Day: December 1, 2023

Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) has acknowledged the enormous contribution and sacrifices that farmers make towards achieving food and nutritional security as well as contributing to economic growth.

The Association said the agricultural sector had been the backbone of the economy and contributed significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said over the years, veterinary services delivery systems had played a key role in reaching this milestone, by providing effective technical and advisory support for Ghanaian farmers.

The statement said it was laudable and required the application of digital and scientific approaches in an integrated way to provide solutions to challenges in the agricultural sector where every stakeholder has a critical role to play for sustainability.

It said veterinary service delivered in Ghana had resulted in a successful containment of zoonotic and transboundary animal disease outbreak
s such as Bird Flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Anthrax, Rabies, African Swine Fever (ASF), and others.

‘We however, take this opportunity to remind our farmers that the Bird Flu (AI) outbreaks are still active and government of Ghana is yet to lift the ban on movement of poultry and poultry products in the outbreaks areas’, it added.

The Association advised poultry, livestock and fish farmers on improving farm biosecurity as a means of preventing infectious diseases, and the prudent use of antibiotics to reduce the increasing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) of pathogens worldwide.

It pledged its support to farmers and all citizens, and assured them of unwavering commitment to providing quality animal health care and advice, for an improved livestock and poultry production, food security and safety in the country.

‘This would in turn contribute to the government’s resolve to drastically reduce the importation of meat and other animal products which had caused a significant drain on our econom
y’, it said.

It appealed to government and donor communities to increase their support to the animal health sector through retooling of the Veterinary services and its allied institutions such as fisheries, wildlife, private veterinary hospitals or clinics and the veterinary medical schools.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Francis Yeboah, a 54-year-old driver, has appeared before Accra Circuit Court for allegedly misappropriating GHC191,000 belonging to a retired health professional.

Charged with stealing, Yeboah pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Mr Kwabena Kodua Obiri has admitted Yeboah to bail in the sum of GHC200,000 with two sureties.

The court adjourned the matter to December 7, 2023, and ordered the prosecution to file disclosures and same on the accused person and his lawyer.

Earlier, Yeboah’s lawyer prayed for the court to admit Yeboah to bail because he was married with kids, and he would not abscond.

According to the defence counsel, the family was trying to settle the matter.

Chief Inspector Olivia Ofori-Attah, who held brief did not oppose bail, but urged the court to admit the accused person to bail with conditions that would compel Yeboah to attend court till the end of the trial.

The prosecution said the complainant Betty Yeboah, was a resident of Kotobabi, Spintex.

The prosecutor said abou
t 19 years ago, Yeboah went to the complainant and pleaded with her to accommodate him and his family, who had been ejected from their residence because he was unable to pay for an apartment.

It said the complainant gave out her two-bedroom self-contained apartment to the accused and his family for free.

The prosecutor said the complainant travelled to the United Kingdom and left her uncompleted three bedroom in the hand of the accused person.

The prosecution said the complainant sent the accused person, GHC47,000 and 9,000 pounds sterling, all totaling GHC144,000 to continue building her three-bedroom room house.

The prosecutor said the accused person, after collecting the money, failed to continue with the building.

It said the complainant called the accused person’s wife and informed her that she would be returning to Ghana this year.

The prosecution said the accused on hearing that the complainant would be returning to Ghana, he left the house and went into hiding.

A report was made to the Police a
t Batsonaa Divisional CID and the accused person was arrested.

The prosecutor said the accused person admitted the offence in his caution statement in the presence of an independent witness.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana (EPCG), Good Shepherd Congregation, Lashibi, has marked its 25th anniversary celebration with a thanksgiving service.

In a jubilant atmosphere, members of the congregation, mostly adorned in their ceremonial cloth, sang aloud harmonious hymns and anthems in joyful thanks and praise to God.

Led by the Church Choir and the Christian Youth Builders, with the sound of the organ, drums and trumpets, members danced their hearts out, glorifying God for the milestone.

The Silver Jubilee anniversary was under the theme: ‘Celebrating 25 years of Christian Stewardship’.

In his welcome address, the Rev Mat-Joe Komla Boateng, District Pastor for the Church, commended the members for their enthusiasm, dynamism and communal spirit displayed throughout the year-long activities of the anniversary.

‘We also pay glowing tribute to all past and present leadership, members and agents, who have worked tirelessly through the challenging years of the Church, those who are still with us
today and those who have gone to be with the Lord,’ he added.

Rev Dr Mrs Vivian Balasu-Addo, Synod Moderator, Meridian Presbytery, in her sermon titled: ‘Called to Serve’, said God created human beings and gave them the duty to serve Him.

‘God has called you to be meaningful on Earth. Give back your life to God, because He is the holder of your life,’ she told the congregation.

She said answering God’s call required members to be selfless, humble, obedient, generous and compassionate.

‘Be concerned about the suffering of a brother or sister, pray for one another and be kind to one another,’ she said.

She urged the members to distinguish themselves, remain steadfast and resist the negative influence of unbelievers.

She charged the congregation to preach the Gospel to others and to win more souls for Christ.

Rev Wilson Dumasi, Synod Clerk of the Meridian Presbytery was the Liturgist, coordinating the affairs of the day.

Mrs Dzinedzormi Dzakuma, Chairperson of the Anniversary Planning Committee, expresse
d gratitude to the members for their immense efforts over the years.

She said: ‘We are celebrating your dedication, your commitment and loyalty, your passion, your consistency, and your love for this church.’

The 25th anniversary thanksgiving also included a fundraising activity towards the construction of a Mission House for the District Pastor and church agents.

Special awards were presented to honour some Reverend Ministers and Chiefs for their illustrious contributions to the growth and development of the Church since its inception.

The Chiefs were Togbe Lablulu Tegbeza V and Togbe Boafo Dzah IV.

The Reverend Ministers were Rev Samuel Senanu Asieni, Rev Dr Daniel Sakitey, Rev Prof Fred Mawusi Amevenku, Rev Jean-Paul Agidi, Rev Daniel Torvinyo, Rev Mrs Emma Essie Dzoe Sepah, and Rev Dr Mrs Comfort Dela Afele.

The year-long anniversary saw earlier activities, including children’s funfair, breast cancer awareness, sing song night, food bazaar, float, clean up exercise, revival, and blood donation.

Fro
m a small wooden structure to a classroom, to a warehouse and now to a new edifice, the Good Shepherd Congregation has seen great development in 25 years.

The Church has grown in numbers and offers two services, in English and Ewe, as well as online streaming, which serves members on social media, both local and abroad.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Police have arrested seven people for firing indiscriminately during the installation of a paramount Chief at Sampa in the Bono Region.

A news brief from the Police said the indiscriminate firing led to the death of one person whilst seven others sustained gunshot wounds.

It said two single barrel guns had been retrieved and all the suspects were in custody assisting with the investigation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr George Lawson, a Lecturer and Journalist from the Awutu Senya District, has been adjudged the overall Best Farmer of the Central Region at the 39th Farmers’ Day celebration at Ajumako.

With 30 years’ experience in farming, Mr Lawson cultivates maize, okro, cassava, mango, cowpea, pear, among other crops in commercial quantities.

He also rears cattle, local birds, rabbits, fish and has beehives for honey.

For his award, he received a small HIJET Truck, refrigerator, mattress, Wellington boots, cutlasses, spraying machine, and a bag of fertilizer, among other things.

Madam Charity Fiwonu from the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem District emerged the overall Best Fisher of the region.

In all, the region awarded 13 farmers and fishers, including the best female farmer and best cocoa farmer.

Mr Lawson, after receiving his award, urged the youth to venture into agriculture and persevere to succeed.

The development of the agriculture sector should not be left to government alone, he said, adding that it require
d the collective efforts of all stakeholders to achieve the desired outcome.

Calling for increased investment in agriculture, he bemoaned the lack of financial support for farmers, which was inimical to agricultural development.

‘For the technical support, it comes in one way or the other, but the financial support does not come at all.

‘If this continues, it will be detrimental to the agricultural potential and the future of our country,’ he said.

Mr Lawson encouraged agricultural stakeholders in the region to pay more attention to mango and cocoa production given the massive economic potentialities of those crops.

He said about 70 per cent of the coconut in Accra was sourced from the Central Region.

‘We have a very fertile land and if we give our land to the Israelis, it will become a paradise but we import mangoes from Burkina Faso.’

‘Mango can give us more foreign exchange than any other tree crop and there is research to that effect ,’ he said.

Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Min
ister, observed that government’s intervention in agriculture had yielded positive results and commended the President for that achievement.

She said the Planting for Food and Jobs policy had increased productivity and made farming more profitable and attractive, urging everybody to join the sector.

She noted that government was making efforts to minimise post-harvest losses through a raft of interventions.

Touching on the fisheries sector, she noted the intensification of the fight against illegal fishing activities to sustain the country’s dwindling fish stock.

She announced that the region’s locally produced rice, Central Rice, would be soon launched onto the market and urged all to patronise it.

This year’s celebration was on the theme: ‘Delivering smart solutions for sustainable food security and resilience’.

Nine districts, including Mfantseman, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Gomoa East, Gomoa West, Ekumfi, Asssin South, Agona West, and the Cape Coast Metropolis joined the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District at
the Ajumako Campus of the University of Education, Winneba for the celebration.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Yaw Attah Arhin, WASH Technical Specialist, World Vision Ghana, has called for the setup of a National Sanitation Authority to oversee the activities of various agencies working on sanitation.

He also called for the inclusion of Presidential Special Initiatives on ending Open Defecation within a period of two to three years by giving the practice the needed priorities.

Mr Arhin noted that when issues of Open defecation came up for discussion on international platforms, Ghana’s name emerged and same was embarrassing.

He called for a complete reawakening and national consciousness to end the practice to reclaim the good name of Ghana.

Mr Arhin was speaking at the dissemination of a report on the state of open defecation and access to improved sanitation in Ghana.

The occasion was also used to premier a documentary produced through the efforts Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) experts, stakeholders, and journalists (Ghana WASH Journalists Network).

The 2021 Population and Housing Census by the Ghana
Statistical Service indicated that the level of open defecation has dropped marginally in two decades.

The World Health Organisation says 7,653 deaths in Ghana were caused by WASH related illness in the year 2019, with 21 people per day, almost one person every hour dies from preventable WASH -related Disease.

Mr Arhin said it was imperative to increase funding to end Open defecation as well as strict enforcement of all assemblies’ by-laws.

He said stakeholders should also intensify a sustained campaign (education) to bring about massive change of attitude and behaviour in various communities practicing open defecation.

According to him, currently some schools, hospitals and clinics lack toilet facilities hence compelling people to continue to engage in open defecation.

‘If you are driving on a Highway today, it is very difficult to get a place of convenience, adding motorists have no option that to resort to the bushes around to attend natures call.’

Mr Harold Esseku, World Bank WASH Development Partne
rs LEAD, lauded Ghana WASH Journalists Network for working zealously devoid of political persuasions, noting the activities of Journalists had led to a reduction in open defecation in some areas.

Mr Esseku noted that although figures relating to Open defecation had reduced marginally, individuals involved in the practice had increased because of the high population.

Engineer Safaratu Mohammed Andani, a Director of Community Water Sanitation Agency (CWSA), called for continuous funding for the establishment of sanitation facilities in homes and communities to curb open defecation.

Justice Lee Adoboe, National Coordinator, Ghana WASH Journalists Network, said the documentary sought to unearth the underlying factors ‘that make it difficult for Ghanaians to access improved sanitation and why 17.7 per cent of the population resort to open defecation.’

The documentary was also to make way for stakeholders to strategize and implement effective policies that would create the needed access to improved sanitation i
n the country thereby end open defecation.

Source: Ghana News Agency