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Ken Ofori-Atta to media: Be circumspect in your reportage on the economy

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Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage on the Ghanaian economy. According to him, negative reports on the economy derail the progress that government is making to resuscitate the ailing economy.

Addressing a news conference in Accra on Sunday, June 18, 2023 to update the nation on the ongoing External Credit Facility deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr. Ofori-Atta reminded journalists of their core duty to inform, educate and entertain.

“For developing countries, there is a fourth, to foster national cohesion. National cohesion is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

“But as we watch events unfold in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and elsewhere in our region, this is, in fact, a role that holds true for everyone. The misreporting on China was unnecessary and unfortunate.

Unfounded accusations against government officials leading the recovery are untenable and serve no useful purpose,” he said.

The Minister preferred that the media see and appreciate the need for accuracy over speed in these circumstances.

The government expressed disappointment over several media reports about the Ghanaian economy, arguing that the negative spotlights, including those from financial rating portals, painted a doomsday picture about the economy for investors.

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

The Minister for Finance had earlier spoken about completing the debt restructuring, which is pivotal to the sustainability of the economy.

According to him, despite the considerable progress made, there still remain key outstanding operations. He added that the government is in the advanced stages of completing the debt exchange programme in relation to the cocoa bills and the US dollar-denominated local bonds.

The government, he noted, has also rolled out a programme to engage Independent Power Producers (IPPs), but added that, consistent with the MOU signed with Organised Labour in December 2022, on the exemption of pension funds, they continue to be exempt.

However, he indicated swiftly that the government is currently engaging Organised Labour and Pension Fund Corporate Trustees to explore mutually beneficial options within debt sustainability limits.

Meanwhile, he announced the successful work done with the Paris Club (PC) and other Creditors on restructuring the foreign debts under the G20 Common Framework in that regard.

He assured the nation that the government will sustain engagements with private Creditors on external debt to reach an agreement with the private creditors in the shortest possible time.

PROMISING JOURNEY

The minister gave some positive feedback on the economy since landing the $3 billion IMF deal.

He mentioned that the United States, through the International Development Finance Corporation, announced within 3 days of the fund approval a programme to invest US$300 million to establish the Ghana Data Centre, under the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).

On the domestic front, he said that inflation had decelerated to 42.2% for the month of May, 2023 down from 54.1% at the end of December 2022. The May inflation represents a 1 percent increase in the April 2023 inflation of 41.2%.

The Cedi’s depreciation, he said, has largely stabilised with a year-to-date devaluation rate of about 21.9% – down from 50% in December 2023.

The 91-day T-Bill rate has declined to 20.6%, down from 35.5% at the end of 2022 and gross international reserves have improved to US$5.7 billion as of the end of May, after the disbursement of the first tranche of US$604 million, following the approval of the IMF Programme.

He added that the current account balance turned positive at 0.9% of GDP at the end of March 2023 from 2.2% at the end of December 2022.

In addition, he said that the trade balance improved from 0.9% of GDP at the end of January 2023 to 2.2% at the end of April 2023.

According to the minister, recent GDP statistics released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in April 2022 showed that growth ended in 2022 at 3.1%, which was higher than growth projections by most international organisations.

Afriyie Akoto submits nomination forms today

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Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto

A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, will, today, June 19, 2023, file his nomination forms at the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down, Accra.

He will be accompanied by some stalwarts of the party, including former national and regional officers of the party, former Members of Parliament, constituency executives, Electoral Area Coordinators and Polling Station Executives.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto

Immediately after the nomination forms, Dr. Akoto will then address the media and thousands of party followers who believe in his vision.

Persons close to the astute politician say, Dr. Akoto will make a very profound statement that will highlight more on his vision for the party and the country in general.

This vision, if adopted and implemented, will change the fortunes of the party and massively transform Ghana’s economy, according to Dr. Akoto’s close associates.

The nomination forms were picked on behalf of the former Minister for Food and Agriculture by a group of farmers and friends on May 29, 2023, as a sign of support for his presidential ambition.

By filing the nonination forms on Monday, the two-time Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, will be the third aspiring candidate to file his nomination forms after former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Both Alan and Bawumia submitted their forms last Monday, June 12, 2023, and Friday, June 16, 2023, respectively.

The NPP opened nominations on May 26, 2023, with aspirants given up to June 24 to submit forms.So far, 10 presidential hopefuls have picked up nomination forms to contest the NPP’s flagbearer slot.

They include: Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the immediate past Minister of Trade and Industry, Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, a former General-Secretary of the Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, and Joe Ghartey, the Member of Parliament for Essikadu-Ketan and former Minister of Railway Development.

The rest are Boakye Agyarko, former Minister of Energy, Prof. Addai Nimoh, former MP for Mampong, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, and Kwadwo Nsafoa Opoku, an expert in energy and related matters.

A Special Delegates Congress will be held on August 26, 2023, to select five of the presidential aspirants.

The top five aspirants will then contest for the flagbearer slot on December 4, 2023, to elect one to lead the party in the 2024 general elections.

Prempeh College honours Napo & Kufuor

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Former President J.A. Kufuor (left) and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh

Prempeh College, one of the prestigious Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the country, has named a dormitory block after the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, at a colourful ceremony held on the premises of the school over the weekend.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh received his award at the 2022 Civil Service awards ceremony

An alumnus of the school, the honour, according to the school authorities, was in recognition of his outstanding contribution towards the transformation of the face of the institution in recent times.

Dr. Prempeh shared the prestige of the day with his paternal granduncle and mentor, former President J.A. Kufuor, also ‘an Amanfoo’ who had the biggest auditorium of the school named after him, “J.A. Kufuor Auditorium”.

The former President was also honoured in recognition of his outstanding leadership, making Prempeh College to earn at one time the accolade as the Presidential College.

In a keynote address, the Konongohene, Dr. Nana Awuah Abedimasa II, a Member of the school’s Interim Management Committee that worked until 10th May, 2023, recounted the immeasurable support the school had and continued to receive from Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

“Prempeh College is so personal to him and he never gets tired of us.In our difficult moments, he always pulls through for us. It was a no brainer, deciding to honour him this way”.

Nana Abedimasa said the former President and his grandnephew the Energy Minister were being honoured in their life time to serve as an inspiration to the rest of society moving away from old age practice of recognizing only the dead.

Napo flanked by two other awardees

“Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has done tremendously well and for me, there are no questions conferring this life time honour on him”,

On his part, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh expressed his delight at the honour. “I want to reiterate my firm belief in making an impact in the society I find myself. After all that is the essence of leadership; to be able to positively affect lives”

“For me, everything I have done and continue to do for Prempeh College is also in honour of my grandfather, Otumfuo Nana Sir Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II whose true intention for establishing the college was to promote education not only in the Asante Kingdom but the entire country. I cannot depart from this sacred duty,” Dr. Prempeh said

The Manhyia South law maker advised the current cohort of students to place so much premium on their academic work as according to him, it is the key to realizing their dreams and even proceeding to become better in the near future.

The ceremony also witnessed the naming of another dormitory block after former headmaster of the school from 1961 to 1963, Mr. Arthur Clarke, “Arthur Clarke House”.

Meanwhile Ernest Best Anane reports that the Ashanti Regional Youth wing of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has congratulated  Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister for Energy for his well-deserved award at the just ended 2022 Civil Service awards.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency had the honour of receiving an Office of the Head of Civil Service award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and support for reform initiative in the Civil service.

Raphael Patrick Sarfo, the Ashanti Regional youth organizer in a statement noted that

the enviable achievement has not come as a surprise to the Ashanti Regional NPP Youth wing because of several similar recognitions in years past.

He said it was worthwhile the Ashanti Regional Youth Wing joined celebration of the honourable minister who has demonstrated to Ghanaians that he has what is required of a leader in the public sector.

Mr. Sarfo recounted that, in the year 2020, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh alias Napo as Minister of Education prior to his appointment at the energy ministry was selected as recipient of the prestigious Havard Ministerial Medal of Achievement in recognition of his work as Minister for Education.

The Youth Organiser noted that, Dr. Prempeh’s leadership role as sector minister and the implementation of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) Programme, the management of the double-track system, payment of teachers, massive infrastructural development in the education sector and cooperation with the leadership of the various teacher unions and other Associations under the education ministry was highly commended not only by the Ghanaians but many around the world.

According to him, Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s achievements as former Education Minister is unprecedented and will go down in the history books of Ghana as one that shall be unforgettable.

“When he (Napo) was moved to the Energy Ministry in  2021 by  President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,  Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh,  was adjudged the best performing minister by the Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards in the same year (2021)”, he said.

Pix 1: Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh received his award at the 2022 Civil Service Awards ceremony

Youth, chiefs accuse Nana Kwame Nkansah II of fomenting chieftaincy troubles in Enchi

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The eye red Aowin chiefs at the press conference.

Youth groups of Aowin in the Western North Region have accused Nana Kwame Nkansah II, known in private life as Louis Yamoah, who they claim is the Odikro of Jomoro, of fomenting trouble in the traditional area.

According to the youth groups, numbering sixteen, the actions and inactions of Nana Kwame Nkansah and his cohorts had thrown the Aowin Traditional Area into chaos.

They have, therefore, appealed to Nana Nkansah to halt what it described as ‘nefarious’ activities in the area, else they would advise themselves.

In a resolution adopted and signed by each of the sixteen leaders of the youth groups, it warned that “we cannot sit unconcerned and hence call on these detractors to halt their nefarious behavior else we will embark on any actions necessary to stop them.”

To the group, chieftaincy disputes had stalled the development of Aowin. As a result “We would like to remind Louis Yamoah and his gang that Regional and National Houses of Chiefs are the most appropriate venues to settle chieftaincy disputes.”

But, speaking in a telephone interview, Nana Nkansah laughed off the accusation, arguing that they had no evidence to accuse him as being the cause of troubles in the Aowin Traditional Area.

Nana Nkansah also told this reporter that he was not an Odikro, but a gazetted Divisional Chief of Aowin, and had even won the Best Divisional Chief, an award organised by the National House of Chiefs.

However, the groups, in their resolution, alleged that “the machinations of Nana Nkansah indicate he is an Odikro whose major aim is to foment trouble, and also to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the Omanhene of Aowin Traditional Area.”

For this reason, “we, the undersigned youth leaders (Mmrantehene), who represent and lead the whole youth of the Aowin Municipality, will not allow any disgruntled Chief to destroy our kingdom at a time when we are rallying behind our Omanhene to resolve all disputes in order to bring development to all of us.”

According to the youth, they did not support and subscribe to what they described as the “actions and inactions”, including the alleged covet meetings held by Louis Yamoah and some people.

The group has, therefore, called on the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to freeze all payments into the Aowin Traditional Council’s account until all outstanding issues were resolved.

“We, the youth leaders of the Aowin Traditional Area, call on the Minister to appeal to the National House of Chiefs to expedite the ruling on the Aowin chieftaincy dispute pending at the Judiciary Committee of the National House of Chiefs,” they pleaded.

The resolution was signed by Nana Payin, Mmrantehene of the Aowin Traditional Area, Nana Etiboah Kofi, Mmrantehene of Akutubo, Nana Sam Emmanuel, Mmrantehene of Nankaba, Nana Monne CK, Mmrantehene of Begyeahaso, and Nana Salekyi Karim, Mmrantehene of Enchi Zongo.

Others are Nana Salekyi Farouk, Mmrantehene of Old Zongo, Nana Kwasi Allubulu, Mmrantehene of Nfante New Town, Nana Asare Koah, Mmrantehene of Abokyia, Nana Kwame Attah Payin, Mmrantehene of New Yakasi, and Nana Koomson, Mmrantehene of Achimfo.

The rest are Nana Annor Amoh, Mmrantehene of Nkwanta, Nana Ntaah Ntow Mmrantehene of Nyankamam, Nana Anane Joseph, Mmrantehene of Yiwabra, Nana Beyeebewo Barnabas, Mmrantehene of Jema, Nana Kwaku Payin, Mmrantehene of Boinso, Nana Alele, Mmrantehene of Sewum and Nana Gyato, Mmrantehene of Amonie.

The resolution has also been copied to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Minister of the Interior, the Western North Regional Minister, and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) amongst others.

Meanwhile the chiefs have also held a press conference at Enchi, where they pointed accusing fingers at Louis Yamoah. “It is for this reason that we resolve to paint the true picture of the calibre of [the] person by name Louis Yamoah (aka Nana Kwame Nkansah),” the chiefs said.

Nana Enoku Payin II, Chief of New Yakasi, who addressed the press conference, indicated that it had come to their attention that Mr. Louis Yamoah was a close associate to one of the claimants to the Paramount Stool.

“We, at this press conference, resolve to indicate as follows: Louis Yamoah, (aka Nana Kwame Nkansah), the Odikro of Jomoro in the Aowin Traditional Area, has, over the past four (4) years, made a series of baseless allegations against our Omanhene, Beyeeman Tano Kwaw Benbuin III.”

The spurious allegations, according to the chiefs, had been calculated to disgrace and diminish the person of their Omanhene in the eyes of all right-thinking people. The chiefs have, however, called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate to expose Yamoah.

Present at the press conference were Nana Abokyia Nana Bullu Tano II, Chief of Amonie, Nana Meisu Payin lV, Chief of Sewum, Nana Kojo Jema Miah III, Chief of Boinso, Nana Asamoah Kokole I, Adumhene/Odikro of Mile 4, and Nana Amankwah Payin, Odikro of Kordjour.

Others are Nana Amuaku Payin, Fantehene of Enchi, Nana Konadu Yiadom, Odikro of Amanshia, and Nana Kwaw Borto, Odikro of Yiwabra Nkwanta.

Editorial: Political campaigns and associated road crashes

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Editorial

Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is also the flagbearer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), announced through a Facebook post over the weekend that he was suspending his campaign activities in the Assin North Constituency in the Central Region for two hours, following the unfortunate death of one of the party sympathisers through a road accident.

“I have had to suspend my campaign in Assin North for about 2 hours this afternoon to visit injured sympathisers who were involved in an accident after our engagement at Dansame.

“Unfortunately, we lost one of our comrades who enthusiastically joined others to the programme; our condolences to her family.

I will be leading the party to visit the family of the deceased to commiserate with them,” he said in the Facebook post.

Earlier, The Chronicle had reported that a team of communicators of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), last Sunday, survived a near fatal road accident while returning to Assin Breku from a campaign event at Bedi Adua in the same Assin North Constituency.

According to the report, the incident occurred when the driver of the Mitsubishi pickup vehicle they were travelling on suddenly lost control in a sharp curve. The car, according to our information, somersaulted before it landed on its side and trapped all the occupants.

“Thank God none of us suffered any major or open cut injuries, so they quickly rushed us to the St. Francis Hospital at Assin Foso, where we were treated and discharged at about 10 pm the same day,” our report quoted the Effutu Constituency Communication Officer, Ellis Otabil, as saying.

The Chronicle commiserates with the family of the NDC sympathiser who died in the road crash whilst criss-crossing the Assin North Constituency to campaign for his party.

We also wish the NPP officials who were involved in an accident in the same constituency a speedy recovery.

The Chronicle is, however, not happy with the death and serious injuries that are always reported as a result of road crashes whenever there are general or by-elections.

It appears to us that during any of these elections, followers and sympathisers of the political parties throw caution to the winds and drive recklessly on our roads.

It is trite knowledge that during electioneering campaigns in Ghana, supporters of political parties, especially the NPP and NDC, are seen hanging dangerously on moving vehicles as if God has given them two lives so they can, therefore, play with one.

What has even worsened the situation is the emergence of motorbikes on our roads. The youth, during these political campaigns, ride with careless abandon.

Despite the serious injuries that are associated with reckless riding of motorbikes, the youth do not simply care. They allow their youthful exuberance to override their sense of judgement.

Interestingly, their political masters do not see the need to advise them (youth) anytime they start exhibiting these reckless conducts on our roads, all in the name of campaigning for their respective political parties.

The Chronicle is not making any conclusive statements that the two accidents that occurred in Assin North were a result of reckless driving.

As a matter of fact, we do not have any evidence to substantiate the claim, if that is the inference we are trying to make. We are only situating the issue in a larger context of recklessness that are always exhibited on our roads during political party campaigns.

This is a serious canker that we, as a nation, must come together to eliminate from our society.

We are, therefore, calling on the political parties to talk to their massive followers to observe road safety regulations, especially during the periods of political campaigns.

It is our contention that if this is done, it will go a long way to curb the rampant road crashes that are recorded.

Kotei gets a new Chief

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Nana Nkansah Amoaye - Chief of Kotei

The Kotei community in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti Region has a new Chief.

Nana Nkansah Amoaye, 48, now occupies the Owia Owo Adrian Stool of the Asona Clan.

The new Chief has since sworn the oath of allegiance with the Ahwihwibaa Sword to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at Manhyia Palace on June 5, 2023.

Nana Nkansah Amoaye, who is a businessman, while addressing a gathering at the Kotei Palace, thanked Otumfuo Osei Tutu for the great honour done him by accepting him to ascend the Stool, which has been vacant for several years.

He called for unity among the people to develop the community in peace.

The Chief pledged to champion the development of the community, but with their support, and promising to serve in humility.

Kwabre District NHIA holds stakeholders engagement at Adumanafo

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Stakeholders and management of Kwabre NHIA in a group picture

The Kwabre District National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), as part of its membership drive, has embarked on the engagement of stakeholders at Adumanafo to increase its number of  clients.

Mr. Edward Frimpong, District Manager, educated the public on the importance of being enrolled onto the scheme, saying there was the need for every citizen in the country, above three months, to enroll onto the scheme to access affordable and effective healthcare.

The theme for the programme was “Sustaining the NHIS; Your role as a Member.”

The Manager reminded the public on their responsibilities to renew their membership before it expires.

He said members who failed to renew their membership for three months and beyond the date of expiry would have it deactivated in the NHIA membership database.

He further said members who failed to renew after three months of expiry would be required to wait for one month after renewal before accessing healthcare under the Scheme.

Mr. Frimpong urged parents or mothers to register their babies onto the Scheme three months after birth to be covered.

Nana Owusu Kwarteng II, Chief of Adumanafo, expressed his profound gratitude to the management of the Scheme for bringing the education to the doorsteps of his subjects.

Nana Kwarteng registered some of the residents, especially the aged, onto the Scheme, and pleaded with the citizenry, especially the youth, to abide by the laws, rules and regulations of the Scheme.

Some of opinion leaders, who graced the occasion, included the Kwabre Municipal Director of Health, nananom (chiefs), the Assembly Member for Adumanafo Electoral Area and representatives of the Municipal Director of Social Welfare and Community Development.

Chiefs can’t stop community mining -Nana Ampofo Twumasi

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Nana Ampofo Twumasi - Dwenewoho Odikro

The caretaker Chief of Dwenewoho in the Nwabiagya South District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Ampofo Twumasi, has said chiefs cannot stop community mining initiated by the government to address unemployment among the youth.

According to him, mining in the Dwenewoho enclave fell under the Community Mining Scheme, which the Asakraka, Adankwame, Ntabanmu communities were all engaged in with the consent and approval of his Overlord, Nana Sarfo Kantanka Appiah, Chief of Akropong.

The Chief said all neighbouring communities, including Adankwame,

Mfensi, Mankranso, Kunsu, Asempanaye and Bredi, were engaged in mining and did not see anything wrong if the mined areas at Dwenewoho were reclaimed as required under the scheme.

Nana Ampofo Twumasi said mining at Dwenewoho could not be illegal, since it was being done responsibly as designed under the Community Mining Scheme.

The Chief, who was reacting to his involvement in illegal mining in the area by some Chinese nationals, said responsible mining was not illegal.

“Responsible mining by way of reclamation is accepted,” he said.

The Assembly Member for Assempanaye Electoral Area, Emmanuel Kobi, also corroborated the position of the Dwenewoho Odikro, and said mining at Kunsu, Sabronum, Mankranso, Ahwerewam and Attakrom in Ahafo Ano South and Ahafo Ano South East districts was not illegal.

According to him, the District Chief Executive was aware of the operations of a community mining in most of the communities which was permissible.

Meanwhile, the youth of Dwenewoho have petitioned President Akufo-Addo to take drastic measures to stop the menace of galamsey (illegal mining), which had destroyed most of their farmlands.

The youth claimed no compensation had been paid by the Chinese nationals for the destruction of their farms and river bodies, including the Asikasu and Betinko rivers.

They also claimed the rivers had been polluted and the land area degraded, thus affecting the livelihood of the residents

Prof. Adei charges marketers to uphold honesty and professional ethics

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Professor Stephen Adei

In order to help the country undergo a socioeconomic change, an economist and former Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Professor Emeritus Stephen Adei, has encouraged marketers to retain integrity as a fundamental value.

At the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), Prof. Adei spoke to the members of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) and highlighted worries about the decline in integrity seen throughout the nation, particularly in the public sector and among political leaders.

He stressed how crucial it was for national growth that professionals uphold the greatest levels of trust and dependability. Additionally, he said since marketers made a significant impact on how consumers perceive products and make purchase decisions, failure to uphold integrity in their line of work would be disastrous for the country.

“As marketers, integrity must lie at the core of everything you do. Unfortunately, some people think that what we do as a profession is propaganda. Therefore, in whatever product or service one is marketing, if you do not exhibit integrity, it would not stand the test of time.

“As marketers also, both individuals and institutions, we should seek to promote integrity in our country because lack of integrity is one of the reasons why this country is not progressing. People in authority and those related to them are tempted to do things that undermine integrity.

“I believe, we are faced with the issue of integrity and as a people and institutions this is the time to speak up and fight for integrity,” he said.

Touching on the CIMG professional marketing qualification (PMQ) programme introduced in 2021, the National President of CIMG, Dr. Daniel Kesser Tee, indicated that so far, two separate examinations were organised in June and December, with 670 students registering, which was an impressive achievement.

“The most exciting thing about tonight is that we are able to say that the majority of our inductees tonight are products of the PMQ programme, which shows the great success we have achieved with the initiative.

“The beautiful nature of our Programme is that we do not rely on one single institution. We leverage the existing business faculties of tertiary institutions across the country in addition to the Ghana School of Marketing to train marketing students on the course outline to register and write the examination.

“Going forward, the institutional collaboration with public and private universities will be stepped up as we aim to ensure that most business schools in Ghana serve as accredited study centres for CIMG PMQ,” he said.

In order to support the development of local industries and take advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Dr. Daniel Kesser Tee urged the members to show their pride in their country and support goods and services that were produced in Ghana.

At the 33rd AGM, the CIMG inducted 56 new members into various membership categories, including 56 individuals and one corporate organisation.

The CIMG asked these members to uphold professionalism and serve as worthy representatives of the institute.

The majority of the new members -36- were recognised as full members, followed by 14 associate members, one graduate member, four rising associate members, and one corporate member.

Gold Fields boosts cocoa production in catchment areas

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Gold Fields

240 cocoa farmers, selected from the host communities of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Damang mine, have received Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) approved fertilisers and pesticides at a cost of $20,000 to enhance cocoa production.

This brings to 600 the total number of cocoa farmers who have benefitted from the Gold Fields Cocoa Support Scheme since its introduction in 2018. The programme is implemented in collaboration with the Hunni-Valley Cocoa Framers Association and Damang Mine Consultative Framers Association (DMCFA).

The aim of the intervention is to help create and sustain employment in the area of cocoa production, and boost annual cocoa production in the host communities by 10% in three years.

Since its inception, a total of 600 farmers, of which 68.8% and 31.2% are males and females respectively, have benefitted.

The Regional Manager, Community Affairs, Robert Siaw, who welcoming the farmers to the programme, mentioned that the Foundation had, so far, invested $6.8 million in the agricultural sector.

This, he noted, had gone into programmes like Youth in Organic Horticulture Production, Livestock Rearing, Oil Palm Plantation Programme, and Fish Farming amongst others.

He told the gathering that “we are very much encouraged and happy that some of the farmers have taken up the challenge to succeed, no matter how hard it is, and we are seeing very remarkable results of the programme.

We wish to encourage the youth to take up cocoa farming and other Gold Fields initiative very seriously.”

The Regional Community Affairs Manger indicated that Gold Fields was aware and mindful that mining operations would eventually cease once the resources were depleted or were no longer economically viable.

He noted that since the Foundation’s funding had been tied to the fortunes of the mining operations, it would eventually fold up as well.

Mindful of this, he said the Foundation had started putting 5% of the contribution into a separate investment instrument, the Legacy Account, to be used by communities for social development only after the lives of the mines had expired.

“We are very hopeful that this gesture will continue to motivate the farmers to continue to work hard for the success of the programme, improve their incomes for the benefits of their families, community and the country.”

The Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Abdel Razak Yakubu, mentioned that each beneficiary farmer would receive Physical Protective Equipment (PPEs), mix blower fertilisers, and agro chemicals for three consecutive years before exiting the programme for another batch to take over.

He disclosed that the average cocoa farm, prior to the intervention, yielded between 10 to 12 bags of cocoa beans annually. However, after three years of constant supply and application of fertilisers, the same acres were producing more than 16 bags, an increase of more than 3.3%.

On average, the beneficiary, according to the Foundation Secretary, reported a 7% increase in their annual income.

Present at the ceremony were the Executive Director of Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), Rev. Edwin Afari, Dr. Kwame Owusu Ansah, Deputy Executive Director, CHED, Fiifi Boafo, Public Affairs Manager, COCOBOD, and other guests including traditional leaders.

The Ghanaian Chronicle