ECOWAS Court President Briefs Chief Justice of The Gambia on 2023 International Conference

 Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, met with Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow of The Gambia to discuss preparations for the upcoming international conference of the regional court in 2023.

The conference, focused on ECOWAS' zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government, will take place in Banjul, The Gambia. The theme of the conference was carefully chosen in response to recent democratic setbacks in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, where military takeovers have threatened the region's democracy.

The conference aims to assess the policy's dimensions, analyze the implications of recent political developments, and propose measures to address the challenges. Justice Asante expressed hope that the conference's outcomes would contribute to democratic consolidation, strengthen the rule of law, and promote human rights in the region.

Chief Justice Jallow commended the choice of The Gambia as the conference host and pledged the country's judiciary's commitment to the success of the event.

EU Ambassador Inspects EU-funded Mango Farms in Ghana to Assess WACOMP Impact

 

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Irchad Razaaly, visited mango farms in Ghana supported by the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), funded by the EU. The purpose of the visit was to assess the impact of the program and its interventions. Accompanied by a delegation, the Ambassador toured Hendy Farms, Akorley packhouse, and a mango nursery in Dodowa.

Mr. Razaaly expressed his satisfaction with the project's progress, emphasizing the goal of helping Ghanaian farmers meet certification requirements and gain access to the EU market. The WACOMP program has provided various forms of support, including training, branding, marketing programs, and certification processes, to enhance the competitiveness of mango farming in Ghana.

Dr. Charles Kwame Sackey, Chief Technical Advisor for WACOMP-Ghana at UNIDO, highlighted that WACOMP aligns with the government's industrial agenda and has trained over 30,000 individuals, with a focus on good agricultural practices, certification processes, and decent work.

WACOMP is a partnership between the EU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at enhancing trade competitiveness in West Africa and integrating the region into the global trading system. With an overall objective of increasing production, value addition, and export capacities, the program supports private sector development and aligns with regional and national industrial strategies. In Ghana, the EU is contributing €6.2 million, and with additional funding from UNIDO, a total of €6.35 million has been allocated to support value-addition, sustainable production, and access to regional and international markets. WACOMP Ghana, launched in 2019 and scheduled to conclude in 2024, is in line with the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III) vision and UNIDO's mission to foster inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

SMALL SCALE MINING FETCHES GHANA $1.2BN IN 2022

Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, recently highlighted the significant contribution of small-scale mining to Ghana's gold output. He stated that the sector produced a total of 712,405 ounces of gold in the previous year, contributing almost US$1.2 billion in export receipts. Additionally, all diamonds produced in 2022, amounting to 82,251.99 carats and generating US$3.9 million in revenue, came from small-scale mining.

Speaking at a two-day transformational dialogue on artisanal and small-scale mining, Mr. Jinapor emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to address the challenges posed by the sector. While small-scale mining provides employment for many and supports the livelihoods of millions, illegal activities associated with the industry continue to damage the environment. The government has implemented policies and measures under the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) to offer alternative income sources and livelihood opportunities to those engaged in illegal mining.

As part of these efforts, the government has employed individuals in the production of seedlings and the reclamation of degraded mined lands. Furthermore, the Apprenticeship, Skills Training, and Entrepreneurship module of the NAELP is set to provide training for 5,000 young people in various skills, including agriculture, technical, vocational, industrial, and mining skills.

Mr. Jinapor commended the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) for its initiatives, such as introducing sustainable mining and environmental protection programs. He emphasized the need for a collective approach to promote responsible and sustainable mining practices and transform mined lands into viable agricultural areas. Intensifying education on sustainable mining practices was also highlighted as an essential step in this process. 

KUMAWU ROAD NOT FOR VOTES- ROADS MINISTER

Mr. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has denied claims that the construction of Kumawu roads aims to gain votes in the upcoming by-election. He clarified that the procurement process started before the former Member of Parliament's passing.

The road works extend beyond Kumawu, raising doubts about their relevance to the by-election. The Minister assured that construction would continue afterward and urged the public not to be swayed by propaganda. He emphasized ongoing road projects across Ghana, requesting patience.

Approximately 20 kilometers of internal roads in Kumawu and other areas are earmarked for construction. He encouraged citizens to express concerns peacefully.

ORIGINAL STORY BY YUSSIF IBRAHIM-GNA

TUBERCULOSIS KILLS 4000 DAILY IN GHANA

Ms Cynthia Atuobi of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) has urged the Ghanaian government to invest in efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) in the country. Speaking during a stakeholders engagement event, she emphasized the importance of investing in TB-affected communities and civil society to enable their active participation in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support services. Ms Atuobi highlighted the high number of daily TB-related deaths and called for collaborative efforts among various stakeholders to address the issue. The "TBImpact Ghana" project, funded by Stop TB Geneva and implemented by HFFG, aims to strengthen community systems and expand community-led interventions for TB control.

The project coordinator, Ms Doris Lomokie Dornor, stressed the need for political declarations to align with on-the-ground actions to bridge the gap between commitments and actual implementation. She encouraged Ghanaians to download the TBImpactGH app for comprehensive information on TB and emphasized the collective responsibility of the society in fighting against the disease. Mr Wisdom Klenyuie, Volta Regional TB Coordinator, expressed optimism that TB could be eliminated by 2030 with the right strategies in place.

ORIGINAL STORY BY - EWOENAM KPODO,GNA

IMF APPROVES $3BILLIONS LOAN FOR GHANA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved Ghana's request for a $3 billion loan-support program. An immediate disbursement of $600 million will be provided to support Ghana's three-year Post COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG). The loan aims to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability.

The approval follows months of negotiations and the government's efforts to address its economic challenges. The loan program focuses on reforms to enhance domestic revenue mobilization, improve public financial management, and address issues in the energy and cocoa sectors. It also aims to promote inclusive growth, job creation, and alleviate exchange rate pressures.

The IMF highlights the importance of debt restructuring with external creditors. While the loan is seen as providing policy credibility and short-term economic management assistance, it is not a complete solution to Ghana's economic crisis. Some economists suggest cutting waste and controlling government spending.

Ghana experienced economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to public dissatisfaction and protests. The government is committed to revitalizing the economy and promoting rapid economic growth.

EC postpones upcoming voter registration exercise

The Electoral Commission (EC) has postponed its compilation of a new voter register as a result of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services told journalists after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting, Wednesday, that the outfit is collaborating with health experts to decide on a more favourable date.

“We had planned to do the registration on the 18th but because of the pandemic, we can't do it on the 18th, so, we are observing what is happening around Ghana and the global issue...so, when it gets to a time that we think the situation is fertile for us to commence with the registration then we can do it," Dr. Quaicoe explained.

The IPAC meeting was organised in two sets. This was in compliance with the social distancing directive from the President as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The compilation of a new voter register for the 2020 elections was scheduled to begin on April 18, this year. The commission had also expressed hope it will complete the exercise by May 30, 2020.

The exercise which has been assigned a budget of GHS390 million faced opposition from some political parties and civil society organisations.

The Inter-Party Resistance Against the New Voters Register, a coalition of six political parties, kicked against the plan, citing cost, time and credibility as the basis for its opposition.

Regardless, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe justified the plan.

He said: “We have made it very clear that the current biometric system is not good enough for future activities. We are having a lot of challenges with it. In addition to that, a lot of people have found it difficult to have their fingerprints picked up by the machine so we intend to introduce the facial recognition [option] in addition so that if your fingerprint fails, your image will be used for verification.”

Ghana has recorded 68 cases with 3 deaths.

In his 3rd address to the nation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 21 announced measures his government has put in place to fight the pandemic.

Among others, he mentioned that "all our borders, that is by land, sea and air, will be closed to human traffic for the next two weeks, beginning midnight on Sunday. Anybody who comes into the country, before midnight on Sunday, will be mandatorily quarantined and tested for the virus. This closure will not apply to goods, supplies and cargo."

"Secondly, the Ministry of Health will not only step up its contact tracing efforts, but will also see to it that all persons who have been identified as having come into contact with infected persons are tested for the virus. More personal protection equipment are being procured to beef up supplies for our frontline health workers. Fifty thousand additional test kits have been ordered, and are expected in the country very shortly."

Meanwhile, health minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu has announced that the country is expecting about 30,000 protective equipment to aid in the fight against coronavirus.