Day: December 11, 2023

Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang a former Education Minister under the Mahama administration has refurbished and commissioned the Komenda market.

This gesture she said formed part of her duties owed to the women in the Constituency.

Speaking at the commissioning, the 2020 NDC running mate the running mate of the NDC in the 2020 election said ‘as a constituent and user of the market facility I see it as a duty owed to ensure a facelift is given to the market’.

She said after an informal inspection of the market she noticed that the floors, many parts of the roofs needed urgent repairs, while the entire market required a facelift.

She said the refurbishment would help the woman to carry out their daily business.

The project included the provision of water and places of convenience.

The traders thanked the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast for her selfless love and contribution towards the betterment of their lives.

In expressing their appreciation praises and prayers were heaped
on the former Minister by the Chief and elders, the NDC Chairman of the Central Region, the women and others for her endless support to the constituency.

She explained the vision of the former President, John Dramani Mahama, for a 24 hour economy as a proven way of rebuilding the damaged economy and for reducing the alarming unemployment rate in the country, especially as they affect the youth and women.

Present were Chiefs and Elders, Regional and Constituency Executives, the Member of Parliament for the KEEA constituency, Samuel Atta Mills, the hierarchy of the market led by the market Queen and many significant others who graced the occasion.
Source: Ghana News Agency

 The United Nations needs $46.4 billion for humanitarian operations in the coming year, according to a report released Monday.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported in its Global Humanitarian Overview 2024 that this money would help almost 181 million people in 72 countries.

Despite wars, conflicts and climate disasters, combined with hunger, poverty, disease outbreaks and displacement, the office has seen donations dwindle.

OCHA head Martin Griffiths said the humanitarian system is facing a severe funding crisis.

‘In 2023, we received just over one-third of the $57 billion required,’ he wrote in a statement on the OCHA website. ‘This is the worst funding shortfall in years. Yet, we still managed to deliver life-saving assistance and protection to 128 million people around the world.’

The sharp decline in resources has forced humanitarian agencies to make increasingly painful decisions, including cutting life-saving food, water and health programming.

As
a result, the target for 2024 has had to be scaled back to helping 181 million people, rather than 245 million.

‘I am deeply concerned about what this means for humanitarian action in 2024,’ said Griffiths. ‘Without adequate funding, we cannot provide life-saving assistance. And if we cannot provide that assistance, people will pay with their lives,’ he said.

Due to the low level of donations, 10 million people in Afghanistan did not receive any food aid between May and November this year.

In Myanmar, it was not possible to build better accommodation for half a million displaced people as planned.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Allotey, the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, has elucidated extensively on Ghana’s reforestation and afforestation policy, disclosing that it is anchored on community engagement, accountability and transparency.

He was speaking on behalf of the Sector Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor at a high-level discussion on ‘Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as Leaders of Action to Halt and Reverse Forest Loss’ .

The event was hosted by the Peruvian Government at the ongoing COP28.

Mr John Allotey disclosed that Ghana’s Government through the Forestry Commission had been very open, engaging and accountable with its forest degradation reversal initiatives.

He noted that the heart of the interventions were community engagement and involvement of community stakeholders in the planning, execution and monitoring of policies.

He outlined a number of policy interventions which had indigenous people at the core of it and highlighted the transparent nature of the pol
icies.

He touched on the Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) intervention as one of such.

‘In Ghana we’ve made a lot of strides in bringing the indigenous people to the table through the measures we’ve put in place. We’ve mobilized the people to form a group made up of the community leaders and people around the areas. They are involved in designing programmes, execution and monitoring. They are also involved in the interventions we execute,’ he said

Mr Allotey expanded the conversation globally, urging countries to follow Ghana’s blueprint and ensure the active involvement of residents in their forest preservation plans.

He emphasised the importance of involving residents right from the embryonic stage of the process.

The Forestry Commission CE noted that such an approach would empower the locals to be interested in and come up with innovative ideas to guarantee the success and sustainability of the policies.

‘The community people are directly impacted by the forest. They derive their food, wate
r, basically their livelihood from the forest. Any discussion that bothers on forest conservation cannot happen without their involvement. We need to create a situation where they will be part of the process right from the beginning’, he added

‘We need to create ownership which means involving them right from the beginning. You need to look at how their needs will be taken care of. If you are able to do that then they will be part of the discussion. In most cases you have the decision taken from the top level and imposed on them. If you do that, they will not own the process.

‘It’s about bringing the key people to the table so that you hear from them and listen to their passions. In these areas, they know how to protect the forest compared to people at the top who sign the agreement. The platform provides a chance for all these persons to be on the same level. The platform provides information sharing’, he stated.

In selecting leaders to represent the indigenous people, Mr. Allotey mentioned that gender ma
nifestation, transparency and the youth should be considered.

He also touched on leadership accountability and governance structure.
Source: Ghana News Agency

 UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Trk on Monday called for greater solidarity to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Trk opened a two-day forum in Geneva with a minute of silence for the victims of human rights violations all over the world. Politicians and representatives from civil society will discuss past achievements and challenges for the future in the area of human rights.

The declaration, which was adopted by the UN on December 10, 1948, is seen as a milestone in social development. In its 30 articles it declares the equality of all people and sets out principles of freedom of speech and assembly, along with protection from arbitrary state action.

The declaration had brought hope from the ashes of global warfare, Trk said. Liberation movements had drawn strength, exploited people had stood up and demanded justice.

‘The drafters of the Universal Declaration transcended geopolitical clashes and economic differences. They set aside many terrible
disputes to achieve this luminous text, which lit the path to peace, justice and freedom,’ he said.

Trk issued a call for action. ‘At a time of so little solidarity, and so much divisive and short-sighted vision, I view it as a call to overcome polarisation. A call to work, with courage and principles, together, to resolve the huge challenges we face.’
Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President has called on the National House of Chiefs to work towards the prevention of chieftaincy disputes in the country.

He said the various Houses did not only exist for the purpose of solving disputes but also to prevent them from occurring.

Dr Bawumia made the call in an address read on his behalf at the coronation of N’Akoa Prophet Nazareth Ansah Jamson, Leader and Founder of the Israel King of Jews Church as Onamroko Adain Noyaa Mantse (Development Chief) at Dome.

He said chieftaincy disputes continued to unleash pain, derail development and destroy lives and properties.

Dr Bawumia said the situation also created unnecessary tenson, conflicts and clashes leading to the use of scarce resources by the government to maintain peace and order.

‘The worrisome actions and inactions by some chieftaincy factions which had the tendency to bring about disputes and conflicts should not be fanned’, he said adding that chiefs as custodians of the value and aspirations of the people w
ere sometimes the source of tension and conflict in the country.

Dr Bawumia called on the traditional rulers and kingmakers to ensure the rapid resolution of disputes that turned to tarnish the image of the chieftaincy institution.

Mr C.J, Reindnorf, Head of the Onamroko Adain family commended N’Akoa Jamson for his immense contribution to developmental projects in the communities.

N’Akoa Jamson, who is also the Head of the Spiritual Churches Council, thanked the family for the honour done him and called for unity and peace to ensure the rapid development of the nation.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Collins Yeboah-Afari, the Director-General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), has expressed confidence that the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the ICT sector will not result in job losses.

AI is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.

A statement issued by GI-KACE, copied to the Ghana News Agency said the Director-General reiterated that AI was designed to complement human efforts, streamline work processes, and empower existing workforce.

Dr Yeboah-Afari said this at the 20th-anniversary launch of GI-KACE in Accra on the theme ‘Building a Digital Legacy: Celebrating 20 Years of IT Training Excellence’.

The event marked the unveiling of a new logo for the Centre, symbolising its vision, commitment to innovation, and dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through strategic partnerships.

The Director-General highlighted the role of AI in enha
ncing efficiency and facilitating tasks and further reassured that AI should be viewed as a tool to empower the workforce rather than replace it.

He also there was a global effort to regulate the use of AI, preventing any potential misuse and ensuring responsible deployment of the technology.

Dr Yeboah-Afari outlined the organisation’s vision for the next five years, aspiring to see its trainees actively competing for employment opportunities with prominent technology companies such as Microsoft and Google.

He mentioned the recent launch of a class focused on training individuals in cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and data analytics.

Additionally, the ‘Restart Programme,’ sponsored by the World Bank, was introduced to provide free training to citizens in Microsoft AI, Power Intelligence, and other relevant areas.

Dr Yeboah-Afari underscored the commitment of GI-KACE to support individuals in adapting to new technologies, with trainers and lecturers continually upgrading their skill
s.

He expressed gratitude to current and previous leaders, including Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and former Director-Generals of GI-KACE: Madam Dorothy K. Gordon and Mr. Kwasi Adu-Gyan, for their unwavering support throughout the 20-year journey, recognising their pivotal contributions to the centre’s growth.

Madam Ama Pomaa Boateng, Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, commended GI-KACE for its impactful contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on promoting inclusivity, gender equality, and economic growth.

The Deputy Minister praised the centre for being a beacon of knowledge, nurturing talent, conducting groundbreaking research, and developing innovative ICT solutions over the past two decades.

She highlighted GI-KACE’s dedication to several SDG goals, with a focus on inclusivity for persons with disabilities and support for women.

In line with SDG Four – Quality Education, the Deputy Minister said GI-KACE had played a vital role as a cat
alyst for transformative learning experiences, ensuring that youth, including those with disabilities, have access to high-quality ICT education.

Founded in 2003 with the guidance of the late Kofi Annan, the Centre has been a catalyst for transformative learning experiences, contributing to the national agenda for digital transformation.

Under the diplomatic initiatives of Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye and former President John Agyekum Kufuor, GI-KACE has operated seamlessly under the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation.

The Centre’s commitment to shaping the technological landscape in Ghana is evident through its various initiatives and programs.

It has been instrumental in providing high-quality ICT education, empowering individuals with the skills needed to thrive in a digital era.
Source: Ghana News Agency