GIZ NEWSGHANABULLETIN
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
This facility will probably be absorbed under the Government’s 1D1F initiative, feeding into the government’s plan to move Ghana from an import export of raw materials dependent country to a manufacturing and processed goods focused one. In addition, together with the Youth Employment Agency and Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, we launched the Green Edition of the Ghana Job Fair, which will kick off in September
last two months, our projects have been busy with interesting and important activities and product events. Some of these are reported through the stories you will read in this issue.
WELCOME NOTE
Regina Bauerochse, GIZ Ghana Country Director
PERSONALITY SPOTLIGHT
FROM THE PROJECTS: WHAT’S NEW?
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Welcome to the 4th edition of the 2022 New OvBulletin.erthe
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STARTING STORY
WELCOME
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As always, thank you for your valuable contributions to the News Bulletin and enjoy your read!
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Contents
NEWCOMERS& DEPARTURES
For example, did you know we extensively supported the development of the first ever treatment standard document for diagnosing and managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Ghana? This document will inform specialists and medical students on best practice treatment of CVD. We also re commissioned a 14 year old abandoned orange juice processing factory in the Central Region.
Issue no 4-August-2022
NEWS FROM THE COUNTRY OFFICE
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Furthermore, we continue to showcase compelling stories of success we have chalked together with our partners. To mention a few, you will read about how through our support in capacitating the University of Development Studies. This has led to boosting irrigation in northern Ghana and other areas within the West African sub region. You will also read about how we are changing behaviour and mindset of small holder farmers from subsistence to commercial farming and the impact on business revenue and incomes. Finally, how our training support to SMEs has enabled them gain access to finance, which is helping to grow their businesses.
This year’s “Ghana Job Fair” to provide job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth across the country was launched on 17 August 2022 by the Ghanaian German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (GCC) in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, its Labour Department, the Youth Employment Agency, supported by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana
juliette.edzeame@giz.desimon.kunyangna@giz.de
Speaking on behalf of GIZ, the Director General of International Services, Mr. Carsten Schmitz Hoffmann, said, “These Guidelines have been developed by Ghanaians for Ghanaians. Over one hundred experts and health professionals from various health institutions across the country representing all levels of care have joined hands to produce this national treatment standard for cardiovascular diseases ensuring a direct ownership and meaning.” The CVD guidelines are available on AkomaCare app for all health professionals.
Mr. Woesten alluded that the German government’s cooperation with Ghana had yielded positive outcomes in employment promotion, with about 600 people directly employed through its job fairs since 2019.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 2
who want to join the fair should register via shorturl.at/ENPX6 johanna.hartung@giz.de
claudia.maier@giz.de
Ghana Job Fair 2022 (Green Edition) Launched in Accra
In delivering his keynote address, the Minister said, “The Ghana Heart Initiative is a great example of how stakeholders can join forces to address global health challenges. This strategic partnership between Bayer, GIZ, the Ministry of Health and other national partners has since its inception in January 2019 achieved many important milestones on the path towards an improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Ghana. The development of the National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases is among the most important results delivered so far, as it institutionalizes a treatment standard for healthcare professionals on all levels of care.”
On why this Fair is dubbed “Green Edition”, Mr. Benjamin Woesten, head of the GGC, explained that as climate change confronts us, there was a need to adjust our way of going about things economically. Hence, greening the economy will be key to being able to sustain our future, which would also incorporate the promotion of sustainable employment.
This Job Fair is aimed at bridging the gap that exists between job seekers and employers and providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to thrive in their various business fields. . benjamin.woesten@giz.de
This year’s Fair, which is themed “Connecting talents and opportunities” is slated from 14 15 September (Accra and Sunyani) and 26 27 September (Kumasi and Tamale), to provide a common platform for job seekers and employers to engage, as part of efforts to address the unemployment menace.
The Ghana Job Fair is here with us again!
To participate in this year’s job fair, kindly register via
Companieshttps://rb.gy/ohuhpqoremployers
Launch -National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in Ghana
Under the Ghana Heart Initiative Project (GHI), the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu (MP), launched the first ever treatment standard for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Ghana the National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases. This landmark event which made Ghana the third country in sub Saharan Africa to have such a guidelines document, happened on Wednesday 3rd August 2022 and was attended by the Director of the GIZ Department International Services, the Director General of Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Cluster Division Head, Pharma South East and West Africa from Bayer AG and other dignitaries.
Launch of National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases
News from Projects
After 14 years of shutdown, Coastal Groves Limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian organic orange juice processing factory in the Central Region of Ghana, was on Tuesday, 28 June, re commissioned by GIZ Ghana, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through its Invest for Jobs programme The ceremony was marked by the official handover of a steam boiler valued at around 73,000 euros, and a retooled factory of over 94,000 euros to the management of the company
project, which was implemented by the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project in collaboration with the Ghana EXIMBANK, sought to address the lack of qualified persons needed in Ghana’s fashion industry whilst empowering young and vulnerable girls with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
GIZ Ghana recommissions a 14-year-old dormant factory in Central Region
Addressingindustry.
According to Mr. Guskowski, the project is envisioned to create 200 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect jobs while improving the working conditions of the people who are currently engaged by the company.
Invest for Jobs and partners graduate 654 girls trained in fashion from NEEDLES for Girls Project
Ghana’s textile industry provides a huge potential for increased value addition and employment opportunities for young women. However, many fashions, garment manufacturing, and beauty firms are micro sized and small businesses that are characterized by inefficient operational skills, insufficient employee training, poor skills upgrading, rudimentary equipment, and delays in adopting new technology.
The event also offered the management of Coastal Groves Limited and GIZ Ghana the platform to further engage on the outlook of the factory and organic agriculture in Ghana.
the audience at the ceremony, the Second Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Samira Bawumia, emphasized the need to support and empower young girls with skills, most importantly the vulnerable ones; the kayayei’s, among others, to avoid exposure to all kinds of vices and harness their potential in different trades. grace.otuteye@giz.de
Thus, the N4G project provides a direct response to the skills gap challenges faced by Ghana’s fashion, textile, and beauty industries. Additionally, the initiative is underpinned by the idea of providing underprivileged young females with vocational and employable skills to find formal employment in private companies or to set up their own MSMEs within the fashion
Mr. Daniel Danquah, Managing Director of Coastal Groves Limited, was full of gratitude to GIZ and the German Federal Government. He shared that the shutdown of the factory did not only affect his family but also employees and farmers who provided the raw materials for production. peter.koomson@giz.de
Delivering his speech at the event, Mr. Gerald Guskowski, Head of Sustainable Economic Development Cluster at GIZ Ghana, pointed out the importance of such projects which has a high impact on employment, market opportunities, environmental sustainability, and, above all, improves the business ecosystem.
The project was supported by Invest for Jobs, an initiative of the BMZ, implemented by GIZ Ghana.
A proud mother in a shot with her daughter (a graduate of the N4G project).
Fourteen months after the Network for Enterprise Development Learning through Sewing (NEEDLES) for Girls (N4G) project, was officially launched in Tamale in May 2021, 654 girls have successfully completed training in fashion skills with more than 500 Theemployed.N4G
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 3
The Expo is part of the Ghana Germany SME Training and Exchange Programme, which is being implemented by COGNOS International with support from Invest for Jobs, a BMZ initiative
johanna.hartung@giz.de
In her opening remarks, Ms. Regina Bauerochse, the Country Director of GIZ Ghana, highlighted that the Made in Ghana Expo is an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding about the important contributions of SMEs to growth and job creation. She added that consumers can rely on the creativity, innovations, and ideas made in Ghana, thereby supporting sustainable growth and employment creation. Thus, Ms. Bauerochse called for the promotion of Ghanaian products in Ghana and beyond.
The event was attended by H.E Daniel Krull, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ghana; Mrs. Stella Ansah, Team Leader MSME division, Ministry of Trade and Industry; and Mr. Matthias Afting, CEO, COGNOS International, among other dignitaries eunice.agyepong@giz.de
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 4
Once the FDA provides the necessary approvals, production of the test kits will begin, with Incas Diagnostics supporting with the production. Incas currently produces covid 19 antigen tests, pregnancy test kits, among others, while another project partner, UnternehmerTUM Makerspace, will support with producing cheaper and smaller versions of laboratory Ms.equipment.Michel
also visited Blue Skies, one of the partners under the Pandemic Preparedness project, as well as the Ghana Apparel Training and Service Centre, the Police Hospital, GetInnotized, Amalitech and Charisma Fashion Centre.
Before departing Ghana, Ms. Michel expressed her appreciation to the Ghana project team for their commitment. She stated that partners she spoke to confirm the excellent cooperation between themselves and GIZ. She encouraged Technical Advisors to conceptualize more projects revolving round the topic of employment creation in different sectors, green jobs, and development, while looking more towards overall cooperation with the private sector keeping in mind GIZ’s vision of working to create a world worth living in a sustainable manner. carl.martei@giz.de
By the end of 2022, the capacities of a total of 60 growth oriented SMEs will be strengthened and their competitiveness in international markets increased.
With support from the German Cooperation, 60 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) showcased their products at the “Made in Ghana” Expo, a trade fair and exhibition event, at the Accra International Conference Centre on 13 August.
Ms. Regina Bauerochse delivering her speech at the Expo
Ellen Michell, Global Head of developPPP for Jobs visits the West African Vehicle Academy
Ellen Michel, the head of programme for develoPPP for Jobs, visited Ghana to meet the Ghana team and project partners, while gaining first hand information on work on the Herground.firstvisit was to the Project on local production of COVID 19 test kits. The project, which is located at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, has already trained 100 biomedical scientists, giving them the requisite skills to be able to properly extract samples and follow the right testing procedures for accurate results.
The event, which was open to the public, presented a networking opportunity for potential business partners and a shopping opportunity for patrons interested in food and beverages, cosmetics, shea butter, furniture, decorative items, fashion, and textiles. The goal was to create a platform to promote indigenous products and services.
Global Head of develoPPP for Jobs Programme visits Ghana
German Cooperation supports Made in Ghana Expo for 60 SMEs in Agri-Business, Furniture and Fashion
develoPPP supported Aya Institute officially launched
At the pandemic’s peak, develoPPP partnered Sustainable Management Services, in collaboration with Bisa Technologies Ltd., and the Ghana Health Service, to bring innovative solutions to smallholder cocoa farmers in rural communities.
Beneficiary farmer Paul Nyamah
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 5
The YPP is a 3 month intensive training session that includes a 4 week internship phase. The Institute emerged from a develoPPP with the four company partners IPC (Internationale Projekt Consult GmbH a German international consulting firm), Krapa Ghana Foundation (a Ghanaian company limited by guarantee, focused on education and youth development), Chemmedia AG and Quipu GmbH (two German software providers specialising in e learning and IT for financial institutions, and is supposed to stand on its own feet after the official project end in December 2022.
Beneficiarychristine.afewu@giz.defarmersofthe
GIZ SMS Covid 19 Response project, one of develoPPP’s covid 19 initiatives are saddened to see the project end.
The partners used interactive voice technology to echo the need to adhere to established covid 19 protocols and provided other timely health and economic information to the farmers. This was to protect their health, minimize income loses and enhance their economic livelihoods. In addition, the project leveraged alternative delivery channels like radio and community information centres to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus. The Managing Director of Bisa explained that the farmers “received covid 19 preventive messages for 36 weeks in their local dialect for better assimilation”.
This assertion is corroborated by beneficiary farmer, Paul Nyamah who represented farmers in New Adubiase. He explained “when covid 19 hit, we were clueless about the disease and did not heed the safety protocols which put most of us at risk. But this project came in handy, and we really hope for a renewal”.
Development Cooperation meets Business Innovation in Mitigating income loses for farmers
Currently, GIZ is focused on nurturing the "Young Professionals Programme". In that regard, the NIED Cluster Coordinator, Gerald Guskowski, highlighted that “it is important to close the employability gap and actively address the mismatch between the industry’s high demand for qualified personnel and the numerous job seeking university graduates not only to ensure the future growth of the sector, but especially to enable young people to get a decent job and start a career”. ethel.agbe@giz.de
Launch of Aya Institute
Aya offers technical and soft skills training in open and tailor made formats and has established a Young Professional Programme (YPP), which provides job readiness modules for young professionals that ensures university graduates are made fit for a career in the financial sector.
The GIZ/SMS Covid 19 Response Project was implemented in 208 communities benefitting over 5,000 farmers. The Programme Manager for SMS, Francis Ahiamatah noted “this project has taught us that technology is the way forward. Adoption was pegged at 50% but we were able to achieve more than 60%”.
After starting operations in September 2021, the Aya Institute for Finance and Management finally launched to the press on 14 July. The aim of the launch was to create increased publicity for the non profit training institution’s versatile training offer for the financial sector and beyond.
Mrs. Matilda Manu Yeboah receives her certificate at the graduation ceremony
This intervention is a core part of the Sustainable Employment through Agribusiness (AgriBiz) programme’s objective of creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive and create sustainable jobs. Elke.Stumpf@giz.de
At the graduation, CEO of Rapha Delight, Mrs. Matilda Manu Yeboah, shared that she run her business from her kitchen when she heard about GIZ. “The GIZ Project, AgriBiz, was recommended to me by other MSMEs. The coaches have been patient, especially when it comes to record keeping. I now know about market penetration, developing a business plan, online marketing, etc. I can keep better records of my finances. My bank visited me to corroborate my banking records with my financial records. They were impressed and are ready to offer me a credit facility worth GhC 80,000.
Agri-Businesses see improvements, bringing benefits to employees!
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 6
To strengthen the capacities of these associations, the Sustainable Employment Through Agribusiness (AgriBiz) Programme assisted MBBOs to identify their most pressing advocacy cases and subsequently organized a 3 day training in advocacy for 13 Organisations, from 8 11 August in Prampram. Advocacy Experts shared their insights on effective policy analysis, agenda setting, building of strategic networks and the drafting of position papers.
Some of the graduating MSMEs have pledged to continue working with their coaches, even though the Loop has ended for them. So far, 123 MSMEs have recorded substantial improvements in areas such as business management, exploration of new markets and cost reduction. The number of enterprises that now provide additional benefits to their employees has increased by 41%.
A cross section of the participants of the Advocacy Training in Prampram
”
To thrive, they depend on a good regulatory framework, on constant supply of fresh produce from farmers, availability of inputs and functional supply chains, including access to export markets
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) working in the Agribusiness sector are heavily affected by a prevailing business environment, the current economic situation and consequences of climate change in Ghana.
AgriBiz Programme trains Member Based Business Associations to carry out Advocacy work
Among the participants were representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) and the Vegetables Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG). Participants were able to draw from the rich experiences of their peers, such as the advocacy work on a tax reform for MSME by PEF, or the construction of dams to improve irrigation by PFAG. Several ideas came up during the retreat, which will be addressed by the Associations and AgriBiz to improve the current business environment elke.stumpf@giz.de
The first batch of 135 micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) have graduated from the 6 month long SME Business Training and Coaching Loop. A total of 148 enterprises participated, including 62 female led businesses, and the journey began 6 months ago.
Challenges can be tackled through effective advocacy work carried out by representative bodies like Member Based Business Organisations (MBBOs), who bundle interests of Agribusiness MSME and can shape the way for a dialogue with political stakeholders, to improve the overall business environment.
One On One Interviews with a Deaf blind Lady
The GIZ Trade Hub’s Programme Support to the AfCFTA at the bilateral level continues to support the National AfCFTA Coordination Office, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other stakeholders to address the challenges around institutional and legal frameworks that support the negotiation and implementation of the AfCFTA in Ghana. angela.benefo@giz.de
• Only one FSP have products specifically designed for people with disabilities,
Highlighting the relevance of the policy document, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, on behalf of the President, launched the strategy saying, “the effective operationalisation of the AfCFTA in Ghana would significantly boost Ghana’s balance of trade, stimulate investment and innovation, diversify exports, improve food security, foster structural transformation, enhance economic growth, and above all, provide jobs for the Ghanaian youth”.
This study was conducted with support from the financial sector regulators and some selected financial service providers (FSPs) in Ghana. As one of the biggest projects in the financial Inclusion space in the country this year, it illustrates the current state of the access to digital and analogue financial services for persons with disabilities.
This qualitative study presents findings from 130 persons with disabilities (PwDs); 22 financial service providers; five policy and regulatory institutions; and three sector associations, with a deep dive focus on the inclusive nature of the infrastructure of FSPs from across the regions in Ghana. In addition, it provides an analysis of the journey of PwDs in accessing financial services and how responsive these products and services are to the needs of PwDs. It is quite interesting to note that,
Access the research factsheet here.
Ghana, serving as the host to the AfCFTA Secretariat, plays a major role in the implementation and consolidation of the agreement and is uniquely positioned to become the commercial capital of Africa.
Launch of National AfCFTA Policy framework and Action Plan
• None of the FSPs has a dedicated desk/line for addressing PWD complaints
angela.armah@giz.de
• All the FSPs lack a designated parking space for PWDs,
Ghana launches its National AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) Policy Framework and Action Plan
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 7
We are less when we don’t include everyone
• There are no disability friendly features on ATMs,
The study also assesses policies and regulatory measures governing financial inclusion for PWDs, and how available financial products and services can be re worked to collectively build a more accessible, and more equitable community.
The signing of the AfCFTA agreement has opened the African market to intra continental trade. It is the prerogative of every country to localise the agreement and develop a road map for its implementation.
After months of planning, research, and designing, we are excited to highlight the Study on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Financial Systems in Ghana 2022!
On 2 August 2022, the National AfCFTA Coordination Office (NCO) launched the National AfCFTA Policy Framework and Action Plan for Boosting Ghana’s Trade with Africa. The document outlines the short to medium term implementation plans and strategies for harmonising relevant policies, programmes, laws, and regulations to increase the productive capacity of Ghana’s private sector in harnessing the benefits of the AfCFTA.
hias.berthold@giz.de
The Global Gateway Africa Europe Investment Package aims to mobilise up to €150 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 for Africa to support a strong, inclusive, green, and digital recovery and transformation including strengthening health systems. ewald.garr@giz.de
The Project will ensure that the FDA has enhanced capacity to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy of locally manufactured vaccines, that meet international standards. It will also upgrade the FDA from WHO Maturity Level 3 to a Maturity Level 4 regulatory agency for vaccines. Furthermore, the FDA’s pharmaceutical microbiology laboratory will be enhanced to a biosafety level 3, while strengthening the FDA’s inspection and licensing and market authorisation functions.
To support Ghana’s ambition to become a vaccine manufacturing hub in Africa, the EU, and the German Cooperation, through GIZ, have jointly launched a 2.84 million Euro project.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 8
“I am happy that the EU REACH project has chosen our community to help us identify resources that could help us to improve our livelihoods,” said Bimbu Sherifa in excitement. The 30 year old mother of three is a native and a volunteer basic schoolteacher of the Siiru community in the Upper West Region, where validation of the CAP guideline was undertaken.
provides the framework for districts to support communities in developing CAPs that align community resources with their development aspirations, which form the basis of future District Medium Term Development Plans and planning at the national level.
As part of efforts to improve district level climate smart planning, the REACH project, is facilitating the development of a guideline for Community Action Plans
The project was launched on 10 August and will be implemented over a 27 month period for the institutional and technical strengthening of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Bimbu Sherifa presenting on behalf of her group on community policies and practices.
matthias.berthold@giz.de
The immediate goal is to have the first batch of ‘fill and finish’ COVID 19 vaccines by 2024. This be scaled to produce other vaccines, including childhood immunisation and malaria vaccines. The FDA as the main regulatory body is central to the vaccine manufacturing process in ensuring that vaccines produced meet international standards for quality, safety, and
the launch were dignitaries like the WHO Country Representative, EU Ambassador to Ghana, German Ambassador to Ghana, FDA CEO, and our Country Director, Regina Bauerochse.
CAP is a participatory tool used to build the capacity of community members to act on their challenges, needs, and potential, while providing a framework for implementing community self determined activities.
Strengthening regulatory capacity for vaccine manufacturing in Ghana.
The launch of the Institutional and Technical Strengthening of the FDA
Enhancing Rural Livelihoods through Community
The(CAPs).guideline
The project, co funded by the EU, is developing the CAP guideline together with stakeholders from MMDAs, NDPC, and traditional authorities, among others. This will also ensure that climate change issues and effective community solutions are incorporated in the districts’ development plans. Sadiki Nasiru, an Agric Extension Officer in the Wa West district, spoke of the usefulness of the guidelines and shared that “This should be replicated in all communities because it will help District Assemblies and external organizations know the actual needs of communities and prevent the implementation of low priority projects.”
Attendingefficacy.
Many questions run through the mind of business owners or entrepreneurs. Questions such as, “I have a Production Assistant who helps with the formulation of my products, do I need a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?” A contract, an MoU, or an agreement? Which do I choose, and in what context? When registering my business, do I need to consider any legal requirements? How can I prevent liability with regards to my products?” These and other questions were answered during the newly designed law for entrepreneurship project focused on supporting businesses with relevant knowledge on the legal framework of entrepreneurship in Ghana.
mark.mehrlaender@giz.de
The Pan Africa e Commerce Initiative aims at creating the pre conditions for companies in Africa to effectively engage in digital local and cross border trade. frederick.augustt@giz.de
Due to the novelty of the training intervention, and with over 400 participants applying, the next phase of the workshop is scheduled to take off in September 2022 to effectively equip MSMEs to constantly grow their businesses.
The two day session equipped participants with the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them to achieve higher presence and sales of at least 30%, six months after the training.
The three day pilot training sessions for over 60 business owners were organized by the Migration and Employment Promotion (MEP) project in collaboration with Sustineri Attorneys in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Bono region. The intensive workshop further equipped participants on how to prepare basic Non Disclosure Agreements, contracts among others. All beneficiaries of the project will also receive tailored legal counsel for the duration of the project to address any pertinent issues from business owners
Action Planning
Pan African e Commerce Initiative Trains 40 Female led SMEs in e Commerce
It is for these and other reasons that the Pan Africa e Commerce Initiative of the Digital Transformation Center last July, trained 40 women led SMEs on effectively engaging in digital trade(e commerce).
The women, drawn from various sectors of the economy including fashion, agribusiness, cosmetics, food and beverages were taken through various marketing and management modules as well as practical strategies to reaching wider markets, both locally and internationally, by creating and using websites and other social media platforms to showcase and sell their products and services.
The Legal Framework of Entrepreneurship in Ghana.
The facilitator with a participant of the workshop
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 9
As businesses and competition grow, it is important that SMEs become innovative to enable them increase sales and become sustainable. By taking their businesses online, they gain credibility, reach a wider customer base, control their brands by getting innovative, get found everywhere as well as being opened 24/7.
Fishing community in Greater Accra
Some religious leaders at the event
Creating Awareness on drug trafficking for fisherfolks in fishing Communities in Greater Accra
Since citizens trust them as religious leaders, faith based organizations have expressed the need for transparency in knowing what the taxes are used for and how the government is ensuring accountability. GRA assured that it would take their concerns seriously and jointly agreed that in providing taxpayer education, it would be important for religious leaders to include concrete examples of what taxes have been used for, which benefit citizens.
Aramifications.totalof600
Religious Leaders to act as agents for taxpayer education for effective revenue mobilisation
Ghana is one of the major transit countries for trafficking narcotics to other countries. Analysis of drug trafficking routes suggest that illicit drug trade relies on fishing vessels to a large extent. The use of vessels to transport drugs is quite common among small scale fishermen. The reasons vary, but depleted fish stocks and strict conservation measures push some fishermen to turn to shipping illicit substances as an economic buffer against poverty.
Recently, fishing communities in Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions, especially landing beaches, have seen significant drug trafficking activities leading to the arrest of nine Ghanaian fishermen in Nigeria for smuggling Indian hemp.
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The influence of religious leaders in their communities and congregations cannot be over emphasised. This qualifies them as important stakeholders in educating citizens in revenue mobilisation and accountability
To protect fishermen and their communities from the dangers of substance abuse and ensure they are aware of the consequences of trafficking, the Illicit Financial Flows Team under the GovID programme, co funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission, undertook an awareness raising campaign for fishing communities in Kpone Katamanso, Ada, Teshie and Osu. This campaign aimed to improve awareness and knowledge of fisherfolks within the fishery value chain on drug trafficking and the legal
Forums have been organized in Accra, Ashanti and Northern for mutual trust building and to develop the next steps for educational measures.
fishermen and women were sensitised on drug trafficking and the consequences of involvement. Fisherfolks from the various communities expressed their appreciation for the steps to educate them and pledged to collaborate with the Commission to curb activities of narcotics in the fishing industry. jens.hamlischer@giz.de
charlotte.afudego@giz.de
Overall, the workshop brought stakeholders together who recognised an opportunity to ensure sufficient revenues are raised while addressing citizens’ concerns.
The GovID programme engaged some of the most influential faith based organizations and CSOs to form a dialogue platform on public revenue and accountability. The main objective of the assignment was to identify how Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Metropolitan, Municipalities & District Assemblies (MMDAs) can collaborate with religious actors to create awareness for citizens on taxes and how to hold the government accountable.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 11
Re-positioning KAIPTC Demand-Driven Capacity Development Centre Through eLearning
It has also created a challenge for conducting in person trainings to peacekeepers and other clients in an already demanding and challenging environment yet offers opportunity to access education and training possibilities, when in person learning is less convenient, come at higher costs or are not feasible
Two newly developed e courses were piloted; the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Foundation Course with 5 facilitators and 21 participants and the Human Rights for Field Officers Course with 23 participants from 25 January to 28 February 2022. Participants were satisfied with the content, structure, and design of the online pilot courses. The e learning courses are timely as they reduce costs, save time and effort, and reduce the tremendous burden of logistics for longer classroom training time.
The Centre intends to take advantage of this e learning support to immediately raise awareness and build internal capacity, integrate blended learning in at least 50% of all trainings & academic curricula, establish eLearning steering committee and eLearning unit and design business model to make it self sustaining. These forward looking implementation measures strategically positions the Centre to meet current pressing and future needs and better execute their mandate in the most time and cost effective manner.
Celebrating Success
GIZ facilitated the implementation of the KAIPTC e learning policy and built the capacities of KAIPTC’s e learning Team to develop five new e courses, while professionalising and revising two existing courses. All the new e courses come with French translation to reach a wider audience.
Over the past few years, increasingly reduced budgets, pressure for performance and lately, the emergence of the COVID 19 pandemic, has accelerated interest in digitization, web based teaching, and virtual learning opportunities in almost all thematic areas from academia, policy setting, to the training of African Thispeacekeepers.development has impacted Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC) and other Training Centres of Excellence in their functioning role in peace support operations and capacity building.
Considering the increasing importance of eLearning for peacekeeping trainings, amidst the severe impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as KAIPTC’s quest to diversify its course portfolio and deliver innovative learning formats in the Peace and Security environment, the BMZ through its implementing agency GIZ, supported the Centre to develop an enhanced Learning Management System and policy implementation strategy. The support has enhanced KAIPTC´s future oriented services and sustainability of its need based trainings. Moreover, it has positioned the Centre to become one of the most advanced peacekeeping training institution on the continent regarding e Learning capabilities.
WhatAgriculture.haschanged?
Since November 2021, 71 experts in the northern region from solar companies, agricultural institutions and the banking sector have participated in the technical and finance modules of SPIS training delivered by UDS. The training workshop built capacity in the technical handling and financing of Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS).
The centre host students from different countries in Africa which means the reach of UDS training goes to benefit the West African sub region. This has led to the Global Programme “Water Energy for Food” (WE4F), partnering with UDS to continue offering SPIS training courses, providing solutions towards sustainable agriculture, and combating food insecurity, due to climate change impact on food crops beyond Ghana and the West African sub region.
In northern Ghana, farming is relatively more challenging than in other regions due to the arid climate, which hinders year round crop production. Farmers who do continuous farming have to rely on diesel powered generators for irrigation, which is Itexpensive.isimportant
Celebrating Success Boosting Irrigation Capacity in the North and beyond the Case of SPIS Training at the University for Development Studies
With the potential for solar power generation in the north but the lack of knowledge capacity in solar energy generation for agriculture, it was necessary to develop the knowledge in handling and financing solar powered irrigation system to boost the transition to sustainable crop production in the region.
After the implementation of the Training Grant Agreement, UDS has successfully incorporated the SPIS training in the University’s dedicated centre for irrigation studies, i.e., the West African Centre for Water Irrigation and Sustainable
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 12
Thus, the training of technicians and credit officers to handle and finance solar powered irrigation systems for crop production in the region. BMZ granted funds to the University for Development Studies (UDS) and two other universities (HTU and UENR) under the Green People´s Energy (GPE) Project, to develop curricular and deliver training courses on Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) to technical experts and credit officers. The grant also provided for the construction and installation of SPIS demonstration units at the universities.
During the selection of participants for the training delivery, UDS witnessed a high number of interested applicants beyond what the university anticipated.
that other environmentally friendly and economically viable sources of energy are utilised to enable farmers to achieve more yield and reduce their operational cost.
Elaborating further on what this means for his production, he said, “Even with the increased prices of fertilizers and other agro inputs this year, I am still able to afford some purchases from the margins made. I also could buy a bicycle for my daughter to enable her commute to and from school.”
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 13
Farming is a business. This is the conclusion 53 year old farmer Abukari Napari, head of household of 10, has drawn. For ages, smallholder farming has only been seen as a way of life.
MOAP NW has also been working with the farmer groups and experts on composting, to reduce the burden being experienced by smallholder farmers, of increased chemical fertilizer prices. The farmers would need less of the chemical fertilizers in the short term to augment the compost application. This measure is promoted via the radio programme, jointly implemented with GIZ Partner Project REACH, and during community owned demonstration plots established during the cropping season.
Celebrating Success Moving smallholder farmers from a subsistence to a commercial mindset
Access to reliable markets is of critical importance to ensure the “farming as a business” concept works. Thus, offtakers within Ghana’s North West and from all parts of the country are linked to the farmers during the season. By this means, it is ensured that there is continued development of the seven target value chains, rice, sorghum, groundnut, cowpea, vegetable, mango, and cashew, with which the EUGAP/GIZ MOAP NW programme is engaged.
Many farmers have been capacitated in GAPs and organizational development, leading to the formation of 51 Agricultural Radio Listenership Clubs and 414 Village Savings and Loans Associations.
Enthused with the support received since 2019, Mr. Napari acknowledges: “Since I started keeping records, I am able to track the progress of my production, as well as how the adopted GAPs are helping us. In 2021, I spent GhȻ 2,180 for 3 acres of groundnut production. With a harvest of 2,200kg unshelled groundnuts, I received an income of GhȻ 4,840. This means that I have a profit margin of GhȻ 2,660 from my expenditure”, he said.
the Market Oriented Agricultural Programme in North West Ghana (MOAP North West) has been actively involved in the capacitation of over 60,000 smallholder farmers, building their technical and entrepreneurial skills.
Many smallholder farmers thus refrain from making any substantive investment in agricultural technology or the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices Si(GAP).nce2018,
“The rotary planter has been a game changer for me and many other women in my community. I was able to plant one acre of rice within three hours. Hitherto, this would have taken me 4 days, spending more money to hire labor to help me” recounts the farmer Nibebiir Emelia, a 46 year old mother of four, in the Nandom Municipality, Upper West Region.
MOAP North West will continue to capacitate more smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and household incomes.
Most smallholder farmers in Ghana’s north west have challenges accessing planting machinery to support their production. The alternative of using manual labour is resource consuming, especially under rain fed production. As a result, the area planted is lower than would otherwise be possible, leading to low production overall.
Celebrating Success Rotary planters improve agricultural production and reduce the labour of women farmers.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 14
To address this challenge, the Market Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP North West) supported 204 smallholder farmers to procure handheld rotary planters ahead of the 2022 agricultural production season. Emelia is one of 165 women beneficiaries of this intervention.
Beaming with smiles, Emelia reported, “Since we joined the project, the farmer groups in Ketuo have benefitted immensely from finance trainings, demonstration plots, soy utilization training, the opportunity to buy the planters at a subsidized rate, etc. When I heard about the project’s intention to support us to buy the planters, I initially hesitated, but later decided to give it a try. I can confidently say that I have no regrets about that decision. So far, I have planted 3 acres of my own farm, for rice, soyabean and cowpea with ease and in a faster time’’.
Emelia explained that she intends to use the revenue generated from the use of the planter to buy learning materials for her son, who is in senior high school. She was full of appreciation for the support received so far. ‘’I would like to thank MOAP NW for building our capacities to improve our agricultural production, especially reducing the labor of women farmers with these planters.”
Before partaking in the training, Ebenezer did not deposit his income into a bank account. Now he has a business account with Access Bank, thanks to a marketplace organised for financial service providers. He has started saving and has an overview of his inflows and outflows and knows that he needs to keep records to apply for a loan. His business is now registered and has cultivated the work ethic of ensuring his products are consistently of high quality. Because of this, Ebenezer has seen an increase in his clientele and revenues have gone up by 15%.
Ebenezer has participated in further trainings, including a training of trainers workshop and has trained about 50 of the zonal GCFDA members.
Ebenezer has always desired to expand his business; however, he faced a huge challenge access to financial services.
Celebrating Success
He produces and sells fashion and has a training initiative for the youth. “I wanted to open this business because most of the youth around here don’t have a job, or any useful skills and I want to change that and give them work. So, I encourage them to come to my training”, Ebenezer shares. Currently, he has 22 trainees of which 13 are females and trains them for 3 ½ years.
Fashion Designer sees increased profits after PSED-FSD financial management training
When he heard about the GIZ FSD “Improving MSME Access to Finance” training initiative, Ebenezer’s curiosity got the better him and he signed on to it.
“The training further improved my financial risk management skills. I learned that insurance is important and signed up for the Alliance MSME Insurance product, to be on the safe side, in case of a fire outbreak or if I or my apprentices become sick. Before I didn’t even know about Allianz”, he states.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 15
The Empac Fashion House sells men’s and women’s clothes on the market and produces protective apparel for an apiculturist company. He has 14 industrial machines, including a chain stitch embroidery machine, and a digital sewing machine.
“I learned a lot from the training. For example, it is important to keep my family’s expenditures and my business’ expenditures separately and pay myself a salary. I also learned to keep proper records, and to keep track of my apprentices’ working times and their wages”, says Ebenezer, who is also transferring this knowledge to his staff during morning briefings.
Ebenezer Serebour, a 41 year old member of the Ghana Cooperative Fashion Designers Association (GCFDA), has owned the Empac Fashion House located in Madina, Accra, for the past seven years.
Supporting the growth of MSMEs in Ghana
Have you had any delicious cake donuts recently? If you’re in Kumasi, you should try Cake donuts! Ashely (an entrepreneur) believes she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit in her, stemming from childhood when her mum was involved in the production of Tom brown (a cereal). She decided to start her own business even as a student.
All in all, PSED MEP constantly seeks to foster entrepreneurship in Ghana by providing opportunities for the growth of businesses!
Ashely has also benefitted from various PSED MEP interventions in the Ashanti region and confidently states, “Through all the trainings treating topics such as digital marketing and growing and obtaining customers, my customer base has increased drastically because I can now reach a wider market and also create a lot of content for advertisement”.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 16
In growing and rebranding his businesses, Theophilus has been impacted by several interventions organized by the Migration and Employment Promotion component (PSED MEP). These include a workshop on understanding the legal framework of entrepreneurship, and a recent intensive digital marketing training to equip businesses with pertinent skills to engage digitally and obtain more customers. He attests to the impact of these interventions by saying,
Theophilus has always been concerned with health issues and food consumption, having started his business together with his mum from small beginnings when they used to sell Gari (usually simply packed in a transparent rubber bag) to senior high school students, to a growing agro processing firm. The company is on a mission to produce and supply healthy, nutritious, quality, and tasty food (breakfast cereal) that satisfies the health needs of people. You should try their healthy and crispy coconut chips!
“Through the digital marketing training, l have been able to now setup various social media platforms for my business and further gone ahead to partner with Glovo to sell and deliver my products. I have also been able to reach new customers, and this has greatly affected my revenue, seeing an increase by over 30%. My business also now keeps our books very well and signs contracts and memorandum of understanding with our clients.
One sold Gari with his parents and evolved the micro business into a fast growing agro processing firm, the other a student entrepreneur providing delicious Cake donuts. Meet Theophilus and Ashely!
Celebrating Success
“My revenue has increased almost by 90% as I have almost had double of what I used to get before the trainings on digital marketing. I am also paying more attention to customer feedback and growing my business”
Theophilus reiterates his vision of providing healthy foods and also creating employment for the youth in the Agribusiness value chain.
FEMALE LEADERSHIP: PERSONALITY SPOTLIGHT
In both her professional and personal journey, Yodit is guided by her value system and tries to remain true to herself and others, while exuding a high work ethic. This has set her apart from most peers and colleagues. “[I am deliberate about everything, especially] being authentic and setting boundaries and standards. I also believe in [espousing candour or being candid when relating with people]. Where in some circles, being ambitious, viable and results driven are discouraged, I have experienced the opposite, where men have pushed me to reach my full potential by encouraging my drive to succeed and making me see my focus and achievements as benefits to a career trajectory.”
“Leading is not managing; managing is not controlling” Yodit Zeggay
Despite having all these influences Yodit admits she never really considered them mentors. Instead, she focused on building purposeful and impactful relationships with brilliant colleagues and leaders whom she studies and learns from. Does she think young female professionals will benefit from mentors? In her usual pleasant but candid self, Yodit asserts that until opportunities are created for women to leverage, having a mentor is unlikely to do much to support the growth of women professionally. She suggests mentoring of “senior female/male professionals to be more creative, welcoming, and less conservative in their thinking.” If not, “a lot of energy and ideas get lost when your work environment/society conditions you over a more extended period. We need to break those patterns, small, small,” Yodit suggests with a sly smile.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 17
The second child, and first of four girls, Yodit fondly recalls her household being intellectually charged, with debates on politics and socio economic issues. “My dad would read for me ‘New Africa’, a pan African newspaper first issued in 1966. I did not speak English then, but I saw the pictures,” she muses nostalgically. Being raised by activist parents shaped her sense of social responsibility and equity and developed her into a vocal and determined individual.
Long before she walked the corridors of power engaging with local, regional, and national government officials as Head of Regional Coordination for the GovID Programme, Yodit Zeggay was a child born amid violent conflict in her home country of Eritrea. At the time, Eritrea was an occupied province within Ethiopia but fought to gain its political sovereignty; a struggle that took 30 years. Her parents were socio political activists who escaped the conflict and sought political asylum in Germany, her naturalised home, where she began her formative years.
Indeed, this seems to have worked to Yodit’s favour since as a young professional with the EU Portfolio Management at GIZ Ethiopia/IGAD/AU, she was exposed to and involved in several high profile engagements like participating in meetings with EU Delegates across the continent; actively participating in significant contract negotiations with high level EU technocrats/diplomats or drafting the defence of a critical legal question in front of the European Court of ApartAuditors.from male leaders and colleagues, Yodit mentions a female colleague she was paired with who impressed her and contributed to having a good employee experience at GIZ. “I was supported by one brilliant female colleague, and everything was in tune. Later I found out she was the mother of two and worked full time while being professional, kind, prepared and ready. Paired with good and trusted leadership back then, this was the most empowering experience within GIZ,” Yodit reflects and states emphatically.
Yodit started her career at GIZ headquarters as an intern; then become a NMA/national personnel for a brief time, international expert (not AMA), Consultant and AMA. From Eschborn, she’s worked in Timor Leste, Ethiopia/Djibouti (all country offices) and Ghana (programme). At a point in her GIZ career, Yodit left to explore the private sector with an assignment on the Turkish/Syrian border.
She encourages anyone aspiring to leadership be bold and ask questions; “respect hierarchy but do not fear it; walk the talk and always check yourself, your actions, reactions, reflections, and engagement.”
Yodit shares that she was raised “in a small and magical medieval town called Bad Urach, [located in Baden Württemberg], South Germany. The town was presented with the "most beautiful shortest hiking path" award in Germany several years in a row,” At one time, Yodit could be classified ecumenically inspired as she was a devout Catholic, baptised Coptic orthodox and served as an altar girl for many years, while ironically attending a protestant boarding school. Now she considers herself more spiritual and believes in having a personal relationship with “the Gods”.
If Yodit was not working in international development, she would be in a creative role like an A&E executive in the music industry.
Yodit will be leaving Ghana in September to take up a new role as an AV in Arusha, Tanzania.
Make no mistake, however; Yodit has not always had a smooth ride in her leadership journey. She has had to earn her place at each step because of assumptions like “she’s too young” “she may not be ready yet” “not matured enough”; as if to say maturity is tied to a generation or an age group. Fortunately, these perceptions did not deter her. Rather, she was determined to show up everyday with her best self and adds that “I learned to carry myself with dignity and knowledge. Everything else about my person is irrelevant to my professional environment.”
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 18
Authentication: Proves that your users communicate with the intended website. It protects against man in the middle attacks and builds user trust, which translates into other business benefits.
Encryption: Encrypting the exchanged data to keep it secure from eavesdroppers. That means that while the user is browsing a website, nobody can "listen" to their conversations, track their activities across multiple pages, or steal their information.
Information Security and TIT BITS
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Data integrity: Data cannot be modified or corrupted during transfer, intentionally or otherwise, without being detected.
News from Country Office
GIZ Corporate Design Center
GIZ Corporate design (CD) is a set of legally obligatory design guidelines that guarantees the organisation projects a respectable and consistently recognisable image. These design requirements must be followed for all GIZ publications and promotional materials in Germany and other countries. The corporate design standards apply to both analogue products like business cards, brochures, giveaways, and office signage as well as digital ones like PowerPoint presentations and emails.
CenterHTTPS
Data sent using HTTPS is secured via the Transport Layer Security protocol (TLS), which provides three key layers of protection:
The GIZ Corporate Design Center houses all pertinent GIZ corporate design guidelines and templates as well as those of its commissioning parties for publications, country brochures, web content, videos, trade show materials, and many other things.
(Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is an internet communication protocol that protects the integrity and confidentiality of data between the user's computer and the site. Users expect a secure and private online experience when using a website. We encourage you to adopt HTTPS in order to protect your users' connections to your website, regardless of the content on the site.
Detailed guidelines and aids as well as pointers on how to differentiate between GIZ, BMZ and EU design are available in four languages (German, English, French and Spanish) in the Corporate Design Center (CDC) and under the heading Processes and Rules (P+R). Here you can also find logos, world maps, various templates and lots more.
Here is the link to the GIZ Corporate design
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 19
I am a pharmacist by profession, and I have been working in the Ghanaian health sector since 2015 to bring health solutions to patients at all levels of care. I have previously occupied diverse roles at multinational pharmaceutical companies in areas of sales, marketing, stakeholder management, brand and product management, and ethics and compliance.
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 20
With GHI, I look forward to expanding interventions to the whole of Ghana in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular diseases. I believe that I am in the right environment to develop and grow competencies in developmental works. I am anticipative of the experience!
Joining GIZ from the pharmaceutical industry has been a paradigm shift for me as it is my first foray into developmental work. Fortunately for me, I have joined an amazing team at Ghana Heart Initiative (GHI), and the opportunity to participate in Capacity Works training where I acquainted with colleagues from other projects, have helped me to settle in very well.
STARTING GIZ: by Henry Koning Acheampong Technical Advisor
Anthony K. Sarfo Technical Advisor
Harriet Benson Obeng
Edem L Korley Kila Finance Officer
Henry InitiativeGhanaTechnicalAcheampongKoningAdvisorHeart
JuniorSunkpalTechnical Officer
Patrick Ateah Yeboah Regional Advisor GovID
NIED Cluster
Hannes Lambrecht Head of Programme KAIPTC
Departures | Leaving GIZ Ghana NEWCOMERS | Welcome
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 21
Akua Omari Aboagye Technical Advisor GIZ/EU REACH
Lea Lambrecht Head of TVET PSED to GIZ
Ghana
MOVE
NIEDDriverCluster
Frederick Fre-Ere
MOVE/EU
Akwasi Obeng Appiah Technical develoPPPAdvisor
Essel Mensah Ewool
Archibald Okotah Technical Officer develoPPP
Jürgen GovIDComponentLembckeMarkManager
PSED
Procurement Officer Country Office Abraham FairTechnicalSamOfficerForward
Maike Kuske Project develoPPPManager
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 22
Johanna Hartung Head TransformationDigital Center
Nana S. GovIDRegionalKingAdvisor
Mustapha Yakubu Technical Officer MOVE
GIZ Ghana News Bulletin ISSUE 04/2022 PAGE 23
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