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Vegetable farmers laud government’s planting for food and jobs programme

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Vegetable farmers, in the coastal areas of the Volta Region, have commended the government’s for its flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), but asked for support to reduce post-harvest losses.
 
     
The PFJ is a government’s designed and implemented programme structured around five pillars, including seed, fertiliser, extension services, marketing and monitoring, aimed at promoting growth in food production, security and creating jobs across the country.
     
Some farmers, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the government needed to address the challenges of access to seeds and a ready market to ensure the investment in subsidies made the necessary impact.
     
Mr Charles Evedzi, a farmer at Denu, who cultivates cabbage, lettuce, beetroot, carrot, cauliflower and onion, said the PFJ programme was good but the seeds, market and electricity bill remained the biggest challenges.
     
“The PFJ is helping me a lot especially with the fertiliser. Formerly, the prices were high but now the government pays half the price for us.  But seeds and market are not helping. Our soil is good for some types of seeds only but when we request for those, we don’t get them.
     
We have to go to Togo and elsewhere for seeds. Also, markets for our vegetables are sometimes difficult such that at the end of a farming season, what you realise isn’t enough to settle the cost of power used to irrigate the farm.”
     
Madam Happy Hamenu,  who is into okra, pepper and tomato production at Anloga, said vegetable farmers had to buy seeds and fertilisers at high prices and were therefore unable to make any profit due to post-harvest losses.
     
She asked for a tomato processing factory in the area for a ready market for their perishable produce.
     
Mr Roland Tudzi, Chairman of Keta Vegetable Farmers and Marketers Association, said the members complained about seeds and a ready market, noting that when the vegetables were in season, traders bought them at cheap prices.
     
He called on the government to, among others, provide mechanised tillers, address funding challenges to farmers and take steps to prevent post-harvest losses so farmers could get good rewards for their toils.
     
Reacting to the concerns of the farmers, Mr George Boahen Oduro, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of perennial crops, said the Ministry was taking steps to address the challenges.
     
He said the government was partnering with GIZ to support farmers’ change to the use of solar panel systems for irrigation to avoid the high electricity cost and hinted of plans to organise a management workshop which would benefit farmers.
     
Mr Godwin Tettey, Director, Department of Agriculture Keta, explained that the prices of fertilizer were high because the farmers undertook all-year-round farming and bought the inputs at open market prices after the subsidy period, which spans March to October.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana celebrates Reformation Day

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG) has celebrated its Reformation Day with a call on churches to teach their members the biblical truth and avoid monetary demands.
     
Reverend John Shadrack Donkoh, the President of the ELCG made the call at a press briefing during the celebration at Anyaa in Accra.
     
The theme for the occasion was “Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Scripture Alone” and was to mark the 16th-century church Reformation brought about by Martin Luther, which began on October 31, 1483-1546.
     
He said when Luther started his religious reformation, money was in the thick of it; not for himself, but that demanded by the church in the form of indulgences (a method of selling permits to raise money for the church), and he (Luther) disagreed with the church authority.
 
   
“What are the prophets and preachers telling their members today? Can we say that money has become central in today’s churches and among some men of God?” Rev Donkoh asked; and said “Yes, it is! When hard-pressed by poverty, self-styled prophets have invaded the Christian church taking their members for a ride.”
     
Rev Donkoh said the 21st century church has a lot to learn from the 16th century Reformation and that Africa as a continent had been blessed with some great church leaders who could champion exemplary lives of integrity and modesty and teach the right scriptures to their flocks.
     
The President said: “The principles of fruitful living can all be found in the Good Book (Joshua 1:8-9). We cannot afford to have a failed church because we will all be doomed if that happens. Salvation, eternal life is neither gained by praying all day, without doing any gainful work, nor by being coerced into paying lots of money to the church.
     
“Rather, it is a free and voluntary offering of God for His church for what He has done for mankind through the suffering, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Neither is peace nor forgiveness of sin earned by what we do. It is purely a free gift of grace by our Lord, who love and still does, by sending His dear Son to liberate us from sin, death and the devil.”
     
Rev Donkoh reminded Lutherans and other Protestants the world over who celebrated the Reformation Day of what Luther stood for in the 16th Century by returning Christianity to its roots; an idea of liberating people, which has become the international politics of freedom.
     
“Man is justified and saved by the grace of God alone and not by works of his own or of the saints. Jesus Christ alone has earned this for us,” he said.
   
Rev Donkoh urged Ghanaians to be peace ambassadors during this year’s political campaign, saying; “Don’t allow yourselves to be used in exchange for few cedis; say no to vigilantism.”

Effutu NDC officially launch 2020 campaign

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The Effutu Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially launched its 2020 campaign ahead of the December general Elections with a call on the citizenry to vote for their future.
 
Launched on the theme:  “Your vote Your future” brought together, supporters in the constituency as well as National and Central Regional executives of the party.
 
Earlier in the day, members in their party colours embarked on a 7-hour peaceful float through the principal streets of Winneba with a brass band amidst dancing, chanting of party slogans and singing of party songs.
 
Speaking at the event, Mr. Sam P. Yalley, a leading member of the party said the second coming of the NDC was to rescue Ghanaians from the New Patriotic Party and applauded the people of Effutuman for their high turnout.
 
Mr Yalley assured the people that all that have been outlined in the party’s people’s manifesto would be fully implemented to better the lot of all persons in the country irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious affiliations.
 
Ghanaians he noted, must fight for their rights by going out in their numbers on December 7, vote wisely for John Dramani Mahama flagbearer of the party and Dr. James Kofi Annan the constituency NDC parliamentary candidate, who were second on the ballot.
 
Mr. Kwesi Dawood, NDC Central Region Communications Officer said the high turnout was an indication that the people were ready to change the government.
 
He educated the gathering not to collect and keep Voters Identity cards which were not for them because it was an offense.
 
Mr Dawood in this regard urged the people not to surrender their voters I.D cards to people who were going round collecting such cards with the reason that they were keeping them safe till the voting day.
 
Lawyer Victor Nyankson, a member of the council of elders and Chief Hamilton Biney Nixon second deputy national organizer, jointly launched the campaign and stated that this year’s election was not about the NDC or the NPP but for the future of the country.
 
 
Dr.  Annan assured the people of his continuous service to Effutuman without discrimination as he worked harder to bring more development to the area.
 
Mr. Paa Nii Lamptey immediate past Chairman of Effutu NDC urged the members to continue to be ambassadors of the change Ghanaians were yearning for by winning more members into their fold to take over the governance of the country come December 7.
 
“You should embrace peace wherever you may find yourselves before, during and after the December elections” he added.

NDC government will dredge Tema fishing Harbour

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Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer, National Democratic Congress (NDC), has assured fish folks in Tema, that he will dredge the Tema Fishing Harbour to boost fishing activities if he wins the 2020 election.
 
He said the fishing industry played an important role in Ghana’s socioeconomic development and therefore, his next administration would transform and de-politicise it.
 
 
Mr Mahama was addressing fisher folks at the Fishing Harbour in Tema, on day three of his five-day campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region.
 
He said his next government would re-established the Landing Beach Committees to ensure efficiency in the distribution of premixed fuel.
Outboard motors would also be sold at a subsidized price to the fish folks.
 
 
Mr Mahama said he would resource the Ghana Navy to enable them patrol Ghana’s coastal line to prevent fishing trollers from fishing within 20 nautical miles of Ghana’s waters so as to preserve the livelihood of the fisher folks.
He mentioned that his next administration would establish a loan scheme to assist the fisher folks in their activities.
 
Early on the Presidential Candidate paid a courtesy call on the Tema Traditional Council, where he signed a book of condolence in honour of the late Tema Mantse Nii Adjei Kraku II at the Palace in Tema Manhean.
 
 
At a mini rally in Tema Manhean, Mr Mahama said his next government would up grade the Tema General Hospital to a grade A hospital like the Ridge Hospital; adding that they would also build modern Police District Headquarters in Tema Manhean.
 
He said his next administration would provide free tertiary education for persons with disability, adding that they rollout youth entrepreneurship programme, as part of efforts to address youth unemployment in the country.
 
Mr Mahama, who also met petroleum tanker drivers at the Tema Heavy Industrial Area, assured them that his next government would restore the Tema Oil Refinery to its glory.
Speaking at another mini rally in Community One, Mr Mahama promised the people of Tema, that his next government would build an ultra-modern market for them.
 
 
At the Tema Light Industrial Area in Community Nine, Tema, where Mr Mahama met artisans, he assured them that he would review the Customs (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Acts 1014) to scrap the law banning importation of salvaged vehicles; stating that this would save the local automobile industry.

Kenya intercepts heroin, bhang destined for other countries

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Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said  its Customs officers have intercepted concealed heroin and bhang that were being smuggled through an international courier service provider.
 
The two prohibited consignments which originated from different countries to different destinations were intercepted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi.
 
It said the heroin originated from Juba, South Sudan and was destined to Cambodia whereas the bhang had originated from Kasese in Uganda and was destined to France. “Heroin was concealed in the buttons of dresses in the consignment while the bhang was wrapped in a black polythene paper concealed in an inner pocket of a Kitenge cloth,” KRA said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
 
The revenue authority said both consignments were separately intercepted after they were detected while passing through the non-intrusive scanners. It said KRA Customs officers jointly with anti-narcotic police officers opened the consignments for verification after the scanner showed some concealments.
 
Smuggling and importation of prohibited goods is an offense under the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004. KRA, in collaboration with other government agencies, vowed to remain vigilant at all ports of entry to curb trade of illicit goods through the borders and other transnational economic crimes.

AU says deeply concerned over influx of foreign terrorist fighters into Africa

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The African Union (AU) has expressed deep concern over the growing threat to peace and security in Africa posed by terrorism, radicalization and violent extremism, as well as by the influx of foreign terrorist fighters into the continent.
 
According to a statement, the AU Peace and Security Council, in its latest meeting, has deliberated on the Impact of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTTs) on peace and security in Africa.
 
The Council warned that it would not hesitate to name and shame all non-African states that are sponsors found to be promoting terrorism.  The threat is undermining AU efforts to end violent conflicts and achieve sustainable peace, security and stability on the African continent, the Peace and Security Council of the 55-member pan-African bloc said.
 
The Council also expressed deep concern over the growing linkages between terrorism and trans-national organized crime, including money laundering, illicit financial flows, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, human and drug trafficking, as well as the growing threat of terror-related cyber crimes and the potentiality of weapons of mass destructions reaching terrorist organizations.
 
The Council condemned the continued indiscriminate terrorist attacks in various parts of the continent and the continued recruitment and state sponsorship of foreign terrorist fighters. Some non-African states are sponsors of the rising influx of foreign terrorist fighters into Africa, it said without elaboration.
 
The Council encouraged all AU members and other relevant stakeholders to fully uphold and comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2170, which presents a holistic approach toward combating the scourges of foreign terrorist fighters.
 
It urged international partners to enhance assistance and collaboration with AU members in addressing the growing threat of foreign terrorist fighters, including by sharing of information that assists in identifying FTFs.
 
The Council, therefore, called for concerted and sustained efforts by AU members to effectively destroy the financial lifelines of terrorist groups, and fight transnational organized crime, including piracy, kidnap-for-ransom, drug and human trafficking, money laundering, illicit financial flows, selling of antiquities, and illegal exploitation and selling of natural resources.
 
It emphasized that members should refrain from payment of ransom to terrorists, so as  to discourage terrorist organizations from committing kidnap-for-ransom crimes. It also called for development of common standards for effectively tracking the networks of terrorism financing in accordance with relevant AU and international instruments.
 

Rwanda exhuming mass grave of 5,000 genocide victims

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Local authorities, residents and Ibuka, an umbrella organization of genocide survivors associations, are jointly exhuming a mass grave believed to contain remains of about 5,000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide in Gatsibo District, eastern Rwanda, a local official said.
 
The exhumation of the mass grave recently discovered in Kiziguro sector according to testimonies of genocide survivors started on Tuesday and could take about three weeks, Mayor of Gatsibo District, Richard Gasana told Xinhua in a telephone interview. 
 
The pit, which was reportedly dug in the 1970s for water supply, is estimated to be 30 meters deep, said Gasana, adding that the exhumation had been delayed to prepare relatives of the victims.
 
The authorities and Ibuka have been appealing for Rwandans with information that could help identify undisclosed mass graves of the genocide victims to come forward. Remains of the genocide victims are still being discovered in many parts of Rwanda over two decades after the genocide that killed over one million people, mainly ethnic Tutsis. 
 
In 2018-2019 fiscal year, the remains of 118,049 victims were discovered in 17 districts across the central African country, according to the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide.

35 female journalists receive training on digital literacy, rights online

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Some thirty-five women journalists drawn from Ashanti, Bono and Bono-East Regions have received a one-day training on identifying and dealing with online abuses as well as digital literacy.
 
The training further exposed participants to how they could effectively collaborate and contribute to women’s rights online advocacy and ensure an enabling internet environment.
 
It was jointly organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), with support from the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
 
Ms Jemila Abdulai, founder of Circumspecte.com, an online digital service and platform, who took participants through social media, online privacy, and mapping women’s rights, indicated that women journalists needed digital skills to thrive in the era of technological advancement.
 
She said the COVID-19 pandemic had prompted a lot of activities off line to find its way online and women journalists in Ghana should not be left out.
 
“They needed to be able to create contents online, get detailed knowledge on writing for the web and also take advantage of their digital rights.”
 
Ms Abdulai said most vocal women were victims of cyber bullying, harassment and insults online, urging that women had to know how to be tolerant and deal with such occurrences by protecting their online privacy.
 
She said dealing with the online space could be cumbersome without in-depth knowledge on its operations and it was important for women journalists to do thorough research and be abreast of the privacy issues, before they signed up to go online.
 
Ms Vivian Affoah, a Programmes Manager at MFWA, said the Foundation had targeted a total of 120 female journalists, bloggers and activists across Ghana, to benefit from the training programme.
 
The aim is to ensure that women journalists were empowered to work effectively using both online and off line approaches.

Mahama tours Greater Accra Region

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Mr John Dramani Mahama, the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has begun a five-day campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region.
   
A statement issued by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, the Campaign Spokesperson of the NDC, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said Mr Mahama would meet with traditional leaders, fisherfolks, traders, farmers, artisans, Zongo chiefs, students, tutors, workers, and residents in some constituencies.
   
It said during the tour, Mr Mahama would outline plans for creating jobs for the youth as well as his commitment to achieving universal access to healthcare through the implementation of the NDC’s Free Primary Healthcare plan.
   
The statement said he would also address the concerns of students, fisherfolks, and others, and end the tour of the Greater Accra Region on Saturday, 31st October.
     
It said Mr Mahama’s tour of the Greater Accra Region followed his combined 10-day campaign tour of both the Central and Western Regions, which ended last Friday, October 23, 2020.

Unmasked gunmen rob victims and scare onlookers in Sunyani

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Two unidentified gunmen stormed the Sunyani Main Post Office Area, and succeeded in robbing unsuspected victims of Thousands of Ghana cedis, a scene onlookers described as a ‘deadly spectacle’.
 
The unmasked gunmen, who were riding a motorbike, snatched the handbag of a young woman containing thousands of Cedis at gunpoint, attacked and robbed another mobile phone vendor of undisclosed sums of money and sped-off.
 
According to bystanders, the young woman earlier withdrew money from the Sunyani main branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank, and decided to make transactions at the mobile money merchant, near the bank, when the robbery happened around 10:30 hours.
 
Some officials of the GCB, however declined to comment on the incident, traders around the area told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on conditions of anonymity the ‘spectacle was deadly’.
 
Financial institutions such as the GCB, Fidelity Bank, Universal Bank and Izwe Financial Services are all situated around the Area.
 
Traders along the street explained it was not the first time such robbery cases occurred in the area, and appealed to the police to improve police visibility to avert future mishaps.
 
“I think a police presence here is necessary. We all saw and condemned what happened this morning. But nobody dares to approach the robbers because they were wielding guns”, one of the traders indicated.
 
Earlier, the GNA gathered the gunmen stormed the GCB and Fidelity bank branches at the VRA Area, but they could not succeed in their operation, after a police on duty suspected and fired warning shots to scare them.
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