Day: November 16, 2023

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) will from Monday, November 20, 2023, embark on a nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise to retrieve all arrears owed by customers.

The Company will also disconnect all categories of customers whose bills are in arrears during the exercise.

In a press release copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), it said, disconnection teams and task forces in the regions and district offices would disconnect all categories of customers whose bills were in arrears.

It said in addition to paying bills in full, all affected customers would have to pay reconnection fees before getting reconnected to the GWCL lines.

According to the release, apart from disconnecting defaulters, the teams would also check for illegal connections, self -reconnections and the use of in-line booster pumps that had been connected at the premises of its customers.

It said, ‘all persons found to be engaged in such criminal activities shall be arrested by the Police and prosecuted.’

The Company asked all pa
id up customers to leave their payment receipts behind when leaving their homes or premises to avoid wrongful disconnections.

It asked customers, who had paid via mobile money or any other electronic means to show SMS or electronic receipts as proof of payment.

‘We, therefore, advise our valued customers to make efforts to pay their bills and clear all arrears to avoid being disconnected,’ the GWCL said.

‘Management entreats customers to cooperate with the teams as they undertake this all-important exercise in our effort to collect and mobilise the much-needed revenue to improve on our water supply service in the country.’

It urged the public to contact the GWCL via WhatsApp on 0555123393 and 0555155524, or call 0207385088, 0207385089 and 0207385090 or its toll-free line on 0800 40 000 for Vodafone cell and land lines only and 0302 218240 for all other networks for enquiries.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Two agro-based companies, New Okaff Industries Limited and OMNI Fert in the agriculture value chain, have donated agricultural inputs, items and some cash to support the upcoming National Farmers’ Day.

This year’s National Farmers’ Day Celebration is the 39th ceremony and comes off December 1, which provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture practices, celebrate the contributions of farmers, and reflect on the positives.

OMNI Fert, an indigenous Ghanaian company, providing affordable fertilizers to scale up crop production donated an amount GhS50, 000 and has supported the ceremony since 2017.

The New Okaff Industries Limited donated GhS90,000 worth of items, including organic fertilizers, anti-snake larvae (insecticide) and natural baths. It also presented a cash amount of GhS10, 000.

The items, together with the cash donations, were received on behalf of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture by Mr Yaw Frimpong, Deputy Minister for the Agriculture sector.

He commended
the entities for their unflinching support over the years, adding that items and cash would help the farmers great and the ceremony at large.

The annual National Farmers’ Day celebrates Ghanaian farmers and fishers for their contribution to the economy, from innovative farming techniques to sustainable practices in fishing and the nation’s profound appreciation of the role and contribution of farmers to national development.

The theme for this year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration, is ‘Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience,’ and it is relevant to achieving food security in Ghana within the context of an increase in population growth and its accompanying food system issues.

Dr. Bryan Acheampong, sector Minister undertook a diagnosis of the sector leading to the understanding, appreciation and implementation of interventions.

At the national level, the event has been opened for a five-day agriculture fair and grand durbar to allow farmers to network with industry players, and lea
rn and adopt new technologies, machinery and research innovations in agriculture.

The five-day National Agricultural Festival, Agrifest Ghana 2023 would begin November 27 to December 1. The Agrifest Ghana 2023 will be held on the principal streets of the Ministerial enclave in Accra.

The last day of Agrifest which marks the first Friday of December would be celebrated with an Awards Night Ceremony at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Auditorium and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would confer national honours on best-performing farmers and fishers.

A total of fifteen award categories would receive recognition at the awards night in Tarkwa.

Regional Farmers’ Day celebration would continue to be held in all 16 regions and Regional Ministers would confer regional honours on the best-performing farmers in their region on behalf of the President.

There would be five (5) regional award categories per region, namely: The Regional Best Farmer, Regional Best Livestock Farmer, Regional Best Fema
le Farmer, Regional Best Fisher, and Regional Physically Challenged Farmers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

International Justice Mission, Non-Governmental Organization, through the respective districts’ Department of Social Welfare (DSW) has donated relief items to flood victims in Central Tongu in Volta and Kwahu Afram Plains North District in the Eastern Region.

The donations are in response to the displacement of people in the Islands and communities in the two districts.

The donations for the two districts included 50 bags of rice, 100 bottles of cooking oil, 50 packs of sanitary tissues, 20 packs of sanitary pads, 50 pieces of mosquito nets, 100 pieces of plastic cups and bags of assorted clothing and footwear for children, women and men.

Madam Anita Budu, IJM Ghana Country Director, said IJM over the years been working in collaboration with the respective Department of Social Welfare (DSW) offices in the two districts to tackle the issues of human trafficking.

She intimated that IJM’s close collaboration with the DSW office in supporting the welfare of children prompted the team to reach out with the do
nation.

‘We know that in challenging times, even if it is not directly our mandate, the vulnerable are still being affected, and so we work together with DSW to be able to donate some provisions, food items and clothing for those in need,’ she said.

Madam Budu pledged the organisation’s commitment to continue supporting the districts in providing relief for children and other persons who are vulnerable.

Mr Thomas Moore Zonyrah, District Chief Executive for Central Tongu, expressed gratitude for the organization’s gesture and time taken to commiserate with the people at such a time.

Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze, Member of Parliament for Central Tongu, also thanked the IJM for the gesture and reckoned that the disaster response was moving into another stage where the focus would be on livelihood restoration and resettlement.

‘You know a lot of people have lost their buildings, they are broken, the buildings have collapsed all over, and those that are even there and are in the river will automatically h
ave integrity problems, so it is a big task,’ the MP lamented.

Mr Isaac Ofori Koree, District Chief Executive for Kwahu Afram Plains North, expressed his commitment to addressing the needs of displaced persons.

He said a lot of residents in the Island communities were displaced, including 220 children and many of these victims were sheltering in school buildings at present with no alternative housing.

The DCE assured that the items would be distributed to the victims to address the challenges confronting them.

Mr Kofi Appiah, Director for DSW, Kwahu Afram Plains North, thanked IJM for the support

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), has called on the government and other relevant partners to work together in creating a supportive and conducive environment for women and youth businesses to thrive.

Mr Clement Osei-Amoako, President of GNCCI said this support should also be targeted particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Mr Osei-Amoako was speaking during the GNCCI Women Conference 2023 on the theme, ‘Making AfCFTA Work Through a Deliberate Inclusion of Women,’ in Accra.

The conference sponsored by the GIZ Trade Hub sought to address the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and engage them in decision making as far as the AfCFTA frameworks were concerned.

The Conference was to educate women-led/women-owned businesses on the protocols and implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and

discuss challenges faced by women in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector within the context of the Agreement.

It is a
lso to explore opportunities presented by AfCFTA for women entrepreneurs, interact with women entrepreneurs to understand their challenges and preparedness for trading under Agreement and present policy recommendations for Ghana’s contribution to Agreement Protocols on Women and Youth.

He said women encountered various challenges such as unequal access to education, production resources, and trade facilities, hence the need for more targeted and effective implementation of policies and programs supporting women-led and youth initiatives under the AfCFTA.

‘Production is not complete until it reaches the final consumer, and the women in businesses are the middlemen who make sure that products from the producers reach the consumers, hence they deserve better,’ Mr Osei-Amoako added.

He said the Chamber, with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), had dedicated this year to addressing these specific needs and fostering an environment conducive to the success of women entrepreneurs
and youth within the AfCFTA framework.

The President said earlier this year, the Chamber initiated a hand-holding program, educating women-led businesses on the potential benefits of AfCFTA.

‘The programme addressed various challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, focusing on production constraints, financial difficulties, pricing challenges, and hurdles in dealing with regulatory bodies, among other issues,’ he added.

He said this nationwide initiative included workshops held in Accra, Tema, Wa, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tarkwa, Cape Coast, and Koforidua, where participants were selected based on

specific criteria, with a focus on addressing challenges in key areas such as production capacity, access to raw materials, packaging, machinery, and financial support.

Mr Osei-Amoako said it was imperative to collectively address the challenges faced by cross-border traders and work collaboratively on solutions that the AfCFTA, particularly the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade could offer.

Dr Afua Asabea Asare, C
hief Executive Officer, Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), in a speech read on her behalf by Madam Bernice Amarh Ampofo, Director for Finance, GEPA, said the AfCFTA was a historic agreement representing the promise of a more integrated and prosperous Africa.

She said it was a game changer for the African continent, offering opportunities for economic growth, job creation and improved standards of living.

Dr Asare said women had not always received the recognition, support, and the recognition they deserved, indicating that for AfCFTA to truly work and live up to its potential, women must not be passive participants but active participants of transformation.

She said the AfCFTA therefore, was expected to present an opportunity to change the narrative by creating new trading and entrepreneurial opportunities for women in the formal and informal economies across various sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

The CEO assured that the Authority would always be available to assist wom
en entrepreneurs to seamlessly transition from a local producer or processor to an ‘export giant’ and called for support to create the required environment for all women.

Mr Divine Kutortse, Programmes Officer, National AfCFTA Coordination Office, said the AfCFTA agreement would be the primary enabler for unlocking Africa’s immense potential if driven by women and youth among the most valuable assets of the continent.

He said priority must be given to investments in women and youth in all facets of the AfCFTA implementation

arrangements to advance Sustainable Development Goals and African Union Agenda 2063.

Mr James Amissah Hammond, Technical Advisor, GIZ Trade Hub, said the GIZ Trade Hub was implementing the GIZ Support Programme to the AfCFTA.

He said 80 per cent of cross border trade within Africa and in Ghana was done by women traders, hence it was vital to factor their situation into the implementation of the AfCFTA.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Rebecca Atswei Lomo, President of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Ghana Chapter, has underscored the need for effective collaboration among anti-corruption stakeholders to combat fraud and corruption.

She noted that more strategies were needed to stop looters of resources as the menace exposes the vulnerable in society to dangers such as poor health, poor education, poverty, and to a large extent derails the economic progress made.

Dr Lomo said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of ACFE’s first Fraud Conference held in Accra, on the theme: ‘Winning the Fight against Fraud and Corruption in Ghana, A Collective Responsibility.’

Dr Lomo said it was time to collectively move away from the talk and act swiftly on issues of corruption.

She noted that the theme of the event underscored the gravity of the issues and the necessity of collective efforts and as such demands synergy, dedication and unwavering commitment.

She told the GNA that the two-day co
nference formed part of activities marking the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Week by ACFE Chapters in about 180 countries around the globe.

‘Our objective is to strengthen the fraud-fighting skills of our members and others and also to educate the general public on how to protect their resources from fraudsters,’ she added.

Dr Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, urged citizens to consider the fight against corruption as a core patriotic duty.

He said looking at the consequences of corruption it should be considered as a personal fight; adding that ‘we must all come to the realisation that we need to be honest.’

Mr Wilfred Neneh Addico, a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG), who represented the President and Council of ICAG, also touched on the Association’s interest and commitment to working with ACFE in the fight against fraud.

He said areas of concern as far as fraud was concerned had to do with how it was becoming sophisticated through the use of techno
logy to conduct fraud.

‘We see a lot in the financial sector and it is harming victims and causing huge losses to financial institutions’.

Mr Addico anticipated that the Conference would be a platform to discuss ways and means of combating fraud and corruption.

He stated that the Conference would come out with action plans that participants could implement in their quest to address the menace of fraud, particularly within the financial sector, which was technology-driven.

Mr John Awuah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Association of Bankers, said corruption increases the cost of doing business, impacts adversely on employment generation and wealth creation and affects the cost of quality of social services.

He stated that transparency and strengthening institutions remained essential to the fight against corruption, thus, separation of powers should be promoted while checks and balances must be reinforced not just in words but in observable deeds.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) Information and Coordination Centre (ICC) will represent a significant step towards realising the vision of an integrated energy sufficiency in West Africa, the General Secretary of WAPP, Mr. Siengui Ki, has said.

West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) is a specialised agency of ECOWAS established in 1999 and officially set up in 2006 to strategically devise a drive for infrastructure development for the production and transportation of electrical energy while coordinating the exchange of electrical energy among member states.

The ICC will serve as a trading platform for various electricity market players under the ECOWAS Mandated Regional Electricity Market regulated by WAPP.

The concept of the Regional Electricity Market is mandated by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government aimed at enhancing cooperation in electric energy within the West Africa Sub-Region.

It is a strategic initiative which promotes competitive and transparent cross-border electricity trade among ECOWAS Member S
tates.

The ICC will therefore collect essential information from the exchanges carried out by the electricity meters on the main international lines in the different parts of the region as well as all the information on purchases and sales, allowing planning between all companies involved in the distribution of electricity in West Africa.

The WAPP Information and Coordination Centre is a European Union (EU) pound 30 million (Euros) support which will deliver a modern office complex, a coordinating centre as well as the core of the infrastructure, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems control room to undertake real time monitoring of the regional interconnected network and facilitate the administration of the Regional Electricity Market.

Choices can be made to buy and sell power generated from thermal, renewable, hydro sources. While its monitoring system will show multiple screens reflecting in real time the exchange flows from Senegal to Nigeria from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea.

The inauguration of WAPP, scheduled to take place on November 17, 2023, will be a significant step towards realising the vision for an integrated, prosperous, and energy self-sufficient West Africa.

Mr Ki, who addressed journalists after a tour of the million Euro facility in Benin prior to its inauguration said, the facility would implement the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market in Benin Republic.

Explaining the constituents of Regional Electricity Market, he said, WAPP’s Regional Electricity Market players were made up of consumers, producers, transporters, distributors and that a market simulation operation to buy and sell electricity on a regional scale was ready.

He assured that WAPP would regulate and supervise the market to ensure it was open and transparent and announced that there were plans to connect the ECOWAS regional market to others such as North Africa and Europe for future electricity market competitiveness.

Mr Ki, explaining the strategic nature of the ICC project and the implementation
of the Regional Electricity Market, said the market would bring competition, leading to the best possible rates for electricity prices for customers.

Mr Joel Neubert, Head of Cooperation, European Union, said the EU’s collaboration would enable ECOWAS and WAPP to improve electricity access.

He said, ‘we want to support its ambition to develop an interconnected electricity network which is open, modern and efficient.’

Demand for electricity in the subregion, the EU Official said, was projected at eight per cent annually and that the ICC would promote regional integration in the electricity energy sector.

Source: Ghana News Agency