The Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, has lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s contributions to Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure.
In a Facebook put up on Tuesday, twenty sixth November, Mr. Ofosu Nkansah highlighted that President Akufo-Addo has constructed over 200 hospitals throughout his tenure, a feat he described as unprecedented within the nation’s historical past.
According to him, this file makes President Akufo-Addo the Ghanaian chief to have constructed essentially the most hospitals, underscoring his dedication to enhancing entry to high quality healthcare throughout the nation.
Mr. Ofosu Nkansah’s remarks have been meant to attract consideration to the numerous strides made within the well being sector underneath President Akufo-Addo’s administration, solidifying his legacy as a frontrunner dedicated to nationwide improvement.
“President Akufo-Addo has built over 200 Hospitals. Over 60 completed so far. He holds the record as the President to have built most Hospitals. Yesterday, he commissioned four (4) hospitals at a go in the Ashanti Region.”
“They are; Sabronum Government Hospital, Sekyere Afram Plains District Hospital, Suame Municipal Hospital and Twedie Government Hospital.”
A number one member of the National Democratic Congress, Kwame Awuah-Darko has stated that with a specific emphasis on rice farming, a key pillar of their 2024 manifesto, over 200,000 sustainable jobs shall be created whereas decreasing Ghana’s dependency on rice imports.
In an interview with 3news on November 26, he stated utilizing the amount of cash spent on Nation Builders Corps (NABCo) Trainees would have began an enormous rice farm.
Mr Awuah-Darko famous that an quantity of GHC700 was spent on every NABCo trainee as month-to-month allowance. NABCo has since its inception employed 100,000 individuals, making a complete of GHC2.5billion within the final 3 years.
“The same amount invested in rice production would have developed 42000 acres of rice farm,” he defined. He added that “If this was implemented from the start, there would have been more than 200,000 sustainable jobs.”
“The NDC are better managers of the Ghanaian economy due to the party’s consistent track record of investing in the productive side of the economy as against the NPPs track record of wasteful expenditure,” he stated.
Mr Awuah-Darko who doubles as a farmer, additional said that the celebration plans to realize this by increasing Irrigation Systems, thus scaling up irrigation schemes in rice-producing areas just like the Northern, Volta, and Ashanti areas
He indicated that the NDC goals to extend rice yields and scale back the dangers related to rain-fed agriculture.
“Investments in modern farming equipment and technologies will improve productivity and efficiency, allowing farmers to cultivate rice on a larger scale, Affordable loans and subsidies for inputs like seeds and fertilizers will enable smallholder farmers to expand operations and establish rice mills and packaging facilities will ensure that locally produced rice meets international standards, boosting domestic sales and exports,” he said.
Synergy with the 24-Hour Economy Initiative
The NDC’s manifesto additionally outlines plans to introduce a 24-hour financial system, designed to maximise productiveness throughout numerous sectors, together with agriculture.
This initiative will complement the agricultural funding technique by: • Extending processing and manufacturing operations for agricultural produce to function around the clock. • Establishing logistics hubs to make sure the seamless distribution of farm produce nationwide. • Creating evening markets in city and peri-urban areas to spice up commerce and scale back post-harvest losses. • Enhancing rural electrification to help agro-industrial actions.
“The 24-hour economy initiative ensures that agriculture doesn’t end with farming. It creates room for processing, packaging, and marketing to operate without downtime, creating jobs throughout the supply chain,” he defined.
The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) a framework of the African Union operationalised by the African Union Development Agency NEPAD (AUDA NEPAD), has initiated a variety of infrastructure tasks throughout international locations in Africa and people tasks have created direct and oblique jobs.
Speaking on the opening of the PIDA Week 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tuesday November 26, 2024, the CEO of AUDA NEPAD, Nardos Bekele-Thomas stated programmes initiated by PIDA have created 160,000 direct and oblique jobs.
Citing the PIDA 10-Year Implementation Report, she stated, over 30 million individuals have gained entry to electrical energy.
She additionally indicated that highway and rail infrastructure have been enhanced, and that has modestly elevated intra-African commerce, now accounting for 16% of complete commerce.
“In the water sector, essential storage infrastructure helps agriculture and commerce, whereas broadband penetration has surpassed expectations, reaching over 25% and accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
During challenge building and operation, PIDA initiatives have created over 160,000 direct and oblique jobs, underscoring their affect on employment and livelihoods. These successes mirror the tangible advantages of PIDA’s efforts but in addition underscore the continued challenges we should deal with,” she stated.
She added that, since its inception in 2015, PIDA Week has change into a premier platform for infrastructure improvement on the continent.
“Organized jointly by the African Union, AUDA NEPAD, the African Development Bank, and UNECA, it serves as a vital space to evaluate progress, tackle challenges, and forge strategic partnerships. This year’s theme, ‘Fostering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure for Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Leveraging Transformative Financing and Regional Integration,’ reflects our commitment to addressing Africa’s pressing infrastructure needs,” she stated.
She added that constructing upon the momentum of the 2022 Dakar Financing Summit and the 2023 launch of the PIDA First 10-Year Implementation Report in Nairobi, the assembly in Addis Ababa is to deliberate on options that can reshape the infrastructure panorama and advance the collective imaginative and prescient for the continent.
Amani Abou-Zeid, the AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy stated PIDA as a continental initiative spanning till 2040 and considered enabler of the AU Agenda 2063, goals to deal with infrastructure deficits throughout the continent.
“The Second Priority Plan of PIDA (PIDA PAP 2) leverages on an integrated corridor approach to maximise efficiency and synergy in crossborder infrastructure planning and construction, by fostering strategic collaboration among Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and African Union Member States, PIDA has been crucial in creating a framework that drives infrastructure development across Africa. A range of projects have been successfully implemented, enhancing road networks, boosting power generation and transmission, developing water supply systems, and expanding digital infrastructure,” she stated.
She identified that via PIDA tasks, practically 30 million individuals in Africa have gained entry to electrical energy, bringing the continent’s general electrical energy entry fee to roughly 44%.
“Since the start of PIDA, more than 16,000 kilometers of roads and 4,000 kilometers of railway lines have been developed across the continent. PIDA has also played a significant role in Africa’s digital transformation, with the augmenting number of countries achieving digital connectivity via optical fiber cables, exceeding the original goals,” she stated.
Ms Abou-Zeid famous that solely 3% of PIDA challenge funding has been sourced from the non-public sector, in comparison with 16-19% in different areas, which is a trigger for concern.
“It is crucial that we examine the underlying reasons for this gap and explore potential solutions to boost private sector participation moving forward. It is important to deploy all the efforts required to mobilise further public resources,” she stated, and reiterated that the AU Commission has been advocating for infrastructure financing to be and stay a political precedence of the governments.
“Committing the relevant national budgets and offering credit guarantees to attract private capital are essential for the development of infrastructure priority projects across the continent,” she added.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Dr CLaver Gatete stated the theme of the occasion “Fostering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure for Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Leveraging Transformative Financing and Regional Integration” is related and well timed, and aligns effectively with the United Nations’ drive in direction of sustainable infrastructure improvement.
“In 2023, the General Assembly declared the first ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport to start in 2026 and called for the celebration of the next World Sustainable Transport Day on 26 November 2024 – which, coincidentally, is today. Within the framework of the celebration and as part of PIDA Week, ECA is organizing a session this afternoon that will focus on “digital transformation and the Global Decade on Sustainable Transport”. We are delighted to be the bridge between world and African infrastructure improvement aspirations and invite you all to attend the session,” he stated.
Dr Gatete said that infrastructure endowment (transport, vitality, ICT, and water sources) has a direct affect on the price of residing and doing enterprise in Africa, noting that insufficient infrastructure will increase the continent’s manufacturing and transaction prices, which reduces its competitiveness within the world market.
“Africa’s infrastructure deficit lowers its per capita financial development by 2% a 12 months and reduces the productiveness of its companies by as a lot as 40%. Infrastructure endowment is significant for industrialisation, commerce, and regional integration. That is why ECA has prioritised infrastructure improvement over time, he stated, including that PIDA offers a strategic framework for precedence tasks geared toward reworking Africa via the development of recent infrastructure to strengthen the continent’s competitiveness and integration into the worldwide financial system.
With lower than two weeks to the December 2024 normal elections, a major political shift has occurred within the Wa West constituency of the Upper West Region, as 29 pro-NPP members have defected to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The defectors, who hail from the communities of Maasi, Nyose, Boro, and Dontanga, made their announcement at a mini-rally at Dorimon on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
The rally was attended by the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who welcomed the defectors into the social gathering.
This improvement is seen as a significant increase to the NDC’s probabilities within the Wa West constituency, forward of the upcoming elections.
The defectors cited numerous causes for his or her choice to go away the NPP, expressed confidence within the NDC’s imaginative and prescient for the nation, and pledged to work tirelessly to make sure the social gathering’s victory within the constituency.
This defection is a major improvement within the area’s political panorama, and it stays to be seen the way it will affect the result of the upcoming elections.
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)), Johnson Asiedu Nketia assured them of higher residing circumstances ought to the NDC come to energy.
He charged the NDC within the Wa West constituency to maneuver out of their numbers to canvas help for the NDC and the Member of Parliament for the realm, Peter Lanchene Toobu, describing him as a candidate of substance not just for the realm however the nation.
Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited has introduced the resumption of operations of its 560MW energy plant following an intervention by Finance Minister Mohammed Amin Adam and Energy Minister Herbert Krapa.
The plant, which had been shut down because of monetary constraints, resumed operations on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 3 PM.
In a press launch issued on November 25, the corporate expressed gratitude to the Minister for Finance, Mohammed Amin Adam, and the Minister for Energy, Herbert Krapa, for facilitating the discharge of emergency funds to deal with the plant’s important monetary wants.
Sunon Asogli additionally counseled the Vice President for his intervention in guaranteeing funds.
“We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Minister for Finance, Mohammed Amin Adam, and the Minister for Energy, Herbert Krapa for their intervention, to release emergency funding to address our critical financial need,” the assertion learn.
“We would like to commend H.E. the Vice President, for his intervention in ensuring the payment to us for our return to operation.”
Sunon Asogli revealed that it submitted the ultimate model of its Restructuring Terms Sheet to the Ministry of Finance and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in August 2024.
The firm expects the phrases to be finalized and signed quickly, guaranteeing stability and reliability in Ghana’s vitality sector.
“We are confident that a win-win solution that will ensure the stability and reliability of Ghana’s energy sector will be achieved,” the assertion added.
“We deeply regret the impact of our shutdown,” the corporate apologised within the assertion.
Mr. Michael Kwame Boadi, the Fundraising Manager at Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has bemoaned the state of denial by many Ghanaians which proceed to contribute to the downturn of affairs.
He likened Ghana to Simon Peter and Jesus’ story within the Bible the place Peter although was the chosen vessel for the event and development of the church but denied Him on many events.
Mr. Boadi mentioned: “Instead of building on the fortunes left by founding fathers, many Ghanaians keep engaging in illegal and corrupt activities.”
He added that the current technology should thus work to rescue Ghana from the burden of unlawful mining, procurement infractions, and different underhand dealings.
He was talking on the Western Regional Sensitisation and Awareness elevating marketing campaign on Open Governance Programme (OGP) Action Plan Five.
The main goal was to equip the varied Civil Society Organisations with sensible expertise for integrating the OGP ideas into their programmes and for advocacy on the district degree.
Mr. Boadi mentioned the contributors can be guided to develop an motion plan to information their monitoring workout routines of their districts’ implementation of the OGP Principles.
The workshop was a significant element of GIIs ongoing challenge dubbed “Enhancing Civil Society Coordination for OGP in Ghana.”
Mr. Isaac Aidoo, the Western Regional Point of Contact famous how the programme was steadily rising throughout the districts within the area.
Black Galaxies head coach Mas-UD Didi Dramani has named a 32-man squad for Ghana’s pre-Championship of African Nations (CHAN) 2025 qualifiers coaching camp, forward of the workforce’s essential recreation in opposition to Nigeria.
The workforce faces Nigeria in a two-legged tie in December, as each side vie for a qualifying spot on the forthcoming championship.
The gamers are anticipated to reach on the Ghanaman Soccer of Excellence in Prampram on November 25 to start camp.
However, because of the forthcoming common elections on December 7, the gamers will probably be handed a break from December 1-5 as Ghanaians take to the ballot.
The workforce will then return to camp a day after the overall elections to accentuate their preparations earlier than taking up Nigeria.
The Black Galxies is a composition of regionally primarily based gamers, with Didi Dramani’s squad for the upcoming recreation being headlined by Thought FC man Jerry Afriyie, Nation’s duo Faisal Charwetey and Razak Simpson, in addition to Kotoko and Hearts goalkeepers Fredrick Asare and Benjamin Asare.
Ghana, who have been knocked out of the final version within the quarterfinal by Niger, will probably be aiming to go all the best way within the match, which is anticipated to be hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, John Dumelo, has stepped in to pay the excellent charges of a visually impaired regulation pupil on the Ghana School of Law, Makola.
The pupil, who had been dealing with the potential of deferral as a consequence of unpaid charges, acquired a lifeline after Mr Dumelo’s well timed intervention.
According to a publish made by John Dumelo on X, the scholar had reached out to him via a mutual good friend, explaining the dire state of affairs.
The pupil was prone to being deferred from the regulation programme as a result of he couldn’t afford to settle the remaining charges, which amounted to ¢10,400.
“Visually impaired law student Gabriel Selasie Doe reached out to me through a friend to help him pay the remainder of his GHS 10,400 fees after he had to sell his laptop earlier. By God’s grace I have fully paid his fees and also given money to and get his laptop back,” he posted on X.
The regulation pupil, who had already overcome important challenges as a consequence of his visible impairment, was dealing with the added strain of probably dropping a 12 months of examine.
Dumelo’s assist has been described as a lifeline, giving the scholar the chance to proceed their research with out additional disruption.
The NDC PC’s gesture has been broadly praised, not just for offering rapid monetary aid but in addition for demonstrating his dedication to supporting schooling and uplifting people in troublesome circumstances.
Africa presently loses round $89 billion yearly to illicit monetary flows (IFFs), about 3.7% of the continent’s gross home product (GDP), whereas tax incentives to companies contribute to an extra $220 billion loss, in line with the African Union (AU).
The loss by means of IFFs is a rise from what was reported by means of the findings of the AU High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows in 2015, that exhibits Africa was shedding greater than $50 billion yearly in IFFs.
According to knowledge revealed by the Global Financial Integrity, (GFI) a not-for-profit analysis group primarily based in Washington DC that focuses on illicit monetary flows, Africa is shedding giant quantities of cash by means of commerce misinvoicing and leakages within the steadiness of fee with the lively connivance of its political class, making illicit monetary flows one of many main sources of financial loss to the continent.
The GFI famous that by means of the manipulation of commerce figures and leakages within the steadiness of fee, all African nations put collectively misplaced greater than $862.6 billion from 2004 to 2013 in line with ghanabusinessnews.com computations of the information.
South Africa is the biggest loser. The nation misplaced greater than $209 billion, adopted by Nigeria, which misplaced greater than $178 billion through the interval. Figures for Somalia weren’t out there, and figures for Sudan, was at a time that South Sudan was a part of the nation.
While Africa holds the biggest quantity of among the world’s main treasured metals, greater than $30 billion value of gold is thought to be smuggled out of the continent yearly.
This week within the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, from November 24 to 29, 2024, the African Union and its companions are organising the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa Week (PIDA Week 2024), to deliberate over the continent’s infrastructure gaps and the necessity for funding within the sector.
The PIDA Week is an annual occasion organized underneath the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, which serves as a platform for stakeholders to come back collectively and talk about the progress, challenges, and future instructions of infrastructure growth throughout the continent. Inaugurated in 2015, PIDA Week has grow to be a important discussion board for accelerating infrastructure implementation in Africa, linking infrastructure to regional integration, financial progress, and job creation, the AU says on its web site.
The Week additionally offers a discussion board for showcasing profitable infrastructure tasks and sharing greatest practices from throughout the continent. Through panel discussions, workshops, and shows, members have the chance to study from the experiences of others and acquire insights into revolutionary options and methods.
“These success stories serve as valuable case studies that can be replicated and scaled up in other regions, contributing to a more cohesive and effective infrastructure development agenda,” the AU says.
Crucial to the conversations is the infrastructure financing hole which stays a major barrier, with an estimated $68-$108 billion wanted yearly to fulfill infrastructure calls for, in line with the African Development Bank (2018).
About 40% of Africans lack clear consuming water and 60% lacks correct sanitation services. It is famous that poor highway, rail and harbour infrastructure provides 30-40% to the prices of products traded amongst African nations, and over 640 million Africans don’t have any entry to power. This means six Africans in 10 don’t have entry to electrical energy companies.
Some $160 billion is required over 10 years for funding in 69 tasks, and $8 billion wanted for undertaking preparations alone.
Since its inception in 1991, PIDA has facilitated 433 tasks and 75% of initiated ICT tasks have been finalized, however there may be extra to be finished.
While Africa is sitting on a lot wealth, as it’s stated in native parlance on the continent, “the money is here”, Africa is searching for for investments to supply and enhance infrastructure for its rising populations, estimated to succeed in 2.5 billion by 2050. The continent continues to hemorrhage by means of illicit monetary flows, together with by means of official corruption.
Looking on the figures misplaced to illicit monetary flows, if Africa is ready to focus, do the fitting issues and curb illicit monetary flows, the continent ought to be capable to finance its infrastructure wants. Indeed, if the quantity misplaced to Nigeria, $178 billion in 10 years is retained on the continent, and South Africa’s $209 billion loss are held again there needs to be sufficient to shut the financing hole for infrastructure growth.
As the occasions of the PIDA Week take off and finish on Friday November 29, 2024, hopefully, Africa would discover environment friendly methods to both curb illicit monetary flows so the cash stays on the continent, or traders are discovered, who would fortunately spend money on the important infrastructure areas to spur social and financial progress for a continent holding a lot promise for the way forward for its teeming populations, for whom the targets and targets of Agenda 2063, can be desires come true for properly deserved higher circumstances of dwelling.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene, has taken supply of 28 gold artefacts looted through the Sagrenti War at a grand durbar on the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
This fashioned a part of actions to make the a centesimal anniversary celebration of the return King Prempeh I from exile.
Representative of AngloGold Ashanti who bought the artefacts from an artwork collector at West African works in 1922, handed over the ornaments to the King of Asante, bringing the whole variety of restituted Asante artifacts from the British plunder within the 1900s to 67.
The symbolic artifacts from South Africa embrace linguist workers, swords, palace safety locks, rings, necklaces, and proverbial gold-weights depicting crocodiles and gold scandals.
Leading the official handover on the Durbar had been Mr. Stewart Bailey, the Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs for AngloGold Ashanti, Ambassador Baso Sangqu, the Senior Vice President Group Sustainability,
Dr. Ivor Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, mentioned the choice to strategy the mining agency for the artifacts adopted intelligence in regards to the housing of some Asante Artefacts at Javett Art Centre on the University of Pretoria.
Mr. Stewart Bailey, the Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs for AngloGold Ashanti, mentioned he was honoured to be concerned within the return of the artifacts to their rightful place.
“It is a profound honour for me personally to be engaged within the mission to move the treasures right here to Kumasi the place they had been crafted.
“We are deeply honoured to be part of this significant moment in history to ensure that these cultural treasures are accessible not only to the Ashanti people but to Ghanaians in general,” he remarked.
The artifacts will now be exhibited within the Manhyia Palace Museum.
Among these in attendance had been paramount chiefs of Asante, the President of Seychelles, H.E. Wavel Ramkalawan, First Lady of Seychelles, H.E. Linda Ramkalawan, Prime Minister of Eswatini, Russell Mmiso Dlamini,
