More African Diasporas Visit Ghana As Part Of ‘The Year of Return’
More than 200 Africans in the diaspora visited Ghana this year as part of the ‘Year of Return’ an initiative of Ghana’s President Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to mark the 400 years since the abolition of slavery.
President Nana Akufo-Addo declared the Year of Return in September 2018 in Washington, D.C.
Photo Courtesy: Alamy /Richard Levine: Africans march on New York streets during the African Day Parade
More than 200 Africans in the diaspora visited Ghana this year as part of the ‘Year of Return’ an initiative of Ghana’s President Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to mark the 400 years since slavery.
President Nana Akufo-Addo declared the 'Year of Return' in September 2018 in Washington, D.C., for Africans in the Diaspora to come to Africa and explore the cultural heritage of the continent.
The Year of Return, Ghana 2019, campaign target the African–American, and Diasporas, marking 400 years of the first enslaved African arrived in Jamestown, Virginia.
Many of these Africans have spent all their lives in Europe and America visited for the first time an Africa country to familiarize themselves with the African culture. Most visited places like Kwame Nkrumah Museum, Kakum National Park, Elmina Castle, and, Cape Coast Castle — most slaves were kept before finally shipped to Europe.
President Akufo-Addo addressed the African Diasporas at a durbar in Matse Abona, a suburb of Accra, popularly called 'British Accra' or ‘James Town Accra’ where the British colonial masters built one of their forts, known as, the Ussher Fort.
The event coincided with the ‘Homowo’ festival. A festival by the indigenes of Matse Abona or Jamestown, Accra. Many African in the diaspora participating and catching a glimpse of the cultural display of the indigenes. Some ‘home-comers’ couldn’t hold their excitement, involved with the cultural display put on their African costumes, and locally made products to show their root.
They also took part in one of West Africa’s biggest street festival known as the ‘Chale Wote’ festival.
‘Chale Wote’ literally means 'friend let’s go' is a street festival depicts art, music, color, and talent amongst Africans.
As an annual event, the ‘Chale Wote’ street festival has gained popularity among art lovers and people who appreciate the telling of the story through art and music.
Fish Stock Threat … canoes, trawlers to be reduced
Government is planning to reduce the number of canoes and trawlers fishing on the countries coast in an attempt to save the country’s fast depleting fish stock, a Deputy Minister of fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr. Francis Ato Cudjoe, has disclosed.
In an attempt to improve the fishing stock of the country
Government is planning to reduce the number of canoes and trawlers fishing on the countries coast in an attempt to save the country’s fast depleting fish stock, a Deputy Minister of fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr. Francis Ato Cudjoe, has disclosed. He said, canoes will be reduced from the current 14,000 to 9,000 while the trawlers reduced from 75 to 50.
The move, he said, is to ensure that the country avoids what experts have described as overfishing which is threatening the country’s fishing stock.
Speaking at this year’s National Conference on Fisheries and Coastal Environment on the need for the country to take immediate action to curb the worrying situation of the country’s fast depleting fish stock, Mr. Cudjoe said there is a growing awareness of the destruction of the coastal environment.
In an attempt to improve the fishing stock of the country, the government has made several efforts including the implementation of the recently closed season.
The objective of the closed season is to reduce the excessive pressure, overexploitation of marine fish stocks and to help replenish the declining stock. According to the Minister, the trawl sector is currently observing their two months closed season.
Compliance with the directives by the artisanal, and inshore fleet was very high, and there has also not been any report on non-compliance with the trawlers as well, the Deputy Minister, said.
Apart from fishing the coastal environment has lots of economic value. With proper management of the coastal environment, coastal livelihoods can be diversified from being over-reliance on fishing as a major economic activity, thereby, reducing overfishing and overexploitation.
Speaking on the same issue, Prof Wisdom Akpalu of the Institute of Natural Resources in Africa, said, Ghana can get about USD 200 million every year from the fishing sector if the country can regulate the number of boats and trawlers that fish on the sea. He urged the government as a matter of urgency to reduce the number of fishing boats and trawlers to enable the country to realize the potential in the fishing sector. The fishing sector plays a key role in the country' development. It helps improve food, and nutrition security as well provides income for fishing communities.
The sector is a major contributor to the national GDP. It is estimated 10 percent of Ghana’s population engaged the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.
Fish, is highly consumed in Ghana has per capita, consumption ranging between 0-25 kg.
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GH¢2.8bn To Fund Free SHS In September
This year, over 500,000 JHS candidates sat for the BECE, and they will receive their placement into the various SHSs by September. The increase in government spending on education in next year’s budgets the enrolment for SHS is expected up to 1.3 million students.
Government has spent about GH¢800miliion on the Free SHS policy since its implementation
Ghana’s government will need about GH¢2.8 billion next month, which begins the next academic year, to cater for all the 1.2 million Senior High School (SHS) students under its flagship free SHS policy.
Currently, the government spends about GH¢2,312 on each SHS student per year, and this means that government will have to raise GH¢2.8 billion to meet the tuition demands of all the 1.2 million students who will be under the policy from September.
This large number of students who will begin the next academic year in September is the highest SHS population the country will witness since independence. The country currently has in place, the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) that covers primary and junior high education.
It is estimated 50 percent of JHS graduates do not have access to SHS due to lack of funds and accessibility. So, the first year of the program’s implementation saw the enrolment of over 400,000 students in the various secondary schools. Last year, about 500,000 students also benefited from the program.
This year, over 500,000 JHS candidates sat for the BECE, and they will receive their placement into the various SHSs by September. The increase in government spending on education in next year’s budgets the enrolment for SHS is expected up to 1.3 million students.
Already, the government spent about GH¢800 million on the Free SHS policy since its implementation.
In 2018 budget, GH¢455.9 million petroleum revenues were allocated to the Free SHS program. President Nana Akufo-Addo, during the launch of the free SHS policy in 2017, said his government would invest revenues from oil in one of the most ambitious social programs of the country’s history – that is, the Free Senior High School policy.
“The Free SHS is ensuring that the country’s oil revenues are being equitably distributed to the people and not ending up in the pockets of a few”
However, since its announcement that the government intends to use oil money to fund the free SHS policy, there have been criticisms by some civil society groups. That, it is risky for the government to rely solely on oil revenue funding the free SHS program. Insisting the government must diversify its sources in funding for the program, due to the instability of oil prices on the world market.
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Admission Blues Await University Applicants Next Year
An analysis of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee’s Annual Report on Management and Use of Petroleum Revenues for the Period 2018 reveals, the total Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) allocation of GH¢ 419,871,012 was to the education sector, over GH¢ 414.6million was spent on fees for Free SHS beneficiaries and GH¢ 5.2million on expanding existing infrastructure and building new ones.
Compounded by the backlog of students seeking admission
Over 175,000 students who sat for the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate examination and failed the English Language will have to compete next year with more than 400,000 free Senior High School first batch students for the limited space at the country’s tertiary institutions.
A backlog of about 200,000 students, created by merging two batches of SHS 4 and SHS 3 students who sat for the West Africa Senior High School Certificate Examination in 2013, still exists.
The West African Examination Council results of 2019 WASSCE candidates revealed that 100,781 candidates obtained between D7 to E8 in the English Language while 74,038 had F9.
These candidates who failed a core subject—English Language will have to retake and apply for a university next year. A year that will also witness a boom in admission as the first batch of free SHS students expected to enter university.
“Demand for tertiary school admissions in 2020 is expected to be massive as the country awaits the maiden graduation of over 400,000 Free Senior High School (SHS) students who will be applying for entry into the various tertiary institutions”
The reality is that this single batch of free SHS beneficiaries is more in number than the entire student population of the 138 tertiary institutions in the country at the moment.
Expected to heighten the race for university admissions next year is the over 400,000 Free SHS beneficiaries together with the over 150,000 candidates who may not get admitted as a result of the failed English Language subject, this year.
This development puts pressure on Senior High School graduates outside the Free SHS program to do all they can to secure admission into the country’s public and private tertiary institutions this year, or risk competing with over 400,000 Free SHS beneficiaries for limited spaces in tertiary institutions.
Infrastructure neglected
About 99 percent of the oil cash used to support the country’s education budget for 2018 was used to pay for goods and services – mainly for the payment of school fees in respect of government’s Free SHS program, while about 1 percent spent on physical infrastructure.
An analysis of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee’s Annual Report on Management and Use of Petroleum Revenues for the Period 2018 reveals, the total Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) allocation of GH¢ 419,871,012 was to the education sector, over GH¢ 414.6million was spent on fees for Free SHS beneficiaries and GH¢ 5.2million on expanding existing infrastructure and building new ones.
The amount spent on physical infrastructure is worrisome. Given there has been an increased enrolment in SHS students as a result of the government’s Free SHS policy.
Ghana Government Suspends Concession Agreement with PDS
The government of Ghana has suspended a concession agreement with the Power Distribution Company (PDS), a private company that took over power distribution in the country some few months ago. According to the government, the decision follows the detection of fundamental and material breaches of PDS’ obligation in the provision of payment securities (demand guarantees). The transaction discovered upon further due diligence.
Steps were taken to ensure distribution, billing, and payment services continue to customers
The government of Ghana has suspended a concession agreement with the Power Distribution Company (PDS), a private company that took over power distribution in the country some few months ago. According to the government, the decision follows the detection of fundamental and material breaches of PDS’ obligation in the provision of payment securities (demand guarantees). The transaction discovered upon further due diligence.
"The Demand Guarantees were key prerequisites for the lease of assets on March 1st, 2019 to secure the assets that were transferred to the concessionaire," the statement said.
The government is conducting a full inquiry into the matter, and the outcome will inform the next course of action.
Steps were taken to ensure distribution, billing, and payment services continue to customers, the statement read. It added that the general public is assured this development will not interfere with the distribution of electricity services to customers.
Burundi’s Medical University Tours Ghana’s University
An eight-man delegation from the University of Burundi Faculty of Medicine paid a courtesy call on the management of Ghana’s University for Development Authority to explore the university’s flagship program “Problem Based Learning (PBL) to enhance academic work in Burundi.
To enhance academic work in Burundi
An eight-man delegation from the University of Burundi Faculty of Medicine paid a courtesy call on the management of Ghana’s University for Development Authority to explore the university’s flagship program “Problem Based Learning (PBL) to enhance academic work in Burundi.
The delegation led by Prof J. Baptiste Ngomirakiza-Hepato, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, arrived at UDS Main campus in the Northern part of Ghana for a five-day visit. The aim, to learn about how UDS started and still maintained the Third Trimester Field Practical Program (TTFPP), known as PBL, a community-based program. It was also to interact with management and faculty lecturers to learn about its (UDS) method in sustaining its medical school.
He reiterated the commitment of the government and management of Burundi University to deepen their relations with Ghana for more collaboration to enhance quality educational standards between the two universities.
Welcoming the delegates at his office, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UDS Professor Seidu Al-Hassan commended them for the effort. Saying the University has been embarking on the TTFP to ensure quality graduates.
“It was not an easy task when we first started the program; as we encountered numerous challenges. Faculty members and some students did not like it as it was completely different from the traditional practice. That is, producing doctors where you allow them to stay and do two terms, then, come out as doctors. It involves tasking the students to work closely with communities with an emphasis on practical.”
The practically oriented methodologies to teaching and learning, research and outreach services adopt by UDS is a means to fulfilling its mandate of blending the academic world with that of the community to provide constructive interaction between the two for the total development of Northern Ghana in particular and the country as a whole. He said the program has helped its students to perform well at the various health institutions that they work due to the interdisciplinary skills acquired from the university.
He added that early exposure to the communities help the students to have confidence in working with institutions.
US$1.5bn To Support Ghana’s Educational Infrastructure Ready
Government of Ghana has set aside an amount of US$1.5 billion GETFUND financing for educational infrastructure in the various Senior High Schools across the country, Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said. Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting in Accra, US$1.5 billion will use in building infrastructures — school blocks and dormitories.
Related Article: All Students To Be Under Free SHS From September
Enormous pressure on existing infrastructure
Government of Ghana has set aside an amount of US$1.5 billion GETFUND financing for educational infrastructure in the various Senior High Schools across the country, Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said. Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting in Accra, US$1.5 billion will use in building infrastructures — school blocks and dormitories.
The purpose, it will be used for critical education infrastructure, especially, to complete the numerous uncompleted buildings in secondary and tertiary institutions.
A proposal to secure up to US$1.5billion long-term financing for GETFUND, on the back of a portion of VAT receivables as prescribed in Act 581, will be issued in three tranches (bond dividend) of US$500 million has already been presented to Parliament.
The US$1.5billion GETFUND money is an attempt by the government to tackle some of the challenges that came with the introduction of the Free SHS in 2017, which brought in additional 90,000 students, who would have missed out SHS education.
In 2018, enrolment increased by 36 percent, meaning additional 181,000 students had a chance to access secondary education; this has put enormous pressure on the existing infrastructure, which various commentators have urged the government to resolve.
GETFUND money expected to ease the congestion and some challenges that came with the introduction of the free SHS.
The Ministry of Education received a budgetary allocation GHc12.87 billion for the 2019 financial year, of which, GH¢1.682 billion, earmarked for the implementation of the Free SHS program.
The Scholarship Secretariat which operates under the Office of Government Machinery has been tasked to cater for the direct funding of the Free SHS program. Since 2018 the GH¢1.682 billion budgetary allocation for the program excluded the total budgetary allocation to the ministry for the Scholarship Secretariat.
GETFUND money to address some of the challenges that came with the introduction of the Free SHS
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Ghana, China Tighten Diplomatic Ties
The Chief Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Regional Integration (MFARI) Ambassador Albert Yankey led a high powered government delegation to The People’s Republic of China. The delegation would engage the Chinese Government for the first time in the 59 years diplomatic relationship on consular issues between the two countries.
By Benson Afful: Courtesy: Timothy Karikari
Both countries to create prosperity for their people
By Benson Afful: Courtesy: Timothy Karikari
The Chief Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Regional Integration (MFARI) Ambassador Albert Yankey led a high powered government delegation to The People’s Republic of China. The delegation would engage the Chinese Government for the first time in the 59 years diplomatic relationship on consular issues between the two countries.
Amongst others, the talks will seek ways to deepen the relationship between the two countries by addressing pertinent issues such as the comfort and safety of Ghanaians domiciled in China and the increasing number of Ghanaian students in China, scholarships, their concerns, areas of study and the impact of their studies on our development.
The meeting would also address current challenges in our consular relations such as illegal mining (Galamsey) and other inappropriate conducts by Ghanaian nationals in China and Chinese nationals in Ghana. The meeting will take place on the 24th of July in Beijing, China.
The Chief Director expressed his appreciation to Ghana’s Ambassador in China, Ambassador Edward Boateng and his team for the effort in putting this meeting together and is optimistic that the outcomes will go a long way to advance the common aim of both countries to create prosperity for their people to live in harmony. Ambassador Yankey also stated that it was going to be a regular feature in the coming years.
Accompanying Ambassador Yankey is senior officials from the MFARI, Land and Natural Resources, National Minerals Commission, Land Commission, Scholarship Secretariat, Immigration and Customs.
Ghana Moves To Cover 13m Informal Sector Workers On Pension By 2020
Ghana’s National Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) says it rolled out a product next year to cover the over 13 million workers in the informal sector. The Trust currently has over 1.5 million active contributor base—who are mostly in the formal sector and a pensioner population of over 200,000.
Members can check statements online and transact business with the Trust through a portal
Ghana’s National Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) says it rolled out a product next year to cover the over 13 million workers in the informal sector.
“We have constituted a team that has been working on a product that is customized and suited to that market segment to be rolled out by end 2020”
The Trust currently has over 1.5 million active contributor base—who are mostly in the formal sector and a pensioner population of over 200,000.
According to Mr. Tenkorang, it means that the majority of informal sector workers are not guaranteed lifetime regular income replacement by way of pensions. We shall extend social protection for the working-class Ghanaians who are not currently covered by our Scheme.
Mr. Tenkorang said SSNIT implemented decisive strategies to improve customer service, brand and reputation management which culminated in the Trust being ranked first in the Public Sector category for Customer Service in the 2018 Ghana Customer Service Index Report released by the Institute of Customer Service Professionals.
He said there is a periodic engagement with staff, which takes place during unannounced visits to various branches and departments by himself and his deputies. Also, management introduced the Pensioners Priority Desk in 2017 to ensure pensioners, who walk into the company’s offices, do not queue before being attended. Members of the scheme can now check their statements online and transact business with the Trust through our portal. Through this same portal, employers can now submit their Contributions Reports for validation and make payments at the nearest bank without having to visit any SSNIT Office. In the next two years, the Trust shall complete the restructuring of customer service delivery. Reduce unnecessary stakeholder exposure.
He said another driver of service delivery is technology, which saves time and money. 'Definitely by the close of the year, several key initiatives would take off. These include NIA Integration and Payments through MoMo, SSNIT App, GRA, RGD integration.'
Strengthening public education
The Trust will embark on an aggressive and sustained public education campaign. A holistic approach encompassing controlled messaging, media relations; face-to-face interactions and presentations will be rolled out to create social security informed society.
We are developing messages to be played in the Intercity STC buses with over 500,000 commuters annually. We may not be able to change current pensions received by pensioners. But certainly we can build a critical mass of informed workers who contribute diligently to the Scheme. The story about pensions will significantly change in the future.
The same Scheme that pays someone a minimum pension of GHc300 pays another GHc 55,000,” he said.
Future of Ghana’s Oil Hangs on Local Participation
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gas, Mr. Ben Asante, said, the oil and gas industry cannot develop if the country fails to train local people to work in the industry.
Ghana gas CEO
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gas, Mr. Ben Asante, said, the oil and gas industry cannot develop if the country fails to train local people to work in the industry.
Speaking at the Ghana Energy Summit in Accra, he said the sustainability of the oil and gas industry depends on the human capital of the country. We cannot depend on consultants to develop the oil and gas industry. We need to build the capacity of the local people to participate in the industry.
Ghana gas, he said is a very young company, started operation in 2015. And, by March 2017 Ghanaians did the entire operation processing plant. “I think this is the kind of story that we should try to perpetuate in our industry. When you look at the entire chain, starting from exploration and production, which is very capital intensive, we don’t have a lot of local content participation in exploration and production.
Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
Down the chain, there is increasingly higher local participation, and the capital requirement also goes down.
Everyone has an opportunity to participate in the oil and gas sector. Engineering services, procurement services, among others, each present an opportunity for everyone. He said gas is going to take over the world as it gets many uses. Which is not limited to power and it’s very friendly to the environment. Mr. Asante encouraged Ghanaians to come on board the oil and gas sector and to explore opportunities the sector offers.
Following the 2007 oil find, pressure was mounted on the government drafted a local content policy for the oil and gas sector. The policy document is a comprehensive document that addresses all aspects of local content in the quest to realize the maximum benefit from the oil and gas sector. These actions will lead to the creation of a self-sustaining economy.
In this vain, the government has its vision for the Sector, a commitment to deploying an effective local content, capacity development and local participation by Ghanaian citizens in all roles.
Policy objectives provided for in the policy document, however, there has been very little done to ensure local participation in the sector, an area which demands technical skills.
Ghana Working On Petroleum Transportation Infrastructure Master Plan
The quest to make Ghana a petroleum hub has begun as the government is currently working on a Petroleum Transportation Infrastructure Master Plan, aimed at enhancing the pace of infrastructure construction to serve the sub-Regional petroleum industry, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has said.
Will link Ghana with the Sub-Regional markets
The quest to make Ghana a petroleum hub has begun as the government is currently working on a Petroleum Transportation Infrastructure Master Plan, aimed at enhancing the pace of infrastructure construction to serve the sub-Regional petroleum industry, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has said.
The Ministerial Committee working on this Master Plan has finalized its work. And ready to present its findings to the Economic Management Team and subsequently to the Cabinet for consideration to allow for the commencement of the first phase of new pipeline infrastructure projects to complement existing infrastructure; and thereby, ease the movement of petroleum products from Tema through Akosombo, to Dabire, Buipe, and Bolga.
This the Vice President said will facilitate the development of alternative transportation infrastructure for petroleum products such as railway lines, pipelines, and river barges to major demand-centers across the country.
These infrastructure developments will also link Ghana with the sub-Regional markets and further deepen regional integration agenda as well as to fulfill the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. He said the country’s unique geographical position; democratic stability and security require that the nation provide leadership in building an integrated infrastructure to serve the sub-Regional petroleum industry.
Ghana has been hard at work, trying to turn the country into the sub-regions petroleum hub by 2030.
Gantry cranes
Expected cost US$60 billion, the hub, is expected to be established in the Western region will include refineries, petrochemical plants, power plants, light industry, waste, and water treatment facilities among others.
To make the vision a reality, the Vice President urged the private sector to take advantage of the favorable petroleum market environment and invest in infrastructures such as oil jetties, pipeline and distribution infrastructure, refineries, gas processing plants, storage, and loading gantries.
To assure investors, the Vice President said, the security of natural gas supply as feedstock for petrochemical plants is a priority for the Government. Procurement of natural gas from domestic sources already secured under regulations governing the Domestic Supply Obligations of Upstream gas producers. As a country, our vision for the petroleum downstream industry is to ensure Ghana becomes a key player in the downstream petroleum industry in the West African Sub-region.
Ghana Fishing Stock Threatened
Ghana’s fish stock fast depleting and likely collapse if measures not put in place. Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Naa Afoley Quaye, revealed.
Since 2006 has contributed less than 3 percent to the country’s economy
Ghana’s fish stock fast depleting and likely collapse if measures not put in place. Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Naa Afoley Quaye, revealed.
There has not been bumper harvest since the late ’90s; a situation, she said, might collapse the country’s fishing industry if proper measure not taken to reverse the situation. The minister disclosed this when she officially declared open the closed season of the Densu Estuary for Oyster pickers in the Ga South Municipal Assembly of the Greater Accra Region. The five-month-long closed season has boosted Oyster yields. She cited it as a good initiative which needs to be carried out to the marine fishing.
She said the government is committed to make fishing a viable economic venture to attract many people in the coastal areas. The minister congratulated the Oyster Pickers Association and the USAID for taking steps to protect Ghana’s Oyster stock. Under its Sustainable Fisheries Management Project, the USAID and its partners used the Densu Estuary closed season as one of the three pilot projects in Ghana to demonstrate the viability of coastal fisheries collaborative management.
Pickers For Fruitful Closed Season
Oysters Rebound During Closed Season
From Sea To Table
James G. Lykos, USAID/ Ghana Economic Growth Acting Team Leader, said the successful closed season proves that when the responsibility for decision-making is shared between government, citizens and other stakeholders, resource management is more effective and sustainable.
The fishing sub sector since 2006 has contributed less than 3 percent to the country’s economy, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) data.
In 2006 the industry contributed 2.5 percent to the economy, then dropped to 2.3 percent in 2007. It, however, increased to 2.7 percent in 2008. Sadly, after 2008 its contribution has never passed 2.7 percent. It contributed 2.5 and 2.3 percent to GDP in 2009 and 2010 respectively. It, however, tumbled to 1.7 percent to GDP in 2011 and has since never recorded any figure above that.
Currently, its contribution to GDP is at a paltry 1.2 percent, from the 1.1 percent recorded in 2016, clearly reflecting a sector that is in terrible distress.
All Students To Be Under Free SHS From September
Already the government has spent about GHc 800 million on the free SHS policy since its implementation, and this is expected to increase in the next budget.
Increase government spending on education in the next year budget
Nana Akufo-Add0, President, The Republic of Ghana
In September 2017, when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo led-government began the Free Senior High School (SHS) program with only the first year students, some political analysts questioned the essence of the ‘free SHS’ as it only benefited first-year students but not all SHS students.
Prior 2016 election when then-candidate, Nana Akufo Addo promised free SHS policy, it was believed by many, free SHS means free for every student in Senior High School at the time. However in 2017, when the program implemented, it saw only first-year students being the pioneers of the program, amidst heavy criticism from his political opponents.
Now, two years down the line, as the third batch of beneficiaries has completed their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), means from September this year, when they receive their placements into various SHSs across the country will make every SHS student in the country a beneficiary under the policy. The placement of these candidates to SHSs by September will also bring the number of beneficiaries of the policy to about 1.3 million students. The first year of the program’s implementation saw the enrolment of over 400,000 students in the various secondary schools. Last year, about 500,000 students also benefited from the program.
This year, over 500,000 JHS candidates sat for the BECE will receive their placement into the various SHSs by September.
This expected increase in government spending on education in next year budget as enrolment of SHS up a total of 1.3 million students, the highest since independence. Before the Free SHS program introduced, the total population of students in SHS stood at 432,780 per the 2016 academic year data. With GH¢ 2,312 spent on each student per year by the government.
Already the government has spent about GHc 800 million on the free SHS policy since its implementation, and this is expected to increase in the next budget. In the 2018 budget, GH¢ 455.9 million in petroleum revenues allocated to the Free SHS program.
President Nana Akufo-Addo during the launch of the free SHS policy in 2017 said his government would invest revenues from oil in one of the most ambitious social programs of the country’s history, that is, the Free Senior High School policy. According to him, the free SHS is ensuring that the country’s oil revenues are being equitably distributed to the people and not ending up in the pockets of a few.
Since its announcement that the government intends to use oil money to fund the free SHS policy, there have been criticisms by some civil society groups. That, it is risky for the government to rely solely on oil revenue funding the free SHS program. Insisting the government must diversify its sources in funding for the program, due to the instability of oil prices on the world market.
Rubber Farmers Take Over Cocoa Farms
According to Mr. Boafo, about 2,000 farmers are affected by the decision of the chiefs to pull down the cocoa trees. The affected areas include Akim Breman, Kuro dua, and Asikasu Odumase all in the Upper West Akim District.
Upper West Akim District
About 2,000 farmers in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern Region of Ghana have lost their cocoa farms to rubber plantation companies, as rubber investors offer more cash for stool lands.
"The land belongs to the chiefs, and these chiefs have released the land to the rubber farmers because they have paid for it. The chiefs have asked the farmers to pull the cocoa trees down." President of the West Akim Farmer Cooperative and Marketing Union, Ohene Boafo, said.
Stop the destruction of cocoa treeS - Ghana
According to Mr. Boafo, about 2,000 farmers are affected by the decision of the chiefs to pull down the cocoa trees. The affected areas include Akim Breman, Kuro dua, and Asikasu Odumase all in the Upper West Akim District. He said, when the farmers reported the issue to the farmers union, they tried their best to resolve the matter but proved futile. The problem is yet to resolve. Mr. Boafo, appealing to the authorities step in and that the remaining farms left to the farmers.
He said, since most of the farmers are aging, there is a need to make cocoa farming very attractive and that in turn attract the youth. Looking at how the stool landowners are treating the farmers will discourage them in the area from taking up cocoa farming. He, therefore, called for legal backing for the protection of cocoa farms in the country, saying: “If there is legal backing for cocoa farming, I don’t think the rubber plantation investors will come to their farms and destroy them.”
The Cocoa Life support
Cocoa Life, a program under Mondelez International, has been providing hybrid cocoa-seedlings to farmers who are under the program. The seedling which is nursed by Tree Global has a maturity period of 18 months as against the Tetteh Quarshie seedlings which are over 8 years to maturity period.
One farmer under the program during a tour on his farm, Ohene Boafo, told the press initially harvesting 2 bags from a hectare of land. “Cocoa Life has given a lot of education through its cocoa extension agents. We told how well to maintain our farms, in terms of weeding, pruning, spraying, and adopting good agricultural practices. Heeding advice and my yield have increased. We sometimes don’t have enough rainfall. Even though the yield decreases but the cocoa life seedlings can survive some months. Cocoa Life buys the seedlings and supplies them to us without cost.
1.5 million m/t target feasible
Despite threats posed by a shift in cocoa to rubber cultivation and the adverse impact of illegal mining in huge hectares cocoa farms, authorities believe, 1.5 million metric tons (m/t) target within four years is achievable.
Ghana Cocoa Board’s (Cocobod) Chairperson, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, said: “It is our objective to achieve a targeted 1.5 million ton of cocoa bean in the next couple of years. This is doable. We can achieve this within the next three to four year." A study conducted by the scientists at the Cocoa Research Institute has shown. It also entails ensuring the quality of planting materials, the adoption of irrigation on farms, and replanting over aged-cocoa farms.
The country is hopeful of exceeding its revised 800,000-ton target for cocoa production this season due to good rains. Cocoa purchases in the country world's second-largest cocoa grower totaled 691,149 ton as of March 23. The beginning of 2016/17 season starting Oct. 1, a 4% rise on last season, Cocobod data shows.
The Cocobod, Mr. Owusu-Agyemang said, is revamping its high tech program by subsidizing fertilizers, both liquid and granular, for farmers to address the soil fertility problems. "We are mindful of the fact that fertilizers supplied to farmers in the past have followed a blanket formula with the rate of application of 150 kg/acre, regardless of soil type and agro-ecological conditions. Although the blanket fertilizer formulas lead to significant yield increase, especially in the second and third years of application, they are not supportive of sustainable cocoa production because they fail to account for the inherent characteristics of the various soil groups and agribusiness of the cocoa landscapes," he said.
To protect the environment and to optimize returns from fertilizer application, Mr. Owusu-Agyemang indicated that Cocobod is taking steps to ensure that fertilizer formulation for cocoa in the country is made site-specific, and to build up the capacity of farmers in integrated soil fertility management for sustainable cocoa production.
Pwalugu Dam construction takeoff soon
The project will result in the development of a 20,000-hectare irrigation scheme, the largest in the country and will boost agriculture and other economic activities in Upper and North East regions.
Ghana poised to reduce the import of rice
Ghana will reduce by 16 percent and 32 percent in the import of rice and maize respectively after the completion of the Pwalugu Multi-purpose project in the Northern Region, Ing. Kwaku Wiafe, Manager, Business development at the Volta River Authority (VRA) has said.
The project, which is part of the Sinohydro deal comprises hydropower, dam, and irrigation will cost the US$300million to complete its construction in the next three years.
Means that Pwalugu Dam after completion will produce 60MW of energy and control floods as well be used for irrigation to ensure all-round farming in the northern sector of the country. The project will result in the development of a 20,000-hectare irrigation scheme, the largest in the country and will boost agriculture and other economic activities in Upper and North East regions.
Ing. Wiafe, speaking at the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose stakeholder engagement meeting in Accra said the project would increase access to electricity in the northern sector by 90 percent, as it will improve voltage and reliability of power supply to NEDCo. Reduce the frequency of floods downstream and avert the destruction of lives and properties. The current project design strikes the best balance among the project benefits of hydropower, flood control, irrigation, and the environmental and social impact,” he said.
Mr. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, the Chief Executive Officer of VRA, said the irrigation scheme would boost agricultural production and form basis for agro-industries, including the revival of the Pwalugu Tomato Factory.
He has the potential to produce 117,000 tons of rice and 49,000 tons of maize. Other crops that will benefit from increased production include onion, tomatoes, sweet potato, sweet pepper, and watermelon, he added. Promote agricultural production and attract large-scale commercial farms, supported by smaller scale out growers, no doubt, impact the government’s flagship programs of one district one factory. The multi-purpose project also has the potential for smaller irrigation schemes around the reservoir, fish farming that will improve livelihoods and create jobs.
There would be the need to resettle the local communities to make way for the construction of the dam and reservoir. According to Mr. Antwi-Darkwa, this is the point where opinions diverge and in some cases have led to the stalling of many projects. He, therefore, urged stakeholders to treat issues of resettlement with extreme sensitivity and in conformity with the cultural norms and tradition of the people.
The Volta River Authority has given the indication government will soon start the construction of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Power Dam project in the Northern Region and is expected to kick start this year. The expectation, to boost agricultural production.
Power and Industrialization Drive
President Akufo-Addo’s administration has set an ambitious district industrialization agenda, known as the One district One factory policy, which his government intends to achieve to move Ghana from one that exports raw materials to a value-added industrialized economy.
One district One factory policy
Akufo-Addo - President, The Republic of Ghana
The Nana Akufo-Addo’s government has given assurance to industry and manufacturers its determination in stabilizing electricity supply as the government continues to implement proactive measures to solve the current crisis.
President Akufo-Addo’s administration has set an ambitious district industrialization agenda, known as the One district One factory policy, which his government intends to achieve to move Ghana from one that exports raw materials to a value-added industrialized economy.
Key areas need critical attention if the government could meet this target bringing factories to all 216 districts across the country’s 16 administrative regions is a cheaper and reliable energy source.
The government has already released GH¢465 million for the commencement of the project. It has also released GH¢256 million for the revamping of 100 private commercially viable and distressed companies throughout the country. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta during the 2019 Budget Presentation in Parliament stated government has so far disbursed GH¢227 million as a stimulus package to support various distressed companies, and that additional funds will be disbursed to support other distressed companies next year. 79 factories in 9 regions of the country should be at various stages of construction or operation under the '1D1F' scheme is expected.
Industrialization agenda
Ghana has not had it easy when it comes to the cost industry pay for a power outage. The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) which conducted a study on the impact of the four-year power crisis that hit Ghana revealed that 885 small and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Sekondi-Takoradi lost GH¢250 million within the period. The productivity of these firms fell as many were using generators as an alternative source of power.
Additionally, the power outages, to a large extent, led to a 10 percent fall in monthly productivity of those firms, with as many as 55 of such businesses folding up in the four locations of the country.
Ghana’s economy, like any other economy in the world, depends on local production and export goods and services, thus industrialization. For many industries in the West African country, energy supply is a major challenge. Players in the sector have been complaining about the intermittent power outage they sometimes experience. A situation that in the past cost many job layoffs.
The Nana Akufo Addo’s government has given assurance to industry and manufacturers its determination in stabilizing electricity supply as the government continues to implement proactive measures to solve the current situation.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in a communiqué after its National Council Retreat this year said they are resolved to continue making input into the electricity tariff negotiations with the country’s utility regulator, Public Utility Regulatory Commission, and appropriate agencies to ensure competitive tariffs for Industry.
The industry is expecting reliability and efficiency in service delivery and competitive tariffs from the new company—Power Distribution Service (PDS) taken operations in the distribution network in southern Ghana. AGI recognizes the need for a tariff structured in a manner the service providers can recover cost to remain viable.
Ghana is in the category of countries with high energy cost in the sub-region and for the industry to remain competitive industry sector players have called on the government to review the electricity tariff.
It is therefore right to say that a high cost of energy leads to a high cost of production; and will subsequently make Ghana unattractive for the setting up of factories thus generating a consistent increase in imports. This explains why locally-produced goods more expensive than the same imported goods in spite of the high duty charges at our various ports of entry.
UNIDO to boost industrial development
The government, in terms of urgency, must explore other cost-effective forms of energy like solar, bio-energy, nuclear, and wind energy to enhance Ghana’s business destination for West Africa.
Ghana’s total installed generator capacity at the end of 2016 was 3,795 MW with proportions as follows; 57.8 percent thermal, 41.6 percent hydro and 0.6 percent renewable.
Most thermal facilities run on natural gas (a cheaper fuel source compared to liquid fuels) as the primary fuel source, with the exception CENIT Power Plant and the Karpowership power plant, which depend solely on liquid fuels (LCO/DFO and HFO respectively). Makes natural gas supply very crucial for the effective operation of Ghana’s electricity sector. The West African Gas Pipeline transporting natural gas from Nigeria, is the major supplier of natural gas for generating electricity until the commissioning of the Atuabo gas processing facility, owner of the Ghana Gas Company in 2015. Gas supply has not been reliable with the Nigerians citing non-payment of debt as the major reason.
The Atuabo gas processing facility is capable of supplying up to 150 Mscf per day to the western power generation enclave at the Aboadze thermal facility with supplies from the Jubilee oil fields. Plans are underway to process natural gas from the Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme (TEN) oil fields to augment supplies from the Jubilee fields and make Ghana self-sufficient. However, the Tema thermal power enclave still depends on natural gas supply through the WAGP.
The Atuabo gas processing facility is capable of supplying up to 150 Mscf/d (abbreviation for a thousand standard cubic feet per day, a common measure for volume of gas) to the western power generation enclave at the Aboadze thermal facility with supplies from the Jubilee oil fields. Plans are underway to process natural gas from the Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme (TEN) oil fields to augment supplies from the Jubilee fields and make Ghana self-sufficient. However, the Tema thermal power enclave still depends on natural gas supply through the WAGP.
Huge investment to increase the power-generation capacity of the country. More power plants have also been constructed to increase the supply of power in the country. These include Takoradi Thermal Power Plant, Takoradi T3 Plant, Tema T1 Power Plant, Mines Reserve Plant, Tema T2 Plant, and the Kpone Thermal Plant. Notwithstanding the efforts made by successive governments to expand power generation capacity, the country is still far from becoming power sufficient.
The government of Ghana is still pursuing policies to improve the shortcomings in the power sector.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCA) plans to invest a maximum of US$498 million in total to help transform the power sector of Ghana and also stimulate private investment over the next five years. The objective is to create a power sector, which is financially viable, and be able to meet the current needs as well as the future needs for both businesses and households.