Category: General

Mrs Mawuena Trebah, the Founder and Chief Business Strategist, Inspire Africa, has called on women entrepreneurs to build partnerships to expand the scope and scale of their businesses, regardless of whatever stage they are. She said businesses in recent times had increasingly thrived on partnerships and that every community had its own business culture, which determined the way business should be done. 'Remember to situate your ideas and plans about business within your cultural context because you may be surprised to find that your cultural context may not be that different from somebody else's cultural viewpoints all the way across the Atlantic,' she said. Mrs Trebah was speaking at the Maiden Volta Fair Women Entrepreneurs Summit in Ho as part of activities of the Volta Trade and Investment Fair. She said it was advantageous to work with others to achieve common business goals, adding that 'partnership does not mean that you must always agree with your partner.' There was the need to identify opport unities for partnerships that would aid in reducing pressure on the businesses, assess where they could take on a certain level of responsibility while the partner took the other for a more efficient business success, she noted. Partnerships could expose businesses to innovative ideas and offer access to new markets for their products or services they never imagined were possible. It was time they stopped lamenting about their business ideas being worked on after sharing with others 'because that is the reality of being an entrepreneur', she added. Mrs Trebah admonished them to begin to explore opportunities under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and think aggressively about how to take hold of that within the Volta Region, Ghana, and Africa as a whole. She urged them to stay humble to be lifelong learners, conduct postmortem on businesses and embrace technology. Dr Mrs Grace Amey-Obeng, the Founder and CEO of FC Group of Companies, said women entrepreneurs needed to take up the challenge, understand the issues and work to leave a mark in the sands of time. Products and services across Africa presented an array of opportunities and they must take advantage of those to excel. She touched on gender inequality, limited access to financing and the lack of supportive infrastructure as some of the barriers, which prevented women entrepreneurs from fully participating in international trade and realising their export ambitions. Dr Amey-Obeng said there was the need to collectively create an enabling environment to address the specific needs of women enterpreneurs. 'Governments, policymakers and industry leaders must prioritise gender responsive policies and initiatives such as providing access to affordable financing, tailored training programmes and mentorship opportunities.' Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, said the summit offered opportunities on how to improve what the women entrepreneurs were already embarking on in the region. Those opportunities would enhance the econo mic development of the region while promoting tourism as part of efforts to leave better legacy for the future generation. Mr Dela Gadzanku, the Volta, Oti, and Eastern Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), said 2023 was the year of accelerating the AfCFTA where the women and youth were at the centre. The region was poised to playing a significant role in taking full advantage of the Area. The summit was on the theme: 'Navigating new frontiers, Women Entrepreneurs and the opportunities of AfCFTA'. Source: Ghana News Agency

The election campaign for the local council elections commenced on Saturday for 188 candidates in the constituencies under the jurisdiction of the Local Independent Authority for Elections (IRIE) in Nabeul 1. The campaign will continue until December 22, two days prior to the polling day.

These candidates represent delegations from Nabeul (20 candidates), Dar Chaabane El Fehri (21), Béni Khiar (12), Korba (25), El Mida (23), Menzel Temim (26), Kélibia (17), Hammam Ghzèze (14), and Haouria (30).

The 39 candidates with disabilities are exempt from the campaign, as their election will be determined by sortition.

Nabeul governorate comprises 16 delegations, including 101 localities. Nine of these delegations fall within the jurisdiction of Nabeul 1 constituency, including 55 localities.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Madam Charity Akortia, a professional teacher, and commercial farmer from Agona West District of the Central Region, is the 2023 National Best Farmer. Madam Akortia, assisted by her husband and four children, started sowing her commercial seeds 30 years ago. Now 57, her passionate strides in sustainable farming, have been rewarded by a bountiful harvest of a One Million Ghana Cedi-prize at the 39th National Farmers' Day Awards ceremony. The event was held Friday evening, at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, in the Western Region. Her farming enterprise - Greenworth Farms - employs a total of 277 workers, including 64 full-time employees. The resilient farmer is assisted by four family members. The farms are located in the Agona East, Agona West, Ekumfi and Ketu-North Districts. Greenworth Farm is highly diversified - with crop enterprises covering the broad areas of roots and tubers, cereals, vegetables, plantation crops, legumes and timber species. Her livestock enterprises consist of large ruminants, small ruminants, pigs, rabbits, grasscutters, local and exotic poultry. In addition, Madam Charity has 185 boxes of beehives, which have been colonised with bees, and two fish ponds stocked with tilapia and catfish. She has 1200 bags of mushrooms. Madam Akortia cultivates crops and rears farm animals for very good reasons - consistent with the principles of integration of farming operations in a sustainable manner. The leftovers of her crop harvests are used to feed her farm animals; the maize is used to feed the poultry birds and cassava peels, groundnut/sweetpotato vines are used as supplementary feeds for the cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The droppings of her farm animals and other crop residues are applied to maintain soil fertility and cut down the cost of inputs, especially inorganic fertiliser. Also, the water from the fish pond is used to irrigate vegetables and cocoa during the dry season. Madam Akortia has good knowledge of crop husbandry practices and obtains her planting m aterials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Crop Research Institute, and Ghana Cocoa Board. She employs both organic and inorganic methods of fertilisation and also practices good sanitation in her crop and animal farms to address the problem of pests and diseases. The practice of non-burning of harvest residue has helped to conserve soil moisture, while the use of farmyard manure has maintained soil fertility, the 2023 National Best Farmer Selection Team, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, said. The major processing activities of the crop and animal enterprises are coconut in juice, cookies, oils, cake, chips, pepper into powder and paste, and groundnuts into paste. Also, Madam Akortia produces the seeds of okro, pepper and garden eggs as well as cowpea, to support seed supply to farmers. Planting and harvesting are done through both mechanised and manual operations. In terms of animal husbandry practices, Madam Akortia has good criteria for the selection of breeding animals. Her desire to keep particular species of animal is motivated by the demands of the market, profitability, environmental suitability and the monetary returns, the Selection Team noted. 'She relies heavily on the advice of the Veterinary Officer in charge of the community to address the health needs of her animals. The feeding of her cattle is done extensively through grazing, while she uses residues of harvested crops, such as cassava, cowpea, rice and maize crop, to feed her small ruminants. She keeps to the structured vaccination regime to secure the health of her farm animals. She also processes meat and fish products (catfish,tilapia, pork, chicken) as well as and honey. Madam Akortia says combining teaching and farming with family services has been obviously tough, but fulfilling. She says agriculture is the way to go if the country has to develop economically. Madam Akortia says agriculture positively impacts economic development by addressing unemployment, promoting innovation, fostering entrepreneurship and contri buting to the overall wellbeing of communities. Thus, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, she urged the government to enhance its role of creating an enabling environment that encouraged and supported youth involvement in agriculture. 'Agriculture pays a lot. It is through these farming activities that I can care for my children through school. I can proudly say my children have had the best of education,' she says with a winner's grin. ' It is all through farming. So, the youth must venture into faming because it is profitable.' In an address, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, lauded the award winners for the feat achieved. He commended farmers for being the cornerstone of the nation's agricultural growth, saying the nation was appreciative of their commitment and patriotism. Agriculture, he said, held the key to the nation's growth amid the global development challenges. The government was, therefore, determined to inject the requisite resources into the sector for progress, he assured. 'Ther e is still a lot that can be done to enhance efficiency in all the agricultural value chains,' he noted. Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture, expressed optimism that the country would achieve food sufficiency soon given the vibrant nature of the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, launched in August. Source: Ghana News Agency

Some 186 candidates representing the imadas under the jurisdiction of the Tunis I Local Authority for the Elections (IRIE) kick off their election campaigns on Saturday, December 2.

161 among them will be chosen by direct election and the remaining 25 candidates, who are people with disabilities, will be elected by sortition.

The electoral campaign for the local council elections scheduled for December 24 kicks off on December 2, in 2,155 constituencies and will run until December 22.

The Tunis I Local Authority for Elections includes the delegations of Hraïria, Ezzouhour, Séjoumi, Kabaria, Medina, El Ouardia, Bab Bhar, Bab Souika, Djebel Jelloud, Sidi El Béchir and Sidi Hassine.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has recorded 4,876 cases of road crashes and 399 deaths from January to October 2023. Speaking in an interview with Ghana News Agency at Tema, Mr Ezra Quansah, Assistant Planning Manager, NRSA Greater Accra Region, stated that road accidents occurred because of human errors, with 8,804 vehicles involved. He added that those injured because of road accidents were 2,776; those involved in pedestrian knockdowns were 866 and out of that, 206 died. Mr Quansah who spoke to GNA on the sidelines of a road safety workshop for drivers in Tema reiterated that for the crash, injuries, and deaths for commercial vehicles 2,294; 928 people got injured, 94 deaths, and for the private vehicles crashes, there were 5,122, 843 injuries and 134 deaths. 'For the motorcycle crashes, there were 1,388; 1,005 injured; and 166 deaths,' he noted. He highlighted that for all the road crashes, they recorded 70 female deaths and 329 male deaths. He emphas ised that the Christmas season was approaching, therefore drivers should ensure safe driving to prevent road accidents and urged them to prevent the use of unapproved lights fixed on vehicles to avoid being punished by the police MTTD and going on long journeys with single drivers. He appealed to long-distance drivers to be two in a vehicle for four-hour driving intervals to prevent road crashes. D03 Fifi Oppong, Tema Regional Operations Officer and Safety Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service stated that it was mandatory for every driver to have a fire extinguisher in the car because overheating or electric faults could cause a fire outbreak in the vehicle. He said the fire extinguishers should be changed either every six months or a year, and the specific fire extinguisher type to be used in a car should be a dry powder type. He urged the public to call the fire service emergency number 192/112 when there was an accident with people trapped in it. 'Drivers should avoid drinking alcohol before driv ing to prevent road accidents during the festive season,' he advised. Alhaji Nasiru Abachem, Chief Executive Officer of Finance Company Limited, added that the impact of the road safety lessons on the drivers and motorriders would help them drive safely on the roads. He advised the drivers to drive carefully, even on a rough road or a titled road, for their safety ahead of the festive season. Mr Nii Noi Hanson-Nortey, MP for Tema Central, stated that there were challenges faced by the public on road issues, mentioning that 'our infrastructure deficit is a problem, and after 66 years of independence, it should have been better to have at least had a dual carriageway or three-path highway, especially in the middle belt between Accra, Kumasi, and beyond.' He appealed to the government to construct good roads in some communities to avoid accidents. Source: Ghana News Agency

Voting has begun at the Tamale Central Constituency to elect the New Patriotic Party's Parliamentary Candidate for the 2024 general election. Voting began at 0800 hours at the Tamale Jubilee Park where 881 delegates from 18 electoral areas are expected to cast their ballots. Personnel of the Ghana Police Service are present to ensure a smooth process. There are three candidates; Mr Sulley Salifu, who is the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Abass Zakaria, a staff of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), and Mr Ismail Yahuza. Source: Ghana News Agency