Category: General

The International Women’s Hope Centre, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has trained 34 women from the Boglingo and Sapio communities at Sirigu in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region in liquid soap production.

The free skills training programme was the NGO’s initiative to help women in rural communities to start their own businesses and earn income to cater for their families.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the training, Mr Albert Opoku Appiah, the Administrator of the International Women’s Hope Centre, said the NGO for the past nine years, had extended support and skills training to several women in the Upper East region.

He said with the leadership of Madam Gladys Adochim, the NGO’s President, Madam Gladys Anayem, its Executive Director and support from the Heartbeat International, Relationship Under Construction (RUC) and Women’s Clinic in Columbus Ohio, some women in communities across the region were also trained on how to make pastries among others.

‘So far
, we have trained several women groups. We have been to Builsa North and South including Tongo, Bolgatanga, Zuarungu and Sumbrungu areas.

‘We want to ensure that at least, they get a livelihood and something that can put food on their table. Our target is the adolescents who do not find themselves in school. We want to ensure they get some livelihood instead of depending on men who will at the end impregnate them.

‘This, we believe will help reduce poverty within these communities,’ the Administrator added.

Mr Appiah said apart from the skills training programmes, the NGO had over the years organized free medical screening and breast examination for over 1000 people in various communities and supported pregnant adolescent girls to undergo safe deliveries.

‘We believe babies are gifts from God, and we do not encourage abortion. When an adolescent finds herself pregnant, we try to encourage her to give birth,’ he noted.

The Administrator said the NGO also provided certain basic items and services to pregna
nt adolescent girls to enable them to attend Antenatal Clinics for safe delivery.

‘We know they will need certain basic things to go through the antenatal period. We provide free ultrasound scan, which helps us to know the sex of the baby, so that we can supply them with appropriate baby items,’ Mr Appiah said.

He expressed gratitude to Heartbeat International, RUC, Women’s Clinic, leadership of the NGO and its team for the collaborative efforts over the years.

Madam Charity Ayinga Abusambire, a Community Health Officer at the Boglingo Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound, initiated the training for the women.

She told the GNA that through her work, she had observed that there were several adolescent mothers in the communities without any income generation activities to enable them care for themselves and their children and that prompted her to contact the NGO for the skills training for them.

Madam Abusambire thanked the NGO and its sponsors for the support extended to the women
and expressed the hope that the training would serve the intended purpose.

Some of the beneficiaries, who shared their training experience with the GNA, described the production process as simple and less capital intensive and thanked the organizers for the training.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some shopping centres, retail outlets and offices in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have been decorated with red flowers, ribbons and other Decoratives in preparation towards this year’s Valentine Day celebration.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) team toured the Central Business District of Takoradi, it observed that many shops had been stocked with red teddy bears, both men and women wear, boxes of chocolate, flowers, and other valentine-branded items, with some displayed on tables on pavements along the streets.

Speaking to the GNA in an interview, Mr Rexford Konduah, the owner of Expression Gifts and Cards, said residents had started trooping his shop to purchase some items for their loved ones, adding ‘With as low as GH?10, you can buy something for your loved ones’.

Madam Elizabeth Opare, a gift shop owner, who also spoke to the GNA said prices of her items were moderate for all, saying ‘Our red mugs are going for GH?13, packaged toffees and chocolates for GH?5 and GH?10 respectively, key holders for
GH?5 and a teddy bear GH?150’.

She, however, mentioned that sales were not all that encouraging, and hoped for a good turn-out during the celebration period.

Mr Emmanuel Sam, the owner of ‘Big Time Boutique, noted that business was normal even as the valentine celebration approached and hoped for better last-minute sales.

According to him, ‘showing love to others must be an everyday thing and not only on Val’s Day… personally, I do not wait till special days or occasions to show love, I show love almost every day.’

Valentines Day also known as Chocolate Day in Ghana is a worldwide celebration to acknowledge Saint Valentine who was known to be the father of love and his act of commitment to whoever encountered him.

The celebration mostly called for exchange of gifts not only between lovers but among friends and family members.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) says it will shutdown one of the treatment plants at Kpong, which serves the Krobo-Somanya area in the Eastern Region, from Wednesday, February 14, 2024 to Thursday, February 15, 2024.

Essential service providers, including hospitals and schools in the area have been urged to ensure ‘they have adequate storage for the period’.

The temporary shutdown, according to GWCL, would ‘facilitate the installation of a new interconnection pipeline and foot valves at the Kpong Water Treatment Plant to boost the capacity of the plant by approximately 3 million gallons per day.’

The Company said engineers would work within the estimated time frame to restore water supply to the affected communities.

‘This measure is in alignment with GWL’s commitment to significantly enhance the water supply capacity from Kpong to parts of the Eastern and Greater-Accra Regions to effectively address the water demands of the growing population.

‘The affected communities, including Somanya, the ent
ire Krobo area and its environs are kindly urged to bear with us during this period of shutdown,’ a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency read.

‘Alternative arrangements have been made to ameliorate the situation. As a result, consumers are expected to inform their community Leaders, Assemblymen, and Unit Committee members in times of emergency.

‘Management of GWL deeply regrets the inconvenience that the interruption will cause but pleads with consumers to bear with the situation since the project is meant at improving on the services to the public,’ GWCL added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

?The lack of access to ready markets and inadequate value-addition avenues for perishable crops?are two?critical challenges inhibiting sustainable agricultural growth in Ghana.

Tonnes of food produce are wasted annually?due?to these issues, with some smallholder farmers experiencing?as high as 30 per?cent postharvest losses,?the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET)?has estimated.

As a result of their inability to access markets, which leads to losses, most?farmers prefer?to sell their produce at the farm-gate.

Like many other farmers in the country, the woes of smallholder farmers in the?Ahafo?Region are not different,?as they struggle?to?minimise?postharvest losses because of?the?lack of modern equipment, technologies and approaches.

Despite the significant advances in food storage methods,?most of the?farmers still rely on indigenous vessels such as mud silos, barns, cribs, and drums for the storage of grain, fodder, and seed.

Agriculturists are of the view that such storage vessels are si
mple to construct and inexpensive to maintain, but are unable to protect the produce from biological, physical and environmental hazards for a prolonged period of time.

The scenario, however,?is being changed for the better by the kind courtesy of the decision by mining giant, Newmont, to revamp the?Asutifi?Processing and Services Centre (APSC).

The expanded?facility, inaugurated?recently, marks?a?significant development to boost?the agricultural value chain in one of Ghana’s strategic food producing Regions, notably in?chilli?pepper and ginger production.

The US$4 million Centre has been?established by mining giant, Newmont, with support from the German Development Cooperation, to bring to the barest minimum the incidence of postharvest losses.

It is envisaged that the initiative will, in the long term, improve the incomes and livelihoods of farmers, thereby opening up the local economy for sustainable growth.

Earning the description; ‘The food basket of Ghana’, the region’s soil type and rainfall patte
rn support the cultivation of varied food and cash crops, with farmers engaged in both subsistent and commercial production.

One critical challenge,?particularly with commercial?farming, is?the?inadequate value-addition avenues for perishable crops, including?chilli?pepper and ginger.

‘The revamped APSC signifies Newmont’s dedication to fostering local economic growth, promoting sustainable development, and supporting agricultural value chains in the?Ahafo?Region,?recognised?as the breadbasket of Ghana,’?says?David?Thornton, the Managing Director of Newmont’s Africa Business Unit.

Over 80 farmer-based?organisations?and about 1,000?chilli?pepper and ginger farmers are benefiting from the APSC through an out-grower scheme, guaranteeing them increased and consistent income.

Besides the processing of?chilli?pepper and ginger, the facility, situated at?Subriso, a community along the?Acherensua-Hwidiem?road, is also expected to add value to every step of the?farmers’ activities, from production to market. ?

In
2013, Newmont, which operates the?Ahafo?Mine in?the?Ahafo?Region and the?Akyem?Mine in the Eastern Region, established the?Asutifi?Processing and Services Centre, in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation.

The project was initially designed?on a pilot basis to explore processing and marketing opportunities for?agricultural produce at?Ahafo.

This was after extensive engagements with the beneficiary farmers and assessments to understand the agricultural?value chain in the?region and the opportunities therein.

In line with Newmont’s social performance strategy, which aims to enhance opportunities for people in its host communities, particularly the youth and women, the APSC became a significant vehicle to support the livelihoods of the people and create sustainable jobs in the?area.?

The project, being implemented?under Newmont’s broader Local Economic Diversification (LED) initiative,?focuses on fostering partnerships with development agencies as well as the?government with an aim to improve
the living conditions of the people.

It seeks?to identify business opportunities, create employment?and promote sustainable development in the company’s host communities.

The facility, which started operating in 2013, encountered some challenges that impacted the?realisation?of its full potential, including?limited raw materials to feed the factory and ready markets for the products.

In the course of time,?Newmont conducted extensive feasibility studies in 2018 to confirm the viability of a bigger facility with the requisite market demand for processed?chilli?pepper and ginger.

The outcome of the assessment justified?the company’ssignificant investment to scale up the project and create job opportunities, especially for farmers in the area and those in the agricultural?value chain.?

‘The German Development Cooperation is happy to partner Newmont on this project, which has?a?huge potentially?positive impact for the farmers,’ John?Duti,?the Team Lead of Invest for Jobs at?GIZ Ghana,?remarked at the inaugur
ation?of the revamped Asutifi?Processing and Services Centre.

‘It will aid increased productivity by?addressing?the issue of postharvest losses, one of the key challenges in the agricultural sector.’

Newmont, one of?the world’s leading mining companies, is?among Ghana’s largest taxpayers, and its development foundations at?Ahafo?and?Akyem continue?to?support host community development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The mother of a 15-year-old Form One student of Bechem Presbyterian Senior High School (PRESEC) who was allegedly gang-raped by six final year students of the school have appealed to the Police to be expeditious in their investigations for justice to prevail.

The Police at Bechem in the Tano South Municipality of Ahafo Region have arrested and placed three of the suspects in custody and launched a manhunt for the other three who are currently on the run.

The arrested suspects are Agyem Frimpong, Emmanuel Ankama and one Osman.

Another accomplice, Kyeremaa Hamida, a female final year student who aided the suspects to commit the crime is also in Police custody, assisting investigations.

The sad incident happened on Saturday, February 10 around 21:30 hours, when accomplice Hamida allegedly lured the unsuspecting victim (name withheld) to a dilapidated structure, near the girl’s dormitory where the suspects gang-raped her, Ghana News Agency (GNA) learnt.

A reliable source at the Bechem Police Station confirme
d the story and added the suspects were yet to be arraigned before court.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA, Mrs Victoria Otu, the victim’s mother, said the condition of her daughter had worsened and appealed for justice to prevail.

‘The school authority rang to inform me about the incident and what we need now is to seek justice for our child,’ she stated.

A medical report from the Duayaw-Nkwanta St. John of God Catholic Hospital sighted by the GNA confirmed the victim had been raped.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim told the GNA she was lying on her bed when the suspect Hamida approached and asked her to ‘see her outside.’

‘When we got outside, she told me to follow her to the drying-line area and upon reaching the place she handed me over to the six boys who were standing behind the structure and all of them forcibly had sex with me,’ she stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has inaugurated a shop in Sunyani to promote the consumption and patronage of cocoa products to increase awareness and appreciation for the nutritional values and versatility of cocoa.

The inauguration of the shop, situated at the frontage of the Cocoa House building close to the main entrance, was done to coincide with the commencement of this year’s chocolate week celebration to provide consumers with the opportunity to purchase cocoa products at both wholesale and retail prices conveniently.

Providing a brief history of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Dr. Frank Asante, Director of Production at Cocoa Processing Company, Tema, stated the CPC was officially inaugurated in 1965 and initially produced three products – bar chocolate, pebbles, and milk beads.

But, over the years, he said the CPC had expanded its product range to include more items such as drinking powder.

Dr. Asante explained the purpose of opening the shop in Sunyani was to enhance the retailing of cocoa
products by ensuring proximity to consumers and guaranteeing product availability.

He emphasised the importance of consuming cocoa beverages, particularly for breakfast due to their significant nutritional benefits.

In an interview with the media, Mr Michael Asumanu, the Administrator of COCOBOD in Sunyani, underscored the need for Ghanaians to make conscious efforts to increase their consumption of cocoa products.

He highlighted the numerous health benefits associated with cocoa, citing its positive impact on skin health, blood circulation and potential benefits for hypertensive and diabetic patients.

Mr Asumanu stressed by consuming more cocoa products, Ghanaians could contribute to reducing the country’s reliance on foreign markets for sale of the products.

He said Ghana had been a major producer of cocoa but had primarily exported it in raw form, saying by encouraging local consumption, the country’s economy could experience significant growth to boost economic prosperity of the populace.

Source: G
hana News Agency

Mr Benjamin Eshun, a 40-year-old taxi driver plying between Tema Community One and Kpone, has taken it upon himself to provide free nose masks to passengers boarding his vehicle.

Mr Eshun, who has been a professional driver for the past 13 years, said the initiative was to protect the passengers from inhaling the terrible dust on the TOR-Kpone Road and contracting its related diseases.

He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the heavy dust that emanates from the untarred trunk road could trigger health issues in some people, especially those with allergy and respiratory issues.

He said the caution from the Environmental Protection Agency to the public to protect themselves against the recent dusty environment was also a motivation for him to distribute nose masks to protect his passengers.

In a statement dated February 6, 2024, the EPA urged citizens to cultivate the habit of wearing nose masks and avoid engaging in activities that pollute the air, stating that ‘Use pollution masks where
necessary, desist from open burning of waste and other materials, sprinkle water on dusty surfaces before sweeping to reduce dust emissions, and vehicle users should reduce speeding on untarred roads to reduce dust emissions.’

He advised Ghanaians not to downplay such information but rather to take health-related issues seriously to protect themselves against preventable diseases.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Road and the contractors working on the TOR-Kpone road to fast-track work as the dust on it was unbearable.

The 7.2-kilometre Tema Industrial Area to Kpone Link Road, which has been reshaped as work continues on it, is always dusty, with thick dust being deposited on vehicles as they move on it.

Passengers had to cover their hair with handkerchiefs and scarves to prevent their hair from absorbing the dust.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare-Kwakye, has urged all citizens to prioritise peace in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Recognising the potential tensions that could arise before, during, and after such a critical time, the moderator emphasised the importance of unity and respect for diverse perspectives.

Rev. Opare-Kwakye, who is the 19th Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, made the call when he paid a courtesy call on Nene Sakite II, Paramount Chief of Manya Krobo Traditional Area in the Eastern Region.

Other Presbyterian pastors and officials accompanied him to the Manya Krobo Traditional Leader.

With this call for harmony, Ghanaians are encouraged to engage in peaceful dialogue and ensure a democratic process that strengthens the nation’s future.

During their engagement, Rev. Opare-Kwakye urged the chief to use his position as a stateman to promote peace before, during, and after the 2024 election, stating that a country without peace faces dev
elopmental challenges.

He expressed confidence about collaborating with the chief in ways that will foster peace during the next election.

Nene Sakite II, who also serves as the president of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and the paramount chief of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, accepted the call to promote peace.

‘As a leader, I will use my status to establish any means that will promote peace before and after the 2024 elections,’ he said.

He encouraged the Presbyterian Church leader to also use his platform to promote peace in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency