Ghana imported a total of one hundred and sixty-six million, two hundred and forty thousand, five hundred and three ( GHC 166,240,503.) Ghana cedis worth of mangoes from Burkina Faso in 2023, a Ghana Statistical Service Trade Report 2023 has disclosed.
The report further revealed that Ghana imported one hundred and eighty-five million, two hundred and five thousand,two hundred forty-six ( GHC185,205,246) Ghana cedis worth of cocoa beans, standard quality raw beans from Cote D’Ivoire in 2023.
Ghana also imported GHC141,359,094 worth of Palm oil from Togo in 2023.
A total of GHC154, 796,314 worth of Palm oil was also imported from Cote D’Ivoire in 2023.
The GSS Report further indicated that Ghana imported GHC 1,893,864,945 worth of Shea nuts from Burkina Faso in 2023.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has announced this year’s closed season for both canoes and inshore fishing vessels and industrial trawlers starting from July.
According to the ministry, the move is to consolidate the gains made, while it continues to help to restore the depleted fish stocks.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, disclosed the details of the closed season at a press briefing at the ministry.
She emphasised that thorough consultations with industry stakeholders were conducted before finalising the dates.
To ensure sustainable fishing practices, the artisanal and inshore fleets will adhere to the closed season from July 1 to July 31, 2024. The industrial trawl vessels, on the other hand, will extend their closure until August 31, 2024 the Minister indicated.
Addressing the issue of illegal fishing, Mrs Koomson revealed plans to roll out an Electronic Monitoring System equipped with video recording and Global Positioning capabilities after the ending of the pilot project. This system was installed on three pilot trawl vessels to monitor fishing activities at sea 24/7.
“I wish to inform you that on the 2nd of April, 2024, I organised a stakeholders’ meeting at the International Conference centre to discuss the results of the 2023 closed season and decide on the 2024 closed season,” she stated.
Stakeholders, she says, agreed that the implementation of closed season has been beneficial. To consolidate the gains made, it was also agreed that the closed season be observed in 2024. I am happy to announce that the 2024 closed season is as follows:
“Canoes and Inshore vessels will observe the season from 1st July, 2024 to 31st July, 2024 while the industrial trawlers will observe theirs from the 1st July, 2024 to 31st August, 2024.”
Mrs Koomson highlighted that the implementation of the Closed Fishing Season is based on scientific recommendations aimed at stock recovery. Its objectives include curbing over-fishing, reducing fishing pressure, restoring over-exploited fish stocks, and replenishing dwindling fish populations.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organization in the world, saving lives and fighting hunger through food assistance and building pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity. Established in 1961 by the United Nations, WFP’s mission is to help alleviate world hunger and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger. WFP’s activities include providing food aid in emergencies, helping vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant and nursing women, and the elderly, purchasing goods and services from developing countries to stimulate their economies, and focusing on economic development, social welfare programs, relief, and food.
Job opportunities at WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) offers numerous job opportunities for individuals looking to contribute to the mission of ending hunger globally. Working for WFP provides a chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable populations, often in challenging environments.
Exploring open Job Opportunities at WFP
Visit the WFP Careers Website: Start by visiting the official WFP careers webpage to browse through current job openings.
Review Requirements: Carefully review the qualifications and requirements for each position to ensure your skills and experience align with the role.
Craft a compelling online application highlighting relevant achievements and experiences.
Tailor your online CV to the specific role, showcasing your passion for the WFP’s mission and how your qualifications fit.
Application Process:
Submit your application electronically through the WFP recruitment system.
Be prepared for potential online aptitude tests to assess your suitability for the role.
Shortlisted candidates may be called for a phone or video interview.
Additional Tips:
Demonstrate a strong commitment to humanitarian work and food security issues.
Highlight fluency in French or English, as these are the WFP’s working languages.
Research the WFP’s strategic plan to showcase your understanding of their goals.
Prepare for potential interview questions about your ability to work in challenging environments and cultural sensitivity.
Keep in Mind:
WFP positions often require international mobility and the ability to work in emergency situations.
Applications are competitive, so having a strong profile and relevant experience is crucial.
By following these steps and showcasing your qualifications and passion, you can increase your chances of making a positive impact through the World Food Programme.
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana has expressed shock at the payment of some 12 million dollars to a contractor when no work has been done on the Puwalugu Dam in the Upper East Region.
President Akufo-Addo in November 2019 cut sod for the construction of the Dam aimed at helping farmers do all-year-round farming and it was expected to be completed in 50 months.
President of the Association, Charles Nyaaba said members of the Association are surprised at the development.
“All that time, we never knew that so much money had already been paid for the construction. $11.9 million—that is a huge amount of money. So when that report came out, in fact, I couldn’t sleep. As we speak, the majority of our members cannot sleep.”
The Member of Parliament for Bongo, Edward Bawa, also wants persons culpable in the deal prosecuted for misappropriation of funds.
“We are asking exactly what they used the $12 million for. These are the answers that we are not getting, and that is part of the reason why we decided to go to the site and see what was happening and we got there and realised that nothing had been done, so it behoves on the government to find a way of ensuring that these monies are retrieved.
“And if $12 million, you can’t find anything there, it tells you that there is a crime to be investigated. And whoever is involved in this must be made to face the full rigours of the law.”
Ghana’s cocoa regulator will borrow up to $1.5 billion by September to finance 2024/25 cocoa purchases and compensate for low output, two COCOBOD sources with knowledge of the arrangement said on Sunday.
The world’s second-largest cocoa producer after neighbouring Ivory Coast uses an annual syndicated loan to finance bean purchases from farmers. It is usually agreed at the start of the season in September.
But this year’s $800 million loan faced delays due to low cocoa output so far this season.
COCOBOD has since withdrawn $600 million and cancelled the remainder as the season’s cocoa output is seen almost 40% below forecast – unable to guarantee the full loan.
“A request for proposal sent to banks indicates COCOBOD will borrow up to $1.5 billion next season. It is understood the banks are sizing it and together (with COCOBOD), they will decide an optimal amount,” said one COCOBOD source.
A second COCOBOD source said they were confident the syndication would go through.
At least one international bank has been to Ghana to inspect cocoa farms before deciding on the offer, while another is scheduled to visit next month, the same source said.
Production is expected to recover to 810,000 metric tons next season, the sources said, asking not to be named because they have not been allowed to speak to media.
COCOBOD did not respond to a request for comment.
Ghana’s cocoa production has been affected by adverse weather, disease and cocoa smuggling. It is expected to be almost 40% below target in the 2023/24 season, according to COCOBOD.
The sector regulator said it lost about 150,000 tons of cocoa beans to smuggling and illegal gold mining known locally as galamsey in the 2022/23 season.
It expects even greater losses this season as a global rise in cocoa prices is an incentive for more smuggling.
Swollen shoot virus wiped out around 590,000 hectares of farmland between 2018 and 2024, according to COCOBOD.
One source said they were confident Ghana would still meet next season’s target of 810,000 tons as the weather is expected to improve, and rehabilitated cocoa farms will boost output.
Mountains and islands make up 30 percent of the earth’s surface area and are home to approximately 1.3 billion people. Mountain and island communities are among the worst hit by climate change, suffering from high rates of poverty and hunger and struggling to cope with natural disasters.
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), are launching a new grant program to increase mountain and island communities’ resilience by supporting innovative entrepreneurship in agricultural and textile value chains through the provision of grants, technical assistance and capacity development.
About the grant program
Titled “Business Incubator and Accelerator (BIA) for Mountains and Islands”, the grant programme will be implemented in the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines and Uganda.
The BIA for Mountains and Islands has a total budget of USD 150 000 to be granted in each participating country. Grants will range from USD 15 000 to USD 50 000 per project. Additional funding has been allocated for technical assistance and capacity development.
How to apply
This is the online application portal to submit project proposals to receive grants through the BIA for Mountain and Islands. Applicants will be required to present documentation to prove that they meet the eligibility criteria (see below).
Before submitting a project proposal, applicants should carefully review the Applicant Information Booklet, available in English and Spanish.
For questions and clarification, please contact the BIA Team at MP-BIA@fao.org. Any request for clarifications or questions submitted after the application deadline will not be considered.
Eligibility criteria
To be considered eligible to receive a grant through the BIA for Mountains and Islands, a project proposal must meet all of the following criteria:
The lead applicant is either a non-governmental organization that is at least one year old, OR a Producer Organization (i.e. cooperative, community-based organization, association) that is at least one year old and has at least five members;
The lead applicant is formally registered in the country where the project is based;
The lead applicant submits only one application;
The lead and partner applicants are not bankrupt, liquidated or administered by the courts;
The lead applicant and/or partner applicant operate in a mountainous area1 or on an island in one of the following countries: the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines or Uganda;
The lead applicant provides all the necessary documentation proving that the above criteria are met;
The proposed project includes an applicant’s matching contribution of no less than 50 percent of the requested grant;
The lead applicant provides evidence of ability (i.e. physical and legal) to use capital and/or other assets that are involved in their investment plan (i.e. agricultural land, building, machinery, labour, skills, etc.);
The lead applicant is a member of the Mountain Partnership (MP). If not, the lead applicant shall join the MP before the establishment of the grant agreement; and
The proposed project targets one of the following areas of work:
Biodiversity;
Sustainable forest management;
Climate change mitigation and community-based adaptation;
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced the termination of its long-running scholarship scheme, citing the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative by the government.
In its place, the board has established the Cocoa Board Education Trust, aimed at providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa-growing communities.
According to the chairman of the board, Peter Mac Manu, the decision to terminate the scholarship scheme was necessary due to the impact of the Free SHS initiative. “With the advent of the free SHS by the Akufo-Addo administration, it’s time for us to adapt and evolve.
The COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme, while a notable and valuable programme, has naturally lost its core purpose,” he explained.
The COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme has been in existence for many years, providing financial support to students from cocoa-farming communities.
However, with the introduction of the Free SHS initiative, the board has decided to redirect its resources towards providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved areas.
The Cocoa Board Education Trust, which has been inaugurated by the board, aims to establish model basic schools in cocoa-growing communities.
According to Peter Mac Manu, the trust is a testament to the board’s unwavering commitment to the prosperity and well-being of cocoa farmers and their children.
“As we bid farewell to the Scholarship Scheme, we must look forward and prioritise the continued educational advancement of the cocoa farming community. It’s with this vision that the board of directors has decided to establish the Ghana Cocoa Board Education Trust.
This trust is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the prosperity and well-being of cocoa farmers and their children. The primary objective of the Education Trust is clearly to focus on providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa growing areas.” he said.
Artificial Intelligence and the ongoing digital revolution will inevitably transform the world and its agrifood systems, making it all the more urgent that the transformations they drive benefit everyone and contribute to solving global challenges, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, said Friday at the Business Federations of the G7 (B7) meeting in Rome.
Artificial Intelligence is not just a technological shift but is driving a fundamental economic and social transformation at the broadest level, Qu said, noting that FAO recognises its power to bring potential benefits to a wide range of populations and to contribute to improved efficiency and sustainability.
He noted that “Digital agriculture can revolutionise how we produce, distribute and consume food,” he said, highlighting that potential benefits for farmers and stakeholders across agrifood systems include improved pricing data, minimizing food loss and waste, enhancing food safety and stimulating adoption of better seeds, fertilizer and sustainable practices.
The event took place at the Rome headquarters of Italy’s main business association, Confindustria. The B7 comprises the main business and industrial federations of the G7 members and the European Union. Once a year, the B7 presents its recommendations on selected priority topics to the G7 presidency, which this year is held by Italy. The event was also attended by Italy’s deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani, and a wide array of chief executive officers from international private companies.
The FAO Director-General spoke at a session focused on charting new courses for cross-border global cooperation, joined by Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
To broaden the positive impact of such enabling innovations, FAO is working closely with all partners, including governments, academia, the private sector, civil society and international organizations, advocating for a robust approach with targeted, coherent and comprehensive strategies and actions implemented in synergy and in compliance with ethical principles.
Another absolutely critical area for collaboration and harmonisation of approaches is in the energy sector. Decarbonisation by 2050 is “simply not possible” without addressing energy consumption across agrifood systems, the Director-General said.
Qu also urged private-sector actors to increase their ambition for climate action and to show more accountability towards their supply chains and the communities in the countries from which they source, buy and sell their products.
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) says its weather monitoring station has observed double rainstorms heading for the country on Thursday, May 16.
According to the forecast released on Thursday morning, the Nigerian storm should kick in around 9:30 am.
Areas within the coastal and northern sectors will be hit by heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds and thundery conditions.
“A rainstorm that is moderately producing thunderstorms with rain over northern Benin into Togo is expected to drift further westwards to affect the northern half of Ghana. However, a separate rainstorm observed over Nigeria is also expected to propagate westwards to affect the coastal and middle sectors of the country,” the statement read.
GMet added that the risk of flooding and windstorms is high, thus, residents within potential flooding areas should be alert and take action.
The recent severe rainstorm left in its wake destruction in parts of Accra, as trees fell and damaged several cars.
Some billboards were also destroyed in the process.
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama has revealed plans to employ Artificial Intelligence (AI) in combating illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
He said this at the ‘3rd Annual Transformational Dialogue on Small-scale mining’ organised by the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani.
The canker has become an albatross on the neck of the government with many Ghanaians concerned about its debilitating impact.
Addressing the gathering, the former President emphasised the need for technological innovation to enhance the monitoring of the small-scale mining sector and minimise its environmental effect.
“We will introduce and encourage technological innovation to improve capacity for coordinated monitoring of the small-scale mining sector and reduce environmental impact,” he said on Wednesday, May 15.
He proposed the utilisation of AI to identify small-scale mining and galamsey activities, monitor excavators, and establish geo-fences around concessions to prevent mining operations in unauthorised areas, including water bodies.
“This will include using AI to locate all small-scale mining and galamsey operations, track excavators, and geo-fence all concessions to ensure mining operations are not conducted in unapproved areas, including water bodies.”
This initiative, he says, aims to strengthen coordinated efforts in monitoring and regulating mining activities, thereby promoting sustainable mining practices and environmental conservation.
