African Leaders: How Much Money Can You Chop?
Ghana's ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, was declared a fugitive by prosecutors.
Thomas Naadi | BBC News, Accra
Ghana's ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, declared a fugitive by prosecutors
Thomas Naadi | BBC News, AccraGhana's ex-finance minister declared a fugitive
The 66-year-old left Ghana on or around 2 January, prosecutors say
Ghana's former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been declared a fugitive by prosecutors for his alleged involvement in multiple corruption cases while in government.
Ofori-Atta had left Ghana to evade investigations, and all necessary steps would be taken to bring him back, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng said.
Ofori-Atta has been accused of causing financial losses to the state, including over a controversial national cathedral, which remains a hole in the ground despite the alleged spending of $58m (£46.6m) of government money.
Ofori-Atta has not commented on the allegations. According to Agyabeng, the ex-minister's lawyers said he was out of the country for medical reasons.
Agyabeng told a press conference that Ofori-Atta, 66, failed to attend an interview with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), despite being told he was a suspect.
Ofori-Atta left Ghana in early January, and had no intention of "willingly" returning, Agyabeng said.
The OSP was, therefore, declaring him a "wanted person".
"He is a fugitive from justice," the special prosecutor added.
Ofori-Atta was finance minister from January 2017 to February 2024, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power.
It lost elections in December to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
President John Mahama, who was inaugurated in January, went on to establish an investigative committee known as Operation Recover All Loot.
The committee has received over 200 complaints of corruption, amounting to more than $20bn in recoverable funds.
Mahama has directed the attorney general and minister of justice to launch investigations into these allegations, stating that Ghana will no longer be a safe haven for corruption.
However, some Ghanaians have criticized him for discontinuing cases against his former allies on trial.
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Why do African leaders often become indifferent to their people after gaining power? You are welcome to share your thoughts in the "Post Comments" section of the article.
Mahama Sworn in as Ghana’s President for a Third Time Against the Backdrop of an Economic Crisis
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — John Mahama was sworn in as president of Ghana for a third time Tuesday against the backdrop of the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation. Thousands of Ghanaians from all walks of life attended the ceremony in the capital.
AP | By Francis Kokutse | Updated 11:59 AM EST, January 7, 2025
Ghana's President-Elect John Dramani Mahama, waves after taking the oath of office at his inauguration, at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Credit: AP/Misper Apawu
AP | By Francis Kokutse | Updated 11:59 AM EST, January 7, 2025ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — John Mahama was president of Ghana for a third time Tuesday against the backdrop of the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation. Thousands of Ghanaians from all walks of life attended the ceremony in the capital.
Supporters of President John Dramani Mahama, attend his inauguration ceremony, at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Credit: AP/Misper Apawu
Mahama promised to “reset” the country on various fronts during a campaign that prioritized the economy and largely appealed to young Ghanaians who saw the vote as a way out of the country’s economic crisis.
Kenya's President William Ruto, centre, is seen among the guests attending Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama inauguration ceremony, at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Credit: AP/Misper Apawu
“There is a seismic shift happening within the system of global economic dominance,” he said Tuesday in his address at the Independence Square in Accra. ”Now more than ever before, we need to strengthen our ties with our neighbors to ensure that we are working together to keep our sub-region safe.”
Supporters of President John Dramani Mahama, attend his inauguration ceremony, at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Several African leaders attended the ceremony, including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Kenya’s William Ruto, Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi, and Burkina Faso’s Capt. Ibrahim Traore.
Burkina Faso's President brahim Traoré, left, with, Botswana's President Duma Boko, and Guinea's President Mamady Doumbouya, seen among the guests attending Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama inauguration ceremony, at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, Jan.7, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
In his address, Mahama said he will focus on economic restoration and stabilization of the macroeconomic environment, as well as on good governance and the fight against corruption.
The election in December for both president and members of parliament was held against the backdrop of the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and was seen as a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. West Africa’s regional bloc of ECOWAS said the election was generally peaceful, a continuing trend in Ghana.
Andrew Takyi, founder of a local fintech company, Zee Pay, told The Associated Press: “l am hopeful that President Mahama will use the 24-hour economy he campaigned on to improve the country. He can use that to widen the tax base of small and medium enterprises to improve revenue.”
Innocent Appiah, a senior media research officer at the Precious Minerals Marketing Company, said he expects the Mahama administration to “prioritize transparency and accountability in the extractive industry, ensuring that the PMMC plays a more effective role in regulating and monitoring the sector.”
“I anticipate policies that promote value addition, local content development, and community engagement, ultimately leading to increased revenue generation and socio-economic benefits for Ghanaians,” he said.
Enyonam Agble, a trader attending the inauguration, said: “There was so much corruption under President Akufo-Addo and all we want is the recovery of all that had been stolen to rebuild the country.”
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Burkinabe President, Ibrahim Traore greeted by the Burkinabe community living in Ghana during the inauguration of John Mahama.
This was how the President, Capt. Ibrahim Traore was greeted by the Burkinabe community living in Ghana during the inauguration of John Mahama. Burkinabes seem to love this young man and are proud of him. A new era in Africa has begun. John Mahama was sworn in on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, as Ghana's president for the third time, as the country faces its worst economic crisis in a generation.
In doing all of this, Captain Traore never filled a stadium to make all of those promises like others do; he just came out and delivered basic services to the people of Burkina Faso. You can not like what he has done within a short period.
University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), Ltd., Accra
The University of Ghana Medical Centre is a quaternary medical and scientific research center located at the University of Ghana in Accra Campus. It is the most advanced medical facility in West Africa. The new 617-bed medical center is designed to provide advanced medical services in medicine, teaching, and research to the sub-region and beyond.
The new 617-bed medical center is designed to provide advanced medical services
Quaternary medical and scientific research center
The University of Ghana Medical Centre is a quaternary medical and scientific research center located at the University of Ghana in Accra Campus. It is the most advanced medical facility in West Africa. The new 617-bed medical center is designed to provide advanced medical services in medicine, teaching, and research to the sub-region and beyond.
The new 617-bed medical center is designed to provide advanced medical services
In June 2011 Ghana cabinet gave approval for a loan facility from Israel for the design, construction, and installation of equipment.
The facility which is located on 400-acre land, is estimated to cost $217 million and modeled after The Sheba Medical Centre, the largest in Israel, assist to provide the most efficient health care that measures up to global standards.
The establishment of UGMC was conceived by the faculty and administration of the University of Ghana and initiated under the Late President John Evans Atta Mills. In January 2017, John Dramani Mahama, the former president, commissioned Phase 1 of the project. The first phase of the UGMC houses specialized centers, such as emergency, imaging, operating theatres, and laboratories.
The second phase provides specialist facilities, including heart and cancer treatment and rehabilitation centers and a hostel for families of patients. The facility is now fully open to the public. The completion of Phase II signifies the completion of all three UGMC focal areas, as the center positions itself to offer quaternary services.
Patient care video
Theo Edwards for YAMERELATED
“President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the 120-bed Adansi North District Hospital-Fomena and the Sekyere Kumawu District Hospital-Kumawu in the Ashanti Region. ”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the 120-bed Adansi North District Hospital-Fomena and the Sekyere Kumawu District Hospital-Kumawu in the Ashanti Region. According to the President, the completion of these facilities is a testament to the Government’s dedication to providing fit-for-purpose ultra-modern health facilities in line with the current healthcare standards for the people of Ghana.
More newly constructed facilities in the districts all over Ghana are near completion.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Ministry of Health in Ghana is recruiting. Recruitment of Nurses and Midwives. Share If you know of anyone in Africa who is qualified and might be interested. The deadline to submit your online application is Monday 5th August 2024 at Noon — Friday, 23rd August at 6:00 PM.
Ghana: Former President Jerry John Rawlings
The former President of Ghana passed away, November 12, 2020, after a brief illness.
Rawlings Background
Source: GhanaWeb
Dead Aged 73
November 12, 2020
Former President Jerry John Rawlings dead after a brief illness - Rawlings died aged 73: GhanaWeb can confirm. The former President of Ghana passed away, November 12, 2020.
According to state-owned Daily Graphic, the former President had been on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for about a week for an undisclosed ailment. He was 73. Mr. Rawlings recently lost and buried his mother last month.
Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on June 22, 1947, to a Ghanaian mother from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father.
Rawlings Background
Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on June 22, 1947, to a Ghanaian mother from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father. Educate at Achimota School, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education 'O' Level in 1966.
He enlisted as a Flight Cadet in the Ghana Air Force in August 1967 and subsequently selected for officer cadet training at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School, Teshie, in Accra.
In March 1968, he was posted to Takoradi in the Western Region to continue his course.
He graduated in January 1969 as a commissioned Pilot Officer. He won the coveted "Speed Bird Trophy" as the best cadet in flying and airmanship.
Jerry John Rawlings: Political Life
He earned the rank of Flight-Lieutenant in April 1978. He was an efficient officer with a close rapport with his men.
During his service with the Ghana Air Force, he witnessed the deterioration of discipline and morale, reflecting the corruption of the regime of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) at that time.
As promotion brought him into contact with the privileged-class, and their social values, his awareness of the injustices in society takes shape.
He regarded with unease by the SMC. He read widely and discussed social and political ideas with a growing circle of like-minded friends and colleagues.
May 28, 1979: Flt.-Lt. Rawlings, together with six others, appeared before a General Court Martial in Accra, charged with leading a mutiny of junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces on May 15, 1979. There was a strong public reaction, especially after his statement had been read in court, explaining the social injustices that had prompted him to act.
The ranks of the Armed Forces, in particular, expressed deep sympathy with his stated aims. Flight-Lt, Rawlings, sprung from custody when scheduled for another court appearance on June 4, 1979. With the support of both military and civilians, he led a revolt, which decisively ousted the Supreme Military Council from office and brought the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) into being.
The AFRC, under the chairmanship of Flt. Lt. Rawlings carried out a "house-cleaning exercise" aimed at purging the Armed Forces and society at large of corruption and graft as well as restoring a sense of moral responsibility and the principles of accountability and probity in public life.
Meanwhile, following the program already set in motion before the June 4th uprising for civilian administration and general elections were held.
On September 24, 1979, the AFRC handed over to the civilian Government of the People's National Party (PNP) under President Hilla Limann.
On 31st. December 1981 Flt. Lt. Rawlings led a section of the Armed Forces to overthrow the PNP administration. A Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), composed of both civilian and military members, was established, with Flt-Lt. J.J. Rawlings as the Chairman.
His interests include reading, building model aircraft, horse-riding, and swimming. He is married to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings with whom he has four children - three girls and a boy.
Former President of Ghana: Jerry John Rawlings
Flt-Lt. Rawlings ceased to be a member of the Ghana Armed Forces effective September 14, 1992. He formed the National Democratic Congress, which contested and won the 1992 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. He and the party again won the 1996 elections. His term of office ended in the year 2000.
He is the joint recipient of the 1993 World Hunger Prize. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Medgar Evers College, City University of New York, and Lincoln University Doctorate Degree for Diplomacy and Development.
Lower Oil Prices
Moody’s rating agency, has said, the coronavirus pandemic accelerates structural change in a collective demand for oil. Reducing the industry’s need to develop higher-cost reserves for reinvestment, and, support production levels and growth the next three to five years.
Will curtail industry investment — Moody’s
Moody’s rating agency, has said, the coronavirus pandemic accelerates structural change in a collective demand for oil. Reducing the industry’s need to develop higher-cost reserves for reinvestment, and, support production levels and growth the next three to five years.
Moody’s has reduced its medium-term oil price assumptions US$45-$65/barrel (bbl), down from US$50-$70/ bbl.
The price range reflects the view that oil prices will remain highly volatile, with periods outside the top or bottom ends of the range. Geopolitical issues or attempts to manage supply by the OPEC-plus group of oil-producing nations will also lead to price fluctuations from time to time, it said.
According to Moody’s, government measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus have restricted oil-intensive activities such as domestic and international air travel, which will recover more slowly than overall GDP.
High inventories of both oil and fuels globally will further slow the pace of recovery in oil demand and prices.
In Ghana, the government has predicted significant oil revenue losses due to the oil price collapse. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta told Parliament in March that at an average crude oil price of US$30 per barrel this year, the government will register a shortfall in oil receipts amounting to GH?5.7bn.
The shortfall will lead to a reduction in the annual budget funding amount from petroleum revenues. It will also trigger a fall in transfers to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) by GH?642m, according to finance ministry estimates, which is nearly 40 percent of the national oil company’s original budgetary allocation of GH?1.7bn.
Experts predicted oil companies might be compelled to seek external funds to help finance key investments. International oil companies in Ghana, such as Irish major Tullow Oil, have announced cuts to capital expenditure for 2020 in the wake of the oil price decline.
In response to the exceptional decline in demand, Moody’s said the global oil industry has mobilized to implement significant production cuts—about 10 percent from December 2019 levels.
The OPEC-plus group of oil-producing nations has agreed to cut oil production for two years by about 7m barrels per day (bbl/day) from February 2020 levels, starting in May 2020.
The International Energy Association (IEA) estimates that by late 2020, world oil demand will return to levels some 6.5m bbl/day, or 6 percent, below pre-crisis levels.
Watchdog Says Ghana’s Fisheries On Brink Of Collapse
Per the government’s Fisheries Management Plan, the country’s fishery can sustain 48 trawlers, yet, 76 trawlers licensed at the end of 2019.
Ghana continues to see large quantities of fish landed by Saiko canoes at Elmina Fishing Harbor, even after the government and the fishing industry committed to ending the practice last November, the GNCFC said.
The Saiko trade – where trawlers illegally target the main catch of canoe fishers, transfer it at sea to specially adapted boats, and sell the stolen fish back to local communities – took an estimated 100,000 tons of fish in 2017.
As Chinese trawlers arrive
Although a moratorium on new fishing vessels by the Fisheries Commission, three new trawlers have arrived in Ghana from China and have been registered to the Ghanaian flag, the Environmental Justice Foundation, said.
The new vessels Yu Feng 1, 3, and 4, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation were built in China in 2016 and flying the Chinese flag before arriving in Ghana. They are now docked at Tema, registered under the Ghanaian flag, and awaiting licensing by the Fisheries Commission.
Per the government’s Fisheries Management Plan, the country’s fishery can sustain 48 trawlers, yet, 76 trawlers licensed at the end of 2019.
To protect Ghana’s food security and local livelihoods, especially in these worrying times of COVID-19, the government must ensure that the industrial fleet is a sustainable size. Ghana’s National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) has since written to the Fisheries Commission opposing any decision to grant the vessel licenses to fish in Ghana’s waters.
The country is already confronting major challenges controlling vessels with existing licenses in Ghana.
Ghana continues to see large quantities of fish landed by Saiko canoes at Elmina Fishing Harbor, even after the government and the fishing industry committed to ending the practice last November, the GNCFC said.
The Saiko trade – where trawlers illegally target the main catch of canoe fishers, transfer it at sea to specially adapted boats, and sell the stolen fish back to local communities – took an estimated 100,000 tons of fish in 2017.
Meaning only 40 percent of catches were caught legally and reported to the government that year. An issue requires urgent scientific re-assessment! Ghana’s fish populations are already in dire straits. Landings of ‘Sardinella have crashed by around 80% over the past twenty years.
As well as targeting the staple catch of the canoe fishers, small pelagic fish that include Sardinella, EJF revealed that the vast majority of fish traded through Saiko are juveniles. The watchdog said, this extremely worrying. The young fish are crucial to population recovery.
In Ghana, over 90 percent of industrial trawl vessels are linked to Chinese ownership, despite a prohibition on foreign ownership in Ghana’s industrial trawl sector, set out in Section 47 of the 2002 Fisheries Act, Act 625.
According to EJF’s Executive Director Steve Trent, over-capacity in the fishing fleet in Ghana is driving a crisis that will decimate livelihoods and food security in coastal communities. Ensuring all fishing is legal, ethical, and sustainable is more important as the world reels from the impact of COVID-19. Communities will need these resources more than ever. “The Fisheries Commission has the chance to do the right thing: heed scientific advice, refuse these trawlers a license and protect Ghana’s fisheries and its people,” he added.
Ghana Moves to Evacuate Stranded Citizens from the U.S
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, through the Consulate General in New York, is compiling a list of Ghanaians stranded in the United States as a result of the closures of the Ghana border for evacuation.
All affected Ghanaians in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are requested to register with the Mission by providing their information.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
Ghanaians who traveled outside the country for various reasons and were due to return home from February 2020 who could not do so due to air travel restrictions of various countries following the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic have been calling for the government to evacuate them.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, through the Consulate General in New York, is compiling a list of Ghanaians stranded in the United States as a result of the closures of the Ghana border for evacuation.
All affected Ghanaians in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are requested to register with the Mission by providing their information.
President Akufo-Addo was by a new executive instrument, EI 66, extended the closure of Ghana’s borders by another two weeks. To ensure that the risk of importation of COVID-19 cases will remain curtailed while we focus on the enhanced tracing and testing program currently underway.
Ghanaians who traveled outside the country for various reasons and were due to return home from February 2020 who could not do so due to air travel restrictions of various countries following the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic have been calling for the government to evacuate them. The stranded Ghanaians and their families have been pleading with the government of Ghana to reopen the borders, so they return home.
Meanwhile, Ghana's Coronavirus cases have now hit over 4,000, the Ghana Health Services has said. According to the latest update on Friday, May 8, 2020, the country now recorded some 4,012 cases of the virus, with 323 recoveries. The death toll, however, remains at 18.
Over 921 cases have been recorded less than 48-hours and 1,293 cases, in 5 days.
Ghana’s Education Minister
Many universities have been organizing lectures online, and the decision by some to conduct end-of-semester exams online has sparked resistance among some students. Who believe there are many challenges with that mode of contact that school authorities have not addressed.
Unopposed in principle to online exams
The pandemic has disrupted the academic calendar of the schools, and there are fears it could delay the start of the next academic year in September.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has said he is not opposed to universities conducting their examinations online so long as they can do so and can ensure the participation of all their students.
For the first time in the country’s history, universities having to devise innovative ways to provide lessons and conduct exams as schools remain closed until further notice as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19.
Many universities have been organizing lectures online, and the decision by some to conduct end-of-semester exams online has sparked resistance among some students. Who believe there are many challenges with that mode of contact that school authorities have not addressed.
Reacting to the issue in a media interview, the education minister said if universities can conduct exams online, the ministry would not object unless the mode of the exams disenfranchises some students.
One of the public universities, the Ghana Institute of Journalism, issued a communique containing the revised academic calendar for the second semester 2019/2020 academic year that online exams will be held for their students. The communique provided modalities for how the exams, scheduled for May 25 to June 12, will be conducted.
Some students at the institute, however, expressed their reservations about the decision to conduct exams online, pointing to challenges such as the cost and reliability of internet services.
Currently, it is not clear when schools across the country will reopen as cases of the novel coronavirus keep going up. The pandemic has disrupted the academic calendar of the schools, and there are fears it could delay the start of the next academic year in September.
Prof. Yankah Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Ghana’s Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, has been elected to the membership of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AMACAD).
With his election, Prof. Yankah, joins the company of notable members, from the founders, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Bowdoin to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Maria Mitchell, and Alexander Graham Bell.
The honor signifies high reward
Ghana’s Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, has been elected to the membership of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AMACAD).
A letter, jointly signed by the Chair of the Board, Nancy C. Andrews and the President, David W. Oxtoby, and addressed to the Minister of State, announced his election to the Academy and welcomed him as a member.
The honor signifies the high reward in which you are held by leaders in your field and members throughout the nation.
With his election, Prof. Yankah, joins the company of notable members, from the founders, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Bowdoin to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Maria Mitchell, and Alexander Graham Bell. Other distinguished members include John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Margaret Mead. International members include Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela.
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. Founded in 1780, the Academy is dedicated to honoring excellence and leadership, working across disciplines and divides, and advancing the common good.
AMACAD’s current members represent today’s innovative thinkers in every field and profession, including more than two hundred and fifty Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners.
The Induction weekend scheduled for October 9-11, 2020, pending guidance from US public health officials.
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Showbiz after Virus Pain
The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world's arts calendar upside down, as artists and organizers around the world are either postponing or canceling festivals, concerts, tours, theatre shows, movie premieres, and film and television productions, some in the middle of shooting.
By Ernestina Woode: Courtesy Benson Afful
Will the industry survive the turbulence
By Ernestina Woode: Courtesy Benson Afful
Deals, tours, and entertainment shows are either suspended or canceled after the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which brought the world on its knees.
The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world's arts calendar upside down, as artists and organizers around the world are either postponing or canceling festivals, concerts, tours, theatre shows, movie premieres, and film and television productions, some in the middle of shooting.
Music Stars called off concert gigs and tours as the contagion spread the globe. 'Travel restrictions imposed on international travel and large public events in response to the coronavirus COVID-19.'
If the pandemic intensifies, entertainment pundits argued, will cost Ghana millions of cedis. The industry contributes to Ghana's national GDP. Already the government has said it will spend GHc1billion under a Coronavirus Alleviation Program to cushion Ghanaians as the government tightens measures to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Announcing the package, President Akufo-Addo said the amount would mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, households, and ensure job losses minimized.
PHOTO: King Promise, a Ghanaian musician, had to cancel his international trips because of COVID-19.
Ghanaians await the impact the stimulus package will have on all the various sectors of the economy, some questions asked are how much will be diverted into the creative arts sectors, and will the amount enough to reduce the loss of the industry-players?
One of the country’s biggest entertainment events in the industry, the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards expected to take place this year, has setbacks as the world unable to predict when the pandemic likely be under control. The nominees’ jam of the VGMA scheduled for The 4th of April at the Koforidua Jackson Park, was postponed. In compliance with the National Directives on Public Gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like the VGMA, many event organizers have already invested in, will have to be postponed to an unknown date. A situation is likely to hurt an already devastating industry in the country.
Ghanaian musician King Promise has postponed his on-going world tour due to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Having already performed in Berlin, Hamburg, Brescia, and Amsterdam from 5th March, the Commando hitmaker’s 8th March sold-out London show was the biggest yet and had everyone talking. His next stop happens to be Canada has, however, been postponed due to the outbreak.
Stonebwoy's American concert also adds to the number of shows put on hold due to the contagion. The artist, through his management, released a statement saying, the US government banned all large gatherings in the country after the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled coronavirus a pandemic.
"Our team has tried everything in our ability to make this show happen; however, the government has restricted every large gathering at this time as seen on every major news outlet," the statement read.
The management of Omni Media, operators of Citi FM, and Tv announced the same night, the President directive closure of public events that it had suspended all of its outdoor events in line with the president’s directive.
The affected events, the Accra Music Expo scheduled March 21, 2020, and the Music of Ghanaian Origin (MOGO), originally scheduled March 28, 2020.
It is, however, incumbent on all stakeholders as well as investors in the showbiz industry as a matter of urgency to start developing strategies that will help rejuvenate the sector after the virus is defeated in the country. The creative arts sector in an economy drives economic growth when policies relevant to the industry are implemented.
In 2019, the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts released a report that shows that the Arts industry contributes 4.2 % of the gross domestic product, representing $763.3 billion.
The Arts industry has contributed more to GDP than agriculture, warehousing, and transportation employing 4.9 million people who earn $370 billion. In the United Kingdom, the creative industry grew at twice the rate of the economy contributing more than £85 billion in 2015, representing 5% of the UK economy’s gross value added at that time as published by the Department for Digital, Media, Culture, and Sport.
In 2010, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported that cultural activities contributed to 1.53% of Ghana’s GDP.
Building Smart Cities with Railway Infrastructure
The railway lines are part of Ghana’s efforts of interconnection projects, which will link the country to other West African countries and improve trade relations between Ghana and its neighbors.
Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, said his government was committed to delivering modern railway systems that ease the movement of people, and goods thus improving trade, not only for the people of Ghana but also for its neighboring countries.
Is Ghana ready?
Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, has set a vision to develop a modern, robust and integrated railway system as well as associated infrastructure to serve as a catalyst and backbone for the transformation of the economy and make Ghana’s rail transport system the lead in Africa.
Railway transportation has become an important part of the discussion when building smart cities to improve the mobility and productivity of the people within a country.
Building a thriving railway sector becomes a rapid movement of the people to carry out their daily business activities in highly populated urban cities. In India, for example, the Ministry of Railways teamed up with the Ministry of Urban Development to ensure smart railway stations are built as part of the country’s ongoing Smart Cities Mission.
It is estimated more than 400 stations across India currently being redeveloped to provide easier access and improved amenities to passengers.
Fifty-five percent of the global population lives in cities currently, and by 2050 it is expected that sixty-eight percent of the people will be urban-dwellers.
According to the United Nations, the world’s urban population grew from 751 million in 1950 to 4.2 billion in 2018 and set to reach 6.7 billion by the middle of the century. As they grow, cities are coming under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact, both for the health of their citizens and the planet.
Alongside rapid population growth, the Fourth Industrial Revolution set to change the face of cities and how they function. The concept of smart cities is gaining traction as a means of solving economic, social, and environmental challenges in urban centers.
In Ghana, however, much has not been done to develop its railway sector in the last four decades. Until recently, the current administration has made it a top priority to develop the sector to make it vibrant. The sector was dormant with rickety railway lines making transport and movement of goods within the West African nation very difficult thereby, limiting the country to propel from low-middle income country to that of a developed one.
Image: Courtesy
In the major cities of the country such as Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, workers and commuters have to survive every day enduring hectic vehicular traffic situation on the roads. The lack of a robust railway sector puts pressure on the road commute, the only affordable way of transportation in the country.
Like in many developed cities, commuters have many options when moving from one place to the next. A city well-developed transport sector, reduced the pressure on one particular transport sector since there are alternatives to the commuting public.
The Ghana economy heavily reliant on agriculture; however, farmers, as well as producers, complain about the difficulty of transporting their produce from farming communities to the market, mostly in urban areas.
Assuming office in 2017, President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, with the creation of a ministry for railway development, Ghana has seen remarkable development of its railway sector.
Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, has set a vision to develop a modern, robust and integrated railway system as well as associated infrastructure to serve as a catalyst and backbone for the transformation of the economy and make Ghana’s rail transport system the lead in Africa.
The government in 2019 allocated an amount of Ghc636million for the ministry’s priority projects and programs. With the railway sector, part of the program allocated budget.
The President, this year, commended the sector minister and the Ghana Railway Company for the country’s railway development project. As part of the development, a 30 km narrow-gauge railway line from Accra to Tema rehabilitated last year. The section of the line from Achimota to Nsawam, about 40km, also rehabilitated, and test runs commenced for the relaunch of the suburban commuter rail services from Accra to Nsawam.
The engagement of a strategic investor for the development of the 303 km Eastern Railway Line on the standard gauge from Accra – Tema to Kumasi with a branch line from Busoso to Atiwa through Kyebi on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis with Ghanaian participation is at the negotiation stage.
The Western Railway line, rehabilitation of a 56 km narrow gauge line from Kojokrom to Trkwa through Nsuta, the project according to the ministry, is 75 percent complete and undertaken in-house by the workers of GRCL.
Though the current administration has shown a commitment to the development of the country’s railway sector, the capital-intensive nature of building rail infrastructure has forced the government to run to development partners for support.
The government, in its 2020 budget allocation, did not make any allocation to capital expenditure that will ensure the building of rail lines.
The Ministry of Railway Development told the Parliamentary Committee on Transport that the government will not use its funds to build the lines due to the huge amount required for achieving this.
It is estimated government will require US$7 billion to revive the railway sector in Ghana.
The US$7 billion projection for revamping the railways caters to the construction of the Eastern Line from Accra to Kumasi the Western Line from Takoradi to Kumasi and the Central Spine from Kumasi to Paga with two branch-lines from Kumasi to Nyinahin where there are bauxite reserves. And the Tamale to Yendi areas where significant iron ore reserves found. The distance covered by these railroads would be 1,400 km.
The railway sector, one of the prioritized ministries among the infrastructure sector the government is interested in supporting its development.
Total of GH435 million earmarked for the Ministry of Railways Development for the implementation of its program for the 2020 fiscal year. Of this amount, GH¢80 million was allocated for management and administration, while 354 million went into rail transport.
In line with its mandate, the ministry and its implementing agencies undertook several projects. A 30 km narrow-gauge railway line from Accra to Tema rehabilitated last year, a section of the line from Achimota to Nsawam, 40km also rehabilitated, and test runs commenced for the relaunch of the suburban commuter rail services from Accra to Nsawam.
The railway lines are part of Ghana’s efforts of interconnection projects, which will link the country to other West African countries and improve trade relations between Ghana and its neighbors.
Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, said his government was committed to delivering modern railway systems that ease the movement of people, and goods thus improving trade, not only for the people of Ghana but also for its neighboring countries.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Government. to convert National ID numbers to Tax ID numbers by end of the year. Dr. Bawumia said this at the launch of the Absa Bank Ghana Limited on Monday, February 10, in Accra.
By Theo Edwards: Source: GhanaWeb
Govt. to convert National ID numbers to Tax ID numbers by end of the year
By Theo Edwards: Source: GhanaWeb
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says government will by the end of this year, convert all National Identification Numbers to Tax Identification Numbers, to increase the taxpaying population.
According to him, the move expected to increase the tax population by some already existing 2 million registered taxpayers to 16 million registered taxpayers by the end of this year.
Govt. to convert National ID numbers to Tax ID numbers by end of the year –Vice President of Ghana
Currently, less than 2 million people registered to pay taxes. By the end of this year, we will start converting all the National Identification Numbers into Tax Identification Numbers, which means we will increase the number of people registered for taxes up from about 2 million to close to 16 million in one year.
Lending rates often high partly because of the high information problems in establishing identity, verifying income sources, and ownership problems. These have to change if we’re aspiring to be a middle-income country. We have embarked on leveraging on technology to overcome many of our developmental problems; and, to formalize this informal economy, this is what digitization going to allow us to do in bringing people into the tax net, he added.
Dr. Bawumia said this at the launch of the Absa Bank Ghana Limited on Monday, February 10, in Accra. The Vice President also disclosed that the Ministry of Finance in the next few months will launch a portal for the delivery of all government services digitally. The portal dubbed; ‘Ghana.Gov’ platform will strive for the efficiency of the public sector, provide easy access and convenience for citizens, and curb revenue linkages.
Ghana's Poverty Rate Drops 23 Percent
The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr. Kodjo Mensah-Abrampah, has said Ghana’s poverty reduction strategy made strides as the country’s poverty rate dropped to 23 percent in the last 27 years. Much of this progress was between 1992 to 2005, where the rate of poverty dropped to 25 percent.
Much of this progress was between 1992–2005
The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr. Kodjo Mensah-Abrampah, has said Ghana’s poverty reduction strategy made strides as the country’s poverty rate dropped to 23 percent in the last 27 years. Much of this progress was between 1992 to 2005, where the rate of poverty dropped to 25 percent.
The country did not do much to reduce poverty between 2005 to 2017, a period where the country discovered oil in commercial quantity in addition to its existing natural resources.
Speaking to the B&FT in an interview at a workshop organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA) on 'Strengthening the Use of Poverty Analysis to Achieve SDGs 1 and 2,' he said between 1992 up to 2005 the focus was on how to improve the situation of the poor as well as investing in areas which are related to the poor such as agriculture, livestock development, and also providing the necessary support in terms of extension officers for agriculture production.
The provided space was for long-neglected to be able to put themselves into the economy and the development ladder. 'Ghana Poverty Reduction 1, 2' are some of the policies targeted at the poor, and those who ordinarily will have been victims of poverty, were brought in. Programs on Social Investment Fund, HIPC program, Youth in Agriculture and Women in Agriculture, these were the means to harness and also bring in the poor.
The introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme and the School Feeding Program were done to bring in the poor into accessing some of these facilities. All contributed to the development.
A conscious means of responding to poverty in a coordinated manner - NDPC was at the peak of coordinating all those processes that related to reducing poverty and working together with other ministries.
Responding to why the country couldn’t do much in terms of poverty reduction after 2005, the NDPC boss said, somewhere along the emphasis on poverty reduction lost its way and therefore the efforts where not that coordinated like in the past, when we made strides.
The NDPC boss said there is an expansion to some of these programs, which helped the country to reduce poverty such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty program. The Free SHS as a means of completing an education, and, to develop the skills and knowledge, and the ability, to be able to get employment.
In this regard, the government is going to tackle issues related to gender and social protection. There is a conscious effort to make poverty not linked to the income-earning population.
A study carried out by the NDPC and UNICEF, looked at the issue of child poverty.
Tony Elumelu Speaks On Presidential Dialogue In Accra
Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, will join Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo, and other private and public sector leaders on the Presidential Dialogue themed "Africa's Money for African Development–A Future Beyond Aid" in Ghana on the 7th November 2019.
The event jointly organized by the Ghanaian Presidency and the United Nations Development Program ...UNDP.
Will explore how Africa can optimize the use of its resources
Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, will join Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo, and other private and public sector leaders on the Presidential Dialogue themed "Africa's Money for African Development–A Future Beyond Aid" in Ghana on the 7th November 2019.
The event jointly organized by the Ghanaian Presidency and the United Nations Development Program ...UNDP.
Mr. Elumelu will speak on ways to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and the opportunities emerging from the fourth industrial revolution. He will also evaluate the prospect of increasing regional integration across the continent as well as the potential of this to grow consumer and business spending while addressing human capital challenges on the continent.
The Inaugural President Dialogue will explore how Africa can optimize the use of its resources, its creativity and innovation to effectively self-finance its development and advance climate action, youth empowerment, women, trade and agribusiness, creativity and arts.
The event will host over 200 participants comprising leading actors in business, culture, media, arts, technology, innovation, traditional leaders as well as youth, women entrepreneurs, traders, and environmentalists.
It aims to support thought leadership about Africa’s development towards a self-sustaining future, raise visibility and create momentum about Africa’s vision for future prosperity while fostering new partnerships and allies for the continent’s transformation agenda.
Eliminating Hunger And Malnutrition, A Race Against Time
It should be worrisome to note that the number undernourished people has been increasing steadily in Africa over the last few years, where it reached 256.1 million people in 2018 with a staggering 93 percent of those living in sub-Sahara Africa.
Undernourishment has reached levels of 22.8 percent in sub-Sahara Africa
The task of eliminating hunger and malnutrition as set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, as well as in the African Union 2025 Malabo Commitments is a race against times towards delivering the targets, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Regional Representative for Africa, FAO has said. There should be a sense of urgency for concerted actions by all,” he added.
The latest statistics show that in Africa, over a quarter of a million people go to bed hungry. He quoted the 2019 report on the state of Food Security and Nutrition published by the FAO, which confirms that hunger has been on the rise in almost all sub-Sahara Africa where the prevalence of undernourishment has reached levels of 22.8 percent.
It should be worrisome to note that the number undernourished people has been increasing steadily in Africa over the last few years, where it reached 256.1 million people in 2018 with a staggering 93 percent of those living in sub-Sahara Africa.
This year, the FAO Regional Office for Africa and the FAO Ghana jointly organized three events in Accra under the theme “Our actions are our future. A healthy diet for a Zero Hunger World” to mark World Food Day celebrated on October 16.
Abebe Haile-Gabriel noted that the hardest hits are family and subsistence farmers in rural areas. The worsening food security situation was due to climate change, conflict, and economic slowdowns. These factors continue to be the main drivers of food and nutrition insecurity in the Africa region. He said malnutrition is three-pronged; it encompasses under-nutrition, over-nutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. Africa faced with both over-nourishment and under-nourishment. A quarter of the world’s children under five that are overweight live in Africa.
Eliminating all forms of hunger and nutrition is at the heart of the FAO’s mandate.
Fish Farmers Attempt To Beat EU Standard
The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has introduced an innovative oven for the smoking of fish that reduces the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAH in smoked fish to 0.3ppm/ kg, a standard that makes it beats the European Union (EU) market standard of 2ppm/ kg.
The improved method (smoker) known, as the Thiaroye Processing Technique (FTT), is made locally and does not use the usual firewood that produces a lot of smoke during fish processing is also environmentally friendly.
With FAO’s improved method
The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has introduced an innovative oven for the smoking of fish that reduces the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAH in smoked fish to 0.3ppm/ kg, a standard that makes it beats the European Union (EU) market standard of 2ppm/ kg.
The improved method (smoker) known, as the Thiaroye Processing Technique (FTT), is made locally and does not use the usual firewood that produces a lot of smoke during fish processing is also environmentally friendly.
Samuel Armah Mensah, a graduate of the University of Ghana Political Science Department, and, a beneficiary of the FAO’s FTT, told B&FT switching from the traditional smoker ‘Chorkor’ have saved money.
He said the ‘Chorkor’ Smoker and the metal drum kiln, although offered economic gains, contained high levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) due to the use of firewood as smoking fuel. The FTT has made it possible for him to now export to the EU market without any hindrance; a move he said has made him financially stable since he completed his university education.
“I apply for the FTT by the FAO and given the opportunity; so I decided to go into fish processing.”
Born and live in Elmina in the Central Region, Samuel said he finished university and was jobless, and as a person born in a typical fishing community, his only option was to venture into the fishery sector.
The FTT came as an innovation opportunity and many trusts in his process. And, earned him buyers in Ghana and the European Union. Using the FTT to smoke his fish makes the outcome very acceptable by the EU market. FTT beats EU standard by, given 0.3 ppm /kg amount of PAH in smoked fish, which is less than the EU standard.
Omar Penarubia, an official from the FAO, in an interview with the B&FT, said the FTT was developed as a result of the constant rejection of smoked fish from the African countries by the EU market. Several countries from Africa suffered rejection from the EU market. So this raised awareness that proper method should be used to reduce the PAH in smoked fish.
Ghana Lost US$77 million To Cyber Crime
With three months to end the year, Ghana has already lost US$77 million to cybersecurity crime.
The National Cyber Security Adviser, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako has warned cyber-attacks promise to escalate in the years to come, with the increase in Internet penetration and the massive reliance on ICT devices for transactions.
Cyber-attacks promise to escalate
The National Cyber Security Adviser, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako has warned cyber-attacks promise to escalate in the years to come, with the increase in Internet penetration and the massive reliance on ICT devices for transactions.
With three months to end the year, Ghana has already lost US$77 million to cybersecurity crime.
Cyber-attacks promise to escalate in the years to come, especially with the increase in Internet penetration, and the massive reliance on IoT (Internet of Things) devices such as the use of mobile phones for transactions and interaction by citizens. Mobile phones have facilitated easy access to social networks and business transactions.
Ghana’s payment system shows that the registered number of mobile money accounts increased to 22.99 million in June 2018 from 21.36 million recorded in June 2017.
This means a significant percentage of the population is sending, and receiving money through their mobile phones.
According to Dr. Antwi-Boasiako, infiltration of these systems and platform not only undermine confidence in the digitalization efforts of the country but also have a detrimental impact on the economic activities of individuals.
He said over the last two-half-years that have been a lot of efforts to develop the country’s cyber-security due to President Nana Akufo-Addo's vision of building a digital economy.
Launch of Point of Contact (POC)
There is a need to have reliable channels were to immediately and effectively report cyber-attacks. These attacks have a huge impact on the country’s economy.
The launch of the POC demonstrates the importance of the country’s cyber-security readiness, according to the National Security Advisor. The National Cyber-Security Centre (NCSC) cannot effectively initiate its readiness without the private sector and the general public. We expect the private sector to contribute to the process by facilitating the reporting of cyber-security incidents either through the sectorial certs or directly to the NCSC. The NCSC believes that the launch of the POC will further bridge the gap between the government and the citizens on cybersecurity issues.
ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum To Be Hosted In Ghana
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) will be hosting its third annual ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) on 22-24 October 2019 in Accra, Ghana. The event is expected to bring together West Africa’s top elected officials, policymakers, industry leaders and other individuals committed to moving forward the sustainable energy agenda.
22-24 October 2019 * Kempinski Hotel
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) will be hosting its third annual ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) on 22-24 October 2019 in Accra, Ghana. The event is expected to bring together West Africa’s top elected officials, policymakers, industry leaders and other individuals committed to moving forward the sustainable energy agenda.
ECREEE and its sister agencies, the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Authority (ERERA) made tremendous gains in policy and regulatory framework for the viable sustainable energy market.
Energy access and growth as one of, a key objective of ESEF2019.
ECREEE further explained that this year’s forum also marks a special relationship with two partners with a demonstrated commitment to sustainable communities around the world: Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), the off-grid industry association consisting of more than 130 members active in Africa to deliver innovative clean energy solutions; and GET.invest, a European program that mobilises renewable energy investments.
The Executive Director of ECREEE, Mr. Mahama Kappiah, said ECOWAS region is on the brink of a major energy industry transformation. He noted progress in the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects and off-grid electrification major initiatives such as the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP) and the West Africa Clean Energy Corridor, ECREEE is proposing key investment opportunities to facilitate a more sustainable West Africa.
Executive Director of Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), Mr. Marcus Wiemann stressed that building on the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with ECREEE at the fifth ARE Energy Access Investment Forum in Abidjan this year and the recommendations that emerged from the subsequent policy dialogues, ARE is keen to develop win-win partnerships between the local and international private sectors, as well as deepen cooperation to boost off-grid renewable energy technologies in West Africa.
Special guests at this year’s ESEF include high-level delegates, among them: H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President, The Republic of Ghana, H.E. Jean-Claude Brou, President, ECOWAS Commission, John Peter Amewu, Minister of Energy, Ghana, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Sierra Leone, Dr. Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo, Minister of Energy, Burkina Faso, Sediko Douka, Commissioner for Energy and Mines, ECOWAS, Executives from the climate and energy finance sectors, technology manufacturers and distributors, and others.
The forum will provide a platform for improving the policy and regulatory landscape for private sector investment, where attendees will be able to liaise with financiers and secure other resources to fund their business endeavors.
Over the 3-day event, utility-scale renewable energy projects, off-grid electrification, energy access, financing, and investment will be the theme. Additionally, a large exhibition will be held at ESEF2019 to allow manufacturers, developers, financial institutions, and other companies to showcase their products and services. Interested parties should contact sponsor@ESEF2019.org.
ESEF2019 aim to be a platform for establishing valuable partnerships between ECOWAS policymakers, regional, international private sector, and financial institutions.
ESEF is supported this year by The Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA); The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID); UNIDO; German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ); The World Bank Group; The European Union; The Global Environment Facility (GEF); Sustainable Energy for All; GET.invest; and ARE.
Accra’s '2019 AGRF’ Attracts Major Financial Commitments To Boost Agriculture
“The continent is at an advantage as today’s agricultural transformation is happening at a time when life-changing technologies are part of our everyday lives. Computers and the internet didn’t exist when the US underwent their transformation and cell phones were barely a pipe dream when Asia transformed its agriculture. This gives Africa an opportunity to leapfrog the agricultural transformation trajectory of the past and revolutionize life by overcoming isolation, speeding up change, creating more and cleaner jobs of the future, and taking success to scale with a sight at inclusion. Digital technologies are emerging as one of the most important of these innovations. Their unprecedented growth and adoption has ushered in the era of disruptive digital innovation, knowledge economies and big Agri-data” ~ African Green Revolution Forum.
Potential advances in everything from big data to block-chain systems, drones, robotics, and machine learning platforms
The recent African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF 2019) held in Ghana represents the first time the Forum has returned to a country that hosted it before.
Ghana hosted the first AGRF in 2010 and is home to the founder of the AGRF and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the late Kofi Annan - former Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Ghana has also been a consistent and influential champion of the agricultural transformation agenda across the continent, reliably reinforcing the role of agriculture as Africa’s most potent force for powering equitable economic progress. Deliberations at the forum made it clear that the coordinated efforts of public and private sector actors can unlock the potential of advances in everything from big data to blockchain systems, drones, robotics, and machine learning platforms to overcome many different challenges and generate a host of new opportunities, particularly for Africa’s young, digitally-savvy entrepreneurs.
Digital technologies are seen as capable of addressing barriers in agriculture potentials to provide a host of new economic opportunities across the continent. The theme of this year AGRF, ‘Grow Digital: Leveraging Digital Transformation to Drive Sustainable Food Systems in Africa.’
The Forum included a historic Presidential Summit comprised of Heads of State & Government, eminent persons, and hundreds of leaders and stakeholders present from across Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness sector. The Forum examined how governments, businesses, donors and other partners are delivering on a wide range of political, policy financial commitments. These include US$30 billion in investments pledged at the AGRF in Nairobi, 2016; initiatives that emerged from AGRF 2017 in Abidjan that has added billions of additional dollars; and commitments from AGRF 2018 in Kigali which provided significant new investments.
The highlight of AGRF 2019 was the Agribusiness Deal Room. Over US$200 million in new commitments and generate relationships with the potential to produce partnerships that could draw in billions more.
Series of new initiatives emerged. The potential to deliver new investments in digital technologies and other areas that will animate the ambitious agenda established by Heads of State and Ministers of Agriculture.
The president of the Mastercard Foundation, Reeta Roy, announced a new US$500 million commitment within its Young Africa Works initiative, which will support efforts of young entrepreneurs across the continent to develop economic opportunities in agriculture. Through Young Africa Works, the Foundation will endeavor to help millions of young Africans find meaningful employment in agriculture. The new investment will raise the Foundation’s total commitments to African agriculture to US$1 billion.
The World Bank reiterated a recent pledge to invest US$50 billion in Transforming Africa’s Digital Economy, as well as noted its plans to increase funding for food security initiatives by 25 percent relative to 2017 investments - for a total of US$33 billion in funding over the next four years.
A coalition of donors and philanthropists, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Kingdom’s Department of International Development (DFID), the International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, announced a new initiative with the CGIAR aimed at modernization.
Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the first-lady, presided over a special event focused on scaling-up nutrition-focused initiatives in the region, in advance of the 2020 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Japan.
The Forum showcased the hard work and admirable achievements of African leaders who are blazing a path for Africa and the world, demonstrating how food production in the 21st century can be productive, sustainable, resilient and profitable.
The 2019 Africa Food Prize awarded to two exceptional professionals and successful food producers - Dr. Emma Naluyima, a smallholder farmer and private veterinarian from Uganda, and Baba Diouma, a policy-champion and agricultural entrepreneur from Senegal. Dr. Naluyima has transformed her one-acre plot into a showcase of profitable and environmentally friendly agriculture. Also a prosperous farmer, Baba Dioum has excelled in the policy sphere. Including key reforms that advance the trade dimension of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).
The AGRF 2019 closed under the leadership of Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto. In closing remarks, he urged delegates to seize the opportunities that emerged at the Forum to deliver on investments and commitments which will consolidate the coming decades as Africa’s Century.
AGRF Partners Group agreed, the Republic of Rwanda will host 2020 AGRF Forum. And serve as the long-term home country of the Forum, going forward.
The AGRF has taken place in eight different countries over the last decade, ensuring that awareness, models, lessons, and the political- will be required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa grew steadily across the continent.
At the end of its first decade, the AGRF will now adjust its approach and adopt a “home and away” model, whereby the Forum will alternate between hosting the event in Rwanda in even years and different host countries across the continent in alternate years.
China’s Presence In Ghana Is Positive— Ambassador declares
The Chinese government gave scholarships to 310 Ghanaian to study in various universities in China — the highest any country given to Ghanaian students this year.
He cited the investment of the Bui Dam and the Asogli power plant among other Chinese investments
Many Ghanaians have tagged the Chinese with activities associated with illegal mining in the country but the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Shi Ting Wang, says, trade cooperation between China and Ghana must not be limited to illegal mining. Trade cooperation, he said, is more positive and beneficial to the two countries.
Addressing the media in Accra, Mr. Wang said: “ China’s presence here is more positive and shouldn’t be limited to the few Chinese nationals who are involved in illegal activities.” He cited the investment of the Bui Dam and the Asogli power plant among other Chinese investments in the energy sector, which, he said have contributed between 30 to 40 percent of Ghana’s power supply to support his argument.
The Chinese government gave scholarships to 310 Ghanaian to study in various universities in China — the highest any country given to Ghanaian students this year. The 310 government scholarships outnumbered other countries. This proves China's commitment to human resource development in Ghana. Every year, the Chinese government gives scholarships to a total of 1,050 Ghanaian students to build their capacity in various areas, he said.
He urged Ghanaians and the security agencies to carry out their duty to enforce the law to apprehend any Chinese national who get involved in illegal acts. The Chinese government does not support any Chinese national who perpetuate an illegal act in Ghana.
According to Mr. Wang, China will continue to deepen reform and broaden open-up and make a contribution to Ghana’s development and global growth.
China’s GDP has hit US$13.6 trillion (90 trillion Yuan) with imports and exports totaling more than 30 trillion Yuan.
China contributes nearly 30 percent to world economic growth with a continued emphasis on technology and innovation.
Ghana’s export to China hit USD 1.4 billion, a historical high. China has become the leading source of investments in Ghana - investments span airlines, extractive, and in the energy sector.