Ab TV GH

Category: News

  • We need more local ownership in mining

    Abtvgh / GMC

    A careful observation of global developments reveals a rise in resource nationalism where countries are bent on leveraging their resources to promote their national interest.

    Specifically, there is a new shift in the geopolitical landscape in the context of the energy transition that is leading to a rise in resource nationalism.

    For instance, there is now a resource competition between the United States and European Union on the one hand and China on the other due to the latter’s domination of the supply chains of critical minerals crucial to the energy transition.

    Also, there is a new protectionism emerging within Africa with some governments positioning themselves to gain a fair share of resources through an export ban on raw mineral ores without adding value locally.

    This is consistent with the African Mining Vision’s key tenet of domestic value addition to minerals before exporting.

    Another positive development is the decision by African governments to participate meaningfully in the ownership of the mines through various schemes, including free carried interest.

    In the light of these developments, the Daily Graphic views the decision by Ghana’s Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF) to take an equity position in Atlantic Lithium as a laudable step and even more should be done in this regard.

    Consequently, we are also delighted that our nationals are increasingly taking the risk to invest in mineral exploration and project development. More should be done by the government to encourage these exciting developments.

    In this regard, the Abtvgh believes that more targeted and favourable incentives must be offered to Ghanaians who venture into this highly risky industry.

    This is more than a moral imperative.

    The argument that needs to be made for empowering Ghanaians to be active participants in the mining industry is that it is the surest way to grow the much needed economic linkages from the mining industry. 

    The Abtvgh is a strong advocate for economic empowerment of Ghanaians in our mining and by extension, the extractive industry.

    Such deliberate and strategic endeavour will prevent the repetition of the terrible mistakes we made as a nation in the past in the development of our natural resources.

    It is in this vein that we associate with the call by the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AngloGold Ashanti and statesman, Sir Sam Jonah, for the government to provide incentives that would encourage more Ghanaians to venture into mining.

    At the recently held 15th Congregation of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), he said after many decades of mining, it was a blot on the nation that there was no significant ownership in the big mining firms in the country.

    Sir Sam, who is currently the Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, said empowering Ghanaians to be more involved in mining was the best way to ensure that the country derived the maximum benefits from such natural resources.

    “I have consistently bemoaned the absence of a meaningful ownership stake in the ownership of our mines.

    Sixty-six years after independence, sadly the situation has not changed much.”

    That said, it is instructive to note that there has been a recent encouraging development.

    The acquisition of the Azuma project by Engineers and Planners, arguably the most dynamic Ghanaian company on the current mining scene, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting developments in our industry. 

    We should all encourage more of such initiatives.

    As we do that, the state must find ingenious ways to actually encourage and incentivise Ghanaians to own a substantial stake or 100 per cent stake in some of our big mines.

    It is important that we begin to think about how to stop eating the crumbs and sit at the table to partake in the meal.

    We need to start implementing strategic initiatives to empower our people economically to change the sad narrative of ownership of the mines.

  • Support Parliament to deliver on mandate

    Abtvgh / Media Gh

    After 30 years of practising democracy under the 1992 Constitution which has witnessed successful elections and changeover of governments from a ruling party to an opposition party, Ghana is seen as one of the shining stars of democracy globally.

    The success story of Ghana’s democracy can be attributed to all Ghanaians as well as institutions and the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

    The Abtvgh holds the view that our arms of government must be supported to deliver on their mandate so as to entrench democratic governance, with each arm acting independently of the other.

    Last week, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, at the Speaker’s Breakfast Forum, called on the executive arm of government to invest in facilities and physical infrastructure of Parliament to enhance its work and preserve the gains chalked up under our democracy.

    Many Ghanaians may not be aware that most of the facilities currently being used by Parliament are the property of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and managed by the State House.

    It is in this light that we find Parliament struggling to hold on to its lands very disturbing. (See November 21, 2023 issue of the Daily Graphic).  

    The Abtvgh, therefore, calls on the government to take the requisite steps to support Parliament to secure permanent structures to enhance its work in promoting good governance.

     This is critical because we believe Parliament can respond better to issues of accountability, play its oversight role effectively, make good laws and attend to its other functions.

    Since assuming office as the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Bagbin has introduced some new changes in the administrative set-up of Parliament to make the legislative arm serve the people better.

    Reference can be made to the breaking down of its Public Affairs Department into three — media relations, public engagement and television; the Department on Citizens Bureau to engage the public, CSOs and think thanks, among other innovations.

    It is worthy of mention that the new Standing Orders which are in the works will soon be introduced.

     In view of the demands placed on Parliament and the weight of responsibility imposed on it, it is imperative that the House gets bigger and well-equipped committee rooms because the sittings will be open to the public and the media.

    At least the current hung Parliament has proved to some extent that if we empower our Parliament, the era of rushing bills through Parliament or approval of loan agreements will be a thing of the past.

    The current Parliament has also demonstrated its deliberative function where issues of national importance and public concerns have come to the floor for discussion and action.

    The Daily Abtvgh is of the view that ensuring that the institution of Parliament and the parliamentarians are well resourced not only in the House, but in the constituencies, would enhance their work collectively.

    In the constituencies, for instance, an official office for the parliamentarian will facilitate his or her work as constituents would have easy access to him or her.

    The Abtvgh urges all those who believe in and support democratic governance to heed the plea of the Speaker and support the provision of these facilities, especially the constituency offices.

     That will certainly serve as an avenue for more engagement with the constituents and foster transparency and accountable governance.

    After over three decades of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy, we must contribute to making the constituents benefit from the work of Parliament not only during electioneering, but at all times.

    We cannot reduce the relationship between MPs and the constituents to doling out of gifts or cash for votes; it must be one of collaboration to address national challenges.

  • Let’s make herbal medicine safe for consumption

    Abtvgh / FDA /

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 70 per cent patients in Ghana use herbal medicine, saying there are significantly higher number of patients seeking traditional remedies compared with conventional treatment.

    Studies published in 2022 show that about 60 to 70 per cent of the Ghanaian population depend on traditional medicine, largely herbal medicine for their primary healthcare needs in the management of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

    Evidence for the effectiveness of herbal medicines is generally very limited. Although some people find them helpful, in many cases their use tends to be based on traditional use rather than scientific research.

    However, the abuse of herbal preparations is also resulting in a high prevalence of kidney and liver diseases, particularly among the youth.

    Herbal medicines are advertised to be free from side effects, which, according to health experts, is a myth. A large number of people still rely on herbal medicines, and some people take herbal medicines along with routine allopathic medicines, especially in cases of diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, where the patient is on long-term or lifelong treatment. 

    Also, because of the influence of religion and greater level of spiritual consciousness, many individuals tend to be increasingly disposed to accepting therapeutic value of a treatment based on faith or intuition rather than scientific reasoning.

    There are many sub-standard herbal products available in the market. The reason is that these products are not tested, accordingly, for quality before marketing. Some contain less amount of active ingredient and some do not contain active ingredient at all as a result of incorrect identification of plant by the collector, using adulterant instead of original plant or due to improper storage of plant material, and it loses its efficacy. 

    Sometimes, the herbal products contain material not defined on label such as non-herb material, minerals, heavy metals, and addition of particular pharmaceutical product.

    Occasionally, they may contain toxins and pesticides, which is much more dangerous and one of the major reasons of toxic effects after herbal medicine intake.

    In the Saturday, November 18, 2023 issue of the Daily Graphic,  the Head of Research and Innovation at the Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), Dr Kofi Donkor, cautioned the general public that herbal medicines, like any other forms of medicines, were potential poison.

    According to him, safety depended on whether they had been approved, and then being taken according to the recommended dosage. 

    It said although some herbal medicines had promising potential and were widely used, many of them remained untested and their use also not monitored, making knowledge of their potential adverse effects very limited.

    The Abtvgh is calling on the populace to tread cautiously in their use of traditional medicine as most of the formulations available are not regulated or studied in the same way as prescription medications and that although there have been studies done to evaluate the claimed benefits of some herbs, most remain unproven.

    It is time the health authorities explored how the use of quality-assured traditional medicine can make it easier to provide health care, especially in remote rural areas where conventional healthcare systems are limited. 

    The paper ascribes to the WHO belief that quality-assured traditional medicine can benefit a large portion of the population as it is the main or even the only source of health care for around 80 per cent of people in Africa.

    Also, we caution people against combining herbal therapy with prescription medications as it could increase the potential for interactions and side effects.

    The Food and Drugs Authority and the Ministry of Health must ensure that the activities of all herbal product producers are regulated to prevent needless deaths among the populace.

    We further call for enhanced education and monitoring to ensure that effective herbal products are used.

  • Plastics are swallowing us

    Abtvgh / GNPAP

    Consumption patterns and current changing economic structures all over the world have led to a sharp increase in the use of plastic and the subsequent generation of waste.

    Indeed, the durable nature of plastic and the many uses it can be put to have led to its increased use over the years.

    Apart from these qualities, plastic is versatile, flexible, light, strong and relatively less expensive.

    These features have led to the level where some schools of thought even assert that there is over-consumption of plastic goods across the globe, and that something drastic must be done to halt the situation.

    Those with such opinions cannot be blamed, and their views can also not be discounted.

    But the slow pace at which plastic degrades, coupled with the challenges with its disposal, littering and its attendant pollution of the environment, has brought the use of plastic into question.

    In Ghana, data suggest that most products are packaged in polyethylene bags, which form about 70 per cent of municipal waste.

    Also, over 10,000 metric tons of finished plastic products are imported into the country annually.

    It is also said that Ghana’s population of more than 30 million people generate over 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste across the country daily.

    The fact that plastic bags take between 10 and 1,000 years to decompose, while plastic bottles can take 450 years or more, should send shivers down the spines of environmentalists and well-meaning citizens.

    This fact is critical, viewed against the backdrop that researchers have issued warnings that the impact of plastic on the soil, sediments and freshwater could have a long-term negative impact on such ecosystems, and that the threat is bigger on plants, animals and humans.

    Currently, almost all of the plastic waste flow into the ocean.

    By 2050, there could even be more plastic in the sea by weight than fish.

    Not so long ago, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority expressed worry that plastic pollution of the sea posed safety challenges for vessels.

    The massive heaps of plastic waste, made up of empty bottles, grocery bags, among others, strewn along the beaches are a very disturbing sight.

    In spite of these, we note the role plastic has played in our development as a country.

    One cannot imagine where the huge masses engaged in the plastic value chain would have found employment.

    Certainly, the plastic industry has contributed to solving part of our unemployment problem.

    The plastic menace has thus become a mixed bag for us as a country.

    As we brood over the complexities of plastic waste generation, stakeholders at a roundtable on addressing plastic waste have reiterated the need to sensitize the public and create awareness of plastic pollution.

    They argued that plastic was not evil, as claimed, but rather their poor disposal made it harmful to the environment.

    The stakeholders said there was the need for behavioural change to create a positive impact on the disposal of plastic waste.

    The Daily Graphic recalls the launch of the Ghana National Plastic Partnership Action Plan that was to be the game-changer in the management of plastic in the country.

    We have also had hints from the Environmental Protection Agency of a possible ban on single-use plastics.

    But these seem not to have been implemented effectively because of the adverse effects they will have on employment and the economy in general.

    It is for this reason that we urge the ministries, departments and agencies responsible to consider the proposal by the stakeholders and see how best such ideas could be incorporated into the national plan to create a balance between fighting the plastic waste menace and safeguarding the welfare of the people without necessarily destroying the livelihood of the masses engaged in the sector.

    This will create a win-win situation not only for the players in the industry, but for the general health of the national economy.

  • Govt trains 19,000 apprentices, craft persons – CTVET

    Govt trains 19,000 apprentices, craft persons – CTVET

    The Government, through the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), has trained more than 19,000 master craft persons and apprentices since 2018 under the Ghana TVET Voucher Project (GTVP). 

    Out of the number, 13,883 persons representing 73 percent are females, whiles 5,179 trainees signifying 27 percent, are males. 

    Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director General of CTVET, made the disclosure when officials of the Commission visited the Dabokpa Technical Institute in the Northern region, one of the beneficiary institutions of the project.  

     The GTVP is a project under the Ghanaian-German Financial Development Cooperation, co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank and the Government of Ghana. 

    The Commission for Technical Vocational Education and Training is the implementing agency. 

    GTVP offers demand-driven training vouchers to CTVET-registered master craft persons, their apprentices and workers.  

    The vouchers are used to fund competency-based training (CBT) courses in CTVET–accredited training institutions for certification in National Proficiency Levels I and II and Certificate I and II respectively. 

    Mr Albert Opare, Head of Corporate Affairs for CTVET, interacting with the media, also explained that beneficiaries of the scheme would receive training in skills areas such as, automotive repairs, cosmetology, garment, welding, consumer electronics, plumbing, electrical installation, block laying and furniture making. 

    He said the government had secured additional funding of $60 million dollars from the World Bank and $40 million Euros from the German Government through KFW Bank to expand the project by training at least 50,000 more beneficiaries over the next five years.  

    He said in addition to the training provided, the GTVP project had had a very positive impact on the TVET system in Ghana, key among them being the numerous training institutions, which had been encouraged through the project to register with CTVET and achieve official accreditation for CBT implementation.  

    Mr Opare also said the scheme had resulted in trade associations and informal sector training providers being encouraged to register with CTVET.   

    He said through the project, Ghana had witnessed the CBT approach being implemented on a big scale for a large number of Ghanaian youths as well as the modernisation of traditional apprenticeship system in Ghana through the implementation of the project.  

    It had also strengthened CTVET as the regulatory body for TVET in Ghana. 

  • Purging public projects of commission agents

    Abtvgh / purc

    Like many African countries, Ghana faces an overwhelming infrastructural deficit that requires massive investment every year to clear.

    While access to funding remains a challenge, the quality of the projects executed with available funds has been an issue of concern for decades. 

    The Auditor-General’s report has become an annual book of lamentations on how public funds are siphoned through inflated contracts, diversion of project funds, shoddy work, among others.

    As a result, critical growth poles such as water, food, education, transport, health and trade facilitation remain underfunded, leading to a drag on national development. 

    Given the importance of the value for money question on public projects and investment in general, the need for sustainable solutions cannot be underestimated. 

    While many solutions have been proposed to deal with the canker, not much attention has been paid to the impact that commission agents and project promoters have on the cost and quality of public infrastructure across the country.

    For industrialist and Founder of the Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited (TCCL), Tony Oteng-Gyasi, it is an issue of grave concern.

    Delivering a lecture at the University of Ghana’s 2023 Alumni Lecture in Accra on Tuesday, the Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) said that system undermined the competitiveness needed to enhance quality and value for money in the delivery of public projects and infrastructure in particular.

    Consequently, the former Chairman of the University of Ghana Council said such projects should be devoid of promoters and instead be open to international competitive bidding.

    He also advocated the best national teams, made up of seasoned public servants, and aided by salaried consultants to negotiate the best terms for the nation. 

    Abtvgh’s intellectually stimulating lecture also touched on the role of the Bretton Woods institutions in national development, economic development and policy formulations, public sector procurement, rent seeking and natural resource endowment and their exploitations.

    On the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the experienced entrepreneur said the lack of discipline to follow and implement policy recommendations made it difficult for Ghana and other African countries to progress under their watch. 

    He said the general refrain in Ghana that “no country has developed under the watch of the IMF and World Bank” was “patently false”, referencing the economies of China and other so-called Asian Tigers as having first triumphed under the watch of the two international financial institutions.

    For us at the Abtvgh, was spot on in drawing the nation’s attention to two critical issues that have not received the desired attention.

    As a nation with limited resources and thus relying largely on borrowed funds to develop, one would have expected that prudence and national interest would be prioritised over personal interest in the formulation and execution of national projects.

    Sadly, however, various private interests have often competed against the national good in the allocation of resources, resulting in poor projects at exorbitant amounts.

    As Mr Abtvgh said, there was no need having commission agents and promoters for national projects that could be conceived and handled by salaried consultants and the public service.

    We, therefore, join the statesman in demanding an end to commission and project promoters to give state institutions the free will to conceive, package and execute projects.

    With an IMF programme underway, we also ask the government to pay adequate attention to policy recommendations and discipline itself to implement them.

    We will be better off as a country if we discipline ourselves and take the necessary policy prescriptions for the economy to thrive rather than taking them piecemeal and prolonging our development.

  • Traffic congestion in Accra: A wake-up call for sustainable transportation solutions

    Traffic congestion in Accra: A wake-up call for sustainable transportation solutions


    Accra, the vibrant capital city of Ghana, is renowned for its lively markets, cultural diversity, and booming economy. However, alongside these positive attributes comes a growing challenge that is hard to ignore – traffic congestion.

    As the city’s population expands rapidly, its infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. It is imperative to delve into the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to tackle this pressing issue.

    The causes

    One of the primary drivers of traffic congestion in Accra is the explosive growth of motor vehicles without a corresponding expansion of road infrastructure.

    The burgeoning middle class’s increased purchasing power has led to a surge in car ownership, resulting in an overwhelming number of vehicles on the roads.

    Additionally, the rapid urbanization of areas has created a higher demand for transportation services, further straining the existing infrastructure. Moreover, inadequate and substandard public transportation systems have left many citizens with no alternative but to rely on private vehicles due to limited reach, reliability, efficiency, and quality.

    A lack of investment in mass transit systems, such as buses and trains, exacerbates congestion levels.

    Inefficient traffic flow management, traffic law violations, and inadequate road maintenance play a significant role in worsening traffic congestion.

    The lack of sufficient traffic police presence and enforcement of traffic regulations has led to widespread disregard for traffic rules, causing chaos and gridlock at major intersections like the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Junction on the Legon-Madina Road.

    The consequences

    The consequences of traffic congestion in Accra ripple across various aspects of daily life.

    Economically, the significant time wasted in traffic translates to substantial productivity losses.

    Companies face delays in the delivery of goods and services, and employees arriving late to work threaten profitability, hindering economic development.

    Furthermore, traffic congestion negatively impacts the well-being of individuals and the environment.

    Longer commuting times and exposure to pollution harm the physical and mental health of citizens.

    Excessive emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants from exhaust fumes contribute to climate change and air pollution, further worsening overall environmental degradation.

    This poses a threat to Ghana’s progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

    The solutions and the way forward

    Addressing traffic congestion in Accra necessitates a multifaceted approach that focuses on improving both road infrastructure and public transportation services while promoting sustainable alternatives.

    Investment in expanding and upgrading road networks by the government is vital.

    The construction of new lanes, overpasses, and flyovers can increase road capacity and alleviate bottlenecks.

    Furthermore, maintaining and repairing existing roads is essential to ensure smoother traffic flow.

    Prioritizing the development of an effective and reliable public transportation system is imperative.

    Investing in the expansion of bus networks, implementing dedicated bus lanes, and integrating different modes of public transport, such as buses and trains, can encourage citizens to shift away from private vehicles.

    Additionally, introducing incentives for carpooling schemes or establishing carpooling lanes can help alleviate congestion and reduce individual vehicle usage.

    Encouraging the use of bicycles and non-motorized transport options through the creation of dedicated lanes and safe infrastructure contributes to a greener and more sustainable transport system.

    Lastly, to enforce traffic regulations effectively, improving traffic management and police presence is crucial.

    Raising awareness about the consequences of traffic violations, reducing corruption within law enforcement agencies, and implementing strict penalties for traffic offenders are essential steps towards restoring order on the roads.

    The issue of traffic congestion in Accra demands urgent attention and collective efforts from both the government and citizens.

    By investing in sustainable transportation solutions, including improving road infrastructure and public transportation systems, Accra can move towards a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and less congested city.

    With these measures, Accra’s residents can look forward to a future where traffic congestion becomes a distant memory, improving their quality of life and fostering economic growth.

    The writer is a student pursuing MSc Urban Studies, University of Ghana – Centre for Urban Management Studies

  • Ghana’s first manganese refinery project welcome news

    Abtvgh / GMC

    It is refreshing that after many decades of exporting raw manganese, the Ghana Manganese Company Ltd (GMC) has announced its decision to construct the country’s first bauxite refinery in the next twelve months.

    The story, which was published in the Tuesday, October 31, issue of the Daily Graphic, indicated that the $450-million refinery would be located at Nsuta in the Western Region.

    The paper added that the project was being undertaken by the GMC in collaboration with its majority shareholder, Tanyun Manganese Industry Group (TMI), a Chinese company.

    The Vice-President of TMI, Xu Libin, was quoted as saying that feasibility studies had been completed, paving the way for the first phase of the refinery project to commence before the end of the year.

    Mr Libin made the decision known when the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, held bilateral talks with some Chinese companies with investments in Ghana’s mining industry at the 25th China Mining Conference held from October 26 to 29.

    The Abtvgh understands that the decision to set up the refinery is to add value to manganese instead of exporting it in its raw form as the practice has been over the decades.

    As per the financial projections, the refinery will generate an average annual sales revenue of about $1.3 billion, excluding tax, and an annual pre-tax income of $174.4 million. Potentially, it will create 360 new jobs for 330 production workers and 30 technical and management personnel.

    Even more, the overarching goal of the refinery is to add value to the manganese value chain and make it more beneficial to the local economy.

    The Abtvgh sees the decision by GMC and its collaborator to set up a manganese refinery at its concession area as a step in the right direction.

    Apart from aligning with the government’s policy of adding value to the country’s green minerals, the decision to set up the manganese refinery will be a major boost to the local economy as it would contribute to job creation.

    In an era when the world is increasingly moving towards green energy to help tackle the global climate crisis, the setting up of the manganese refinery will be critical to the transition.

    As a green mineral, manganese is used for the production of batteries to power electric vehicles.

    The government has already set a target to develop and build 1,000 charging stations across the country by 2028 as part of the energy transition.

    This is why the manganese refinery will come in handy.

    We at the Abtvgh believe that the setting up of the manganese refinery will invariably add to the number of hens that lay the country’s golden eggs.

    While more jobs will be created, the refinery has the prospects of opening up the host communities for development.

     It will also boost revenue generation for the state.

    It is in the light of the enormous benefits the refinery presents that the Abtvgh commends the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, for pledging the government’s support to the GMC to ensure that the project succeeds.

    We support the minister’s call on other companies in the mining sector to emulate GMC’s example by prioritizing value addition.

    The Abtvgh further commends the government for developing the green minerals policy to promote value addition and ensure that the country obtains improved value for mineral resources.

    To give real meaning to this policy, we urge the government to create an enabling environment that would motivate private investment in refineries and other value chain projects.

    We also call on the chiefs and people of host communities to collaborate with mining companies desirous of setting up refineries in their area.

    The best way to maximise the potential of our mining industry is to add value to the raw products that are exploited so that we can reap the multiplier effect.

    In this regard, we call on all stakeholders to support initiatives that are targeted at value addition in the mining value chain because that is the best way we can retain a substantial amount of the value of our minerals.

    We cannot continue to receive peanuts for our valuable minerals.

    Let us make the best of it for posterity. 

  • Integrated Hydro-Informatics: Lower Volta Flood Plain disaster management

    Abtvgh /VRA

    This article is situated within the context of the flooding that began on October 9, 2023, which is associated with Volta River Authority’s (VRA) standard operations of spilling excess water to safeguard the integrity of the Akosombo and Kpong Hydropower dams.

    On Wednesday October 5, 2022, hundreds of houses were reported submerged at Oblogo, Tetegu, New Weija, SCC, Tatop, Sampa valley, parts of Top Town and American Farm at Ngleshie Amanfro following the opening of the Spill gates of the Weija Dam by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), which caused the destruction of vehicles, home appliances and personal effects running into millions of Ghana cedis.

    A year on, in October 9, 2023 an even stronger flooding was reported at downstream communities specifically, South, Central and North Tongu, Shai Osudoku, Anlo, Ada East and Asuogyaman after the double-stage spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Hydropower facilities by the VRA, which effect on life and property is not dissimilar from the GWCL spillage in 2022.

    In order to strengthen infrastructure monitoring for flood risk reduction in the face of changing global environment associated with climate variability, a three-step solution is recommended. 

    One, strengthened collaboration between the Water Resources Commission (WRC), the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET) and the Hydrological Services Authority (HSA) to build an Integrated Hydro Informatics Management System (IHIMS) on future Climate Scenario Models and System Dynamics for qualitative and quantitative monitoring and data analysis. 

    This requires a basin-wide installation of stream gauge networks and sensors.

    Then two (2), data exchange between upstream Riparian regions and their activities on the system, then three (3), granting water infrastructure institutions system access. 

    A Flood Early Warning System could be a sub-component within the larger IHIMS.

    This will strengthen our flood emergency preparedness through the collection of quality data, analysis and forecasts to minimise the scale of damage going forward.

    We hope the floods will go away, but experience has shown that it is here to stay.

    So, we need to strengthen our adaptability for an improved disaster management.

     Mark Benyah,

    Water Resources Development and Management Consultant.

  • Cocoa rehabilitation initiative commendable

    Abtvgh / COCOBOD / CSSV

    Cocoa production is at the core of the country’s economic growth and development, and so the rehabilitation of cocoa farms is essential in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector.

    The cocoa sector is. however, under serious threat due to climate change, diseases, moribund farms, overage tree stocks, an ageing farmer population, an acute labour shortage and other factors.

    This has resulted in the dwindling productivity of the cocoa sub-sector, although deforestation for cocoa farmland expansion poses significant long-term risks to ecosystem stability and environmental conservation.

    In spite of the growing global demand for chocolate, cocoa farmers see lower incomes due to poor agricultural techniques, lack of investment and a reduced productivity of their lands.

    Cocoa replanting and rehabilitation efforts are therefore crucial to the sustainable production of the crop along the trail to redefine a paradigm shift from extensive to an intensive production system.

    From the sustainability point of view, intensive cocoa production will reduce pressure on deforestation and facilitate the speedy restoration of some degraded farmlands.

    That is why the Abtvgh welcomes the cocoa rehabilitation programme to increase the country’s production of cocoa which currently stands around 800,000 tonnes per annum to an estimated 1.5 million tonnes in the next five years.

    Currently, it is estimated that Ghana has more than 2.5 million hectares of cocoa areas of which about 1.45 million hectares are considered to be productive areas.

    There are a number of diseases that affect the cocoa pod, but the most common disease in West Africa – where about three-quarters of the world’s cocoa is produced – is the Cacao Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV).

    Abtvgh, therefore, commends the government for the large-scale rehabilitation of cocoa farms affected by the swollen shoot disease to reverse the declining cocoa production in the country.

    For the cocoa farmers, what they require most are short-and long-term financial assistance and technical help to enforce the required farm improvements.  

    We are happy to note that, so far, most of the rehabilitated farms are producing high yields, according to the Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahene Aidoo

    It is our hope that COCOBOD schemes and programmes that seek to train farmers to produce cocoa that conform to global demands and standards, to increase production and income, would be strictly enforced as well as broadened to cater for practical field training and periodic supervision to help farmers gain the requisite knowledge and experience in proper farm management.

    We again urge the government to take a second look at the country’s inputs supply structure and restructure it to meet the pressing demands and needs of the farmers.

    For instance, the fact that inputs are not readily available in local stores, even when the farmers can afford them, is an indication of an ineffective inputs supply structure.

    Lastly, the government should recognize the role of women in the various stages of cocoa production and introduce policies that will attract more women into the sector, and also provide financial assistance to make cocoa farming attractive to the youth as a measure to tackle high rural unemployment, increase annual yields and foreign exchange revenues, reduce rural-urban migration and help alleviate rural poverty.