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?The lack of access to ready markets and inadequate value-addition avenues for perishable crops?are two?critical challenges inhibiting sustainable agricultural growth in Ghana. Tonnes of food produce are wasted annually?due?to these issues, with some smallholder farmers experiencing?as high as 30 per?cent postharvest losses,?the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET)?has estimated. As a result of their inability to access markets, which leads to losses, most?farmers prefer?to sell their produce at the farm-gate. Like many other farmers in the country, the woes of smallholder farmers in the?Ahafo?Region are not different,?as they struggle?to?minimise?postharvest losses because of?the?lack of modern equipment, technologies and approaches. Despite the significant advances in food storage methods,?most of the?farmers still rely on indigenous vessels such as mud silos, barns, cribs, and drums for the storage of grain, fodder, and seed. Agriculturists are of the view that such storage vessels are si mple to construct and inexpensive to maintain, but are unable to protect the produce from biological, physical and environmental hazards for a prolonged period of time. The scenario, however,?is being changed for the better by the kind courtesy of the decision by mining giant, Newmont, to revamp the?Asutifi?Processing and Services Centre (APSC). The expanded?facility, inaugurated?recently, marks?a?significant development to boost?the agricultural value chain in one of Ghana's strategic food producing Regions, notably in?chilli?pepper and ginger production. The US$4 million Centre has been?established by mining giant, Newmont, with support from the German Development Cooperation, to bring to the barest minimum the incidence of postharvest losses. It is envisaged that the initiative will, in the long term, improve the incomes and livelihoods of farmers, thereby opening up the local economy for sustainable growth. Earning the description; 'The food basket of Ghana', the region's soil type and rainfall patte rn support the cultivation of varied food and cash crops, with farmers engaged in both subsistent and commercial production. One critical challenge,?particularly with commercial?farming, is?the?inadequate value-addition avenues for perishable crops, including?chilli?pepper and ginger. 'The revamped APSC signifies Newmont's dedication to fostering local economic growth, promoting sustainable development, and supporting agricultural value chains in the?Ahafo?Region,?recognised?as the breadbasket of Ghana,'?says?David?Thornton, the Managing Director of Newmont's Africa Business Unit. Over 80 farmer-based?organisations?and about 1,000?chilli?pepper and ginger farmers are benefiting from the APSC through an out-grower scheme, guaranteeing them increased and consistent income. Besides the processing of?chilli?pepper and ginger, the facility, situated at?Subriso, a community along the?Acherensua-Hwidiem?road, is also expected to add value to every step of the?farmers' activities, from production to market. ? In 2013, Newmont, which operates the?Ahafo?Mine in?the?Ahafo?Region and the?Akyem?Mine in the Eastern Region, established the?Asutifi?Processing and Services Centre, in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation. The project was initially designed?on a pilot basis to explore processing and marketing opportunities for?agricultural produce at?Ahafo. This was after extensive engagements with the beneficiary farmers and assessments to understand the agricultural?value chain in the?region and the opportunities therein. In line with Newmont's social performance strategy, which aims to enhance opportunities for people in its host communities, particularly the youth and women, the APSC became a significant vehicle to support the livelihoods of the people and create sustainable jobs in the?area.? The project, being implemented?under Newmont's broader Local Economic Diversification (LED) initiative,?focuses on fostering partnerships with development agencies as well as the?government with an aim to improve the living conditions of the people. It seeks?to identify business opportunities, create employment?and promote sustainable development in the company's host communities. The facility, which started operating in 2013, encountered some challenges that impacted the?realisation?of its full potential, including?limited raw materials to feed the factory and ready markets for the products. In the course of time,?Newmont conducted extensive feasibility studies in 2018 to confirm the viability of a bigger facility with the requisite market demand for processed?chilli?pepper and ginger. The outcome of the assessment justified?the company'ssignificant investment to scale up the project and create job opportunities, especially for farmers in the area and those in the agricultural?value chain.? 'The German Development Cooperation is happy to partner Newmont on this project, which has?a?huge potentially?positive impact for the farmers,' John?Duti,?the Team Lead of Invest for Jobs at?GIZ Ghana,?remarked at the inaugur ation?of the revamped Asutifi?Processing and Services Centre. 'It will aid increased productivity by?addressing?the issue of postharvest losses, one of the key challenges in the agricultural sector.' Newmont, one of?the world's leading mining companies, is?among Ghana's largest taxpayers, and its development foundations at?Ahafo?and?Akyem continue?to?support host community development. Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has called for concerted action by nations around the world, regional organisations and key stakeholders to address the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines. The scourge in landmines and explosive remnants of war had had devastating effects on humanity, he said, and urged all states that were signatories to the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention to strive towards its ratification. He reiterated government's unflinching support and commitment to promoting a world free from the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants of war. The Vice President made the call at the opening of a three-day 'Regional Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Impact of Improvised Anti-Personnel Mines within the Framework of the Convention' in Accra on Tuesday. He said it was imperative to confront the menace with unwavering determination and collective efforts. 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting a world free from the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants o f war,' Dr Bawumia said. The conference serves as a platform to dialogue, collaborate and exchange best practices and proffer innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by improvised anti-personnel mines globally. It is being organised by the Government of Ghana, through the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the European Union and the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention Implementation Support Unit. There were more than 100 delegates from the 15 Member States of ECOWAS, the Sahel Region and the European Union. Vice President Bawumia called for united efforts by all stakeholders under a common goal to confront and mitigate the devastating humanitarian consequences caused by improvised anti-personnel mines. 'This conference serves as a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action. We come together with a shared commitment to safeguarding human lives, protecting communities, and advancing peace and stability in our regions.' 'It is imperative that we confront the menace of improvised anti-personnel mines with unwavering determination and collective effort.' The Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction, also known as the 'Mine Ban Treaty', seeks an end to the suffering and casualties caused by such mines through the pursuit of four core goals. The goals include ensuring universal adherence, clearing mined areas, destroying stockpiled mines, and assisting the victims. It is also intended to achieve national legislation, cooperation and assistance, transparency and exchange of information, facilitating compliance, and implementation support. The Convention has 164 State Parties including Ghana. According to Minesweepers whose work is to detonate naval mines, it is estimated that about 110 million landmines are scattered across the globe. The individual cost for removing mines ranged from three to 30 dollars, while the expense of their removal varies significantly, ranging from $300 to $100 0 per mine. Considering those figures, the report by Minesweepers said the total expenditure for clearing all existing mines was projected to range from a substantial $50 billion to $100 billion. Meanwhile, the Landmine Monitor (2022) report indicates that States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty had destroyed more than 55 million stockpiled antipersonnel mines. That underscored the significant financial commitment made bystates and international organizations worldwide towards the effective implementation of the Convention. The Landmine Monitor also reported that in 2022, at least 4,710 individuals were killed or injured by landmines or Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs) in 49 states. Among them, 1,661 lost their lives, 3,015 sustained injuries, while the status of 34 remains unknown. It said civilian casualties constituted 85 per cent of the total, with nearly half of the civilian victims being children (49 per cent) amounting to a total of 1,071. As of October 2023, it was also reported by the Land Mine Monitor that approximately 60 countries and other areas worldwide were grappling with the detrimental presence of anti-personnel landmines contaminating their territories. Among those could be found, at least, 24 States Parties either believed or confirmed to be afflicted with improvised minecontamination. Those nations included some African states such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Nigeria, and Togo. The report said the presence of improvised mines exacerbated the already grave humanitarian and security challenges faced by those nations, necessitating urgent and concerted efforts towards effective mine clearance and risk mitigation strategies. The use of improvised anti-personnel mines poses a grave threat to civilians, particularly in conflict-affected regions. Vice President Bawumia noted that those insidious weapons indiscriminately maimed and killed innocent men, women, and children, inflicting lasting physical and psychological harm. 'They disrupt livelihoods, impede socio-economic develo pment, and hinder efforts to achieving sustainable peace and security,' he said. 'Ghana recognises the urgent need for concerted action to address the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines.' 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting a world free from the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants of war.' 'Compliance with these legal instruments is essential to preventing further human suffering and fostering a safer, more secure world for all. 'I, therefore, urge all states that are not parties to the Convention to strive towards the ratification of the Convention.' Source: Ghana News Agency

Some fishers, traders, and people who have associations along the beaches of the Western Region have confirmed the growing phenomenon of exchanging sex for fish. They attributed the behaviour to unemployment, particularly among women who usually found themselves loitering around the beaches, lack of self-control, and discipline by some girls who found pleasure in such acts and the advantageous role by men to use such gullible individuals. A Ghana News Agency ((GNA) interview with women and men at the New Takoradi Fish Landing Beach, revealed that women who usually exchanged their bodies for fish later sold the fishes to get money to meet their pressing needs. While some have made it a usual business, others only come in during bumper season to engage in the trade. Fisherman Ekow Yawda, aka 'Kwesi Botwey,' told the GNA that the practice was common in all coastal areas. She said: 'There are some women who exchange sex for fish from fishermen to either consume or sell to make ends meet.' 'These women, incl uding teenagers, would be roaming around the seashore in their hot dresses, collect fish from the fishermen without paying and will agree to have sex with the fishermen later in the evening,' other fishermen collaborated. Regina Constance Eshun, a patron at the beach said, people do meet their life partners from the practice, adding, 'yes, sometimes you might tried other relationships but did not work, so if you come here and you meet a guy who is interested in you, why not, you will definitely give it a try.' Madam Monica Simpson, Deaconess with the Church of Pentecost, described the practice as an affront to womanhood and must be guided against. She called on parents and society to help curb the behaviour and find innovative ways of empowering the girl-child. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Francis Asenso Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing, has announced that the Rent Control Department will soon digitalize its activities, including interactions with clients on complaints and payment services. He stated that the upcoming system would enable tenants, landlords, and the Department to conduct every activity remotely. 'The Rent Control Department has its own portal to receive complaints from the two sides, both tenants and landlords instead of the usual paper works,' he noted. Mr Asenso-Boakye made this known when he inspected the progress of work of the system in Accra on Tuesday. He noted that rental housing was a vital component of the country's housing services. Data from the Ghana Statistical Service showed that rental accommodation accounted for 35 per cent of urban housing in Ghana, indicating its importance. The Minister said that the government was reviewing the Rent Act, which was presently before Parliament, to respond to the changing dynamics of the rental market. He said ren tal control was another area that provided important service to the public. 'We, therefore, want to digitize rent control to reduce human interactions. I have seen many people here who are in queues over rental issues. 'But with the digitization, they do not need to come here. They will just have to apply online,' he said. Mr Asenso-Boakye explained that, in addition to boosting service delivery, the development would aid in the fight against corruption. 'It will curb corruption because one will not need to come here and for instance pay an officer to jump a queue to be served,' he added. Mr Asenso-Boakye stated that the portal would become active in March 2024 after pilot testing and assured that his Ministry was fully ready to support it. A representative of the technical team said the office would, however, be opened for other important activities. He claimed the technology will also allow users to publish properties, market them, and connect with landlords and potential tenants. 'The system is a v ery user-friendly one and those that have tried it have attested to that,' the representative said. Source: Ghana News Agency