Former President John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to revamp some strategic defunct industries in the country if voted into power come December 2024. He said factories such as the Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO), would be revamped and reignited to make them more viable. 'We will work to revamp and reignite strategic industries such as Volta Aluminum Company (VAlCo) because of the aluminum downstream sector while boosting the production of rice, sugar, tomato, fish, meat and meat products, vegetable oil and pharmaceutical products,' he said. 'Once local capacity in the production of these and many other products is boosted, we shall place restrictions on unbridled importation of these items,' he added. The former President gave the assurance when he met with leadership of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), in Accra, on Tuesday. He was accompanied by the top brass of the Party, including the Running Mate for the 2024 elections, Professor Naana Ja ne Opoku-Agyemang. The meeting was to, among other things, seek the input of captains of industries into the preparation of the Party's manifesto. Mr Mahama said it was time Ghana shifted from the current import dependent economy to an export driven one. To achieve that, the former President said the next NDC government would partner industries to draft and implement an industrial policy to help transform the economy in line with his vision of building the 'Ghana We Want Together.' Under the policy, he said government would provide the needed support for large scale agricultural production to achieve food self-sufficiency and provide the much-needed raw materials to feed industry. He added that under the policy, the next NDC government, would also incentivise indigenous private sector to enable them to assume lead roles in every sector of the economy to reduce the huge repatriation of profit, adding that government would prioritise Ghanaian businesses in procurement in its budget spending. Mr Mahama als o promised to support all 16 regions to develop industries based on their comparative advantage and assured of government's partnership with the private sector to set up industrial processing zones in the various regions, especially for crops such as palm, cashew, cotton, groundnuts, cocoa, soya, cassava and shea nut. 'All these will be integrated within the 24-Hour Economy Policy,' he said. 'I am aware that many industries are producing far below their capacities due to constraints such as availability of raw materials, access to credit, high utility tariffs, high taxes, access to markets among others.' Under the 24-hour Economy Policy, he said, government would work with the private sector to address challenges that constraint their production capacity, adding that, that would boost production for both domestic consumption and export and create jobs for the teeming youth. 'We must achieve increased production in order that we can take advantage of the ETLS and the AfCFTA,' the former President added. M r Mahama urged the current government to take responsibility for the current economic challenges such as the high taxes, irregular power supply and the high exchange rates and address them to bring relief to Ghanaians and businesses. Dr Kwesi Ayim Darke, President of AGI, reiterated that the high cost of power, unstable power supply and high taxes were factors that made products uncompetitive both locally and externally. To address the power situation, Dr Darke urged current and next governments to ensure full roll out of the country's nuclear power plant to provide alternative and more stable power supply. He also urged the next NDC government to scrutinise the country's various bilateral trade treaties to ensure value for money. Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, said the next NDC government would be a listening one, which would pay attention to the plight of the ordinary person. 'We believe we've got a leadership that listens, a leadership that shows humility, a leadership that is abl e to take criticism on board, above all, a leadership that will not run away from taking responsibility,' he added. Source: Ghana News Agency
Twenty-eight rhinos poached in three months
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has recorded a total of 28 rhinos poached since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, no case of elephant poaching was recorded. In a press statement issued on Monday, MEFT spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said 19 of the rhinos were poached in the Etosha National Park of which 10 were discovered during dehorning operations throughout March. Muyunda, also confirmed recent reports of four white rhino poached on a private farm in the Otjozondjupa Region, bringing the total number of rhinos poached on private farms in the country to five, for the year. Muyunda said three rhinos were poached at rhino custodianship farms, and one in the Kunene Region bringing the overall total to 28 for the year - consisting of 19 black and nine white rhinos. 'Poaching in Etosha is particularly concerning because this is our flagship park, having a high concentration of rhino conservation and other high-value species making it a major attraction for tourists,' he said. He add ed that based on the current situation and the urgency, an assessment is being undertaken in Etosha to establish the full extent of the problem. The ministry, he said remains committed to fighting poaching at all costs to ensure it achieves its obligation of protecting the country's wildlife to benefit the current and future generations of Namibia. Muyunda further said that to strengthen interventions and sharpen its strategies moving forward, MEFT has called for an urgent high-level meeting with the security clusters to dissect the matter. He also called on all stakeholders including members of the public to 'summon their conscience and patriotism' and join the ministry in this difficult fight against the poaching of high-value species. He said no arrests were made in the recent cases so far, but cases were opened and investigations continue. Source: The Namibia Press Agency
DAGBON will protect Green Ghana trees-Ya-Na assures government
Ya-Na Abukari II the over lord of Dagbon has assured the Government that the people of Dagbon will continue to protect the Green Ghana trees. He said the trees he led in planting in the area last year were doing well. Ya-Na Abukari II gave the assurance when Mr. Georga Mireku Duker Deputy Minister for Lands and Mineral Resource and Forestry commission delegation called on him at the Gbewaa palace to invite him to Tamale on 16thApril 2024 to chair this year's Green Ghana programmes at Tamale. He indicated that he was always praying for peace in Dagbon and Ghana as a whole because without peace the Green Ghana programme and other projects could not take place. He promised to be in Tamale for the programme as requested by president and Mr. Samule Abdulai Jinapor Minister for lands and Mineral Resource. Ya-Na thanked the minister for the presentation of 10 bags of sugar, 20 bags of rice, 5 cartons of milk and cash for their fasting. Mr. Mireku said this was not the first time he came to Ya-Na and Gbewaa pal ace and he always felt at home and would visit the areas they planted the trees last year. He said they will host the Green Ghana in Tamale as they did in Kumasi last year (2024). Source: Ghana News Agency
Sunyanimanhene’s funeral: Buying, selling peak in Sunyani
Buying and selling have peaked in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, as the Traditional Council commences the pre-burial and funeral rites of the late paramount Chief of Sunyani Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II. As tradition demands, the traditional council has ordered the closure of shops, stores and major as well as satellite markets in the capital effective Wednesday April 3, 2024. All food vending businesses along the streets of the capital are all expected to comply with the directive. The Council announced the demise of Nana Nkrawiri on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, and had subsequently set his pre-burial and funeral rites for Monday April 1 to Sunday April 7. Known in private life as Christian Kwaakye, Nana Nkrawiri was a retired educationist, born on May 31, 1946, and became the Paramount Chief of Sunyani on Monday, March 17, 1980. During a market survey, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) noticed a boom in business activities at the Central Business District (CBD), the Nana Bosoma Central and the Sunyani 'Masom som' markets respectively. In the early hours of Tuesday, major shops, provision as well as cold stores at the CBD which hitherto would have opened around 0900, had already commenced brisk business. At around 0700 hours some of the shop attendants, and women traders told the GNA that sales were very good and exciting, but they were worried about the directive to close their businesses. 'I think the directive is very harsh, at least they should have considered and allowed us to open our stores in the evenings,' a shopkeeper stated. Madam Joyce Yeboah, a popular fishmonger and cold store operator at the 'Masomasom' market, said she was worried that her stuff would get rotten due to the intermittent power outages and fluctuations being experienced nowadays in parts of the municipality. That notwithstanding, she said business seemed good, and expressed the hope that sales would continue in the course of the day. At the Nana Bosoma Central Market, business activities looked brisk, though it was only reserved for Wednesdays where traders from other parts of the municipality and villages throng to sell their stuff. Some of the buyers the GNA chanced on explained they were in the central market to buy and store more stuff that would meet their needs on the days of the funeral celebration. Meanwhile, the brisk business activity in the town has created a field day for wheelbarrow, truck pushers and head potters in the Municipality. Some of them told the GNA they arrived at the central market around 0600 hours, and business had since been good. Amina Salifu, a single mother, and a head potter said the demand for her service had been exciting at the market and she had even made new customers. Source: Ghana News Agency
James Tani V outdoored as National General Bishop of 12 Apostle Church
The William Wade Harris 12 Apostles Church of Ghana at Canaan, Krisan in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region has ourdoored a new National General Bishop, James Tani V, as the fifth bishop of the church. His elevation, consecration and outdooring followed the passing on of the fourth Bishop General, Mr Emmanuel Tani IV. The special event took place when members of the church from Ghana, La Cote D'Ivoire and the Diaspora, converged during the 11th Annual Easter Convention at the church's Headquarters at Canaan, Krisan near Eikwe in the Western Region. These include the national executives, board members, prophets/prophetesses, pastors, elders, trainees and the youth wing. In a message to round -off the week-long Easter Convention, the General Bishop said the highest office conferred on him has encouraged him to discharge his mandate creditably to bring the church onto a higher pedestal. Bishop Tani called for continuous prayers for the economic prosperity of the nation to reverse the current hard ships. 'As the nation goes to the polls in December, political actors and their followers must ensure a level playing field and give peace a chance,' he said. Preaching on the theme: 'And I Will Give My Spirit to You and You Shall Live,' the Apostle of the Church, Enoch Agyevi Kwame, said the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ must resurrect everything in the Christian's life to make him/her new. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who joined the church as part of his visit to the District, asked the church to pray for God's intervention to resuscitate Ghana's falling currency. The MP asked Christians to pray for the President so he would not succumb to international pressure and intimidation not to accent to the LGBTQ+ bill. Mr Kofi Buah also asked the church to pray for peace, love and unity in the run-up to the December general election. The former Member of Parliament for Evaloe-Adjomoro Gwira, Madam Catherine Abenlemah Afeku, congratulated the NPP Constituency Secretary, known in private life as Mr James Amachie Kainyah, on his elevation as the National General Bishop of the church. She advised women to support women in politics to champion their cause. Source: Ghana News Agency