Category: General

The outputs of commercial agro production and processing companies are being affected by the attitude of some farm out-growers.

Mr Chris Amponsah Sackey of the Projects Department of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) said major agro companies in the country faced growing disappointment from out-growers they contract to meet input demand.

He raised the concern at a stakeholder breakfast meeting in Ho organised by GEPA, saying the situation needed to be addressed to save numerous agro processing companies springing up across the country, under the Government’s industrialisation initiative.

Citing the experience of Caltech, Ghana’s largest processor of cassava, he said the company was facing growing dishonesty from its out-growers.

He said Caltech depended on the supply agreement with hundreds of farmers in Volta Region where its factory was located, and the Company’s operations had been significantly hit as the out-grower outputs failed to meet targets.

Mr Amponsah said some farmers under contra
ct refused to sell their produce to the Company despite receiving free seeds and other input including land preparation.

‘They are spending time and money chasing out-growers for their produce. This is affecting majority of these companies, and out-growers need to understand the concept and help grow industrialisation,’ he said.

Mr Amponsah told the GNA that it was an attitudinal challenge, therefore education should be considered for the farming community.

He called for law-backed and strict agreements for such endeavours, saying, the Government and sector stakeholders should consider disciplinary measures to help sustain out-grower programmes.

‘Education is key. We need to disabuse mindsets. Out-growers should understand that they are helping themselves and the nation as well,’ adding that the Volta Region’s prominence as a cassava production and processing hub was being affected by the situation.

The Volta had great potential and could significantly contribute towards the realisation of the targeted 2
5.3 billion dollar export revenue for the country, as starch also could fetch over two billion dollars for the region, but the cassava industry was suffering, Mr Amponsah said.

The breakfast meeting brought together stakeholders in the Volta Region to deliberate on growing the export economy.

Participants included the leadership of the Association of Ghana Industries in the Region, the Ghana EXIM Bank, and the Director of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Augustus Awiti.

Mr Alexander Dadzawa, the Programmes Director of GEPA, said the Volta Region was fast becoming an export hub and commended the various entrepreneurs that help up the sector.

He said the Region among others embraced the GEPA’s coconut revitalisation project, and should sustained the patronage to help expand the prospects of the tree crop

Ms Doris Bansah, the Regional Director of GEPA, said the meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration among the various stakeholders, noting a ‘lack of full linkage’ among stakeholders on export
.

She said it was the first meeting of its kind by the Authority in the Region and should help address the ‘low economic and slow pace of progress of the export sector in Volta.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Cape Coast High Court II has set Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to constitute a jury to sit on the murder case of a 25-year-old prospective nurse, Georgina Asor Botchwey at Mankessim in September 2022.

The court, presided over by Justice John Mark Nuku Alifo, made the decision at the case management conference held in chambers on Thursday, at which all parties were present.

Present at the conference were Principal State Attorney, Vincent Nyineku and Madam Monica Geraldo-Delima, the Assistant State Attorney for the prosecution, Mr Daniel Amosa holding brief for Michael Monney, for Christopher Ekow Clark Quansah, who is the first accused and Mr Roland Hamilton, for Michael Darko, the second accused.

The two accused persons, Quansah, alias Nana Clark, 65-year-old trader and Darko, 48-year-old pastor, were also present.

The court agreed that the pathologist who conducted the autopsy on the deceased would be in Court to present his report, while the prosecution was also expected to engage Akan language interpre
ters.

The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Quansah and Darko are standing trial for allegedly murdering Asor in cold blood at Mankessim.

They pleaded not guilty to the offences of conspiracy to commit murder and murder when they appeared before the Cape Coast High Court II on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

They also pleaded not guilty to three charges of unlawfully possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition.

The court shot down an application by counsel to admit them to bail.

The judge directed the prosecution to file all disclosures and witness statements and serve same on the lawyers of the accused within two weeks to ensure an expedited trial.

The facts of the case are that the deceased, Georgina Asor Botchwey, a resident of Yeji in the Bono East Region and an applicant seeking admission at the Ankaful Psychiatric Nursing School in the Central Region, arrived in Cape Coast on Thursday, September 8, 2022, for an interview at the school.

Upon arrival, Botchwey called Darko who was
her senior sister’s fiancé and informed him about her presence in the region and her mission there.

Darko then offered to pick her up after her interview at the Nursing School and later arrived in a taxi as had been arranged and sent her to Pedu Junction in Cape Coast, where Quansah had parked his Benz Car with registration number GT 8686-C, and she joined them.

Quansah then drove them to Akwaakrom near Mankessim, seized the deceased’s iPhone and locked her in a room.

The accused persons went to Asikafo Ambantem, a suburb of Mankessim, where they allegedly dug a hole in an uncompleted storey building belonging to Quansah and went back for the lady.

On September 9, 2022, around mid-day, Quansah and Darko allegedly killed Georgina by hitting her head with a club and when she fell Darko held her neck till she died.

The two allegedly took away some pubic hair of the deceased and left the uncompleted storey building around 0200hours the next day.

A complaint was lodged with the police by the deceased’s broth
er, Alfred Duodu, a soldier, after frantic efforts made to reach his sister proved futile.

The police later picked up an intelligence that it was Darko who picked Georgina at Ankaful.

Armed with the information, the police searched for Darko, who was arrested on Friday, September 19, at Anomabo and he admitted to the crime.

He subsequently led the police to where the deceased had been buried and the body was exhumed.

Further police intelligence led to the arrest of Quansah from his hideout at Ekumfi Akwaakrom.

The accused persons were first put before the Cape Coast District Court II, presided over by Madam Bernice Mensima Ackon, and were charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

Recent data from Netblocks.org has shed light on a widespread internet disruption across South, East, and West Africa, impacting a total of thirteen countries.

Among these nations, Ivory Coast emerges as severely affected, with four others-Liberia, Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso-experiencing high levels of disruption.

Cameroon according to statistics finds itself among those experiencing medium levels of disruption, alongside Togo, Gabon, Namibia, and Niger.

Meanwhile, Nigeria, Lesotho, South Africa are said to experience disruptions at a lower level.

The situation, attributed to a cable failure on the West Africa Cable System, has prompted urgent rerouting measures by Dimension Data, a prominent provider in South Africa.

However, these efforts have encountered setbacks as the alternative route via the Seacom line is also saturated due to damages to Seacom’s own undersea cable.

Complicating matters further, repair efforts in the Red Sea, critical for restoring connectivity, face dela
ys as authorization for maintenance may take up to eight weeks to obtain. The delay prolongs the agony for businesses, individuals, and essential services already battling with the consequences of severed internet connections.

The repercussions of this disruption can be felt across various sectors, including finance, education, healthcare, and communication. Businesses that rely on online transactions and communication platforms have recently faced significant hurdles, while Healthcare services, dependent on telemedicine and online consultations, encounter challenges in reaching patients and delivering essential care.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Tragedy struck on Friday, March 15, in the Mile 6 neighborhood of Nkwen, along the Bamenda-Bambili road, as a collision between a private vehicle and a taxi claimed the lives of both the taxi driver and a passenger.

According to sources, the passenger tragically lost his life at the scene of the accident, while the taxi driver succumbed to his injuries later at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda.

‘The black private car was on top speed when it suddenly found itself on the other said of the road colliding with the taxi. The occupants of the private owned vehicle fled the scene after the accident. The vehicle was coming from the Mile 6 direction while the taxi was heading towards Bamenda,’ an eyetwiness described the scene to drayinfos.

Shey Rene, President of the Mezam Professional Taxi Drivers Trade Union, lamented, ‘All efforts to save the driver’s life were futile.’ Health experts revealed that the driver suffered severe leg injuries and internal bleeding.

The driver, identified as a member of the Islami
c faith, had his body handed over to Muslim authorities in Bamenda for burial.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Tragedy struck on Friday, March 15, in the Mile 6 neighborhood of Nkwen, along the Bamenda-Bambili road, as a collision between a private vehicle and a taxi claimed the lives of both the taxi driver and a passenger.

According to sources, the passenger tragically lost his life at the scene of the accident, while the taxi driver succumbed to his injuries later at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda.

‘The black private car was on top speed when it suddenly found itself on the other said of the road colliding with the taxi. The occupants of the private owned vehicle fled the scene after the accident. The vehicle was coming from the Mile 6 direction while the taxi was heading towards Bamenda,’ an eyetwiness described the scene to drayinfos.

Shey Rene, President of the Mezam Professional Taxi Drivers Trade Union, lamented, ‘All efforts to save the driver’s life were futile.’ Health experts revealed that the driver suffered severe leg injuries and internal bleeding.

The driver, identified as a member of the Islami
c faith, had his body handed over to Muslim authorities in Bamenda for burial.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Mr Austin A. Gamey, a Labour Expert has said while Ghana needs good leadership to move the country forward it also need a strong economy that would create avenues and job opportunities for all the people to thrive.

Mr Gamey, who is also a former Minister of State, made this remark when he delivered a paper at an event on the topic ‘One Hour to Midnight Only the Bride will be ready for Rapture,’ at Ashiaman in Accra.

He said the nation deserved quality leadership, better governance and accountability, and a strong economy that created opportunities for all.

‘We must do away with corruption, greed and other social cankers that militates against the development of the nation,’ Mr Gamey, who is also the Head pastor of the Abundance Grace Tabernacle said.

He said the country must make progress and build a better society for the nation adding that ‘we must hold on to hope, determination and a collective will to overcome and build the Ghana we want for ourselves and the future generations’.

Mr Gamey called on
all to join hands in the fight against corruption which had bedeviled the country.

On the 2024 general elections, Mr Gamey called for peace before, during and afterwards.

He called for the complete rejection of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals, Transgender, Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) describing it as abomination.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Adventist Heritage Cooperative Fund (AHCoF) has extended its services to the Abrepo and Suame areas by opening a new branch at the Northern Ghana Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) at Abrepo Akoko Specs in Kumasi.

The extension of the micro credit and financial support services aims at helping the people in the area, especially members of the church, to easily access credit facilities to support and expand their businesses.

Mrs Elizabeth Kusi-Nsiah, the Chief Executive Officer of AHCoF, said the fund, an investment and micro credit scheme of the S.D.A church, also supported church projects, tithes, evangelism, media projects, schools and hospitals.

The inauguration of the new office was in response to the growing population, opportunities, as well as the convenience of business and customers in Abrepo, Suame and the nearby environs.

Mrs Kusi – Nsiah said as at December 31, 2023, the total assets of the fund stood at GH ?104,140,344.20.

Total contributions of members also stoo
d at GH ?78,952, 093.10.

The fund had supported various projects to the tune of GH?69,383,431.00, while its net worth stood at GH?23,727,204.83.

The new office would bring services closer to the door steps of customers in that area , she said, and assured stakeholders and customers of the credibility of the fund and safety of their investments.

Pastor Dr, Kwame Annor Boahene, the Board Chairman of AHCof, said the new office was in fulfilment of the fund’s mandate to maintaining growth and expansion to serve members better.

Dr. Samuel Koranteng Pipim, of the fund’s Chaplaincy, said the office was part of efforts to sell the brand of the Adventist Heritage Cooperative Fund Limited.

It would also encourage society to quickly identify and experience the Adventist heritage brand and create the desire to choose its products over other competitors.

In a related development, the fund donated seats to the Out Patients Department (OPD) of the Kwadaso SDA Hospital.

It also presented GH?20,000.00 to the Hospital t
o offset the bills of patients who were unable to do so.

Dr Randoulf Baah Adu, the Medical Director of the Hospital, called on other organisations to emulate the gesture and assured that the donations would be used for their intended purposes.

Source: Ghana News Agency