GHANA COCOA FORUM

Story: Zainabu Issah

As part of the 50th Independence Day celebrations of Cote d'Ivoire, a two day forum was organised to reflect on the co-operation between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana in the area of Cocoa.

It was also to discuss the way forward in the cultivation, production and processing of Cocoa.
Speaking at the forum, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwabena Duffuor says cocoa plays an important role in the livelihood and stability of farming communities in terms of job creation and the distribution of income among rural communities.

He added that market developments which negatively affect the interests of farmers tend to move people especially the youth to the  urban centres in such of non existing jobs.

Furthermore low productivity and falling market prices of cocoa has putten undue pressure on the environment as farmers are forced to expand production to new areas including forest lands.

 The Ambassador of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire to Ghana, Mr Auguste Emmanuel Ackah in his speech called on both countries to find a lasting solution to the problems of the cocoa sector.
 He said this would help improve the commodities profitability of the two countries and the producers whose sweat and toil bring joy to the world.

The Secretary General of the Cocoa Producers Alliance(COPAL), Hope Sona Ebai urged the two countries to increase opportunities for empolyment and income generation i the rural areas while providing products for the promotion of consumption of cocoa.

GTP NEW ASSOCIATION

Story: Zainabu Issah

Dealers in the Ghana Textiles Wax Print (GTP) have inaugurated an association in Accra.
The formation of the association was to have a common voice to fight against the smuggling of fake textiles into the country.
The Chairman of the occasion, Nana Owusu Yentumi Akyemperi said forming an association demanded alot of sacrifice to keep it standing.
" You should be dedicated and unified to keep the association alive," he added.
He also urged them to assist the counterfeiting force who are fighting against the smuggling of textiles in the country.
The Managing Director of GTP, Mr Erik Vander Staaij, said the formation of the association would help in the control of pricing on the textile market.
" We can now be able to effectively know what is going on in the market so that management can take drastic action," he said.
He further urged them to help in improving the quality of the product thereby promoting and booming its business.
Mr Staaij added that they can now fulfil their social responsibility functions now that they are together by helping one another.
The President of the association, Madam Rosemary Kudjoe said the association would do well in identifying the counterfeit goods and bring those responsible to justice.
The inauguration brought together other sister associations from Tarkoradi, Ho, Cape Cost, Koforidua, Oda and Kumasi.

HEALTH SCREENING FOR NIMA

Story: Zainabu Issah

The Iranian Red Cresent(IRC)  and the Red Cross Society (RCS) of Ghana have jointly organised a one day free health screening exercise for the residents of the Nima-Mamobi community in Accra.
The exercise was aimed at bringing health care to the doorstep of needy people.
Hundreds of people in the two communities benefitted from the exercise
The President of RCS, Professor Kwabena Mante Bosompem, said specialised health care facilities were located in particular places in the community but the health seeking behaviour of the people did not allow them to visit the hospitals.
" We, therefore organised, this screening exercise to bring out people who are not well so they could have access to health care," he said.
He added that since most of the people in the community reported late to the hospitals with chronic diseases like malaria, diarrhoea and fever, tghe screening exercise would help to detect diseases early for  treatment.
The Director of the Iran Clinic, Dr Rezu Bulader said the clinic was always ready to provide medical services to the needy in society.
"It is also part of our social responsibility to donate and give free medical care to the people when the need arises," he said.
The Ambassador of Iran to Ghana, Mr Latifi Namin, who was also present Iran, it was proper for Iran to help the government of Ghana to extend medical services to its people to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The screening brought together three doctors, two nurses, two pharmacists and one dentist doctor assisted by the RCS of Ghana.

 An old woman going through the secrening exercise whilst others wait for their turn.

LATER DAY SAINTS CLEAN UP KANESHIE

Story: Zainabu Issah

THE Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has organised a clean up exercise dubbed" All Africa Service Project" in the Kaneshie market complex.The exercise is undertaken by the church annually as part of its social responsibility in the community where it is located.
Members of the church mobbed the floor of the market, swept, dusted, cleared choked drains and gutters and educated the market women on the need to keep the market clean.
The Environmental Manager of the Kaneshie Market Complex Mrs Paola Sogbey said the church's intervention in helping keep the market clean had been helpful.
She urged other organisations to show an interest in the improvement of sanitation at the market as a large proportion of the public buy foodstuffs from the market for consumption.
A taxi driver who operates his business at the market area, Kweku Appiah Agyei commended the church for cleaning the market.
He said though the market was always very busy, it was important that attention is also directed toward keeping it clean.
Appiah-Agyei noted with concern that even though various organisations periodically engage in sanitation exercises in the market, it was evident that the traders themselves did not attach the same level of importance  to cleanliness as these organisations do.
He therefore requested that adequate litter bins be placed around the market to help in reducing the heaps of rubbish in the market.

FURNITURE COMPANIES HOLD FAIR

Story: Zainabu Issah

THE Deputy Minister for Information, Mr Samuel  Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on furniture-making industries to showcase the Ghanaian culture in their craft to create a unique brand and identity for the country.
Mr Ablakwa  was speaking at the first four-day Furniture and Decoration fair held in Accra  to give local furniture producers a platform to showcase their products to the general public.
He noted, however, that even though furniture making is good business,  cutting  down trees for wood is slowly making the country lose its vegetation.
“It is therefore appropriate for you to engage in afforestation so that we do not lose our rich landscapes,” he advised.
The Deputy Minister assured the furniture companies that government would support the  sector to help boost their businesses and urged the Ghanaian public to patronise their products.
The fair which was organised by Xodus Communications, in partnership with the Ministry of Information, brought together furniture-making companies to showcase their products and designs and to also get closer to their clients.
The Excutive Director of Xodus Communications, Mr Richard Abbey Jnr, said the Fair was to give carpenters and decorators the opportunity to exhibit their products and give them ample business opportunities.
“There is therefore the need to bring them together to showcase their craft and to let the Government know what they are doing in order to support them,” he said.
The four-day exhibition brought together furniture companies like Simbins Furniture, Agorwu Furniture, Akuaba Furniture, Royal Habits, Lifestyle Gallery, Leatherland Furniture and Benjon Craft House of Aquariums, among others.



    

AVENOR COMMUNITIES INTRODUCED TO SANITATION TECHNOLOGIES

Story: Zainabu Issah

 A FOUR -day mini fair and Information seminar on business opportunities in the Water Sanitation (WATSAN) sector has been held for the people of Avenor and its environs in Accra.
The fair was organised by the Youth and Social Enterprise Fund (Y-SEF), under its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Urban- Poor(WASH-UP) project.
It aimed at showcasing a wide array of water and sanitation technologies with specific focus on water and sanitation related businesses and  improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene in the Avenor community.
The WASH-UP project which is being implemented in collaboration with Corporate Housing Foundation(CHF) with support from USAID, provide affordable financial services to poor households to access water and sanitation facilities and also for businesses to improve water and sanitation related enterprises.
It also facilitates and encourage women to run water and sanitation businesses that would improve women enterprises in the water and sanitation sector.
The Executive Director of Y-SEF, Mr. Stanley Walters Attafi said the Avenor community was lacking in water and sanitation and therefore the need to introduce the programme to the area to support them.
He added that there was no decent sanitation facility in the community and therefore residents use the gutters as their refuse and latrine dump.
As part of the fair, a drama highlighting the community’s need for  sanitation facilities was staged by some of the people of the area.

SEASONS MAGAZINE LAUNCH

Story: Zainabu Issah

SEASONS, a Christian lifestyle magazine has been launched in Accra.The magazine is a deviation from the regular style of publishing Christian magazines that usually appeal only to Christians and Charismatic Christians.
According to the Editor of the magazine, Madam Augustina Oti-Twumasi, the magazine terrain in Ghana does not have good Christian magazines that inspire Christian values, stimulate audience to grow in all areas of life and also encourage broad minded thinking.
“ Seasons magazine takes the interest of its readers into consideration and therefore allows its readers to learn and gain from what they read,” she said.
Madam Oti-Twumasi added that the magazine dealt with real life issues and also provided real answers for  people who  needed it.
She said the magazine would evolve and adapt to the various seasons in the life of readers mirroring everyday reality.
The magazine’s content includes weekly prayer guide, business moves, church profiles, personality profiles, extraordinary women, feature articles and church news among others.