Author: felix Boachie

Abtvgh / COCOBOD

No other country comes to mind more than Ghana when one speaks of cocoa.

Likewise, one cannot think of Ghana without the thought of its cocoa sector which offers livelihoods for millions along the value chain, including farmers. 

Being one of the country’s main exports, cocoa has been central to the country’s debates on development, reforms and poverty alleviation strategies since independence in 1957.

Since the introduction of cocoa in Ghana in the late 19th century, the crop has undergone a series of major expansion and contractions.

Cycles are intrinsic to cocoa production because cocoa is influenced by environmental factors such as availability of forest land, ecological factors such as deforestation, outbreaks of disease, geographic shifts in production, and economic and social factors such as migration.

The grim forecast of drier weather conditions, elevated temperatures and decreased rainfall in the upcoming months, do not augur well for our production prospects.

The looming possibility of lower-than-expected yields casts a shadow over our production goals, emphasising the urgency of taking immediate action.

Recent price movements on the international cocoa market have been undesirable.

Cocoa bean prices have plummeted and are predicted to remain low during the COVID-19 period.

Over the years, the country has continuously exported raw cocoa beans with little value addition.

The fortunes of the hardworking farmers have become tied to the volatile cocoa bean market.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been absorbing the shocks of price declines, with the aim of minimizing the negative impact on cocoa farmers.

Among other challenges facing the sector is the depreciating value of the cedi.

The situation has compelled some of the farmers to smuggle their produce out of the country into neighbouring countries, particularly Cote d’Ivoire and Togo, while some of them resort to giving out their farms for illegal mining, popularly called galamsey.

These two activities are counterproductive for the country, particularly so, as many people are diverting from cocoa production into other ventures other than cocoa farming.

It is in the light of this that the announcement last Saturday by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of a new producer price for cocoa at the opening of the 2023-2024 cocoa season came as a big relief not only for the farmers, but the country as a whole.

The producer price has been increased from GH¢800 per 62.5 kg to GH¢1,308, representing a 63.5 per cent increment, which also translates to GH¢20,943 per tonne of raw cocoa beans.

It is the highest price to be paid to cocoa farmers across West Africa in over 50 years.

With the predicted stable prices above the 2,600 threshold, the government has given an assurance that it would continue to honour our farmers with good prices in the years ahead. Indeed, there are better days ahead.

Also commendable is the government’s decision to open the cocoa season in September instead of the usual October in order for the farmers to meet all their financial obligations to their families, especially as schools reopen.

The new price changes have been warmly received by the farmers.

The spontaneous applause, jubilation and shouts of joy by cocoa farmers who were at the durbar at the announcement of the new prices were understandable.

Nobody should begrudge the farmers for openly showing their excitement as they tried to mount the President’s podium to show their appreciation for the new price.

The Daily Graphic sees the increase as a positive intervention by the government to enable cocoa farmers to increase their yields.

The increase would not only motivate farmers to increase cocoa production, but also contribute to check the smuggling of cocoa beans to neighbouring countries.

With this increment, the low incomes of cocoa farmers will be improved and the move will further attract the youth to the sector.

This latest increment means that farmers can grow new cocoa and also employ more skilled workers on their farms, thereby addressing the unemployment situation the country is confronted with.

For many years, cocoa prices have been subjected to the global market prices and so the decision by the government to increase the price of cocoa for the farmers is a major step to deal with the challenges head-on.

As Ghanaians, we must work towards a sustainable cocoa economy that delivers increasing and continuous benefits to our dear farmers and all stakeholders in the value chain.

As Ghanaians, we must work towards a sustainable cocoa economy that delivers increasing and continuous benefits to our dear farmers and all stakeholders in the value chain.

Abtvgh / GETFund

On August 1, 2023, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) paid GH¢25.3 million of the annual fees on behalf of 4,279 students of various universities and colleges in the country.

The awardees enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programmes in those institutions.

This time, more scholarships were awarded to applicants studying in local universities and colleges, a major shift from previous years when GETFund scholarships went in favour of Ghanaian students studying abroad. 

The number of successful applicants this year, according the GETFund, is 63 per cent higher than the 2,704 recipients for last year. 

The Daily Graphic learnt that some 300 qualified applicants are yet to take advantage of the scholarship and wish to urge them not to waste the opportunity availed to them as more than 17,000 applicants may be awaiting their turn.

The beneficiaries must justify the investments made in them by studying hard and obtaining the needed grades to remain on the scholarship scheme.

They need to know that their continuous sponsorship by GETFund is directly linked to their academic performance and the fund will not hesitate to withdraw the scholarship of those who fail to attain the required grades.

Moreover, GETFund reserves the right to withdraw their scholarship in the event that they are beneficiaries of other scholarship scheme(s) or based on misconduct and also deferment of programme without prior written approval from the Administrator of the GETFund.

The Daily Graphic commends the management of GETFund for veering away from awarding scholarships to Ghanaian students to pursue university courses abroad at an exorbitant cost, when those students could have taken the same courses locally.

The cost of sponsoring one student to pursue a programme in a foreign university is equivalent to training over 22 medical doctors locally.

For the 2022/2023 academic year for instance, the average cost of training a first-year medical student locally, even as a fee paying student is about GH¢12,000 annually, while same students, pursuing Medicine in any UK university will pay not less than £19,000 annually.

In addition to this £19,000, the government pays warm clothing allowance, books allowance, a monthly stipend, among others, and so, annually, a student pursuing a programme in a foreign university requires not less than £23,000.  

It is a fact that formerly, while a local student was denied GH¢20,000 to pursue a programme in a local university, his counterpart seeking scholarship to pursue an almost similar programme in a university in the UK was granted a £13,000 tuition fee as well as some reasonable amount of pounds sterling to cover warm clothing and books allowances, a monthly stipend and others annually for two years.

Unfortunately, most of those students end up refusing to return home after they had been trained with the taxpayer’s money, thereby denying the country their expertise, the reason for which they were sent out there.

It is not uncommon to hear now and then students on government scholarship outside the country complaining of not receiving funds from the government as they should.

Last year, when the Russia-Ukraine war erupted, Ghana had to evacuate its students studying there and most of them are continuing their programmes in Ghana.

That means that whatever they are being taught in those foreign universities is similar to or the same as what is done locally.

The Daily Graphic cannot understand how management of the fund did not see the waste that went on when such amounts could have been used to train so many professionals instead of one individual.

Ghanaians cannot fathom why such decisions were taken and nobody, including our representatives in Parliament, ever raised any red flags.

So, if the management and board of GETFund find it prudent to rather invest in our universities by sponsoring students to pursue programmes locally, we cannot but applaud this decision.

Indeed, that is the way to go and there should be no turning back.

This decision by GETFund is not only saving the national purse, it is also a way to sustain the local universities so that they are not starved of funds.

For us to attain the much-touted Ghana Beyond Aid objective, strengthening our educational institutions to produce the needed human capital is non-negotiable and the step GETFund has taken is in the right direction.

Abtvgh / MLNR

There has been a big conversation about Africa’s approach to natural resources management over the years, which has led to the continent becoming the poorest in the world, despite its wealth in natural resources.

African countries have generally been blamed also for not doing well in negotiations with companies in the extractive sector, partly due to corruption, incompetence, political instability and short-sightedness, which results in countries settling for less.

These issues are usually worsened by illicit financial flows from the extractive industry. 

These are conversations that resonate with many Ghanaians and civil society organisations in the country, particularly because Ghana is a resource-rich country.

Fact is the country is endowed with abundance of natural resources, including arable land, forests, water bodies and precious minerals.

However, these resources are in the main finite and require proactive measures to nurture and protect for the collective good now, and importantly, for the next generation.

Ghana is noted for its abundant natural resources which include gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, oil, and until recently, abundant hardwood timber.

The mining sector has played an important part in the country’s economic development, providing jobs for our people and revenue to the government to support other initiatives.

The country has discovered lithium and other green minerals in commercial quantities with the unpalatable experience of the country deriving less benefit from over a century of mining gold.

Fortunately, Cabinet has approved a new policy for the exploitation, management and regulation of lithium and other green minerals in the country.

Often referred to as “minerals of the future”, green minerals are metals and other mineral resources that are needed to support the transition to clean energy technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

A wide range of minerals that fall under the umbrella of green minerals include bauxite, cobalt, copper, lithium, granite, manganese and nickel.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, told the Abtvgh last Thursday that Cabinet approved the policy on July 27 this year after a rigorous interrogation.

The new Green Minerals Policy, thus amends the Mining and Minerals Policy of 2014 to include robust and progressive regimes that would enable the country to reap optimum benefits from lithium and other green minerals. 

It became clear that the exploitation of the natural resources was non-negotiable.

However, it must be done sustainably and responsibly.

It is imperative, therefore, for the government to do whatever it takes to ensure that the exploitation and utilisation of these green minerals are done, not only in an environmentally sound manner but also in a way that ensures optimal benefit to the people of Ghana.

This government must never compromise on its resolve. 

The Abtvgh holds the position that much as a lot has been said, done and achieved, it is time to take the multi-stakeholder route to commit to a national action plan to ensure that only the right things are done in the natural resource sector, and any bad lots expeditiously punished.

We believe that to secure a more sustainable future, all citizens must approach natural resource management more holistically.

This will entail balancing economic progress, environmental conservation and social welfare with national revenue and growth or developmental aspirations. 

The Abtvgh is urging that the overarching goal of the new policy must anchor on the principle that the exploitation of green minerals must benefit Ghanaians who are the true owners of the resource.

The building blocks for the green minerals exploitation must be different from what exists with gold in particular.

The country must strive to create a healthier environment by carefully leveraging the natural resource endowments for our long-term collective good. 

The paper calls on all to commit to take action, learning from what has been done over time, to make a difference for the environment and communities for the future. 

This can be achieved by caring and working together to create a sustainable future for all Ghanaians; living and unborn.

Abtvgh / GIMPA

For a significant number of students, boarding is a necessity due to distance from suitable schools or the need for closer monitoring and bonding.

For other students, attending boarding school is informed by choice and access to greater educational resources.

Some educationists have proposed the scrapping of the boarding system as a major step in curbing indiscipline in secondary schools.

A former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, and a former Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, contended that the rationale for the introduction of the boarding system at the pre-colonial time to date had outlived its relevance.

However, a professor in educational leadership and a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. George Oduro, thinks otherwise, and believes that “the boarding system is not the problem; rather the problem is our failure to ensure that the SHS system operates and promotes discipline as it should.

In fact, the challenges in our schools today is not whether to scrap boarding schools or reinforce the concept to community day schools.

The problem is how to curb the growing culture of indiscipline in our schools whether day or boarding.

These days, hardly a day passes without reported incident of indiscipline in our educational institutions, thus making calls for the scrapping of boarding schools grow louder as a solution to curbing deviance in schools.

The challenge is that school authorities have relaxed some of the disciplinary rules to the extent that schools cannot freely enforce discipline due to human and child rights issues.

The Daily Graphic holds the view that the boarding system is a fabric of our education, which must be preserved because not all communities have day schools where students can walk in for academic lessons.

Scrapping the boarding system will put students, who are from communities without secondary schools, at a disadvantage because they will have to walk long distances to school.

Indeed, boarding schools are home to vibrant and diverse communities of students from all over the country, exposing them to different cultures, beliefs, and viewpoints.

This exposure helps students develop cultural competency, an essential skill for effective leadership in today’s globalised world.

In fact, the pillars of diversity, equity and inclusion outweigh all other perks for choosing a day school over the traditional boarding schools.

While the educational experience at the boarding school is important for personal, educational growth and development, it is also a precursor to life after school.

It is the view of the Daily Graphic that the boarding system is the most preferred choice for some parents, especially those who are of the opinion that the system has the advantage for their children, to build social maturity, personal growth, make them academically independent and help with peer learning.

However, recent developments in boarding schools in the country have triggered outrage in society and are making many people have second thoughts.

Aside from academic performance, which many schools flaunt, issues of supervision, conduct, abuse, moral rectitude and bullying have dominated the media space.

It is, therefore, the view of the paper that the boarding system should not be scrapped but given a comprehensive overview.

To ensure that the boarding system operates well, qualified personnel, who have been trained in being housemasters/home mistresses, are employed by schools to run activities in the hostels and dormitories.

We must also ensure that there is strict monitoring and supervision in our boarding schools to ensure that the environment is conducive to learning.

Abtvgh

It is the emission of greenhouse gases, such as, carbon dioxide, methane, etc., into the atmosphere that contributes to climate change.

To mitigate climate change, therefore, is to control activities, such as energy consumption, that emit these gases.

Like many other countries, including the US, UK and Canada, across the world, Ghana is experiencing the effects of climate change.

We are experiencing unprecedented flooding, drought and heatwaves, all being climate-related problems.

Arguably, these issues have had a toll on our economy, with sectors like agriculture and tourism suffering the most.

In an attempt to curb climate change, the country has planted millions of trees, which, undoubtedly, is one of the solutions to curbing the menace.

However, achieving net zero in the real estate sector would be a game changer in the world’s fight against climate change.

Net zero refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

Real estate

In the real estate sector, achieving net zero means buildings are designed, constructed, and operated in a way that minimises their carbon footprint (total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, emitted).

The 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction by International Energy Agency shows that the world’s real estate sector accounts for about 39 per cent of the total global emissions and consumes nearly 40 per cent of the world’s energy.

Opportunity

Net zero in real estate presents an opportunity for Ghana to address climate change while also promoting sustainable economic growth.

The rapid growth of our construction industry presents an opportunity to build energy-efficient and sustainable buildings that contribute to net zero emissions.

One key step towards achieving net zero in real estate is to incorporate renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power into building designs.

In Ghana, solar energy has immense potential, given the country’s abundant sunshine.

The government could promote the use of solar energy by providing incentives such as tax breaks for businesses that invest in solar panels or subsidise and make it mandatory for buildings to incorporate solar power in their design.

Building design is identified as another critical aspect that can help achieve net zero in real estate.

This means designing buildings to be energy-efficient and sustainable.

For instance, buildings can be designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, reducing the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning, which are significant sources of energy consumption.

Additionally, materials used in building construction can be chosen with sustainability in mind.

Building materials such as concrete and steel have high carbon footprints, and alternatives such as bamboo and wood could be considered in some instances.

Green roofs and walls can also be incorporated into building designs to help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Such features would not only contribute to reducing the building’s carbon footprint but also provide other benefits such as improving air quality, reducing urban heat islands and enhancing biodiversity.

In sum, Ghana can tackle climate change by promoting net zero in real estate.

Achieving net zero in the real estate sector will not only contribute to reducing the country’s carbon footprint but also present an opportunity for sustainable economic growth.

By incorporating renewable energy sources, sustainable building materials, and building designs that maximise energy efficiency, Ghana can lead the way in the fight against climate change while also promoting sustainable development.

The writer is a Student of MSc.

Real Estate,

University of Aberdeen, UK.