The over 50,000-acre parcel of land located along the Kparigu-Nasia stretched of road was allocated by the Nayiri, His Royal Majesty, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, the king of Mamprugu to the Moshie Community of Ghana, for the establishment of their settlement.

In an address before the sod-cutting, Mr. Yidana empathized that the Moshie, Mamprusi, Dagombas and Nanumbas share a close consanguinity, considering the fact that they all trace their ancestral roots to a common ancestor, the great Naa Gbewaa.

He stated that the decision for the Moshies to have an established settlement within the Mamprugu Kingdom, was a step in the right direction describing it as a journey back home. This according to him would further concretize their long existing strong blood ties, and promote their common interests and progress.

The Regional Minister said as People of the same ancestral stalk, they should extend their prayers, support and good will to the Vice President at this crucial moment that Mamprugu has been opportuned to produce a President for the Republic of Ghana.

He wished them a fulfilled and an accomplished stay in Mamprugu as they started to exploit their root.

Source – gbcuraonline.com

On July 24-26 2024, Mr. Rufus N. Darkortey, an Executive Director at the African Development Bank for the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan constituency embarked on a three -day Mission to Ghana to discuss issues around the Bank Group portfolio in the country including future priority areas and also, follow up actions needed to actualize existing priority areas of government.

The visit came at the back of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Bank in Nairobi and also a Consultation Mission to the Republic of Ghana in July 15th 2024. Mr. Darkortey was received in Accra where he had a consultative engagement with Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam where the various portfolios that the Bank is supporting in Ghana, formed the basis for discussion.

As part of stakeholder consultations, the executive director travelled to Ghana’s Northern region where he was received by project staff of the Savannah Agriculture Value Chain Development Project, SADEP. Mr. Dakortey expressed his excitement to be in Ghana and underscored the importance of Ghana as a valuable member of his constituency within the African Development Bank. He conveyed the gratitude of the Bank’s President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, to the Government and People of Ghana for the level of cooperation to ensure the wholistic development of Africa where there is a focus on food sovereignty, food self-sufficiency, food security, gender and youth vulnerability issues.

Mr. Rufus also enumerated the Bank’s projects in Ghana singling out the enormous work done in the transport sector with transformational projects including the Pokuasi interchange, the terminal three expansion at the Kotoka international airport, and work done in the energy sector.

In a welcome brief, Madam Theresa Fynn, Ag. Project Coordinator of SADEP narrated the design and implementation of the Savannah Zone Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP) which saw the introduction of large-scale commercial agriculture production of maize, soybean and rice. Mrs. Fynn stressed on how the sustained effort by the Bank support through its Feed Africa Strategy, where subsequent projects such as the Savannah Investment Programme (SIP), the GAFSP support to SIP through to the SADEP has been a game changer in achieving outputs set out in the design of these projects. Mr. Abubakar Seidu, TAAT-S project officer in support of Theresa Fynn’s welcome brief, stressed on the need for improvement in future project designs to make use of knowledge materials produced by the Bank as well as increasing funding to be able to bring about meaningful change in Agriculture.

Through the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation in the Savannahs (TAAT-S), 4 commercial farmers, cultivating 87ha of maize and soybean in 2018 grew to a current total of 454 commercial farmers cultivating 4,950ha of soy, 33,050ha of maize making a total of 38000ha under production. These commercial farmers work with over 78,000 smallholder farmers with each having a holding of 3.6 ha. This translates into a contribution of 15.87% increment in the production of Soy, 18.62% increment in the production of Maize, 30.16% increment in the production of Rice culminating in an overall 21.64% contribution to the national production of maize, soy and rice.

These figures, obviously a quantum leap within 7 years of the Bank support to Agriculture in Ghana would excite anyone who is eager to see Africa feed itself. Mr. Rufus was not left out of this excitement and so, together with Mr. Bekale Ollame, Country Program Officer (the officer in Charge in the absence of the Country Manager) and Mr. Felix N. Darimaani, Senior Agric and Natural Resource Management Officer the SADEP team led the mission on a field visit.
Cudjoe Abimash Farms, of one of the pilot Farmers from the inception of AfDB support to large scale commercial Agriculture in Ghana was the chosen field. Alhaji Mashud recounted how as an African, farming came to him naturally. From a humble beginning of only 4 acres, Alhaji Mashud through the support of AfDB designed projects is a full-blown commercial farmer cultivating over a 2,000 ha of maize, soybean and rice.

The Mission team also visited a warehouse complex where commercial agriculture machinery workshop with various machinery were inspected.. In one enclave, one could see poultry, small ruminants, seed demonstration fields for rice and maize, rice processing facilities, blast freezers, among others. According to Alhaji Mashud, “We know we have the potential but did not know how to go about it. But the encouragement from the project, the support, technical backstopping and inspiring challenges we often get from visits like yours, is what drives us to where we are today.” He added, Martin Fregene shared a dream with us which he challenged we achieve in three years. In two years, we are living his dream.”

Mr. Rufus encouraged Alhaji Mashud to do more by adopting modern technology such as the use of drones for monitoring, branding his enterprise, making it attractive and formalizing it so that, he could expand further and open himself for even more direct funding support from the Bank. He commended Alhaji Mashud for such achievement saying “We want to see Africans working away from subsistence to large scale farming. The beauty of your operation will determine whether you are funded or not funded. Whether you can be sustained or not and from what I see, this is a definition of commercial farming”

The Banks Agriculture portfolio in Ghana forms the third largest portfolio with transport leading and governance being second. The performance of the existing Agriculture Projects (SIP, SADEP and the GAFSP additional Financing) are critical to delivering the outcomes set out for the sector.

Mr. Rufus N. Darkotey concluded his visit by meeting and interacting with small holder farmers and encouraged them to adapt best practices and to move from subsistence farming to large scale. In a poignant remark, he said “The development of agribusinesses, value chain addition, transforming what we grow into consumable products that can be traded within the continent to strengthen economies and transform the lives of people is critical. And ensuring that the projects of the AfDB are well designed and implemented to help achieve the goals as earlier indicated is key to collectively ensuring Africa’s development and food security.”

Source – Kobila40@hotmail.com

“As our former president, John Kuffour said some years ago “Corruption is as old as Adam and Eve”

One major factor that have drawn Ghana’s development back in my opinion is CORRUPTION which has eaten deep into the very foundation of our society and it’s a worried now.

Corruption is a bound in all sphere of the society, In the church, market, offices, all around us.

People engage in various forms of corruption and mostly these acts are given little or no attention at all.

However, our focus has always been on the political class due to their vulnerability nature.

But for me, the public and civil servants are the “old kingpins of these corrupt acts “ whom are often left of the hook when issues or discussion surrounding corruption comes up.

In this day and age, we have conveniently narrowed corruption to politicians and government officials.

I must quickly make the point that I am not trying to acquit them as I know there are many politicians and government officials with corruption scandals on their necks.

Basically, I am only seeking to widen the scope of corruption conversation.

In this article, I will be trying to give three reasons why corruption is on the rise in Ghana.

Firstly, the quest to get wealthy fast

In our society today, the wealthy people are the most feared and respected and many have turned them into tin gods and worship them almost on daily basis. This has made even the jobless young ones always looking out for an opportunity to get wealthy fast and also enjoy and earn the respect of the society.

There is nothing wrong to want to live a lavishly lifestyle when you work hard for it but many people now equate using corrupt means to get wealthy within a short time as working smartly.

So, given any little opportunity, they do things to beat a weak system and get the needed money to live the kind of lifestyle they so desired.

The mindset of getting wealth fast in life without working hard for it, is the reason for certain corrupt acts by people especially the youth.

Secondly, System failure

Yes, there are many laws and regulations against corruption activities in the country, many law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption agencies, the media and other civil society organization talks and drummed home the fight against corruption.

Yet, there are still lots of corruption activities in the country. I personally, believes the enforcement and implementation of those laws are a serious challenge to us as a country.

Also the bureaucracy in most of the public sector institutions also provides breeding ground for corruption. We lose a lot of money through the public sector bureaucracy acts as a friend recently mentioned to me in a conversation that “he had no option than to bribed a public servant due to how long and complex the process was for him to get what he wanted from that particular office”. This makes people to lose trust in our public institutions.

These monies lost through various acts of corruption activities could have been use to improve our educational or health sector.

And people that usual want to voiced out these concerns are seemed as either fools or enemies to the one benefiting from the weak system.

The other issue that is allowing corruption through our systems failures is the lack transparency and low pay as these officials either thinks whatever they are doing, eyes are not monitoring them and they need more money than their pay can give them.

And even though, many of our anti-corruption institutions are not sufficiently resources which can also limit their effectiveness fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, the country continues to lose billions of cedi’s through these corrupt acts.

Monies lost through corruption could have been used to do something significantly for the country.

The third and finally reason in my opinion why it’s difficult to win the fight against corruption in Ghana is the huge expectation we place on our leaders.

It is very common, in this part of our world that once a family member becomes a boss or breakthrough financially, members of the family put a lot of pressure on them to help them also established themselves.

This is something that have pushed many leaders or Senior office holders to go beyond the what the law requires to please those putting the pressure on them in order to be seen as good leaders.

An example is when you become the Inspector General of Police, family relatives, friends and all manner of people will expect that you admit them into the police service whether they have the qualification or not. If you are not able to employ them, you are seen as a wicked person

The few that have been able to stand their ground and insist on following the right process are often seen as wicked or bad family members who does not care about their family successes.

It is common knowledge that many citizens makes a lot of outrageous demands from those in leadership positions especially the political class and as Chenua Achebe opined in his book No longer at Ease “A corrupt government can only remain in power if its citizens remain complicit.”

A few suggestions on how to tackle corruption

A comprehensive approach, involving all stakeholders like, government, civil society organization, media, anti-corruption agencies and citizens.

Its about time to begin to think a strategic plan, long term, to deal with the canker that has eaten deep into the fiber of our society.

A government that intend to fight corruption and win must strengthen its anti-corruption agencies like EOCO, CHRAJ, The Police, etc resource them well and allow them the political will power to prosecute anyone no matter the person position in the society, by so doing, it will serve as a serious warming to anyone intending to do any corrupt act.

Again, our public institutions must promote transparency and be steadfast in their dealing with the citizens and enhance accountability whiles also educating them about their rights and responsibilities this will enable them to know what services to pay money for and what not to pay.

Furthermore, the society must begin to reduce the pressure they put on leaders and lower their expectations of them. This will allow them the freedom to work for the betterment of the entire society and the country and large.

Finally, our educational system must prioritize character training alongside skills and knowledge as an educated person should not only possess qualification, knowledge and skills but a good character. A character that is built on values, morality, principles and ethical standards.

This will make our young ones begin to appreciate that life is more than ugly gotten wealth.

Feature written by Abagna Jose Nelson

GBC URA Radio.

Source – gbcuraonline.com

The Director said yet we must acknowledge that our democracy is not without challenges, as we faced with persistent inequalities, intimidations, social injustice which are a threat to our democratic institutions which demands that we confront these challenges head-on. Madam Alice Ellen Abeere-Inga, mentioned a few interventions her directorate has carried out to help improve education performance in the Municipality which includes organizing reading festivals, quizzes and debates, providing the necessary support for truant and drunk teachers, mock exams for the final year students of BECE, regular monitoring and supervision of schools and maiden teachers prize and all these culminated to 2022 and 2023 all the presidential awardees from upper east region coming from the Kasena Nankana Municipality .

In spite of all these achievements, according to her, most of the schools are not having means of transport and accommodation, inadequate furniture and funds for maintenance, monitoring and supervision, land encroachment and overall declining BECE results. Notwithstanding, on behalf of the directorate, she expressed her gratitude to those who are supporting them in diverse ways especially the Navro-Pio, Nabiina and Pio Radios, the MCE, Joseph Adongo, Ali motors, Dr. Julius Awine, DIZEMTAABA group, NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Navrongo central, Alhaji Abdallah Achuliwor Otito and the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Navrongo central, Simon Akibange Aworigo and all parents and their wards and appealed for more support to do more.

The Kasena Nankana municipal Chief executive, Honorable Joseph Adongo on his part said, the independence day celebration is a reflection of our journey as a nation and the vision of free Ghana is built on the principles of demanding justice and rule of law adding that democracy is not just system of governance but it’s essence of who we are as a people and the embodiment of our aspirations or struggles of our collective vision for a betterment of Ghana. The MCE said on this independence day, we should reaffirm our commitment to upholding the principle of democracy, justice and unity and pledge to safeguard the rights and freedom of citizenship to promote dialogue, understanding and to build bridges of trust and corporation across communities especially this election year. Awards were given to deserved awardees after splendid displayed of match pass by students, identifiable groups and political parties.

Story by: Mr. Raymond B. Wegwi

Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), says Ghana’s current economic challenges are self-inflicted by the ruling New Patriotic Party.

According to him, when the NPP government took over power in 2017, it borrowed over 13 Billion Dollars within seven years with no work to show for it.

He said the amount could put asphalt overlay on the main highway from Tamale to Paga.

Mr Mahama said these when he interacted with members of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs in Bolgatanga.

He said the borrowing attitude of the NPP government had brought untold hardship on Ghanaians adding that the high taxes imposed on the Ghanaian tax payer made life unbearable.

He therefore disclosed plans by an NDC administration to revamp the cotton industry in the North to make it more attractive and create employment opportunities for the youth.

Source – gbcuraonline.com

The Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Joe Anokye, has said that plans are far underway for Ghana to hook on to the 5G wireless data communication for mobile carriers.

“We have made sure that the spectrum required for five 5G is available, there are few policies that must be made as to exactly how spectrum will be made available.”

It is very complicated, because of the way the market is, we don’t want to proceed and only one entity will have the capability of acquiring the 5G”, he told participants at the 12th R.P Baffour memorial lectures organized by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

His topic was “KNUST, a history of remarkable growth in science and technology education, resilience and adaptability in the digital space.”

Mr Anokye in an answer to a question as to when Ghana would be connected to the 5G services however, stated that, it was important for the NCA to beef up local internet services for majority of the people to access the 5G services.

“We have to make sure Wi-Fi services at various places where people meet are provided, there is a fibre optic connection to central point to make your 5G come”, he stated.

He currently said all internet traffic in Ghana pass through the submarine cable landing, with 5.9 terabytes in total, but were very complicated.

“Every now and then a submarine cable will go down and when it does, it takes time. You have to send a ship in.

So, one of the things NCA is doing is to license additional submarine providers to help address these anomalies,” he said.

Touching on the KNUST technology infrastructure and communication evolution as well as the University in the liberalization era, he commended the institution for its resolve in advancing and catching up in technology advancement.

He pointed out that back in the early 1990’s before the era of liberalization, the KNUST faced numerous challenges in communication, and academically, struggle with outdated teaching materials, among others.

“The journey of KNUST over the past seven decades stands a testament to what vision, dedication, resilience, and corroborative spirit can achieve.

From its foundational years to alumni and success stories, the University had remained a beacon of knowledge in Ghana’s educational landscape,” he stated.

Mr Anokye said the age dominated by disruptive technologies, the role of educational institutions, particularly those with the legacy was increasingly critical.

According to him, Technology was reshaping the way people thought, worked, and created, adding that, while these changes had brought opportunities, they also presented formidable challenges.

credit: GNA