Category: General

The Moroccan national team won the Futsal African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024), for the third time in a row, after beating Angola 5-1 in the final played Sunday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Hall in Rabat.

In this occasion, HM King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to the members of the national futsal team.

In this message, HM the King expresses to the members of the national futsal team His warm congratulations for winning the 7th Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by the capital of the Kingdom, with hospitality and unparalleled organization.

The Sovereign also expressed His great pride in the firm determination shown by the members of the national team to win, for the third time in a row, this continental title, driven by exemplary patriotism and serious commitment to promote Moroccan football and sport.

Reiterating His congratulations to the members of the national team and all technical and administrative executives of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, His Majesty the King prays th
e Almighty to grant them greater success and awards during the 2024 World Cup in Uzbekistan, and in their sustained efforts to climb the highest steps of the podiums on continental and international levels.

Earlier in the day, Libya beat Egypt 3-1 on penalties (regular time: 2-2) to secure the third spot.

The top three teams in this African contest book their tickets at the Futsal World Cup, which will be held in Uzbekistan from September 14 to October 6.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Numerous events dedicated to Thracian culture are coming up in Kazanlak in 2024, Dr. Momchil Marinov, Director of the local Iskra Historical Museum, told BTA on Monday.

Most of the events will be dedicated to two important anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the discovery of the Kazanlak Thracian tomb and the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Seuthes III in what came to be known as Golyama Kosmatka mound near Shipka in central Bulgaria.

The tomb and cult complex Ostrusha, which has been completely restored, will be officially opened to visitors on April 29. On April 30, an exhibition dedicated to the Kazanlak Tomb will be opened in the Museum.

The purpose of the exhibition is to show new data about the conservation practices applied at the site over the decades. ‘Somehow, being engaged with day-to-day issues, we do not pay attention to the fact that this monument has been adequately protected over many decades and that it is one exemple of how Bulgaria should treat its cultural and histor
ical heritage,’ said Marinov.

The yearly scientific conference on thracology and archaeological research related to antiquity, will also be held on or around the anniversary, with the most prominent researchers in the field expected to take part. Lectures will be organized every month during the year and admission to all initiatives will be free, added Marinov.

Guest exhibitions from other museums are also planned in Kazanlak. ‘Original exhibits related to antiquity and, in particular, the Thracian heritage, which are owned by major Bulgarian museums, will be visiting Kazanlak,’ said Marinov. The programme for the upcoming exhibitions will be announced in the near future.

The celebrations will conclude in September with the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Seuthes III in Golyama Kosmatka mound. The objective is to make these events as accessible as possible to the public, so that people can gain a deeper understanding of the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

Source: Ghana Ne
ws Agency

Farmers in the Bono East Region have accepted the phase II of the planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative by the government to increase food production and to check food security in the area.

The farmers observed that the phase II of the programme entails a comprehensive package of getting easy access to inputs and chemicals to motivate and facilitate work of farmers to be able to produce in quantity.

The farmer’s expressed the sentiment at a day sensitization meeting at Techiman in the Bono East Regional organized by the Department of Agriculture to train farmers and other stakeholders to acquire all the necessary knowledge about the programme.

They noted that the programme was introduced at the right time that they were in the farming season and were ready to apply all the knowledge acquired to be able to produce quality food for both local consumption and export to generate foreign exchange for the country.

Mr. Bawa Amidu Bono, East Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Department of Ag
riculture, said the phase II of the progamme was intended to solve all the limitations and challenges of the PFJ Phase.

Mr. Amidu indicated that the key objectives of the programme included ensuring food security, increase productivity and production, promoting import substitution, exports, agro-processing, creating jobs and wealth, particularly for the youth.

Mr. James Adu, Bono East Regional Director for the Department of Agriculture, disclosed that 11 Priority commodity value chains were selected for the realization of the objectives of the PFJ Phase II which include Rice, Maize, and Soya bean, Sorghum, Tomato, Pepper, Onion, Cassava, Yam, and Plantain.

Mr. Adu said the PFJ phase II would move away from direct input subsidy to smart agricultural credit, which may come as Input Credit System, Quality Fertilizer, Improved Seeds, Support Services, Day-old chicks, Feed and vaccines, Secured Credit, Storage and Distribution Infrastructure as well as commodity trading to guarantee market and stabilize prices,
Digital Agricultural and Agribusiness Platform, line of sight management, monitoring, and coordination inclusive.

He called on all to support the implementation of the programme to help fight food insecurity to be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has boosted the processing of cashew fruits with an initiative dubbed the Maximizing Gains from Cashew Production for Youth Development Project (MA-Cash).

The aim of the M-Cash project is to promote research into efficient methods of processing the by-product of cashew and its consumer acceptability.

The 18-month project will be carried out in two regions, notably the Bono and Bono East regions of Ghana.

The CSIR will engage relevant stakeholders and partners to implement the project.

The relevant stakeholders and partners include six farmer groups, the Institute of Industrial Research and Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited.

The MA-Cash project was launched at the Inception Workshop organized by the CSIR at their head office in Accra.

A report from the Bono Regional Ministry indicates that 900,000 metric tons of cashew fruits go to waste annually.

According to the regional ministry, the cashew fruits go to waste due to the absenc
e of processing materials, a disjointed value chain, price fluctuations, and a poor farm management culture.

Professor Charls Tortoe, Director of CSIR, said the project, when implemented, would scale up cashew processing in Ghana.

He said the MA-Cash project would address the post-harvest losses of the cashew fruits and improve the processing of the fruits into other products, including juices, concentrates, and drinks.

‘It may interest you to know that CSIR and the Food Research Institute’s (FRI) efforts to apply research findings to problems pertaining to cashew fruit waste, poverty alleviation, and youth-led sustainable economic growth have led to the development of the MA-Cash project.

We expect the project to reduce waste, enhance the quality of processed cashew fruits and by-products, and improve cashew yields through agrobiodiversity. We expect the project to increase income for youth groups who are successfully running their cashew businesses,’ he said.

Dr. Emmanuel Kyereh, a food scientist at th
e Food Research Institute (FRI), said the MA-Cash project went beyond the processing of cashew fruits since it included other aspects, particularly youth support programs.

He said the project would play a major role in improving the economic prospects of the cashew fruits since the economic benefits of the nuts had been fully utilized and realized.

Mr. Francis Owusu Ansah, Chief Business Officer for Opportunity International Savings and Loans, said financial institutions have a major role to play in the implementation of the project.

He said the financial institution’s role was to address the financial aspect of the project by providing the required support to businesses within the cashew fruit value chain.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Fitch Solutions, an international rating agency, says the Ghanaian cedi will bounce back to an appreciating trajectory very soon.

The rating agency said factors, notably the progress the government had made regarding the restructuring of its commercial debt, would strengthen the cedi.

The rating agency said it expected that the progress made would boost investor confidence in Ghana’s economy and policymaking processes, leading to increased foreign exchange inflows and a consequent strengthening of the cedi in the second half of 2024.

Fitch Solution said it also expected that the Ghanaian cedi would recoup some of its recent losses in the months ahead, ending the year at USD 12.25.

According to the rating agency, the currency had depreciated by 11 percent against the US dollar so far this year, positioning it among the worst-performing currencies globally.

It also noted that the depreciation was coupled with worsening reserves, which occasioned low import cover.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some 100 women from four catchment communities of the Amanzule Wetlands in the Ellembelle district of Western region have been taken through various livelihood skills to reduce their dependency on the Amanzule Wetlands resources towards its sustainable conservation.

The four areas are Ampain, Azulenloanu, New Bakanta and Old Bakanta.

The beneficiary women, between the ages of 23 and 45 had for a long time trusted their mainstay to cutting of wetlands mangroves for firewood, fish smoking and mongering while, others cut the mangroves serving as a source of breeding grounds and other ecological activities for fishes and migrating birds for other household uses.

The women were trained in alternative livelihoods including soap making, decoration, pastries and beads making.

The self-employable skills training by the Centre for Sustainable Rural Agriculture and Development (CSRAD) was under its project; ‘Greening and Integrating Youth and Women to Strengthen the Conservation of the Amanzule Wetlands for Generati
onal Benefits’ funded by the New England Biolabs Foundation.

Dr. Michael Kermah, the Director for CSRAD and the Project Manager indicated that the Amanzule wetland was a biodiversity hotspot which hosted diversity of wildlife of global conservation importance including some that were classified as critically endangered (e.g. Mecistops cataphractus) by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

He said, apart from the livelihoods training, the project had developed animated handbook on wetlands, wise use principles and sustainable conservation approaches for dissemination and education of women while, leaflets with the same content had been printed for further education of school children.

He said in addition, the project was finalising the development of an Amanzule Wetlands Mobile App to serve as Mobile Digital Book with information on the local, national, and global significance, wise use principles, endangered wildlife, and creative conservation approaches.

On his part, the Head of Programmes at CSRAD, M
r. Ebenezer C. Adebah, revealed that an earlier project implemented by CSRAD between 2018 and 2019, which was also funded by the New England Biolabs Foundation with support from the Rufford Foundation, educated school children in the four catchment communities on innovative conservation approaches.

The children then identified critical conservation threats in their respective communities and developed and matched specific conservation approaches to address those threats and exhibited them at a conservation forum.

Mr. Emmanuel Ackon, the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer for CSRAD said the current project which began in August 2023 in the area would contribute immensely to strengthening the conservation of the Amanzule wetlands and its associated endangered wildlife or biodiversity and ecosystem benefits.

A grand durbar held to climax the livelihood training programme was attended by diverse stakeholders including, the chief of Bakanta, Nana Ackah Nwozah III, Wildlife Officer from the Ghana Forest
ry Commission in Ellembelle District, Mr. Jaward D. Dramani, the District Director of the Business Advisory Center (BAC), Mr. Edward Arthur, and Mr. Isaac Owusu Manu, Director for Community Development Agency at the Ellembelle District Assembly and other media including West End Radio.

The Chief of Bakanta community was pleased with the training of the women but called for start-up support to help the women to fully function.

The Officer from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission praised CSRAD and the donor partners for the alternative livelihoods provided for the rural women.

He said to drive ‘the achievement of a sustainably conserved wetlands, women economic empowerment and bridging the social inequality gap between men and women is highly needed as they equitably contribute to sustainable conservation.’

Some of the women expressed unflinching joy for the skills acquired and asked that they were resourced with start-up packages to enable them to start their own businesses soon.

Ms Theresa A
ndoh Ackah, a 23-year single mother who dropped out of dressmaking apprenticeship was happy that the free alternative skills could take her out of her current economic difficulties and reduce her dependency on the wetland for livelihood.

Source: Ghana News Agency