Day: December 8, 2023

The British High Commission has presented eight ambulances to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to improve medical outreach in the Northern border regions.

The donation demonstrated bilateral collaboration and commitment to enhancing the UK-Ghana security partnership, as well as the UK and Ghana’s strong security and defence relations.

The ambulances are outfitted with cutting-edge equipment to support the GAF’s medical missions in Ghana’s five northern regions.

They would be distributed to the Wa, Bolgatanga, Sandema Mechanical Brigade Headquarters and the Armoured Regimental Headquarters in Damango.

The donation was made as part of the UK-Ghana Civilian Military Cooperation Programme, as well as the UK-Ghana annual security dialogue partnership.

Speaking at the ceremony, UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces James Heappey said the donation reflected the strong partnership between the UK and Ghana.

‘Ghana is a key partner for the UK, we work together to tackle shared challenges from violent extremism i
n the Sahel to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, and this donation underscores the strong partnership between the UK and Ghana.’

Mr. Heappey remarked that the UK government was pleased to assist the GAF in its fight against violent extremism.

‘We will continue to foster long-lasting partnerships through our annual security dialogue,’ he added.

The minister also stated that the UK would continue to work closely with the GAF to support Ghana’s leadership position in the sub-region and to strengthen the capability of Ghana’s security services to take the lead in responding to regional instability, particularly that caused by violent extremists from the Sahel.

Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of the Defence Staff, thanked the UK government for its assistance to the GAF, noting that the donation came just as they were wrapping up the peacekeeping conference in Accra.

He said the conference instilled trust in Ghana’s Armed Forces, and that the support came as the Armed Forces and their allies prepared to
confront terrorism in the Northern Region.

He assured the UK government that the GAF would maintain and use the vehicles to make a needed impact.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Feed the Future (FTF) Ghana Policy LINK Activity, is to offer year-long assistance to Charity Akortia, the 2023 National Best Farmer, and Edith Akosah Wheatland, the 2023 National Best Female Farmer.

Additionally, 18 other female award winners at the 2023 National Farmers’ Day at the national, regional, and district levels will also receive support.

This was in a statement issued by the FTF Ghana Policy LINK Activity and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale.

The statement said, ‘This initiative builds upon the successful assistance extended to the first cohort of 20 outstanding women in agriculture acknowledged at the 2022 Farmers’ Day programme.’

It said following last year’s collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Policy LINK and its partners would offer a comprehensive leadership, advocacy, agribusiness development training package, and study tour to the second cohort of national, regional, and dis
trict women in agriculture.

It said the training package would be curated in line with this year’s theme of ‘Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience’ and be tailored to the capacity needs of the awardees.

It added that Policy LINK would facilitate their active participation in key agriculture stakeholder engagements throughout 2024.

The statement said ‘The first cohort of women awardees received a five-day leadership, advocacy, and agribusiness training and study tour led by USAID/Ghana through the FTF Ghana Policy LINK Activity, in collaboration with MoFA, FTF Ghana Mobilising Finance in Agriculture Activity (MFA) and Absa Bank Ghana Limited.

It said Policy LINK also facilitated their participation in agriculture policy and stakeholder events for exposure and networking while providing day-to-day mentorship and technical support through its gender point of contact.

It said ‘Throughout 2023, the women demonstrated remarkable determination by implementing lessons learned to
enhance their agribusinesses and leadership roles. They leveraged their influence to advance women’s involvement and participation in the agriculture policy space, aiming to champion their fellow women’s inclusion and active engagement within Ghana’s agricultural policy processes while amplifying their contributions to the sector’s growth and food security.’

It added that ‘One of the significant outcomes of these efforts was the formation of the Ghana Association of Female Agricultural and Fish Farming Award Winners (GAFAFAW). This association, a collective decision by the women awardees, was established with funds raised by the women and stands as a testament to their commitment.’

The statement expressed the FTF Ghana Policy LINK Activity’s commitment to helping selected women awardees at the National Farmers’ Day event for the next three years to achieve greater inclusion.

It added that ‘Through this initiative, Policy LINK aims to facilitate and support these women leaders in agriculture to hone and lev
erage their leadership toward advancing women’s involvement and participation in the agriculture policy space to improve conditions in the sector for various vulnerable groups including youth and persons with disabilities.’

The FTF Ghana Policy LINK Activity is a five-year Activity that supports the Government of Ghana in strengthening policy development, adoption, and implementation to inspire sustainable, agriculture-led economic growth, strengthen the resilience of people and systems, and create a well-nourished population, especially women and children.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Federation of Disability (GFD) has asked the Government to expedite passage of the amended Disability Act to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi, National President of GFD, said there had been gaps in the Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), hence the need for it to be reviewed and amended.

Mr Homadzi made the call at the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Accra.

This year’s celebration is under the theme: ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities’.

It is celebrated annually on December 3rd to raise awareness about the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in society and the need for concrete concerted actions by all social,

developmental, and policy actors to promote their development needs and meaningful participation in society.

Ghana passed the Disability law in 2006 and subsequently ratified CRPD in 2012
, and obligated under the CPRD to review existing laws that are not in line with it to fully promote their rights and to promote their inclusion, representation, and participation in society.

The National President said: ‘Our concern is that the eighth Parliament is going to rise next year and if you do not fast track the activity and the passage, it may happen that the Parliament will rise and this law will not be amended.’

He urged Government to strengthen legislation and policies to address issues facing PWDs and protect their human rights and inform the implementation of the law.

Mr Homadzi encencouraged Government and employers to create and open more job opportunities for PWDs to earn a living as well as human recognition and respect.

The National Chairman appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to fulfill its promises of reassigning people with disabilities who were working at the toll booths and to pay them their salaries until the reassignment.

Mr Charles Abani, Resident Coordinator, Unit
ed Nations in Ghana, said truly sustainable development for PWDs required a laser-like focus on their needs and rights, not only as beneficiaries, but as active contributors across social, economic and political life.

He said, however, at the halfway point to the 2030 Agenda, PWDs continued facing systemic discrimination and barriers that restricted their meaningful inclusion in all areas of society.

Mr Abani said: ‘The commitment to realising the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is an investment…’

The Resident Coordinator called for a whole-of-society approach and for strong partnerships to be forged and leverage collective expertise and resources to generate meaningful impact to drive systemic change, and truly leave no one behind.

Mr Mawuli Avutor, Deputy Director for Public Education, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), said PWDs had the same rights and freedoms as everyone else, hence they must be treated with dignity and respect.

Mad
am Levlyn Konadu Asiedu, National Coordinator, Ghana Civil Society Organisations on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bemoaned the low funding and support that the disability fraternity received as compared to others.

She said all persons were vulnerable and could be disabled at any time, therefore, PWDs must not discriminated against.

Mr David Agyemang, Senior Programme Manager, Sightsavers, a Non-Governmental Organisation, encouraged PWDs to be confident in themselves and put their talents and abilities into action.

‘May I speak to mothers who have children with disabilities and encourage you not to hide your children with disabilities from the world. Send them to school and support them to thrive like all your other children. Children with disabilities deserve love and care like all other children,’ he stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation (ADDRO) has donated sanitary pads, exercise books and other learning materials to the Kalpohin Anglican Primary and Junior High (JHS) Schools in Tamale.

The donation was made in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV), which is an international civil society-led campaign.

The 16 Days of Activism against SGBV, is marked from November 25 to December 10 with a series of activities to prevent violence.

This year’s commemoration is on the theme: ‘UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’.

Students were educated on the various forms of SGBV, dangers and the need to avoid violence of any form.

Madam Rebecca Lariba Seidu, Gender Officer at ADDRO, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the donation was a gesture in line with the campaign’s theme, emphasising that investing in children served as a medium to mitigate abuses linked to deprivation.

She said reports over time highligh
ted how young girls had fallen prey to sexual violence, underscoring the potential preventive impact of supplying sanitary pads to girls in school.

Mr Muntaka Tijani, Headmaster, Kalpohin Anglican JHS ‘B’ School, thanked ADDRO for the sensitisation and donation, stating that students needed the education on SGBV given the school’s location.

He mentioned that instances of SGBV were highly witnessed in the area, where the police were called in to intervene.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Civil society organisations (CSOS) in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ecosystem have called for local support from philanthropists to boost funding.

The stakeholders said the cultivation of local funding sources had become necessary in as donor funding for the SDGs was dwindling.

Madam Levlyn Asiedu, National Coordinator for Civil Society Organisations on SDGs, made the call in an interview with Ghana News Agency at the fourth edition of the Gift Summit on Philanthropy in Accra.

The programme sought to ignite change and activate radical local philanthropy towards the fulfilment of the SDGs.

Madam Asiedu said owing to Ghana’s lower middle-income status, donors were shifting funding for SDGs to lower-income countries.

She called for local philanthropy through the mobilisation of funds from benefactors in Ghana to address the financing gap for the SDGs.

‘At the global front, we have countries that are least developed, and they are in a hierarchy. Once a country has graduated to a lower- or middle
-income country, donor funding will definitely shift to the developing country.

Once the funding is shifted to these countries, it means the funds and quantum of aid Ghana receives in terms of funding the SDG will reduce,’ she said.

This year’s summit provided the platform for philanthropic associations, support organisations, networks, funders, and stakeholders from Ghana and the diaspora to converge, connect, and co-create for a greater collective impact.

Ms Levlyn noted that the current global funding gap for SDGs stood at $43 billion, and thus CSOs should redirect the resource mobilisation efforts for SDGs to local philanthropic organisations in Ghana.

Mr. Prince Afotey, Membership and Ecosystem Assistant for WINGS, bemoaned the absence of a legal regime and policy to regulate and encourage philanthropy in Ghana.

He advised CSOs in the SDG ecosystem to adopt best governance practices and accountability in their management and disbursement of donor funding.

He emphasised that the absence of governanc
e and accountability of donor funding could deny CSOs access to funds from donors and hinder their effort to achieve the SDGs.

To promote accountability of donor funding, Mr Afotey encouraged CSOs to adopt impact assessment report, credible bank statements, and a non-inflated budget to be able to access funds from donors for subsequent projects.

He also called for a localised resource mobilisation effort through radical philanthropy to address the SDG financing gap.

Reverend Emmanuel Marfo, Acting Director, Centre for Strategic Philanthropy and Social Investment (CESPI), said faith-based organisations could help address the financing gap of the SDGs through philanthropy.

He said because Ghana was dominated by two major religious groups (Islam and Christianity), supporting the SDGs through philanthropy would not be a problem because giving was part of the ideals of the faith groups.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Monica Josiah, Head of Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation Department, Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), has urged Ghanaian exporters to report challenges they face on time during export facilitation.

She said during exports, some challenges erupted from various angles, adding that the Authority and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) were available to assist them in the facilitation of their exports.

Mrs Josiah said this at the sensitisation workshop on ‘BoG’s Letter of Commitment (LOC) Requirement for the repatriation of export proceeds’ organised jointly by the Authority and the Central Bank, with support from the Ghana Link Network Services.

She said the workshop marked the climax of a comprehensive nationwide sensitisation workshop in 10 regions on the subject matter since August 2022.

Mrs Josiah said the exchange of goods and services among nations, particularly export trade, played a pivotal role in shaping economies, stating that the contribution of exporters in Ghana had been notable.

She said all de
veloped countries relied on export trade and the conscientious repatriation of the proceeds to build their nations, therefore, the direct correlation between the repatriation of export proceeds and national development could not be discounted.

She said, ‘The current National Export Development Strategy, for instance, has an ambitious target to grow Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports to USD 25.3 billion per annum by the year 2029.’

‘So, it is essential to state that all these interventions will be of minimal effect on our much-needed national development if deliberate policies are not implemented to ensure that proceeds from the export of Ghana’s resources are repatriated,’ she added.

Mrs Josiah said the Constitution of an Intersectoral Committee comprising the BoG, GSA, Federation of Ghanaian Exporters, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, and others would have to streamline the process of the LOC implementation to better serve the needs of exporters and the country.

She said the GSA championed the sensitisatio
n effort on the LOC because the Committee was required before export shipments were approved to exit Ghana’s ports and borders, additionally, in the export chain, the incidence of the sanction for LOC non-conformity was at the point of shipment.

Mrs Josiah said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement aimed to provide broader and deeper economic integration across Africa, attract investment, boost trade, provide better jobs, reduce poverty, and increase shared prosperity.

She said the success of the Agreement hinged significantly on efficient and cost-effective shipping and logistics.

Mr Eric Kweku Hammond, Deputy Director, Foreign Banking Operations, BoG, said the Bank’s LOC requirement had generated tremendous interest, mainly due to the sanctions associated with non-conformity to the lack of awareness of the requirement on the part of exporters.

‘…and also, unprofessional conduct of some customs house agents who use their clients’ LOC details to process shipments of other exporters on
their blind side, thus, the need for continuous sensitisation on the LOC cannot be overemphasized,’ he added.

He said key LOC complaints by exporters and customs house agents included insufficient time for repatriation, transaction block after 60 days of non-repatriation, delays in accessing repatriated proceeds from commercial banks, unfavourable exchange rates.

‘…high bank commissions and the unsuitability of the LOC requirement for small-scale cross-border trade are also inclusive,’ he said.

Mr Hammond said airborne exporters of perishable goods also complained of compromised consignment quality due to LOC-related delays.

He said it was evident that addressing LOC challenges fell directly within the purview of the GSA’s mandate of protecting and promoting the interest of exporters and importers in matters relating to cargo shipment by all modes of transport.

Mr Hammond said since 2019, GSA had created platforms in the various regions of Ghana for BoG officials to provide information and sensitise expo
rters on the LOC.

He said GSA had also engaged the management of BoG on the way forward to address LOC challenges, which birthed the BoG-GSA collaboration to organise nationwide sensitisation workshops for exporters.

Source: Ghana News Agency