Lesotho Wire

A network of indigenous women has been inaugurated to empower and push the rights and holistic development of women, girls, and People with Disabilities (PwDs) in the country.

The Network for Women’s Rights and Environmental Governance (NEWREG) comprises 15-member women Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Eastern regions.

Besides promoting the well-being of indigenous women and girls, the organisation further sought to mitigate the impact of climate change and promote environmental sustainability in the five regions.

Members would also share experiences, promote mineral governance, and deliberate, identify and tackle challenges confronting the growth of their respective challenges as well as other problems inimical to the development of women, girls and PwDs.

The Sunyani-based Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG), an environmentally inclined NGO with support from the Global Green Grant Fund brought the women together to form the NEWREG.

Global Green Grant Fund i
s one of the leading organisations in the world supporting grassroots-led efforts to protect the planet and the rights of people, impacting millions of lives around the globe.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the network, Mr Richard Adjei-Poku, the Executive Director of LEG, highlighted the purpose of the network and asked the members to focus and strategize well to achieve their objectives.

He noted that the impact of climate change was well felt and had a direct link with women and girls, children and the PWDs, hence the need for the network to help intensify advocacy on national adaptation and mitigation measures.

Mr Adjei-Poku commended the Global Green Grant Fund for its continuous support to Ghana and expressed the hope that other development partners would assist the network in undertaking its activities to achieve desirable outcomes.

Ms Irene Owusu, the Convener of the Network, said the meeting would also enable the members to rev
iew and adopt a constitution.

She called on other NGOs and funding organisations to come to their aid and support their activities too.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The trade-in scales of pangolins are increasingly becoming more profitable and this poses a threat to attempts by environmentalists and stakeholders to effectively conserve the species, which are on the verge of extinction.

All eight pangolin species in the world are protected under national and international laws, and two are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

According to Mr David Kwarteng, Executive Director of the Institute of Nature, and Environmental Conservation (INEC) Ghana, research conducted by the organization submitted for publication, highlighted that pangolins were not only for local consumption but also had huge international trade in its scales.

INEC Ghana, he said had already intercepted more than 100 pangolin scales and reported to the Kumasi Zoological Gardens and called on stakeholders to help curtail the increasing rate of pangolin scale trade on international and local markets.

Making the appeal
during this year’s World Pangolin Day celebration held at Toase Senior High School in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of Ashanti Region, he said the organization had set camera traps to monitor the population of pangolins to see whether the numbers would bounce back.

This would help inform the public in a few years whether the rate of exploitation matches the population.

The Day was used to sensitize students and raise awareness of conservation and profile of the species.

Mr Kwarteng believed that with frequent sensitization, community engagements and sustainable alternative livelihoods ‘we can win the war against exploitation of pangolins in Ghana.’

He indicated that in Ghana pangolins were considered as ‘chief’s meat’ and were highly regarded due to their palatability.

The scales are believed to cure more than 17 illnesses, and this made medicinal practitioners chase after the animal.

Madam Jemimah Owusu Kessie, Assistant Manager of the Kumasi Zoological Gardens, called on the public to active
ly contribute to protecting animals, especially pangolins, which had enormous benefits in safeguarding the ecosystem.

She said the Zoo was collaborating with NGOs including INEC, individuals and communities through sensitization and outreach programmes to protect such animals.

Explaining how these rescued animals were catered for, she said usually when these animals were brought to the authorities, they treated and rehabilitated them before re-introducing them into the wild.

‘Those who are too weak to be re-introduced, we keep and nurse them till they are better,’ she added.

They consume about 20,000 ants in a day and keeping them in homes will not help them survive, the Assistant Zoo Manager pleaded.

Mr Solomon Yeboah, the Senior Housemaster of Toase SHS, said due to the socio-economic importance of pangolins, he would brief the school’s management on the benefits and subsequently form a fun club to conserve wildlife and other species that impacted the environment positively.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The 67th National Independence Day anniversary celebration is set to take place on March 6, 2024, in Koforidua, Eastern Region, on the theme, ‘Our Democracy, Our Pride.’

The Planning Committee of the 67th Independence Day Anniversary has, therefore, briefed journalists in the region on the public protocols to be observed during the upcoming Independence Day in Koforidua.

Following the prelaunch and official launch, Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, has pointed out the need for residents to cooperate with road traffic authorities, and follow traffic regulations to maintain orderliness before and during the anniversary celebration.

He said the public should expect traffic during the national event as there would be the closure of major streets including the Poly-Junction and Gallaway in the New Juaben South Municipality.

He said the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service was currently planning the routes that would be closed off and utilised by the
officials and dignitaries attending the ceremony.

Among the expected attendees at the anniversary celebration would be President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, some 120 ambassadors, and high commissioners from different countries.

Others would be President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament and Members of Parliament, the Chief Justice, and former presidents of Ghana.

On the region’s preparation, Mr. Acheampong highlighted that the 11 paramountcies would present their unique cultural dances and traditional attire to display the diversity of the Eastern region.

Schools within and outside Koforidua would be part of the march past.

Billboards carrying messages on the anniversary would be mounted at vantage points; while a re-enactment of the independence declaration of Ghana’s freedom would be held at the Koforidua Jubilee Park on March 5, 2024.

The Ghana Armed Forces would display the 67th Independence anniversary fireworks at Koforidua.

The Minister urged the committee to wor
k progressively for a successful celebration.

The Eastern region is surrounded by Lake Volta, the Bono East, Ashanti, Central, and Greater Accra regions.

Akans are the primary residents, with Ewe, Krobo, Hausa, Akan and English as the predominant languages spoken.

The region is the home of power generation for Ghana, as the Akosombo dam, plays a significant role in powering the economy through its high-capacity electricity generation.

The region spans 19,323 square kilometres, accounting for approximately 8.1 per cent of Ghana’s total land area.

Also in the Eastern region, there are several tourist centres, such as Lake Volta, Boti Falls, Umbrella Rock, and many others, that are wonderful destinations for tourists.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), says the GHS2 billion loss to the Board in 2021 was because of the decline in the international market price of cocoa.

The price of cocoa on the global market had experienced a significant drop of over 30 per cent in recent years, which contributed to the substantial loss incurred.

Appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Wednesday, Mr Aidoo attributed the challenges to factors like smuggling and illegal mining (galamsey).

He indicated that plans were underway to address the challenges posed by the declining cocoa prices with the implementation of strategies to mitigate further losses.

‘Mr Chairman, we are on the path of a turnaround. COCOBOD’s financial situation is dictated by the international market price, that’s the world cocoa price, and we all know that from 2017 to the date in question, the price of cocoa in the world market has collapsed by 30 per cent. And in 2020 that is also when we had ou
r highest production.’

‘So when prices collapsed at the time when we had increased yield, the direct cost and inventory go up whereas the revenue generated goes down,’ he said.

‘…That is what explains the huge deficit for the particular year. Essentially yes we had record production, the prices at the international market did not favour us.’

Mr Murtala Mohammed, a Member of PAC, however called for Mr Boahen Aidoo’s resignation over the decline in cocoa production.

The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Tamale Central further criticised Mr Aidoo for his alleged inability to address the decline in cocoa production and falling short of the projected targets.

‘Mr Chairman, failure to resolve the issues should prompt his resignation,’ Mr Mohammed said.

The PAC began its public hearing on Monday, January 29, 2024 to consider a report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the year ended December 31, 2022.

It would also evaluate
a report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Public, Boards, Corporations and other statutory institutions for the period.

PAC is expected to bring its proceedings to an end on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Plan International Ghana is implementing the ‘Be Smart-Learn and Stay Protected Project’ as part of activities to provide livelihoods to needy young people in the Eastern and Oti regions.

The project is being funded by Nivea through the Germany National Office in 20 communities in the two regions.

A needs assessment on demand driven livelihood needs across the 20 communities have been conducted through the district partners and community level structures.

The beneficiaries, including four seamstress, two hairdressers, two bakers and one soap maker, were given start-up tools like industrial sewing machines, hair dryers, ovens, gas cylinders, soap making kits, pressing irons, and baking flour to aid their vocations.

Others would also undergo an apprenticeship in bread and pastry making.

They were selected from New Ayoma, Atonkor, Okadjakrom, Bodada, Kute, Nsuta, Teteman, Akaa, Atwereboana and Old Baika communities in the Jasikan Municipality.

Giving the background of the project at a two-day training work
shop at Jasikan in the Oti Region, Mr Bless Kofi Vieku, Project Manager, ‘Be Smart, Learn and Stay Protected Project’ said the phase I (2021-2023) revealed that some youth dropped out of school due to teenage pregnancy, poor academic performance, and financial constraints.

As a result, many of them, especially the females, went into early marriages without any skills or income-generating activities, thereby making them entirely dependent on their partners for survival.

That exposed them to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as they were unable to make key decisions concerning their development and welfare independently.

Mr Vieku said the young men on the other hand engaged in activities inimical to their well-being, frequently becoming the perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence.

The project, thus, aims to identify those young adults and support them to engage in income-generating activities to help them earn a decent living.

Mr Vieku said similar interventions were taking place in the Akua
pem North and Upper Manya Krobo districts of the Eastern Region.

Mrs Elizabeth Kesewaa Addjornor-Anim, Jasikan Municipal Chief Executive, commended Plan International Ghana for supporting the municipality with infrastructure, materials, intellectual and skills training for the youth and advised the beneficiaries to put the knowledge acquired to good use.

Nana Udiene Mantey I, Asafohene of New Ayoma, advised the apprentices to take their training seriously and advised those supported with start-up tools to handle them with care to prolong their lifespans.

Miss Evelyn Agyei, a beneficiary from the Akaa Community, , expressed profound gratitude to the benefactors for the training, saying, ‘I have learned a lot.’

The participants were taken through book-keeping, budgeting, and marketing, among other areas.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Personnel of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have been urged to work harder to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products in the country to enhance revenue generation and protection of public health.

A study conducted by the School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (SPH-KNUST), revealed that trade in illicit tobacco products was high in the country with the Tamale and Aflao markets being tops in the trade.

This came to light at a workshop organised for GRA officers on the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products by the SPH-KNUST, in collaboration with the Vision for Alternative Development, and the Food and Drugs Authority.

It was to sharpen the officers’ skills in the Protocol to effectively enforce the illicit tobacco laws at the country’s borders to plug the loopholes in tax revenue generation.

Mr Divine Darlington Logo, the Principal Research Officer of Ghana Health Service, touching on the study, said one in five cigarettes sold in Ghana was illici
t and the sale of single sticks of cigarettes was 100 per cent common on the markets.

‘One in three retailers sold illicit packs and close to half of illicit tobacco products originate from Togo,’ he stated.

Dr Arti Singh of the SPH-KNUST said Illicit tobacco trade refers to all illegal activities related to the tobacco trade, including the production, shipment, distribution and sale or purchase of the product.

‘The illegal activities increase the accessibility and affordability of tobacco products and cause substantial losses in government tax revenues and contribute to the funding of transnational criminal activities,’ she said.

The Protocol was the first of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO?FCTC) and its objective (Article 3) was to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products through a package of measures.

It was developed in response to the growing international illicit trade in tobacco products; adopted by consensus on November 12, 2012, at the F
ifth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC and entered into force on September 25, 2018.

Currently, 68 countries have ratified the protocol, which helped in preventing illicit trade by securing the supply chain, Dr Singh said.

Dr Mrs Olivia Agyekumwaa Boateng, Director, Tobacco and Substances Abuse Directorate – FDA, and Ghana WHO FCTC Focal Person, said tobacco control was a multi-faceted issue that needed every hand on board to deal with.

‘Thankfully we are making progress in the international space and people are looking up to Ghana but there are still more that we can do so we need the support of all,’ she added.

Dr Alex Moyem Kombat, Assistant Commissioner of Research and Policy – GRA, said tobacco-related illnesses accounted for three per cent of all deaths in the country and cost Ghana GHc668 million every year, equivalent to 0.2 per cent of annual GDP to take care of the diseases.

‘GRA has made frantic efforts in tobacco control using taxes and put in place several measures to
fight the illicit tobacco trade,’ he said, adding: ‘Eliminating illegal importation of tobacco is a collective fight. Therefore, we must all put our hands on deck to fight the menace.’

Dr Kombat called for more resources, personnel, logistics, and equipment to fight the illicit trade while urging the construction of warehouses and inspection bays at the borders, strengthening of collaboration with state agencies and international bodies and application of more technology to aid the fight.

Mr Labram Musah, the Executive Director of Vision for Alternative Development, reiterated the call for earmarking some of the tax revenues from the health-harming products to support health activities in the country.

He urged the GRA to inform the public of steps being undertaken to destroy confiscated illegal health products, especially the recently impounded GHc7.9 million worth of tobacco products, to avoid speculations.

Source: Ghana News Agency