Lesotho Wire

A consortium of four is strategising in Ghana on ways to address the inequalities in the cocoa, mining and salt sectors to provide decent income for the poor in the value chain.

Oxfam, Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa), SOMO, and the Huairou Commission, are holding a four-day ‘fair for all’ conference to increase civil society efforts in that regard.

Among others, they would work with the private sector to find alternative business models, increase pressure on actors for a responsible financial system, improve governmental regulation, and advocate for fiscal and trade reforms.

Countries participating in the conference include Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, with support from Brazil, Italy, Palestine, and the Netherlands.

Speaking with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, February 13, Mr Francis Agbere, Just Economy Lead, Oxfam Ghana, said the priority of the consortium was to deconstruct existing value chain systems that did not work in favour of the poor.

‘The strategy is to
ensure that the value chains of cocoa, mining, and salt are organised in a way that people who everyday sees the reality and impact of these resources benefit and dealing with the injustices and inequalities that take from the poor and give to the rich,’ he said.

‘We will look within and outside, adopt strategies to ensure that the poor person in a community get a fair price for the commodity that they depend on for their livelihood and point to tangible benefits from the extraction made,’ he stated.

Mr Agbere explained that a multifaceted approach would be used to provide the space for host communities of resources to share their specific needs, while engaging corporate entities to have fair prices for farmers to earn decent income.

‘We’ll also work to provide the policy space that would crack the whip on multinational entities that operate within these value chains and respond to the UN guiding principles for businesses on respect for human rights,’ he noted.

Mr Sylvester Bagooro, Programme Officer, Thi
rd World Network-Africa, explained that while Africa had enormous resources, it had not seen the needed transformation over the years, and the dividend thereof for the poor.

‘This project has been conceived to empower citizens and organisations alike, so that we can see how much value our Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can also capture from the resources that are often exported by transnational corporations,’ said, Mr Bagooro.

He stated that the project would be keen on value addition, and addressing the systemic challenges associated with rules, which were detrimental to the progress of SMEs and the poor in various resource-rich communities.

‘It is through value addition that we can have the kind of employment, skills, and technology you’re looking for, and that’s how we build a transformational economy,’ he said.

The fair for all initiative is part of the global Power of Voices?with a budget amounting to 71 million euros and to be implemented between January 2021 and December 2025.

Source:
Ghana News Agency

There was brisk business on the eve of Valentine’s Day in Sunyani as shoppers throng the Central Business District (CBD) of the Bono Regional capital to purchase varieties of gifts and other items.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) market survey at the CBD Tuesday night revealed flourishing business in chocolates, toffees, underwear, panties, teddy bears and gift cards.

Around 2130 hours, shop owners along the shoulders of the principal streets in front of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and GCB Bank area had displayed their wares as several shoppers, mostly young adults, bargained.

Some of the traders told the GNA that demand for chocolates, red panties and underwear was encouraging, but that of teddy bears was poor.

Comparatively, the traders said this year’s sales were better than last year’s.

Madam Francisca Agyemang, a trader, attributed the poor demand for teddy bears partly to the high cost of the items, which sold between GHC200 and GHC500.

However, the small sizes ranged between GHC80 and GHC150.

An
other trader, Joyce Anima, expressed surprise at the patronage of Val’s items as most of her customers purchased their gifts on Valentine’s eve.

‘This time the demand for red panties, underwear and chocolate seems better. Some of the customers often asked for teddy bears, but the prices scare them from buying,’she stated.

Valentine’s Day or Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated annually on February 14 and originated as a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine.

The day has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of love where people care for and share with each other to strengthen their relationships.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

In a troubling turn of events, the mysterious death of Mr. Michael Fotabong, an offshore worker for Smit Lamnalco, has left his family in distress and seeking answers.

The Buea-based sea worker who departed from his hometown to work with the company operating around the Kribi ocean, was last heard from on Sunday February 4, 2024, when he communicated with his wife via phone.

According to the wife, the distressing news of his disappearance reached them the following morning when Mr. David Otte Nanje, a representative of Smit Lamnalco, who received the worker at the company, contacted his wife to report that her husband could not be located on the boat.

Our source stated. ‘After pressure from us, the company Lamnalco through Mr. Nanje Otte David lied that Mr. Michael Fotabong fell from the boat.’

Despite these claims. Mr. Fotabong’s family remained skeptical. ‘What is certain is that Mr. Michael is a very good swimmer and if he falls from the boat mistakenly without anyone harming him, he
will definitely swim and return to the boat.’ the source emphasized. ‘If someone harmed him, there is no way he can return to that boat.’

Amidst the turmoil, Gendarmerie authorities in Kribi have called on the family to collect a death certificate, after his body was discovered at sea. However skepticism persists, as the circumstances surrounding Mr. Fotabong’s disappearance remain shrouded in uncertainty.

Lawyer solicits Transport Minister’s intervention

In a recent development, a lawyer, Chuo Anguaba Jr. has joined the chorus of voices demanding justice for Mr. Michael Fotabong and accountability for the alleged human rights violations surrounding his disappearance within Cameroon’s waters.

Speaking on the matter, Barrister Angabua called on Cameroon’s Minister of Transport to ensure swift and transparent action to address the tragedy.

‘The loss of Mr. Fotabong under such circumstances is deeply troubling and demands a thorough investigation.’ Barrister Angabua stated in an open letter to the Transport
Minister. ‘We urge the Cameroonian authorities to conduct an impartial inquiry into the events leading up to his disappearance, ensuring that any potential negligence or wrongdoing is uncovered and those responsible are held accountable under the law.’

He went ahead to call for increased transparency from both Smit Lamnalco and Cameroonian authorities, urging them to fully cooperate with the investigation and provide access to relevant evidence. including CCTV footage from the vessel. ‘Transparency and accountability are essential in ensuring that justice is served for Mr. Fotabong and his family.’ Barrister Angabua affirmed.

It should be noted that all attempts to obtain CCTV footage of the said evening from the company’s proved futile.

With mounting pressure from the family and other stakeholders, the spotlight remains firmly on the Cameroonian authorities to take decisive action in addressing the alleged human rights violations and ensuring that similar incidents are prevented in the future.

Despit att
empts by the Cameroon News Agency to reach Mr. DAVOD OTTE for comment on the matter, all efforts have proved futile as he has not responded to any of our messages.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Volta Regional Directorate of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has marked the 2024 Regional National Chocolate Day with tourists and pupils at Wli in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region.

Chocolates were given to tourists who visited the Wli Waterfalls as well as some pupils of the Wli Afegame Roman Catholic School.

Mr Johnny Arthur-Quarm, the Volta Regional Director of GTA, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), disclosed that the Authority chose Wli waterfalls to enable tourists to have an experience of the Falls with its rich biodiversity.

He said the event would boost the local economy and develop tourism in the Wli area and the Volta Region in general.

Mr Arthur-Quarm said the Directorate had taken notice of an ongoing project; ‘Visitors Centre’ started by the Authority, which had stalled for more than a decade and promised to make the necessary follow-ups towards completing the project.

He said the Directorate would, through its Team of Product Development, visit lists of all
non-marketed tourist attractions in the region and ensure their development to a level that could be marketed.

Mr Arthur-Quarm, throwing more light on National Chocolate Day, said it was instituted in 2005 under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to coincide with Valentine’s Day, which fell on February 14.

It aims at encouraging local consumption of chocolates and cocoa products as well as creating a healthy orientation for Valentine’s Day.

Mr Musa Nudanu, Regent of Wli, commended the Authority for the gesture and called for steps to establish a chocolate sales point at the office of the Falls.

He sought the Authority’s assistance to revive the Wli Agumatsa Festival, which would serve as an avenue to showcase its tourism potential as well as the chocolates.

Mr Dennis Jordor, the Chairman of the Wli Governing Council, called on the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Tourism Ministry to complete the Wli receptive facility, for which sod was as far back as 2002.

He said the facility was
the first to take off in the country, but it was abandoned when it was 80 per cent complete, while others were completed.

Mr Nicholas Agbadza, the Assistant Headmaster of the Wli Afegame R.C School, expressed gratitude to the GTA for putting smiles on the faces of the pupils on such an important day, boosting their morale.

Some tourists who spoke to the Ghana News Agency commended the GTA for the initiatives to promote made-in-Ghana products.

The 2024 edition, held from February 9 to 14, was on the theme: ‘Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana’ and sub-themed: ‘Explore Ghana, Eat Chocolate.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Cocoa Processing Company of Ghana (CPC) has encouraged Ghanaians to make the country’s cocoa products a staple to derive their full health benefits.

Nana Agyemang Ansong, the Sales and Marketing Manager for CPC, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, said cocoa products must be inculcated in the daily meals of Ghanaians, especially for children, due to the numerous benefits that cocoa provides.

Mr. Ansong described cocoa as the gold of the forest, saying it contains nutritional elements that help in the cognitive development and dental health of children; therefore, there was a need to encourage them to consume more cocoa products.

He said for people battling diabetes and high blood sugar, cocoa products were the best remedy, as research had confirmed their ability to reduce blood sugar and control insulin in the body.

He said it also contains anti-cancer elements that help in preventing cancer, and that it was also perfect for asthmatic patients, while it boosts the production of br
east milk in lactating mothers.

‘I will advise the young ones to start taking in chocolate and cocoa products now, instead of waiting to be in their 50s and above, and then start fighting sicknesses and desiring to have a wrinkle-free face,’ he added.

He said that to make it easy for the public to consume cocoa products, CPC had come out with different varieties in the form of chocolate bars, spreads, pebbles, spreads, drinks, nutty, and many others.

Mr. Ansong said its all-time chocolate drink and Royale natural cocoa powder, which used to be in 400-gramme jars, have now been packaged in small sachet quantities in grammes of 10, 40, and 250 to make it easier for everyone to buy as well as consume at their own convenience.

He said CPC, in collaboration with its stakeholders, was working towards projecting Ghana as a country of the best quality chocolate to attract people all over the world, adding that, this must, however, begin with those in Ghana increasing their consumption of cocoa products.

Source:
Ghana News Agency

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has inaugurated a High-Level Productivity Statistics Technical Working Group in Accra.

The Group under the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Programme to determine the methodology, and policy relevance that will lead to the optimal use of the productivity data report.

It will create a user and?data producer dialogue, ensure the relevance of the statistical work, guide methodology and ensure the use of the productivity report.?

Professor Samuel Annim, the Government Statistician, speaking at the inauguration, said currently, the country did not produce officially both labour and multi-factor productivity statistics to inform evidence-based sectoral, industrial, and labour market policies as well as contribute to wage determination.?

He said in computing official productivity measures, the GSS had a critical role in the production and harmonisation of statistics on economic output, as well as on the l
abour and capital inputs of the economy.?

He said in February 2023, the ILO commissioned an international Consultant to work with the Service to conduct a statistical appraisal to determine data availability, gaps, and recommendations for the labour and Multi-factor productivity measurement.?

Mr David Marcos, a Representative of ILO, said the collaboration between the Organisation and the Service formed part of the implementation of the Productivity Ecosystem for Decent Work project funded by the Governments of Norway and Switzerland.

He said the programme was a global multi-country programme initiated by ILO in 2021 with operations in Ghana, Vietnam, and South Africa.

It seeks to promote productivity growth for decent, combining different approaches that strengthen productivity drivers across policy, sector, and enterprise levels.

Mrs Gloria Borterle Noi, the Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, said ILO’s commitment to promoting dece
nt work and enhancing productivity was commendable.

She said, ‘Our collective efforts are instrumental in shaping policies and practices that foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, improved working conditions and enhance the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide.’

‘Let us reaffirm our shared commitment to evidence-based policymaking and data-driven decision-making,’ she added.

She said productivity statistics played a crucial role in guiding policy formation, labour market interventions and investment strategies, particularly in the context of ongoing global challenges such as technological disruptions and demographic shifts.

Mrs Borterle Noi said, ‘Let us seize this opportunity to strengthen partnerships and collaboration among governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, research institutions and other stakeholders.’

She said by working together as a Technical Group, the members could leverage their respective expertise and resources to develop comprehensive and robust p
roductivity measurement frameworks that reflected the complexities of the modern economy and ensure the well-being of all stakeholders.??

Source: Ghana News Agency