, saying, ‘We will go into severe hunger if this issue is not addressed with immediate effect.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana gets its first Credit Rating Agency to provide credit rating and related services for the financial markets to operate efficiently.

Beacon Credit Rating Agency (Beacon Ratings) was granted regulatory approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) granted regulatory in accordance with Section 209 of the Securities Industry Act 2016 (Act 929) as revised by the Securities Industry Act 2021.

A rating agency is an organisation that rates the financial health of businesses and governmental bodies, particularly their capacity to make principal and interest payments on loans.

The rating assigned to a given debt shows an agency’s level of confidence that the borrower will honour its debt obligations as agreed.

Ghanaian financial institutions, investors, and fund managers have been relying on the ratings of international agencies to influence their investment decisions.

Mr Paul Ababio, the Deputy Director-General for the SEC, speaking at the launch, said rating agencies played an important role in
the financial market development of Ghana.

He said emerging capital markets, including Ghana, were often characterised by increased volatility, a dynamic economic landscape, and rapid growth.

He said the role of a rating agency was critical as it played a lead role in guiding both investors and entities to accurately price financial instruments and provide leadership on price determination.

Mr Ababio said the financial markets provided a platform for corporate entities to raise capital directly from investors.

He said there was a challenge in ensuring that investors had critical information about detailed assessments and analyses of an entity’s ability to repay loans.

‘The critical role played by credit ratings in an efficient financial market is conventional wisdom and by providing information on default risk and, therefore, on the likely future performance of an issuer, ratings contribute to the efficiency of the markets,’ he added.

He said ratings could help establish a more balanced information syst
em in a market and with ratings, investors have an additional source of information that they could use to establish benchmarks for comparing risks and returns.

Dr Justice Ofori, the Chief Executive Officer for the National Insurance Commission, in a speech read on his behalf, said the impact of risky rapid rating downgrades as a direct result of entities not being able to meet the expected level of financial stability could affect market perception.

He said that this could lead to a loss of business as doubts may be entertained concerning the entity’s ability to meet the financial commitments of investors.

Mr Noble Yao Akaba, the Founder of Beacon Ratings Agency, said the rating agency would be impactful to the financial markets by bridging the gap between entities and investors.

He said the rating agency would monitor the entity’s performance, with upgrades and downgrades serving as signals to investors.

He said the agency would be supporting portfolio managers in investment decisions and lenders in cr
edit decisions.

He said Beacon Ratings aimed to be a leading business analytic and rating agency in Africa and this vision would be achieved by enhancing the efficiency of the money and capital markets, by assessing corporate entities/ issuers and financial instruments.

‘We reaffirm our commitment to delivering reliable and high-quality ratings with integrity, independence, and transparency,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Western Regional Directorate of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) has marked its 25th anniversary celebration at Esiama in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

The celebration was held on the theme: ’25 Years of Sustaining WASH Services: Transforming Rural and Small Towns Water Services Delivery Towards National Development.’

It was attended by traditional and religious leaders, security service officials, students, customers, and heads of departments and agencies among other stakeholders.

Engineer Henry Franklin Asangbah, CWSA Western Regional Director, speaking during the event said the anniversary marked a significant milestone in the Agency’s journey, acknowledging its achievements, challenges, and prospects for the future.

He said since its Inception in 1998, the CWSA had made strides in providing water, basic sanitation services, and promotion of good hygiene practices in communities across the country.

According to him, water infrastructure managed by the Agency stood
at 31,388 boreholes fitted with handpumps, 383 boreholes fitted with solar powered handpumps, 3,997 hand-dug wells fitted with handpumps, and 1,924 pipe systems which were classified under limited mechanized, community pipe and large-scale pipe systems.

Ing. Asangbah said in the Western Region, the Agency was currently managing 11 water systems with 52 professional and non- professional staff.

He noted all these investments had increased water coverage in rural communities and towns from about 24 per cent in 1990 to 63 per cent in 2022.

The Western Region CWSA Director said notwithstanding the successes chalked over the years, there had been challenges that threatened the sustainability of their achievements, including the continuous breakdown of water systems, poor water quality, high non-revenue water, and technical skill gaps at the community level.

On some of the prospects for the future, especially in the Western Region, Ing. Asangbah said it would digitalise and automate some operational activities
of water systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

He said the Directorate would also undertake pipe extension at Nsuaem, Beppoh, Esiama/Kikam, Jappa and Wassa Akropong to help meet the water demand in those areas.

Mr Solomon Kweku Adjei, the Ellembelle District Coordinating Director, who spoke on behalf of the District Chief Executive congratulated the CWSA for their unwavering commitment to provide water and sanitation services for communities within the past 25 years.

‘CWSA has worked against all odds in these 25 years to make what seemed impossible, possible, by becoming a shining example amongst the leading water providers in our country, while creating quality jobs for our youth alongside,’ he noted.

He entreated the CWSA customers to always pay their tariffs on time and avoid using water services through illegal means to help the Agency generate enough revenue to sustain their operations.

The Regional CWSA, as part of the celebration, distributed veronica buckets, gallons of liquid soap, an
d tissue papers to selected basic schools to promote hand washing practices within the Ellembelle District.

They also distributed sanitary pads to some female students to help them practice good menstrual hygiene.

Source: Ghana News Agency

An Accra High Court has awarded one million Ghana cedis in damages against Nathaniel Dekyi, alias Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV of Dompim Pepesa in the Western Region, and the Multimedia Group Limited.

This was after the court, presided over by Justice Richard Apietu, found the two guilty of defaming the Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.

The Minister, in October 2022, dragged the two to court over defamation.

The plaintiff (Okyere Darko-Mensah), said on October 10, 2022, the first defendant (Dekyi) granted an interview on the Joy FM Super Morning Show, owned and operated by the second defendant (Multimedia), in which Dekyi made spurious allegations against him.

The Minister said Dekyi refused to retract and apologise for the defamatory statements when prompted to do so, attracting the writ of summons subsequently filed on October 14 by the Minister’s lawyers, Parkwood and Mossane.

Dekyi alleged that Mr Darko-Mensah and two other government officials were involved in illegal mining, ot
herwise known as ‘galamsey’ in the Dompim Pepesa area of the Western Region.

After the interview, Multimedia published the defamatory material on its website, a portal with massive local and international readership, the Minister said.

‘The wild allegations by the first defendant and published by second defendant are absolutely false, baseless and unwarranted,’ he said.

Dekyi was also noted to have stated that he had incontrovertible evidence of the involvement of the Minister and the two others in illegal mining at Dompim Pepesa but failed to provide the said evidence.

The Western Regional Minister added that he had, over the years, built for himself an enviable reputation in his private, political and professional life, and that the said publication had greatly dented his image.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Women at Akorabuokrom, a farming community in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti Region, have expressed worry at the rate illegal mining activities (galamsey) are breaking down marriages, causing deaths and making children go wayward.

The women alleged that some school children between ages 12 and 15 years who have resorted to these illegal mining activities were boycotting schools and picking up unhealthy lifestyles.

Many children, according to the women, have fallen into the uncovered pits, which are scattered in many neigbouring communities in the area, and never return home alive.

These came to light after the women engaged in a solidarity march organized by SOKODEVI, as part of activities marking the 2024 International Women’s Day.

It was held on the theme: ‘Towards Women Inclusive Safeguarding for Sustainable Environment and Mineral Governance.’

The women echoed that although illegal mining activities were not being done in Akrobuokrom itself, their husbands and children trekked to the adjoining
communities to engage in the galamsey.

According to them, most of the men after getting small monies, jilted their wives for new girlfriends and thereby, breaking their homes and causing disputes in families.

Nana Atta Pokua, Queen mother of Akorabuokrom advised the women to take strong measures to discourage their kids from engaging in illegal mining activities to help build promising future for themselves.

Dr Rosemary Akolaa, a Senior Lecturer, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, taking the townsfolks through illegal mining threats to the wellbeing of women, called on Ghanaians to rethink about the dangers galamsey posed to the nation.

She said if the menace continued the future would be bleak with multiple environmental effects and a challenge to socio-economic development.

Ms Omolara Aka Oyelakun Tay, Gender Specialist, SOKODEVI, said the organization recognized women’s enormous contributions to society.

When illegal mining occurs in communities, women suffer myriad negative socia
l impacts.

These activities occur in rural communities whose source of drinking water is rivers or streams.

However, due to the destruction of water bodies because of illegal mining, women who are culturally defined to perform domestic chores including fetching water – walk for longer hours in search of water.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Network of Professional Women in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WiWASH) has marked International Women’s Day with a call for greater participation of women in the WASH sector.

The event which took place at the head office of the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) in Accra, with an interactive symposium, was on the theme: ‘Inspiring Inclusion Everywhere, Our Collective Responsibility’.

The symposium, attended by Board Members, male and female members of GWL top management and members of WiWASH, was, among others, to commemorate International Women’s Day and to recognise the remarkable contributions of women in the WASH sector.

Participants were taught how they can strive and grow at the workplace and in society at large.

Across the globe, women have been at the forefront of addressing the pressing challenges surrounding access to clean water, proper sanitation facilities, and hygiene education.

Dr. Clifford Braimah, Managing Director, GWL, in an address on his behalf, said GWL had actively worked to break the
gender barriers and opened doors for talented women to rise and thrive at the workplace.

‘From a mere two women in decision-making roles some seven years ago, we now proudly boast of six women holding various chief managerial positions, with many more flourishing in middle management roles,’ the MD said.

Dr. Braimah commended women in GWL and the WASH sector for their achievements, resilience, and commitment to excellence in the face of challenges.

He urged the women in the sector to recognise that their voices, perspectives, and contributions were invaluable, as they shaped the future of the organization and the communities the company served.

Mrs. Vida Duti, County Director, IRC-WASH, in her keynote address, encouraged women not to be influenced by popular sayings like ‘behind every successful man is a woman’ and ‘what a man can do women can do better.’

Such comments, she said, conditioned women’s minds and constrained them from unleashing their potential.

Mrs. Duti, also a Board Member of GWL, said s
ome of those statements led to unnecessary tension and competition between men and women and thus advised against it.

Mrs. Faustina Boachie, President, WiWASH, who shared her story of rising from a humble beginning to a top management position, urged the women in the sector not to look on helplessly when they faced barriers and obstacles in their forward march but find innovative ways to go around them to realize their objectives.

The event also had engaging panel discussions on how women could strive and grow at the workplace and in society at large.

Other dignitaries, including Professor Benedicta Fosu-Mensah and Dr Rita Boateng of the University of Ghana, Mr James Abbey, the General Manager for Finance and Administration, GWL, and other Chief Managers of the Company took turns to address the women at the function.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Job Udo, a consultant at HKV, a firm focused on creating a safe and sustainable environment, is advising farmers, especially those along major river bodies, to take advantage of moist and rich soils often left behind after floods to grow more crops, especially vegetables.

That, he said, would contribute to increasing the household income of farmers, ensuring food security, and improving their livelihoods amidst the shift in rainfall patterns and flooding-some manifestations of the climate crisis.

In some instances, the flood recession Agriculture sometimes uses the water from the rising floods to farm as well.

Mr Udo gave the advice at the end of a training for officials of the Ghana Meteorology Agency (GMet) and Ghana Hydrological Authority (GHA) on how to analyse satellite data to determine rainfall and flood onset, as well as planting days to inform farmers.

The five-day event, which was funded by Nuffic, also brought together other stakeholders to discuss the findings of the satellite-based inform
ation to support farmers in floodplains.

Based on the outcome of the GMet and GHA assessments using data from 2015 to 2023, agriculture extension officers would be able to advise farmers on the type of crop and seed varieties to cultivate.

He said that on a yearly basis, farmers along the Volta River lose their crops to floods, stressing that, ‘despite the challenge, not much has been done to take advantage of the opportunities, hence, our resolve to find solutions to it.’

Mr Udo said, per the analysis, ‘the growing period along White Volta floodplains differs a lot from north to south and inside floodplain areas.’

Mr Samuel Owusu Ansah, a principal meteorologist at the GMet, said flooding must not only be seen as a challenge but an opportunity to extend cropping season.

In the absence of irrigation facilities, he said flood recession agriculture could be used to enhance resilience and optimise resources.

Mr Busia Nambu Dawuni, Managing Director of Integrated Water and Agricultural Development, said the
organisation had been practicing flood-recession agriculture and had enabled them to produce seeds and vegetables along the Sisiili River at Yagaba in the North East region.

‘IWAD’s Farm grows seed crops such as maize, rice, soybeans, cowpeas, and groundnuts and tests sugarcane varieties. Since 2017, IWAD has been a consistent large local supplier of seeds to the government’s flagship programme, ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ (PFJ).’

He urged the government to support farmers with equipment to utilise water to irrigate their crops.

Madam Charlotte Norman, the Director of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction at the National Disaster Management Organisation, said the government was working with stakeholders to secure an insurance scheme for smallholder farmers in the northern part of the country.

Under the package, compensation would be paid to farmers whose crops would be affected by long-dry spells and floods-some of the adverse effects of climate change.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Christian religious leaders in the Greater Accra Region have appealed to former president John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to give mission schools back to religious organisations to manage and supervise if he wins the 2024 election.

They said they are in a better position to inculcate discipline in the students and mould them for the future, stressing that the current misbehaviour and disobedience among students were due to a lack of discipline in the schools.

The religious leaders made the appeal when the former president interacted with them to seek their counsel and suggestions on what the next NDC government must focus on.

Reverend Father Francis Destiny Amenovor, the priest in charge of Divine Mercy Catholic Church at East Legon, stated, ‘A lot of people will attest that our mission schools helped so many people in general. I want to suggest that we look at our educational system very well; our principles are being thrown to the dogs, and we must reclaim the e
ducation system so that our youth of today will be properly formed for the future.’

The clergy also emphasized the need for political parties to ensure that there was peace before and after the 2024 general election.

They also touched on revamping the agricultural sector, improving healthcare services, construction of deteriorating roads, inadequate infrastructure, LGBTQ+, and tackling unemployment, especially among the youth.

Mr Mahama, responding to them, said it was about time the church and government collaborated to manage the schools, proposing that the chairman of the board of the school, for instance, would be from the church to have direct control over the students.

He added that churches would then play a bigger role in the selection of school heads, adding that the schools were transferred to the government because it had the resources to expand the schools in terms of infrastructure.

The NDC flag bearer added that his administration would ensure that faith-based organisations would have a gre
ater role to play in managing the schools to improve the educational sector in the country.

‘Most of the schools come into government even for new community schools that are being set up. Wherever I go, people are saying to adopt our secondary schools because they know once you adopt them, the government will invest in them and expand the school, but if they belong to missions like Amadiya, Methodist, or Assemblies of God, we must make sure faith-based organisations have a greater role in running the schools,’ he stated.

He said during the late Professor John Atta Mills’ administration, there was an annual budget for tackling schools under trees and while, 7.5 per cent of government total revenues was transferred to the district assemblies, directing them on how to use the funds.

He added that over 1000 schools were constructed and over 4000 community health planning services (CHPS) compounds were also built through that initiative, adding that his next government would realign its budget to cater for scho
ols under trees.

He appreciated the clergy for meeting with him and his team, adding that the nationwide tour was aimed at gathering ideas and contributions from stakeholders, which would be presented in the party’s manifesto and used as policies when he assumed office.

The flagbearer of the NDC asked religious leaders to continuously pray for him, as well as for the peace of the country

Source: Ghana News Agency