Govt must bear cost of transporting emergency cases - DDHS Group ( Daily Graphuic, Saturday, August 31, 2024 Page 17)

 

The District Directors of Health Services (DDHS) Group has called on the government to take full responsibility for the cost of transporting emergency cases by the National Ambulance Service, regardless of the distance. 

The group has also advocated the acquisition of at least two aircraft ambulances to support urgent referrals, particularly from remote areas.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 31st Annual General Conference of the DDHS Group at Ada in the Greater Accra Region

The communiqué, jointly signed by the National Chairman of the group, Dr  Justice Thomas Sevugu, and the National Secretary, Martin Sumani Daanko, further called on the government to  streamline and improve the efficiency of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims reimbursement process to ensure the financial stability of health facilities.

This year’s conference,on the theme: “Accelerating Towards Universal Health Coverage with a Strengthened Primary Health Through the Networks Approach: The Role of the DDHS and Stakeholders,” brought together DDHS members, Senior Managers of the Ghana Health Service and health partners to deliberate on critical health service delivery issues in Ghana.

The communiqué, among others, called on the Ghana Health Service to liaise with the Ministry of Works and Housing to address the accommodation challenges faced by health workers by constructing affordable housing units in critical areas.

They also urged the government to place District Directors of Health Services on all allowances due to Level 23H office holders in the public sector, ensuring fairness and equity in their remuneration.

Still on funding, the DDHS Group called on the government to restore the allocation of Government of Ghana funding and ensure its timely release to District/Municipal/Metropolitan Health Directorates to support their operations and public health activities at the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) level.

They further urged the government to provide financial clearance for the recruitment of critical technical and support staff to strengthen the capacity of District/Municipal/Metropolitan Health Directorates.

Concerns and challenges

The DDHS Group identified a significant shortage of essential technical and support staff, including laboratory and pharmacy technicians, storekeepers, security personnel, orderlies and labourers, which they said hampered effective health service delivery.

Further, they bemoaned the inequitable distribution of health workers across districts, a situation affecting the quality of health services in underserved areas and reiterated the need for the government to address those challenges.

“Many health facilities are burdened with obsolete medical equipment and deteriorating infrastructure, compromising the quality of care provided to patients,” the communique said.

 

Accommodation

The communique noted that the lack of adequate accommodation for health workers, particularly in rural areas, continued to be a major challenge affecting staff retention and morale and highlighted the need for those challenges to be resolved.

The group highlighted the need for increased funding to improve sanitation in health facilities, particularly in managing medical waste.
They noted that transportation of samples of suspected diseases to reference laboratories for confirmatory tests was often delayed, affecting timely diagnosis and treatment, therefore, urged the government to address the concerns urgently.

It further requested that the government should grant tax waivers to DDHS members and health workers to facilitate the importation of vehicles which were often used to support healthcare.

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/govt-must-bear-cost-of-transporting-emergency-cases-ddhs-group.html

GHS implements model health centres towards Universal Health Coverage (Daily Graphic, Monday, August 26, 2024 Page 49)

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has said a total of 420 health centres are being upgraded into Model Health Centres to enhance quality primary health care.

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The Model Health Centres, located in selected communities across the country, will provide 24-hour easily accessible and affordable healthcare services to healthcare seekers, particularly in rural communities, to reduce the incidence of maternal and child mortality and morbidity.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye said this on Wednesday, August 22, 2024 at the opening session of the 31st Annual General Conference of District Directors of Health Services (DDHS) Group held at Ada in the Greater Accra Region.

The annual conference serves as a forum for the heads of district health directorates to take stock, share ideas and best practices in order to improve the country’s health outcomes.

This year's conference was on the theme: "Accelerating towards Universal Health Coverage with a Strengthened Primary Health Care through the Networks of Practice Approach: The Role of DDHS and Stakeholders".

Dr Kuma-Aboagye said out of the proposed 420 model health centres, 153 of them across the 16 regions of Ghana had been identified, adding that contractors would soon be deployed to the sites.

He said the service had recruited 250 new Physician Assistants who would be deployed to the model health centres to offer affordable primary healthcare services to particularly rural dwellers to propel Ghana towards attainment of the Universal Health Coverage target in 2030.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye said universal health care was not merely a global aspiration, but a national imperative for Ghana,  stressing that in Ghana about half of the population could not count on having direct access to health services.

Embrace change

He said with barely six years to attain the Universal Health Coverage, there was the urgent need for service providers to begin to do things differently by unifying programmes, partners and stakeholders in our forward march towards a better health coverage using the network of practice approach (NOP).

The NOP aims to ensure the availability of adequate health infrastructure, equipment, trained and compelled workforce to provide high levels of care, strengthen referral linkages and facilitate resource sharing among modern health centres.

He assured participants of GHS’s continuous provision of human resources and equipment at all levels of healthcare services to improve primary health care across the country, and also charged them to show leadership by rationalising allocated resources to strengthen the organisation's service delivery capacity.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye said as part of GHS’s commitment to health information system, the service had invested in technology to facilitate real time data sharing and telemedicine, among others.  To that end, health facilities across the country have been connected to fibre systems to enhance digital health innovations.

 

He further revealed plans by the service to introduce a National Boat Service to provide primary health care to people in riverine communities in hard-to-reach districts.

Conditions of Service

The President of the DDHS Group, Dr Justice Thomas Sevugu, reiterated the call for better conditions of service for District Health Directors and improved infrastructure at the district level since they were the implementers of national health policies and programmes.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-Sarpong, reminded the participants of their role in the implementation of the NOP within their districts, and urged them to prioritise the implementation of the policy towards the achievement of universal health coverage.

Present at the opening session were the Mankralo of the Ada Traditional Area, Nene Agudey Obitchere III, who chaired the function, the District Chief Executive of Ada East, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee; Coordinator, Health Systems, World Health Organisation Ghana Office, Dr Sofonias Asrat Gatachew, and the Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPMED) of the MOH, Dr Alberta Biritwum.

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-ghs-implements-model-health-centres-towards-universal-health-coverage.html

The Mystery Basket of Ada - Symbol of hope (Daily Graphic, Friday, August 23, 2024 Page 26)

The Asafotufiami festival of the chiefs and people of Ada in the Greater Accra Region is a commemorative event that seeks to honour the heroic achievements of the ancestors of Ada.

According to history, some of the ancestors fought several wars to save Ada from being overrun and destroyed by enemies in the colonial era.  

Throughout the history of Ada, the people have fought in several ancient wars and battles, including the 1750 Battle of Nonobe, the war with Anglos in 1769 and the famous Katamanso war around 1826, where the people of Ada were invited by King Tackie of Accra.

The people of Ada responded to the call, and together with other allies, marched to the Katamanso village near Dodowa to help defeat the Ashantis.  

At the end of each war, surviving warriors who returned home were met at the outskirts of the town by joyous townsmen and relatives and carried shoulder-high to their respective homes amidst various merry-making activities.  

Pride  

Among the people of Ada, the mystery basket of Ada holds a historical pride of place in the community.  

The indigenes of Ada re-enact how the basket was used to fetch water each year

The fighting had been fierce in one particular battle, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Apart from the injuries sustained, the warriors of Ada were totally exhausted but knew they couldn't let their guard down.  

Oral history of the people of Ada has it that on one such return from a gruesome ancient battle, there was a desperate lack of fresh water. The survival of these warriors depended on the resourcefulness of their war captain, Asafoatse.    

Faced with the daunting task of bringing his troops home safely, the Asafoatse needed to find a way to quench the thirst of the fighters and revive their fighting spirit.

However, there was nothing to fetch the water with, as the fighters were said to have discarded most of their belongings to aid their movement and speed.  

In a desperate mood, the war captain looked for any receptacle that could hold water but all his hands could fall on was a basket woven with grass.  

 

The area's recorded history indicated that one of the fighters questioned the Asafoatse on how a basket could hold water. However, the Asafoatse was said to be undeterred and rather placed a leaf inside the basket and instructed the doubting warrior to fetch water from the river.    

Hope  

The oral history of Ada has it that the basket with the leaf placed in it was able to hold water and became a beacon of hope for the dying warriors.    

The Secretary to the Paramount Chief of the Ada Traditional Area, Djetse Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Jonathan Dokutso, who narrated the story to the Daily Graphic at the sidelines of this year’s Ada Asafotufiami festival, explained that since then, the Mystery Basket, the object that went to the rescue of the thirsty warriors, had come to represent a symbol of hope for the people of Ada.  

Each year, during the celebration of Asafotufiami, the story is reenacted to remind the people of Ada and the rest of the world of the historical significance of the mystery basket.  

“Today, the Mystery Basket may seem like an amusing or spiritual exercise to some, but it remains a powerful testament to the warriors who risked everything to shape the Ada State as we know it today,” Mr Dokutso said.

 via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-the-mystery-basket-of-ada-symbol-of-hope.html

Ensure transparency, accountability in petroleum revenue use - PIAC urges media(Daily Graphic, Thursday, August 22 2024 Page 33)

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has urged journalists to use their editorial platforms to promote transparency and accountability in the management and use of petroleum revenues.

The Chair of PIAC, Emerita Professor Elizabeth Ardayfio-Schandorf, was speaking at a media engagement on the management and use of petroleum revenues in the country at Prampram in the Ningo Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region on Tuesday.

It formed part of an outreach programme and community engagement by PIAC in the area.

The participants were briefed on matters related to the operations of PIAC and its interventions in the district, as well as how the committee could collaborate with the media going forward.

Present were some PIAC members, including a representative of independent policy research think thanks, Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee; a representative  of Muslim Groups, Dr Ibrahim Lartey, and a representative of the National House of Chiefs on the Committee, Odeefuo Amoakwa Boadu  VIII.

Oversight

As established under Section 51 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA), PIAC, Prof. Ardayfio-Schandorf said, served as a unique citizen-led statutory body tasked with additional public oversight responsibility to support the work of Parliament over the collection, allocation and utilisation of petroleum revenues.

She said PIAC's roles included oversight and monitoring, accountability, advocacy, public engagement and policy recommendations, adding that the committee was mandated to publish two reports annually—an annual report and a semi-annual report based on the collection, collation, reconciliation and analysis of production and revenue data from relevant stakeholder institutions.

Touching on the role of the media to enhance accountability in the management of petroleum revenues, Prof Ardayfio-Schandorf called on journalists to engage more closely with PIAC to report on the committee's findings and recommendations to keep the public informed and also hold public officials accountable.

She said this would ensure that the country’s petroleum revenues were managed effectively and transparently to benefit both current and future generations.

The chairperson reiterated PIAC’s recommendation that the selection of the annual budget funding amount (ABFA) should be guided by a long-term national development plan approved by Parliament in conformity with the Act.

Challenges

Ms Kasser-Tee said a significant challenge PIAC faced was the lack of enforcement powers since  the committee relied on Parliament to enforce the implementation of its recommendations on the management and use of petroleum revenues.

Collaboration

The Tema Regional Chairperson of the Ghana Journalists Association, Emma Dzifa Tetteh Tay, said the association was ready to build long-term partnership with the PIAC in the national interest.

 

As part of its activities in the district, the committee engaged a cross section of residents and also inspected some projects that were being funded through petroleum revenue.

The projects included upgrading works of the Prampram - Anyaman (Latsinyo - Anyaman) road, surfacing of the 22 kilometre Dawa-Ahwiam Ningo feeder road, construction of concrete drain at New Ningo and ongoing works on the Agenda 111 district hospital.

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-ensure-transparency-accountability-in-petroleum-revenue-use-piac-urges-media.html

 

New school block for Adjei Kojo Sraha community ( Daily Graphic, Monday, August 19, 2024 Page 23)

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, has cut the sod for the construction of a three-unit classroom block for the Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA) Sraha Basic School. The project, according to the contractor, is expected to be completed in three months and would comprise an office for the head teacher, six washrooms for the pupils and a water system.

At the ceremony last Tuesday, Mr Ahenkorah said in December 2022, Cargill Ghana, a Cocoa Processing and Licensed Buying Company and CARE International Ghana handed over a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities to the Adjei Kojo community in the Tema West Municipality which hitherto had only one public basic school.

He said it came to his attention that due to the lack of accommodation, learners who recently completed basic six at the school had their Junior High School lessons in the staff common room meant for facilitators in the primary department, after some parents refused to relocate their wards to other schools in the community for JHS education. 

He said touched by an appeal from the Headmistress of the school, Irene Adorku, parents and some learners during a visit to the school, he lobbied and got the Ministry of Education to help in building an additional JHS block through the Ghana Accountability and Learning Outcome Project (GALOP) to enable graduating basic six learners in the Sraha community to continue their JHS education in the same school.

The MP said the project had been designed such that it could be expanded in future to cater for the growing population of the community and the Adjei Kojo Electoral Area.

Mr Ahenkorah expressed optimism that through the intervention, children around the Sraha community in the Adjei Kojo Electoral Area, which is the biggest community in Tema West, would receive quality basic education, which would significantly contribute to the development of the community and the nation. 

Support  

The Municipal Chief Executive of Tema West, Felicia Edem Attipoe, said quality was paramount and urged the community members to monitor the contractor during the construction period, to ensure that the project was delivered according to specification.

She said the assembly would also support the project with the necessary logistics upon completion, for children to get early access to quality education to prepare them for senior high school education.

The Tema West Municipal Director of Education, Isaac MacCarthy-Mensah, said the establishment of the school as a model school in the municipality had helped in shaping the lives of children in the Adjei Kojo community.

The headmistress of the school, Irene Adorku, expressed appreciation to the MP for coming to their aid and promised that the facility would be used for its purpose and be maintained. 
The Chief of Sraha, Nii Abo Commey, commended the MP for the intervention, adding that it would contribute to education access in the community.  

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-new-school-block-for-adjei-kojo-sraha-community.html

Erratic water supply, poor roads: Kpone residents appeal for government intervention(Daily Graphic, Saturday, August 17, 2024 Page 11)

Residents of Kpone in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality in the Greater Accra Region have expressed their anger over the erratic supply of potable water to the area.

The residents have also appealed to the government to help fix the road network in the area.

They indicated that due to the bad nature of the roads, especially the roads linking Kpone to other towns such as Tema, Prampram, Oyibi and Katamanso, residents found it difficult to travel.

The residents expressed these concerns at a town hall meeting organised by the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly last Thursday. The meeting was held by the assembly to interact with residents on various topics of interest and address issues concerning the progress, growth and development of the area.

A resident of Kpone Shanghai, Benjamin Tetteh, told the Daily Graphic that some community members had to go several days without water supply, forcing them to resort to private tanker services to purchase water for their daily use at a high cost.

Another resident, Ishmael Mensah, said the deplorable nature of the roads in the municipality was affecting their movement to and out of town.

“Kpone is not too far from Tema but because of the bad nature of the road, we use a longer period to reach Tema,” he said and appealed to the government to fast-track the construction works on the seven-kilometre Kpone-Tema Oil Refinery and the Kpone Township to Kpone Barrier roads.” 

Intervention 

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Kpone Katamanso, Samuel Okoe Amanquah, said he inherited the water crisis in 2017, adding that he had approached Ghana Water Limited (GWL), which came to Kpone to do a feasibility study that showed that a huge tank must be erected to store water for redistribution to the community.

He said after a second study, GWL realised that that plan would not help; rather they indicated it would be part of the company’s long-term measure in improving water supply to industries in Tema and Kpone.

The project, which is currently at the feasibility stage will draw water from the Volta River around Aveyime through to the Dawa areas into the industries in Tema and Kpone to address the ever-increasing demand for water by residents and industries.

He said once this project came to full fruition, water supply to the area would be improved.

On roads, the MCE said although the assembly had not done much, a few projects were ongoing.

“We have the Kpone to Tema Oil Refinery road, which is ongoing. It is a 7.2-kilometre dualised road. A portion is going to be asphalted and another portion would be concrete works,” he said.

On the Kpone Township to Kpone Barrier road, Mr Amanquah said the project had been awarded to a contractor, adding that the road would have two bridges across the Lalue River to connect Kpone to Prampram.

He said works on the main Kpone Barrier to Central University road on the Tema to Aflao Highway had stalled, but he was optimistic that the government would give the green light for work to resume.

“We are hoping that when all these roads are done, the traffic situation on the main Tema to Aflao Highway will be a thing of the past,” he said.

Projects 

Mr Amanquah said other projects initiated were the construction of a 40-bed capacity hospital in Kpone, a dormitory block at the Kpone Community Day SHS to convert the facility into a boarding school, classroom blocks for the Hanaa, Kpone Bawaleshie, Okushibi, Nii Oglie, Mlitsakpo and Nanaman communities and the procurement of furniture for schools in the district.

The MCE said the assembly had constructed a CHPS compound at the Mlitsakpo community and had also commenced work on a new market at Kpone.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhom, touched on the achievements of the NPP since it assumed office in 2017, including free SHS, the one district one factory, one constituency one ambulance, mobile money interoperability, digitisation and enhanced healthcare system, among others.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/erratic-water-supply-poor-roads-kpone-residents-appeal-for-government-intervention.html

 

Unite for development: • Gt. Accra Regional Minister urges Ga-Dangmes (Daily Graphic, Saturday, August 10, 2024 pAGES 12 / 21 )

 

THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, has reiterated the need for Ga-Dangmes to unite to ensure the continuous development of the region.

He made the call last Saturday at Ada when he represented the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to celebrate this year’s Asafotufiam (firing of musket festival) with the Chiefs and people of the Ada Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region.

Mr Titus-Glover, who was accompanied by a delegation of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region, said without unity, the Ga-Dangme communities cannot move forward, hence the need for all traditional authorities to work with a united front to bring development to the people of the region.

Asafotufiam is an annual festival celebrated mainly in remembrance of the heroic achievements of the founding fathers and ancestors of the Ada area during the many wars of survival and development of the Ada people.

It is a warriors’ festival accompanied by the firing of muskets by traditional military groups. This year’s was the 87th edition. The celebration, which drew several people, both residents and non-residents, to the durbar grounds, was on the theme: “Upholding the discipline of our forebears as a tool for the sustainable development and unity of Ada”.

Guests 

For the first time in the history of the Asafotufiam festival, Ga-Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II led a large delegation in about five high occupancy buses from Accra to join the people of Ada for the celebration.

Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II,  the Ga-Mantse, seated at the durbar ground

Also in attendance were the Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Anwhiaso Traditional Area and President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who chaired the function; the Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area and acting President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Odaifio Welentsi III; the Chief of Katamanso, Tatse Nii Laryea Akueteh X; and the Paramount Chief of Prampram, Nene Tetteh Wakah III. 

Also in attendance was business mogul and Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley, who is also a Development Chief of Ada under the stool name Nene Koranteng Kabu I; the Member of Parliament for Ada and Minority Chief Whip, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah; the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ada East, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee; and the DCE for Ada West, Sampson Tetteh Kpankpah; among many other sons and daughters of the area.

The festival was heavily interspersed with thunderous firing of muskets at periodic intervals by traditional military groups from Ada and their counterparts that accompanied the Ga-Mantse to the festival.

Various marching bands, dominantly females, who are members of the Ada Youth Organisations from various parts of the country, gorgeously dressed in their uniforms, also treated guests to dexterous drumming and marching skills akin to a military band accompanying their troupe.

The Asafoatsenguame (war captains) from all the 10 divisions in the Ada State also renewed their allegiance to the paramount chief, to serve the state whenever they were called to do so.

Indiscipline 

In his welcoming address, the Paramount Chief of the Ada Traditional Area, Djetse Abram Kabu Akuaku III, lamented the use of social media to spread hate and fake news and charged the youth to take advantage of the social media era to spread the positive narratives about the traditional values, cultural norms and practices of the people of Ada and the country as a whole.

 

He said it was sad that some people, especially the youth, had resorted to abusing social media by posting unwarranted and culturally abusive language, including invective, nude videos and other acts that were detestable to any good family of Ga-Damgme origin.

He cautioned that such activities could get the youth on the wrong side of the law and urged anyone who comes into possession of any piece of information that could threaten the peace and unity of the society to draw the attention of the security agencies.

Songor Lagoon

Djetse Akuaku III, on behalf of the chiefs and people of Ada, commended the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, for transforming the economic fortunes of the people of Ada by granting the Songor Lagoon on lease to a private investor, Electrochem Ghana Limited, to produce salt in commercial quantity.

“Your Excellency, as this will be your last of celebrating Ada Asafotufiam festival with us as President, I want to, on behalf of the good people of Ada, express our profound gratitude to you for your bravery and show of leadership that has turned the once destitute Ada Songor Lagoon into a vibrant resource that has begun to turn the fortunes of the people of Ada and with the potential to turn the fortunes of this country for the better,” he said.

The Paramount Chief of Ada also urged all political parties to remain civil in their campaigns and desist from acts that could cause insecurity before, during and after the December 7 general elections.

Ga-Damgme Unity

The Ga-Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, lauded the Ada Traditional Council and the Paramount Chief for the invitation to participate in this year’s Asafotufiam, stressing that at all cost, Ga-Damgmes must unite for the progress of the people.

Some members of a marching band performing  at the durbar ground

The Nungua Mantse and acting President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Odaifio Welentsi III, in an address delivered on his behalf by the Chief of Katamanso, Tatse Nii Laryea Akueteh X, also reechoed the need for unity, stressing that it was important for Ga-Damgmes to come together to fight for their share of the national cake irrespective of which political party was in government.

He warned that without unity of purpose, Ga-Damgmes cannot fight for their rights in terms of developmental projects, education, health facilities, scholarship opportunities for the Ga-Damgme youth and many other needs.

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Climate Change

The Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Anwhiaso Traditional Area and President of the National House of Chief, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who chaired the function, said due to greed, get-rich-quick attitude, the extensive consumption of natural resources and abuse of the environment, climate change was threatening the very existence of humans, which has been reflected in high temperatures, rising ocean levels, severe storms, flooding, increased drought and displacement of people.

A  band performing at the durbar

He said if the current generation were to uphold the discipline of their forebears as a tool for sustainable development, something drastic must be done to address the impact of climate change and build a sustainable society.

The MP for Ada and Minority Chief Whip, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, and the DCE for Ada East, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, and her counterpart for Ada West, Sampson Tetteh Kpankpah, took turns to address the gathering, enumerating the various developmental interventions they have carried out in the area.

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/unite-for-development-o-gt-accra-regional-minister-urges-ga-dangmes.html

Grand durbar climaxes 2024 Asafotufiami festival(Graphic Showbiz, Thursday, August 8, 2024 Page 11)

 

Ada Asafotufiami: Greater Accra Minister admonishes GaDangmes to unite for development (Online, Sunday, August 4, 2024)

 

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover has reiterated the need for GaDangmes to unite to ensure the continuous development of the region. 

He made the call on Saturday [August 3, 2024] at Ada when he represented the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to celebrate this year’s Asafotufiami (firing of musket festival) with the Chiefs and people of the Ada Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region.

Mr Titus-Glover, who was accompanied by a delegation of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region, said without unity the GaDangmes communities cannot move forward hence the need for all traditional authorities work with a united front to bring development to the people of the region.

Asafotufiami, is an annual festival celebrated mainly in remembrance of the heroic achievements of the founding fathers and ancestors of the Ada area during the many wars of survival and development of the Ada people.

It is a warriors’ festival accompanied by the firing of muskets by traditional military groups.

This year’s was the 87th edition. The celebration, which drew a number of people, both residents and non-residents, to the durbar grounds, was on the theme: “upholding the discipline of our forebears as a tool for the sustainable development and unity of Ada.

Guests 

For the first time in the history of Asafotufiami festival,  Ga-Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, led a large delegation in about five high occupancy buses from Accra to join the people of Ada for the celebration.

Also in attendance was the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area and President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who chaired the function.

Others were the Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area and acting President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Odaifio Welentsi III,  the Chief of Katamanso, Taatse Nii Laryea Akueteh X, and the  the Paramount Chief of Prampram, Nene Tetteh Wakah III.

Buisness mogul and Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley who is also a development Chief of Ada under the stool name Nene Koranteng Kabu I,  the Member of Parliament for Ada and Minority Chief Whip, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, the DCE for Ada East Sarah Dugbakie Pobee and her counterpart for Ada West, Sampsom Tetteh Kpankpah among many other sons and daughters of the area were also at the function.

The festival was heavily interspersed with  thunderous firing of muskets at periodic intervals by traditional groups from Ada and their counterparts that accompanied the Ga-Mantse to the festival.

Various marching bands, dominantly females, who are members of the Ada Youth Organisations from various parts of the country, gorgeously dressed in their uniforms, also treated guests to dexterous drumming and marching skills akin to a military band accompanying their troupe.

 

The Asafoatsenguame (war captains) from all the 10 divisions in the Ada State also renewed their allegiance to the paramount chief, to serve the state whenever they were called to do so.

Indiscipline 

In his welcoming address, the Paramount Chief of the Ada Traditional Area, Djetse Abram Kabu Akuaku III, lamented the use of social media to spread hate and fake news and charged the youth to take advantage of the social media era to spread the positive narratives about the traditional values, cultural norms and practices of the people of Ada and the country as a whole.

He said it was sad that some people especially the youth had resorted to abusing social media by posting unwarranted and culturally abusive language including invectives, nude videos and other acts.

He cautioned that such activities could get the youth on the wrong side of the law and urged anyone who comes into possession of any piece of information that could threaten the peace and unity of the the society to draw the attention of the security agencies.

Songor Lagoon

Djetse Akuaku III on behalf of the chiefs and people of Ada commended the President, Nana Akufo-Addo for transforming the economic fortunes of the people of Ada by granting the Songor Lagoon on lease  to a private investor, Electrochem Ghana Limited for the production of salt in commercial quantity.

“Your Excellency, as this will be your last of celebrating Ada Asafotufiami festival with us as President, I want to on behalf of the good people of Ada express our profound gratitude to you for your bravery and show of leadership that has turned the once destitute Ada Songor Lagoon into a vibrant resource which has begun to turn the fortunes of the people of Ada and with the potential to turn the fortunes of this country for the better,” he said.

The Paramount Chief of Ada also urged all political parties to remain civil in their campaigns and desist from acts that could cause insecurity before, during and after the December 7 general elections.

Ga-Dangme unity

The Ga-Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II lauded the Ada Traditional Council and the Paramount Chief for the invitation to participate in this year’s Asafotufiami stressing that at all cost Ga-Dangmes must unite for the progress of the people.

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The Nungua Mantse and acting President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Odaifio Welentsi III, in an address delivered on his behalf by the Chief of Katamanso, Taatse Nii Laryea Akueteh X also re-echoed the need for unity stressing that it was important for GaDangmes to come together to fight for their share of the national cake irrespective of which political party was in government warning that without unity of purpose, the GaDangmes cannot fight for their rights in terms of developmental projects, education, health facilities, scholarship opportunities for GaDangme youth and many other needs.

Climate Change

The Paramount Chief of the Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area and President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who chaired the function said due to greed, get rich quick attitude, the extensive consumption of natural resources and abuse of the environment, climate change was threatening the very existence of humans and this has been reflected in high temperatures, rising ocean levels, severe storms, flooding, increased drought and displacement of people.

He said if the current generation was to uphold the discipline of their forebears as a tool for the sustainable development something drastic must be done to address the impact of climate change and build a sustainable society.

The MP Ada and Minority Chief Whip, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah and the the DCE for Ada East Sarah Dugbakie Pobee and her counterpart for Ada West, Sampsom Tetteh Kpankpah took turns to address the gathering enumerating the various developmental interventions they have carried out in the area.

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ada-asafotufiami-greater-accra-minister-admonishes-ga-dangmes-to-unite-for-development.html

2024 Artisanal, inshore fishing ban lifted (Daily Graphic, Saturday, August 3, 2024 Page 13)

 

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has lifted the ban on fishing activities for this year's close season for artisanal and inshore fleets. 

The fishing close season, which prevented the fishers from fishing in the country’s waters for a month, was introduced by the ministry and the Fisheries Commission as a measure to replenish the country’s fishery stock which data suggest has been dwindling. 

The period also provides fishers the opportunity to mend their equipment and prepare for their expeditions. 

Symbolic opening

At a ceremony held at Akplabanya, a coastal community in the Ada West District in the Greater Accra Region last Thursday, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, said the symbolic opening of the sea was not just for the resumption of fishing activities, but also to celebrate the unity and shared responsibility that had brought stakeholders in the sector together in their determination to manage the fisheries resources in a sustainable manner. 

She stressed the need for all stakeholders to delicately strike a balance between utilising the marine resources and conserving them for future generations, stressing that “sustainable fishing practices are not just beneficial for the environment but also for the economic stability and growth of our fisheries sector." 

Mrs Koomson said the government would continuously improve the sector by providing better infrastructure, introducing new technologies, implementing alternative livelihood programmes, training and building the capacity of fishermen and women processors as a way of improving efficiency and profitability in the fishing industry. 

"Our goal is to create a thriving, sustainable fishing industry that would benefit all stakeholders," she said.

USAID

The acting Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Ghana, Grace Lang, said her organisation partnered the ministry and the Fisheries Commission to observe the end of the 2024 close fishing season because it was their belief that sustainable practices such as close season was important to replenish Ghana's fish stock. 

"Fish is an essential source of food, nutrients and livelihoods for millions of Ghanaians. In 2023, the US extended bilateral support of over $140 million to support agriculture and economic growth, health, education, governance, among others,” she said.

Impact 

Ms Lang stated that the impact assessment of the 2023 close fishing season showed an increase in the average sizes of round sardinella, flat sardinella and anchovies (Keta school boys) captured before this year’s close season commenced”. 

“This suggests that during the close season periods, populations had a chance to recover from the pressures of fishing activity, leading to a rebound in their size,” she said.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ada West, Sampson Tetteh Kpankpa, appealed to the government to construct a landing site in the area, which he said, had the largest number of canoes and the longest coastline in West Africa, to enhance fishing activities in the area.

The President of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), Nana Jojo Solomon, said the close fishing season was a good initiative and called on all stakeholders to support management decisions to enhance the lives and livelihoods of fishers. 

The National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA) also commended the Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity for introducing women to the Village Savings and Loans Scheme which supported the members with credit facilities to aid their business and families during the fishing close season, and expressed the hope that the scheme would grow into a banking facility to support the women in the sector.

The Chief Fisherman for Akplabanya, Raphael Alimo, in a speech read on his behalf appealed to the minister to ensure the availability of premix fuel at the various landing beaches to boost their businesses. 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/artisanal-inshore-fishing-ban-lifted.html

Farmers exposed to climate-smart rice varieties, production technology(Daily Graphic, Saturday, August 3, 2024 Page 11)

Rice is a staple food in Ghana, with per capita consumption increasing from 20 to 48 kg per year from 2000 to 2024, per data sourced from the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CRI- CSIR). 

Currently, about 1.5 million metric tonnes of rice (milled) are consumed annually, with approximately 50 per cent imported at a cost of around $400 million. This importation could be avoided if investments are made to boost local production. 

To achieve rice self-sufficiency, the CRI-CSIR has developed many improved rice varieties. The Rural Development Administration (RDA) of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture, (KOPIA) Ghana Centre, has produced certified seeds of farmer-preferred varieties at the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme. 

The nine varieties are CRI-Agyapa, CRI-Korea Mo, CRI-AgraRice, Legon 1(Ex Baika), CRI-Enapa, CRI-Kang Mo, CRI-Onuapa, CRI-Tuo Mo and CRI-Amankwatia. 

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a field day organised for selected farmers and other stakeholders last Tuesday, at the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme, a Chief Research Scientist at the CRI-CSIR, Dr Maxwell Darko Asante, indicated that the new rice varieties were not only high-yielding, highly aromatic, excellent cooking quality but also mature within a short period. 

The field day was to offer farmers and other stakeholders first-hand experience of nine new varieties of rice seeds developed by the CRI- CSIR for adoption by the farmers, 

Dr Asante stressed that the new varieties would produce more yield compared to other rice varieties on the market and help mitigate rice importation and help Ghana to attain self-sufficiency in rice production. 

“With these new varieties, farmers can have an average yield of six tonnes per hectare compared to an existing yield of 3.2 to 3.5 tonnes per hectare,” he said attributing the low grain yield to a multitude of constraints. Key among them include: poor land and water management, ineffective fertiliser application regimes, post-harvest losses as well as rainfall variability due to climate change. 

Dr Asante stressed that by adopting those modern varieties, coupled with good agronomic practices, farmers could double their yields and ultimately help the country to become self-sufficient. 

“Ghana imports a lot of rice but the good news is that the country has the capacity to produce all the rice that we need in Ghana. However, one of the bottlenecks facing the industry is the availability of quality seeds and good varieties,” he said. 

Feedback 

The field day, apart from exposing participants to the nine improved varieties with yields up to eight metric tonnes, also offered farmers, rice millers, seed dealers and Ministry of Food and Agricultural officials the opportunity to sample milled and cooked samples of the varieties that were on display to taste and provide feedback. 

Dr Asante said promoting and cultivating improved varieties with consumer-preferred cooking and eating qualities would significantly contribute to Ghana's drive towards rice self-sufficiency, and reiterated calls on the Government and private institutions to increase rice research to increase production to meet domestic needs and reduce the country’s rice import bill. 

 

“What we in research need is consistent support over a period to display what we have for the farmers so that they will work with us to adapt these research findings and technology to enhance food production and make Ghana self-sufficient,” he said. 

He explained that the nine varieties consisted of low and upland varieties that facilitated high-yielding returns within a short period, adding that the new varieties were adaptive and could survive the effects of climate change that caused low rice cultivation gains. 

Dr Asante commended the Korean Government for sponsoring the release of the varieties through its Rural Development Administration (RDA) and the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agricultural (KOPIA) Ghana Centre. 

Support 

The Director of KOPIA Ghana Centre, Dr Kim Choong-Hoe, lauded the collaboration with CSIR-CRI and the farmers stressing that such demonstration would facilitate the adoption of the best variety of seed for rice cultivation to achieve high yields. 

“We do not want to produce seeds that are not wanted by the consumers. We have to select the best one for the farmers to produce more rice to reduce import of rice.” 

He was optimistic that by the end of the five-year intervention being sponsored by the Korean government to produce quality rice seeds at the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme, a total of 5,000 tonnes of the best variety of rice seeds would be distributed to farmers across the country to support the country's rice self-sufficiency drive. 

The Deputy Director-General (DDG) of the CSIR in charge of Research and Development resource mobilisation, Professor Mrs Marian Dorcas Quain, lauded the partnership with the Korean Government to produce high-yielding climate-smart rice varieties that would increase the production of rice for local consumption and for export. 

The Ningo-Prampram District Director of Agriculture, Prince Ofori-Boateng, said the new varieties would help to address limited rice seed varieties in the system and boost the efforts of the Ghanaian farmers to produce more. 

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The Project Manager of Aveyime Irrigation Scheme, who is also a farmer, Samuel Debrah, said the future looked bright considering the role of rice as an important staple in Ghana.

He said the on-field demonstrations have exposed the farmers to effective ways to handle certified rice seeds to maximise and sustain rice yields.

 via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/farmers-exposed-to-climate-smart-rice-varieties-production-technology.html