Day: April 16, 2023

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Economic growth expected for Namibia in 2023

The Namibian economy is expected to record a growth rate of 2.7 per cent, compared to an upbeat growth of 4.6 per cent recorded in 2022 and 3.5 per cent the prior year.

According to Agribank’s 2023 Quarterly Economic Outlook for the first quarter, the 2023 growth rate is attributed to increases in the primary and secondary industries of 12.9 per cent and 3.3 per cent, respectively.

“The acceleration was observed across all major sectors, particularly the mining sector as diamond production rise, it said.

In 2023, primary industries are expected to remain resilient on the back of the ongoing oil exploration and appraisal activities and robust growth from diamond production from the Benguela Gem mining vessel.

The document availed here, further read that central banks are vigorously fighting inflation; after a long period of price stability, elevated inflation is becoming worrisome for Namibia, unduly affecting low-income households and threatening food security.

Additionally, pandemic-induced inflationary pressures, with demand recovering quickly and supply lagging amid continued disruptions in supply chains, have been persistent, it said.

“While, the country is still dealing with the scars of COVID-19, soaring food and energy prices coupled with renewed supply shocks caused by the war in Ukraine have driven a surge in inflation and pushed up short- and medium-term inflation expectations,” it indicated.

The rise in interest rates by the Bank of Namibia from 3,75 per cent to 7,0 per cent, was prompted by rising inflation and increasing global interest rates, particularly, in South Africa (SA) to maintain the peg.

This translated into a 350 basis points increase in the Repo rate between January 2022 and February 2023.

The document further noted that the upward price pressures will likely ease due to aggressive monetary tightening and slowing demand, but inflation is still projected to remain elevated in 2023 and is expected to average 5.3 per cent in 2023.

Namibia imports most of its inflation and due to the persistent rise in inflation in both SA and Namibia, the Central Banks now find themselves at a crossroads where economic prospects have weakened while inflation is not yet fully under control and fiscal challenges remain, it read.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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OKRA Projects and Partners commissions classroom block for Have-Hadzidekope JHS

Mr Cyprus Nii Sackey, Country Director, OKRA Projects, has commissioned a three-unit classroom block for the Have-Hadzidekope D/A Junior High School in the Afadzato South District to enhance delivery of quality education.

The block, which also has offices, toilets and polytank, is a community initiative, which got assistance from Okra Projects in December 2022.

Mr Sackey noted that they supplied the materials to the community as an assistance they provided, adding that the new block was the third project in the district.

He said more than 30 projects had been commissioned nationwide in six years of its operations adding that the communal spirit of the community members was commendable.

Mr Sackey noted that it was their hope that they would return to the community someday and urged teachers and pupils to enjoy the structure and make the best out of it.

Madam Janet Esi Hammond on behalf of the Afadzato South District Education Director, said the school over the years had been suffering from a befitting classroom block, which hindered on quality academic work.

She said the situation had been an albatross on the neck of the Directorate as no means was available to salvage it.

She commended the donors, the community's commitment and the communal spirit exhibited to build the edifice.

Madam Hammond called on all stakeholders to revive the maintenance culture and support the school authorities to maintain the facility for its durability.

Togbe Dzeh I, Chief of the Community in a speech read for him, commended the Okra Projects for their kind gesture to the community while appealing to the Education Directorate to complement the gesture with the provision of desks.

He said there was there need for more teachers and pleaded for grants from the Directorate in sustaining education in the community.

Mr Felix Normenyo, Assemblyman, Have-Alavanyo Electoral Area, noted that the contribution of the community members towards the success of the project and called on the Education Directorate to continue to assist education in the community with resources.

He commended the teachers for their commitment towards the welfare of students.

Mr Normenyo called on stakeholders and benevolent individuals and groups to help provide the needed infrastructure to help the community while urging the student to learn.

Mr Peniyena Felix, Headteacher, expressed gratitude to the donors for the support and promised management's commitment to ensure that proper care would be taken of the structure.

Mr Kenneth Kofikuma Puem, former Headteacher of the school, said the school was established in 1997 as a community-based school to give formal education to the pupils from this community and its environs.

'In 2009, the school was absorbed by government and first professional teacher posted into the school in 2010 September.'

He said the school started with a student population of 23 made up of 10 boys and 13 girls on a gradual footing with lack of infrastructure and other facilities where teaching and learning was done under thatched buildings coupled with challenges where sometimes snakes fall from the buildings where classes were in section.

Mr Puem said the school was well represented in sporting activities, adding that the school sat for its first BECE in 2020 and had a 100 per cent pass, 65 per cent in 2021 and 90 per cent in 2022.

He said the school is faced with lack of classrooms, furniture and teachers and urged the current Headmaster to continue to work in addressing the challenges.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Krachi East: Incumbent NDC promises households water supply

Mr Wisdom Gidisu, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Krachi East Constituency, has said his priority is the provision of potable water to households in the Municipality.

He said despite River Oti running across Dambai, the regional capital, the resource is still scarce for households and that was a bother to him.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he said many communities in his constituency which was largely rural were deprived of potable water and has cogent plans to correct the situation.

Mr Gidisu assured the delegates to give him the authority on May 13, to lead the party into the general election and winning to translate these projects into reality becomes their representative in parliament 2025.

He observed that most of the towns in the constituency are not connected to the national grid saying his position as the representative of the people is not only to win votes but to leave a befitting legacy for the generation yet unborn.

He explained that electricity connectivity and expansion to the neglected communities by his predecessor was essential because it would have opened the Municipality for investment and raise the standard of living of the people, while creating employable opportunities for the youth.

He assured that the remaining communities without electricity would be connected to the national grid, should the NDC come to power in 2025 and he remained their MP for the constituency.

He assured party faithful, chiefs and other stakeholders to tackle the unemployment challenge in the Constituency by creating jobs for the youths especially those that may be interested to join security services.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Kpachi residents receive financial support to register for NHIS

A total of 230 residents of Kpachi in the Kumbungu District have received financial support to register under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enjoy free health care.

The initiative was undertaken by TOUCH-PEOPLE'S LIVES FOUNDATION with support from De Bruel School (Zeist) in Holland, Gethsemane Encounter (Holland) and Maganoba Farms to help for the poor and needy to benefit from the NHIS to address some of their health care challenges.

Mr Francis Kofi Taylor, Founder of TOUCH-PEOPLE'S LIVES FOUNDATION, speaking at Kpachi to provide the financial support to the beneficiary residents, advised them to prioritise regular medical check-ups to ensure healthy living.

He said regular medical check-ups could help individuals detect any possible diseases that they might be at risk of, which could also help them to increase their chances of treatment.

He also advised them to do regular exercise and eat a balanced diet to boost their immune system.

Mr Charles Maganoba, Programme Manager of TOUCH-PEOPLE'S LIVES FOUNDATION urged people in communities to participate in health screening exercises to reduce the risk of developing a condition or complications.

Naa Laanoyo Fuseini, Chief of Kpachi expressed appreciation to the organisers for their support to enable residents enjoy free health care.

TOUCH-PEOPLE'S LIVES FOUNDATION is a registered NGO offering education and health support for rural communities in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Women in palm oil business at Tafi Dekpor cry for help

Producers of palm oil at Tafi Dekpor, a farming community in the Afadzato South District of the Volta region, are calling on the government, individuals, and organisations to help them produce on a large scale.

The women said some help in the supply of machines, ready market and working on the deplorable nature of the road would increase and sustain their business and production.

Madam Vivian Akpene Aborvor, a palm oil producer and seller, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that lack of machines to pound the palm fruits as well as assist in the oil production affected large production of oil for the market.

She said the cost of palm fruits also affected the production adding that the palm oil had to be transported to the market before they were purchased because the deplorable nature of the road prevented buyers from coming to the community.

Madam Aborvor said the cost in transporting the oil to the market was also high because only motorbikes and tricycles could ply the deplorable roads and they charged exorbitant fares.

She said they currently sold a bottle of palm oil for GH?17.00 in the market but GH?15.00 when buyers came to the community.

Madam Aborvor also noted that they had to sell their produce at either Logba or Kpando markets, adding that an available market ready to purchase their products in large quantities would help them.

Mr Prosper Bedu, a farmer, noted that the sale of palm fruits in the community hinged on its availability, which in turn determined the prices at which they were sold to their client.

He said a paint rubber of palm fruits currently cost GH?12.00 but could sometimes cost either GH?10.00 or as low as GH?5.00.

Checks by the GNA revealed that a Centre that was established to help the women in oil palm processing known as the 'Comdeks Hatof Womens Oil Processing Centre' had become a white elephant.

Mr Agblewodea Lawson, Acting Headman of the Community, said the Centre was established in 2014 to help in oil palm processing by a non-governmental organisation led by one Samuel who hailed from Akatsi.

He said the said Samuel provided shelter, pots, and other materials to help in the processing with the hope of expanding future productions but unfortunately everything halted, and they also had not heard from him and the NGO.

Mr Agblewodea said they were currently in need of a palm fruit pounding machines, processors as well as other equipment to help the production of palm oil.

Source: Ghana News Agency