Day: December 8, 2023

The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) was held in Beijing, China in the golden month of October.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese Government in 2013 to invest in more than 150 countries and international organisations.

The forum was attended by more than 10,000 registered representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organisations.

The scale of participation has once again showcased the tremendous appeal and global influence of the Belt and Road cooperation.

The success of the BRF proves that China has followed the right direction in advancing this initiative with the partners showing firm commitment towards achieving the set targets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and, in his keynote speech, announced eight major steps China would take to support high-quality BRI.

The eight major steps set a new direction, open new vistas and generate new momentum for the BRI.

The
se include steps to build a multidimensional connectivity network, promote green development, and advance scientific and technological innovation.

Specific projects of practical cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and institution-building are all part.

During the forum, 458 outcomes were reached.

These comprise important cooperation initiatives and institutional arrangements such as the Beijing Initiative for Deepening Cooperation on Connectivity, the Beijing Initiative for Belt and Road Green Development, the Beijing Initiative on the Belt and Road International Digital Economy Cooperation, the Green Investment and Finance Partnership, and High-Level Principles on Belt and Road Integrity Building.

Also are specific targets including providing 100,000 training opportunities on green development for partner countries by 2030 and increasing the number of joint laboratories to 100.

Commercial agreements worth $97.2 billion have been concluded at the CEO Conference, which will help generate jobs and gro
wth in relevant countries.

Belt and Road cooperation is about concrete action, will provide sustained impetus for global growth and common development across the world.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI proposed by President Xi.

Within these 10 years, China has signed over 200 Belt and Road cooperation documents with 152 countries and 32 international organisations, covering five continents and major organizations, building an extensive circle of friends.

In terms of trade, China’s trade in goods with BRI countries grew from $1.04 trillion in 2013 to $2.07 trillion in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of eight per cent.

With investment, the bilateral investment between China and the partners has exceeded $270 billion.

The cumulative investment in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones built by Chinese enterprises in countries along the Belt and Road has reached $57.13 billion, creating 421,000 local jobs and helping 40 million people out of poverty.

For engineering, China’s
newly signed contract value and completed turnover in BRI countries have exceeded $1.2 trillion and $800 billion.

These tangible results prove that Belt and Road cooperation is on the right side of history.

It represents the advancing of our times, and it is the right path forward.

The Cooperation is the most vivid practice of China’s commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Over the past 10 years, from bilateral to multilateral and from regional to global dimensions, China has reached consensus with dozens of countries and regions on building a community with a shared future.

This was included in the United Nations General Assembly resolutions for six consecutive years as well as in multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS for many times, receiving positive response and clear support from the vast majority of countries in the world.

The Chinese Government released a white paper ‘A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and
Actions’ on 26th September to introduce the theoretical base, practice and development of this initiative for human development.

China will develop the broad consensus of solidarity and cooperation in the international community behind the proposal and the implementation of the concept.

Together we will build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity, and jointly create a better future for all of humanity.

China-Ghana BRI cooperation continues to deepen

In 2018, China and Ghana signed the Memorandum of Understanding on BRI Cooperation.

Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, led a delegation to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum and had extensive, in-depth and enthusiastic exchanges.

Since the BRI was launched in Ghana, it has provided tremendous support for the country’s economic and social development.

In May, China joined the Official Creditor Committee of Ghana as the Co-Chair to help secure the International Monetary Fu
nd (IMF) $3 billion deal in record time.

In 2022, bilateral trade volume reached an unprecedented high of $10.2 billion. Ghana’s exports to China surged by 60 per cent during the same period.

China remains Ghana’s largest trading partner and major foreign investment source

The China-aided Annex Building of the Foreign Ministry and China-aided military building are under construction.

Aid projects including the Jamestown Fishing Port and the University of Health and Allied Sciences Phase II are progressing steadily.

Five projects under the Sinohydro package plan have been started or completed, respectively.

The modernisation China is pursuing is not for China alone, but for all countries including Ghana through joint efforts.

The future of mankind is closely linked. Whenever and whatever will be together forever.

China cannot do without the world in achieving development, and the world also needs China for prosperity.

The Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunit
ies are for the world to share.

Let us meet the expectations of the people, assume responsibilities entrusted on us by history, closely follow the trend of the times, and press ahead with energy and enterprise.

Let us deepen Belt and Road international cooperation and bring it to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development.

Let us advance modernisation of all countries, build an open, inclusive and interconnected world for common development, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

(Mr Lu Kun, the author, is the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana)

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Association of Ghana Industries – Energy Service Centre (AGI-ESC) has entered into a partnership with the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa (IEPA) to train and certify energy professionals.

The training and certification programme is aimed at delivering the latest technical knowledge to Ghanaian energy engineers who are focused on specialised areas of business, industry, and government.

Madam Yolande de Lange, the Executive Director of IEPA, stated that the goal was to engage energy professionals and to provide them with the needed education to meet global standards.

She also stated that the partnership would help bring certifications closer to the doorsteps of energy professionals in Ghana as they quest to meet international standards.

This training and certification programme, she said, would connect Ghanaian energy engineers to the outside world and also explore opportunities in other countries.

Madam Yolanda also noted that IEPA had been delivering certification programmes in sub-Saharan
African regions for almost 20 years, which include Certified Energy Manager, Certified Energy Auditor, and Certified Measurement and Verification Professional programmes, among many others.

Mr. Nath Quarcoopome, Director of Finance and Administration at AGI, expressed their gratitude to IEPA for partnering with them for the certification and training programme that would make its members globally competitive.

He rendered AGI’s unflinching support for the programme and urged members to enrol so as to gain the latest knowledge in their respective fields of endeavour.

Mr. Quarcoopome also stated that the energy sector played a crucial role in the industrial development of the country and that such training and certification programmes would equip energy professionals with knowledge to thrive in the sector.

The signing of the partnership at the Buro in Accra, also witnessed the inauguration of the Association of Energy Professionals Ghana (AEPG).

According to Ing. Darlington Ahuble, President of AEPG, the As
sociation’s mission is to promote the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and to foster action for sustainable development in Ghana.

He also stated that the association had been in existence since 2019, but they were now making the public initiation as they sought to expand their activities around the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Bloggers Association Thursday honoured Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Bola Ray and Abeiku Santana, both media personalities at the Ghana Tourism Information Center..

The short ceremony, under the Ghana Bloggers Awards event, was to celebrate personalities whose work has impacted the creative arts industry over the years.

The seven honourees, including Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, former President John Dramani Mahama,Mr. Daniel Mensah Komierter, veteran blogger and IT expert, Bright Dordzi, and journalist Halifax Ansah-Addo, were all recognised for their contributions to the blogging industry, helping it to grow and raising Ghana’s flag high.

Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, who received a plaque, expressed gratitude to the Bloggers Association for the recognition of his efforts towards the growth of the sector and stated his willingness to continue to support the Bloggers Association to grow the tourism industry.

The Ghana Bloggers Awards is a scheme by t
he Ghana Bloggers Association, supported by the Ghana Tourism Authority and Attractive Media to recognise mainstream bloggers and other personalities whose work has a positive impact on the blogging industry and other sectors of the economy.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Ghana Interbank Payment Settlement Systems GhIPSS, have developed an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) platform.

The goal is to enable Covered Entities (Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies) with accounts in commercial banks to effect electronic payments to third party suppliers and individuals through the Ghana Integrated Financial Information System (GIFMIS)

The development of the EFT platform, which is now embedded within GIFMIS and has been tested and piloted with some key institutions, is another critical phase of the Public Financial Management (PFM) improvements.

Being the implementing agency of the GIFMIS-GhIPSS EFT platform, the CAGD has engaged stakeholders in the middle zone of the country to sensitise them on its rollout across the country.

Participants were drawn from MMDAs, Internal Audit Agency, and Ghana Audit Service in t
he Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western North Regions.

Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, the Controller and Accountant-General, said the development of the platform would put behind the practice, where Covered Entities whose bank accounts were domiciled in commercial banks made payments outside the GIFMIS platform, resulting in reconciliation challenges in establishing the correct trial balances.

‘Processing all transactions on the GIFMIS and making payments through the GhIPSS EFT will strengthen bank statements to execute automatic bank reconciliation and allow for the importation of bank statements to execute automatic bank reconciliation, leading to improved bank reconciliation and financial reporting,’ he argued.

One of the objectives of the platform, according to him, was to eliminate the inefficiencies and risks associated with traditional manual payment processes.

‘With GIFMIS-GhIPSS EFT platform, we can automate and standardise payment procedures, reducing transaction turnaround time and minimis
ing the potential for errors and fraud,’ the Controller and Accountant-General stated.

He said the EFT platform would also result in cost saving for government and ultimately contribute to the overall improvement of the country’s fiscal management.

By digitising payments, we will have a comprehensive and auditable trail of all transactions, making tracking and monitoring the flow more accessible, he pointed out.

Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem indicated that the platform would provide real-time data and analytics, empowering decision-makers with accurate and timely information for effective financial planning and budgeting.

Ms. Beatrice Koranteng Osei, the Acting Regional Coordinating Director, welcomed the engagement, saying it was important for all MMDAs to be familiar with the platform in their day-to-day administration.

She said the implementation of the GhIPSS EFT platform was timely considering the myriad of challenges facing MMDAs when using the GIFMIS platform.

Mr. Antwi Duah, a Representative of the Regio
nal Auditor, said the practice where funds were disbursed outside the GIFMIS platform was a regular infraction in the Auditor General’s Report annually.

He was hopeful that the implementation of the GIFMIS-GhIPSS EFT platform would help address the irregularity to promote transparency and accountability.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Soil Science Society of Ghana has stressed the need for Ghana to invest in building the organic matter of the country’s soils.

It said the increase in soil organic matter had the potential to reduce soil erosion and compaction, which improved the soil’s capacity to retain more water and reduce the risk of flooding, as well as sand and dust storms.

Dr. Edward Yeboah, National President of the Society, who made the call, said healthy soil acted as a carbon sink and helped to adapt to climate change and mitigates its effect.

Dr Yeboah, speaking at the 2023 World Soil Day celebrations (WSD) at the Soil Research Institute (SRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at Kwadaso near Kumasi, indicated that each percentage increase in soil organic matter helped soils to hold 150,000 litres more water per hectare.

He explained that enhanced soil and water management improved the land’s capacity to withstand extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and fires.

This year’s Day was o
bserved under the theme ‘Soil and water: a Source of life’.

The 2023World Soil Day and its campaign aim to raise awareness on the importance and relationship between soil and water in achieving sustainable and resilient agricultural food systems.

Dr Yeboah pointed out that healthy soil played a crucial role as a natural filter, purifying and storing water as it infiltrates into the ground.

He therefore encouraged farmers in irrigated agriculture to use precision agriculture technologies to optimize irrigation efficiency.

Again, farmers must assess irrigation needs through soil moisture sensors and explore alternative water sources such as desalinated water and recycled water.

It was also important for farmers in irrigated agriculture to ensure high-quality water for irrigation to prevent soil salinization and pollution and preserve soil moisture.

The Soil Scientist advised farmers to keep a permanent soil cover, minimize or adopt zero tillage, harvest rainwater to reduce the dependency on surface and gr
oundwater and opt for crop varieties adapted to the local available soil moisture.

Dr Yeboah said at the research front, researchers still needed to explore the hypothesis and management practices that minimized greenhouse gas emissions increase or preserve soil carbon.

He said the Food and Agriculture Organization through the Recarbonizing Soil Programme (RECSOIL) was supporting Soil Research Institute to implement a two-year programme with focus on the ‘SOIL Doctor flagship Program of FAO’.

The Implementation of a RECSOIL – Green path pilot project in Ghana is to enhance soil health and soil organic carbon sequestration through the adoption of sustainable soil management practices to contribute to mitigating and adapting to climate change and enhancing food security in cooperation with farming communities participating in the FAO Forest and Farm Facility.

Mr. Gabriel Willie Quansah, Director, CSIR – Soil Research Institute said the institute had been at the forefront of sustainable soil management pract
ices, researching and implementing interventions.

These practices, according to him, not only enhanced soil health but also contributed significantly to mitigating erosion, reducing pollution, and enhancing water infiltration and storage.

‘Our efforts are aligned with the aims and objectives of World Soil Day and its campaign, reflecting our commitment to sustainable practices that improve soil health and contribute to global environmental well-being’, he indicated.

Dr. Andre Bationo, Chairman of the CSIR-SRI, Management Board used the occasion to expose soil scientists to the impact of climate change on water availability and good agronomic practices and response to water among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Africa Energy Technology Centre (AETC), in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, has unveiled all registration portals for the upcoming Africa Energy Technology Conference, scheduled to take place in Accra from 12th to 15th, March 2024.

The AETC inaugural conference would bring together global leaders, policymakers, and trailblazers in the energy sector for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable energy future.

The event is anticipated to play a pivotal step towards forging a sustainable and innovative path for the future of Africa’s energy landscape.

Ms Emelia Akumah, the Founder and President of Africa Energy Technology Centre said in an official release issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

She said attendees would have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, witness innovative advancements, showcase their brands, celebrate achievements, and network with the brightest minds in the energy sector.

There would be high profile speakers at the conference including P
resident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

There would be thought-provoking sessions and networking and offer a multifaceted experience including Conference Sessions, Energy Tech Live, Exhibition, Gala/Dinner Night, and Networking Opportunities.

‘This conference isn’t just about discussions; it’s about forging partnerships, exploring investments, and embracing technological advancements that drive Africa’s energy revolution,’ she said.

‘It’s about shaping policies and initiatives that pave the way for an inclusive and sustainable future,’ she added

There would be special sessions for Women in Energy and will place a strong emphasis on the imperative of diversity and leadership within the sector’s evolution.

The sessions would serve as platforms for amplifying the voices of women and the next generation, underscoring their essential roles in revolutionizing the energy landscape.

‘From sponsorship packages to exhibition spaces, the conference offers unique avenues for brands to stand out, connect with industry
giants, and play a crucial role in Africa’s energy growth,’ Ms Akumah stated.

Interested people and organisations can visit www.aetconference.com to secure a spot at the conference.

Source: Ghana News Agency