Business24 Newspaper 17 March 23

Roads Minister ready to justify road sector achievements

By Eugene Davis

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has stated that he is ready to subject himself to a bi-partisan committee to probe his sector as being able to construct the most roads in the history of the country.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo declared that his administration has built more roads than any other government in Ghana’s 4th Republic history.

Delivering the State-of-the-Nation address in Parliament last Wednesday, March 8, President Akufo-Addo said the majority of monies borrowed have gone into the construction of roads.

“I am proud of the amount of work that we have done, especially in the road sector. Roads constitute the largest number of questions asked in this House by Members of Parliament; a large amount of the monies we borrow are for road construction. Shall we dare stop constructing roads?”

Contributing to the debate on the State-of-the-Nation’s Address at parliament house on Wednesday, Mr. Amoako-Attah stated that the President’s statement on constructing more roads than any government under the 4th republic was “uncontestable, undisputed, and above all the

statement is veri able. “I challenge any member of this House, country, I can go further to request that if anybody is in doubt, this House can set up an independent bi-partisan committee to investigate my ministry, the facts of the data and the president under his leadership has done more work in the road sector and it outshines any other government.”

Further, he added many more road projects are going to be added between now and 2024, and “by the time the president leaves o ce, the people of this country will be amazed at the level of infrastructure.

“Roads are being constructed in the 16 regions of our country; roads are being constructed in over 260 districts of our country. if we talk about road infrastructure, we talking about activities like surface dressing, interchanges, building of bridges and culverts, asphalt overlays and graveling, which are all periodic activities in the road sector and again we talk about routine activities in the sector.

The minority caucus in Parliament has described as erroneous and misrepresentation claims by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the State of the Nation address to have built more roads than any other government under the Fourth Republic.

Contributing to the SONA

debate, the Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah indicated that the government’s six years in o ce have only done 15,000kilometres of roads and that there is no justication that they have constructed more roads than any government.

He revealed that the total network of road in 2017 was 78,402km and cumulatively in 2022 was 94,203, stressing that within six years the NPP government has only done 15,000km representing just 16percent of the total road network in the country.

“If you look at Volta region roads, it is very pathetic -when you have 6,728km of roads in the volta region and you have done a paltry 407.15km in your six year tenure, this is discriminatory.”

The President said his government had built a total of 11,000 kilometres of roads since assuming o ce in 2017.

South Tongu MP proposes independent manager for Ghana’s debt

Member of Parliament for the South Tongu constituency, Kobena Mensah Woyome, is proposing the decoupling of debt management function from the Ministry of Finance to an independent manager to prevent debt pile-ups.

He said it seems government, instead of borrowing to fund projects and pay back the loans

with interests, borrows rather for recurrent expenditure and other activities that does not guarantee the country’s ability to repay due to lack of openness on the part of managers of the debt, describing it as recklesness.

According to him, the proposed independent debt manager of the country’s debt

will advise government on loan acquisition decisions including how to borrow, what to borrow and at what rate and how to spend borrowings,and ensure e ciency so that the country does not nd itself into huge debt situation in future.

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‘’…I will actually suggest that government should be candid and maybe all here in this house must agree and advocate that, the managers of the economy, infact, there should be independent mangers of the debt of this country. So that would be taken away from the responsibility of the nance minister, so that at least, they will be able to help advice government on decision with regards to what to borrow, rate at which to borrow, how to spend, and on what so all these things can be manage e ciently,” he proposed.

Mr Woyome who is also the ranking member on the Sports, Youth and Culture Committee made the proposal on the oor of parliament when he took his turn in support of a motion to thank President Aku o-Addo for delivering a message of the State-of-the-Nation in accordance with article 67 of the 1992 constitution.

The North Tongu lawmaker also questioned the Bank of Ghana for failing on its policy rate management function which has led to the high in ationary rates the country is witnessing in recent times.

He criticized the central bank and described it as ‘reckless’ and engaging in an ‘illegality’ by dolling out printed money to government beyond the allowable ve percent threshold which has brought the country to its current status.

Mr Woyome backed his claim with fact and gures and explained that the central bank is expected to use its policy rate

to control in ation by mobbing excess liquidity from the system but ends up using the backdoor in releasing more money to government to spend thereby defeating the purpose of the policy rate announcements.

“Whenever the Policy Committee meets and increase interest rates with a clear intention of mopping excess liquidity from the system, so that, o course, we don’t have too much money circulating, and that is done usually through high interest rates. And o course, that has its own attendant as a results of squeezing businesses in a way that they would not have access to funds to operate with. But all geared towards managing in ation and that is good. But at the same time, the same Bank of Ghana gives out money or funds government through the printing of money, and sometimes and almost all the time since 2020, beyond the 5% threshold that they ought to be doing, which is an illegality that has brought us where we are.

And the issue is this, what are they trying to achieve. You are trying to use the monetary policy to mop excess liquidity from the system because you want to control in ation, but at the same time using the back door and releasing more money illegally to the government, which is going to carry on more expenditure, by way of introducing more money into the system, defeating the very purpose of the monetary policy that was actually announced” Mr Woyome asserted.

The Ranking Member therefore urged the need for parliament to keep a careful watch over the central bank because it has not been sincere.

..and so Mr Speaker if you watch

carefully, gures such as in 2020, they (referring to BoG) funded government to the tune of Ghc10 billion, that is beyond the ve percent threshold that ought to be allowed which is ve percent of the previous year’s revenue that was collected, in 2021, they spent or printed in excess of Ghc 35 billion in terms of funding for government ,then at the same time in 2022, Ghc 50 billion was used to fund government, and then also in this year, so far, about Ghc40 billion, and you look at all these, you are funding government illegally, but at the same time announcing policy rate which is intended to be controlling the money circulation in the system.

So you are actually giving and then taking and then making life di cult for a lot people, operators in the economy, businesses alike and so on, in the Ghanaian economy.

Mr Speaker, that is one area that I think the action and inaction of the Bank of Ghana ought to be

looked at and watched because they’ve never been sincere, and what how do you describe it? It is not reckless in terms of decision, it is not in a way not mismanagement of monetary policy in terms of ensuring that you are controlling the macroeconomic indicators in the system, and that is for me a way of probably lieing for want of a better word, that you are intending to be controlling the monetary system but at the same time pumping more money illegally, into the system, but at the end of the day, you have achieved nothing, only to make life di cult for everybody including businesses and other operators in the economy,” Mr Woyome stated.

He urged the president to allow independent state institutions mandated to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against his appointees with regards COVID-19 funds to do their work and establish the facts whiles urging him to desist from praising himself and clearing them of wrongdoings.

Oxford Business Group in research partnership for key energy transition conference

The National Private Electricity Vendors Association has passionately appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana to reconsider the new minimum quota level of ¢20000.

This follows an increase in the minimum quota purchase per meter type from ¢5000 to ¢20,000, e ective March 1, 2023.

A letter signed by the Managing Director of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, pointed out that this is to reduce the volume of daily transactions and also to quicken the processing of quota

purchased by individual vendors.

But the National Private Electricity Vendors Association in a statement said vendors who have now dropped or may dropped e ective from March 1, 2023 will de nitely cause inconvenience to ECG customers within their localities because they will then have to travel to other areas to purchase credits for their meters.

“With due respect, may we request you to consider not to increase the minimum quota level to the ¢20,000. We fervently appeal that you maintain the

current quota purchase of ¢5000 per meter , since the change will have tremendous impact on vendors as well as customers within the communication countrywide”.

Also, it said with even the current minimum level some vendors have dropped from operating from their locality simply because they are nding it di cult to raise enough capital for their operations, pay for shops rent, utilities and cashiers they have employed.

“Some vendors are also operating more than one meter system

because of their locations either on boundary with other meters installation or ECG Districts boarders”, it mentioned.

“Again not all vendors will have the capacity to obtain enough funds to cope and operate with the new minimum level of quota purchase especially when they are operating more than one meter systems. Sacri ces by vendors to stand in ECG during odd hours when the letter is not operating will have harsh consequences on customers country-

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wide because majority may not have the required amount being requested to operate more”, it added.

Continuing, it said the ECG should take a cue from the Bank of Ghana which has directed the telecom rms to limit their customer’s transactions to only ¢15,000, “so raising your requirement to ¢20,000 will be in contravention to Bank of Ghana’s directives and obviously pose great challenge to vendors loading their wallets”.

Furthermore, the National Private Electricity Vendors Association said the possibility of compounding unemployment in the country will also be very great for as it is now that no vender employs less than two cashiers for their operations.

“We should also very mindful of the fact that every negative issue happening in this our country is always attributed to the government. Inconveniencing customers in their localities may cause/call for the government intervention in such a situation, especially when the country is drawing near to election”, it added.

“May we humbly suggest that in view of ECG Management intention to introduce the super vending concept, some of these issues be assigned to the Super Vendors to be appointed to handle, so that Vendors can thrash out most of these complications that may crop up in the process with their respective assigned Super Vendors”, it concluded.

Samsung’s new 5G Galaxy A Series deliver outstanding mobile technology for all

Samsung Electronics has unveiled the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G, two innovative smartphones that advance Samsung Galaxy’s commitment to designing awesome mobile experiences. These new additions to the popular Galaxy A series will help users shoot steady and crisp videos, see clearly even in bright conditions, and do more of the things they love with battery life that lasts more than two days.

“Cutting-edge mobile experiences are increasingly essential to everyday life,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “With continuous enhancements to the Galaxy A series, we’re ensuring that more people around the world can access our transformative innovations.”

Take Awesome Day and Night Photographs, Enhanced with Creative Editing Tools

The Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G deliver stunning images with clear quality even in bright conditions, making use of Samsung Galaxy’s leading Nightography and AI capabilities. Whether users want to capture the perfect sel e or connect through super-smooth video calls, the Galaxy A54 o ers astonishing detail thanks to its 32MP front camera.

The new smartphones produce video with amazing clarity, combatting shakiness and blur with improved optical image stabilisation (OIS) and video digital image stabilisation (VDIS). Even with unsteady hands or when lming on the go, users can be con dent

about capturing awesome content. For adventures after dark and in low light conditions, Night mode helps users to capture more detail by broadening the camera’s pixel size.

Experience Awesome Performance with Vivid Display and Long-Lasting Battery

Both devices feature immersive Super AMOLED displays, measuring 6.4-inch on the Galaxy A54 5G and 6.6-inch on the Galaxy A34 5G. Both displays have been upgraded for astounding outdoor visibility, even under bright sunlight. With the enhanced Vision Booster and a 120Hz refresh rate, the displays will keep up with users as they move between di erent lighting conditions.

Stay Connected Without Compro-

mising Security

Enhanced mobile experiences rely on advanced security. With Samsung Knox, data is kept under lock and key with defence-grade mobile security. The Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G give users access to the Security and Privacy Dashboard, which makes it easy to see how apps are tracking data and enables simple ways to stop unwanted data collection.

The Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G are also compatible with the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem to provide seamless connectivity between devices.

Availability

The Galaxy A54 5G will be available in Three colour options, including Awesome Lime, Awe-

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some Graphite and Awesome White. The Galaxy A34 5G will be available in Three colour options, including Awesome Lime, Awesome Graphite and Awesome Silver. Both Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G will be available in Ghana from 20th March.

Community leaders in Saltpond call for value addition after stakeholder engagement with the IES District

The Institute for Energy Security (IES) held a district stakeholder engagement to discuss ndings of their recent research report on lithium mining with members of the Saltpond community in the Central region of Ghana.

This is part of e orts to promote a symbiotic relationship between lithium mining companies and critical stakeholders, potential investors, and host communities.

The meeting was held on the theme "Avoiding the Mining Curse: Promoting e cient and sustainable lithium exploitation in Ghana’s mining sector through the adoption of best practices."

The District stakeholder engagement brought together participants from traditional leaders, religious and opinion leaders, representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), District Police Command, Municipal Assembly, National Investigative Bureau (NIB), political party leaders, other agencies, and development partners.

In a brief welcome address, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ike Lord Ennu, welcomed o cials of the Institute for Energy Security and members of the house to this all-important meeting.

He said the engagement would help promote the socioeconomic interests of the people in Mfantsiman and called for maximum support from the people.

He further stated that the Assembly would do its part of the bargain to ensure that the interests of the people of Mfantsiman are achieved. He also urged both the farmers and landlords of the operational communities (Abonko, Anokye, Kuntu, and Ewoyaa) to continue to demand whatever compensation is rightfully theirs.

Lawyer Edmond Kombat, Director of Research and Finance at IES, in his address, commended the community members for making time out of their schedules to attend this important meeting. He also used the opportunity to thank the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) for their contribution and support in this important meeting and expressed the hope that they would collaborate with IES in matters of this nature.

Lawyer Edmond hinted that the next phase of the dialogue would be an engagement with lithium mining companies in Ghana, followed by a national dialogue.

Lawyer Alhassan Iddrissu, a proj-

ect consultant, outlined the purpose of the research in his presentation and called for input from the various stakeholders available to ne-tune it in the best interest of the people.

He stated that this was being done to avoid the incidents that bedeviled the gold mining communities so that such things would not happen in Mfanstiman. He carefully described it as the "mining curse."

He stressed that "We are not against lithium mining, but we want it to be done responsibly, and the miners have to be educated on the need to collaborate with the community, understand their needs, and channel their CSR initiatives to address them."

The Chiefs a rmed that they would call on the mining companies to adhere to the protocols of

the land and also demand what is rightfully theirs through CSR activities. They also made calls on the government to establish processing plants to add value to the mined lithium and not repeat the mistakes made in gold production.

"We should present the best negotiators as a country so as to ensure contracts signed are favorable to the nation, which will then trickle down to citizens," a participant added.

Nananom admonished that, as a matter of principle, the company should inform farmers, landholders, and or their representatives before any heavy machine, be it tractor or excavator, passes through their farms to avoid confrontation.

On his part, the Divisional Police

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Commander called on companies coming to the Saltpond area to be vigilant and support the security agencies with the needed logistics to ensure they are able to ght criminals who will emerge when commercial production starts.

Traditional leaders and opinion leaders within the municipality and region were called upon to support the exploration of lithium in commercial quantities in a manner that would be mutually bene cial to the community and its people.

Seminar featuring Chinese-style modernization held in Johannesburg

China Media Group (CMG) Africa on Thursday hosted a workshop under the theme “Opportunities Arising From Chinese-style Modernization” in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The event brought dozens of South African and Chinese scholars and political representatives to share their visions on the development of China-Africa relations. Their discussions focused on the alignment of China’s unique path to modernization and Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

ADB launches new strategy to strengthen agribusiness financing

The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has launched a new corporate strategy with a commitment to strengthen agribusiness nancing.

The move is to help accelerate the achievement of the bank’s vision "to be the people’s bank, harnessing the transformational power of agribusiness for wealth creation."

The new corporate strategy, which was considered and approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank, replaces a 3-year strategy that expired on December 31, 2022.

It is anchored on a theme, “Going Above and Beyond the Predictable,” and has nine pillars to guide the direction of the Bank for the next few years.

The new corporate strategy is aimed at enhancing the bank’s dominance as the leader in agribusiness nancing in the country and, at the same time, leveraging technology to reposition its Retail and Digital Banking

space.

Other key focus areas include nancial performance, process improvement to enhance turnaround time, risk management, and customer experience.

Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of ADB, Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu-Tali reiterated the bank’s commitment to agribusiness nancing, saying “as the people’s bank, harnessing the transformational power of agribusiness for wealth creation, ADB is taking necessary steps to strengthen its dominance as a leader in agribusiness nancing in Ghana.”

“ADB will continue to remain leader and dominant in agribusiness nancing across the entire agricultural value chain,” he added

In the area of digital and retail banking, Alhaji Yakubu-Tali announced that "ADB has rolled out strategies towards improving its digital and retail banking

segments in order to enhance convenience and service delivery."

"The bank will also leverage strongly on technology and other channels to extend banking services to non-banked or underserved areas," he added.

The MD stated that the current happenings at the world stage, ranging from COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, the slowdown in the global economy, high in ationary pressures, exchange rate challenges, and the domestic debt exchange programme by the government, among others, require strategic decisions to make the Bank competitive and meet its performance indicators.  Thus, the new corporate strategy will serve as a blueprint to ensure that the Bank grows above and beyond the predictable.

Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu-Tali commended the bank’s customers for their loyalty and continuous trust

in the ADB brand, its products and services.

The Agricultural Development Bank PLC recently rolled out the instant issuance of GH-Link Card and also upgraded its internet banking service platform to promote remote banking as part of the transformational agenda.

The bank has also put in place measures to ensure regular review of its products and services to continuously meet the banking needs of both existing and potential custom-

Have you yet visited Tetteh Quarshie Farm? His achievement must be an inspiration to all

One of the objectives Ghana Month or Heritage Month is to encourage the patronage of made in Ghana goods and also the wearing of Ghanaian dresses. Moving around town in this Heritage Month, I’m sad to say I don’t see many people wearing African Clothing. Many people attribute the high cost of these locally made fabrics and the high cost of sewing as a deterrent. Nevertheless, we must try our best and hopefully we shall succeed. Media as always done well to promote the campaign leading by example. For some, this has been an opportunity to travel around the country promoting our culture and tourism potentials. In this month, we also need to remember some of Ghana’s great men and women whose contributions have led to some attractions being named after them. We can begin with our rst President Dr. Nkrumah. However, today the focus is on Tetthe Quarshie. Cocoa production has been the  backbone of our economy since the 1870s. It dominates the agricultural sector and contributes about 30% of the country’s export earnings. Cocoa employs a high number of farmers directly. It also supports the livelihoods of others in the commerce, service and industrial sectors of the Ghanaian economy. This makes it an important generator of revenue. Without cocoa our economy would su er. We shall forever be

grateful to one man who rst brought cocoa to Ghana. It is reported that he travelled from Ghana to Fernando Po current day Equatorial Guinea where he lived for 50 years before returning home with some cocoa beans. Tetteh Quarshie was born in 1842 to a farmer from Teshie known as Mlekuboi. His mother was known as Ashong-Fio from Labadi, both hailing from the Ga-Dangme ethnic group. Tetteh Quarshie served as an apprentice in a Blacksmith's shop at Akropong belonging to the Basel Missionaries. Due to his hard work he soon became a master blacksmith. Tetteh Quarshie was in fact the rst blacksmith to be established at Akwapim-Mampong. His hobby was farming. There are di erent stories told about how he brought in the cocoa beans. What matters is that today the cocoa beans are here and helping the Ghanaian economy. In 1879 Tetteh Quarshie planted the seeds at Mampong with some success. Friends and relatives also undertook the planting of cocoa when pods were distributed to them. Soon other farmers followed suit. It was at this point that the Basel Missionaries stepped into the picture by importing large quantities of the crop into the country. From the Gold Coast (Ghana) cocoa beans or cuttings were sent to other countries like Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The export of cocoa from Ghana began in 1891, the o cial exported in 1893 (two bags exported). Ghana once provided almost half of world output. Between 1910 and 1980 Ghana was the world's largest exporter. This position was ceded due to bush res etc. However, Ghana’s cocoa is still of the highest quality and the country earns hundreds of millions of dollars annually from the export of the beans and processed materials.

Tetteh Quarshie died in 1892. His relatives made a petition to the

Gold Coast Government on February 25th, 1925 for a grant for the upkeep of some of Tetteh Quarshie's relatives. The then Ghanaian Vice-Principal of Achimota College, Dr. J.E.K. Aggrey strenuously took up the appeal. His friend, Sir Gordon Guggisberg set up the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Scholarship at Achimota College. Other honors were bestowed on him. Another petition was made in 1927 and the Government gave a sum of only 250 pounds, although Nana Sir Ofori Atta, speaking in the Legislative Council asked for 2,500 pounds, supported by Kojo Thompson. As the late Ghanaian Lawyer and Anthropologist, Dr. Isaac Ephson says in his "Gallery of Gold Coast Celebrities," (p. 64) "This took the form of a more enduring memorial, which was set up at Achimota in honour of the pioneer of Ghana's staple crop and the principal bulwark of the country's economy. The memorial is Tetteh Quarshie House. And since Independence (1957) the Government of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah after petitions from Dr. J.B. Danquah and the Eastern Region House of Chiefs, has built a rst-class hospital and ttingly named it after him at Mampong-Akwapim - Tetteh Quarshie Mmorial Hospital. There’s also the Tetteh Quarshie farm where tourist visit to see the location where the rst seedlings that was planted in Ghana. Relics and important artifacts used by him is also on display at the museum located on the farm. Another important edi ce named after him is the former Tetteh Quarshie roundabout now named Tetteh Quarshie interchange. Prior to the interchange, there were claims that the roundabout was the biggest and largest in West Africa. We must remember that we shall not

By Philip Gebu

be remembered by the things we acquire in this life but rather by the legacy we live behind. What will you be remembered for?

What are you doing for mother Ghana? Are you only a spectator or a contributor to making our motherland better than we met?

As we ponder on these words, we must always remember that we live to leave behind a legacy. Tetteh Quarshie did his part and today he name lives on even though he is dead. let’s ponder on words of the song below; Arise Ghana youth for your country, the nation demands your devotion, lets us all unite to uphold her and make her great and strong. We are all involved, we are all involve to build our motherland. Again we owe a pledge to Ghana. Let’s re ect on the words of The National Pledge.

I promise on my honour to be faithful and loyal to Ghana my Motherland.

I pledge myself to the service of Ghana, with all my strength and with all my heart.

I promise to hold in high esteem our heritage, won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers; and I pledge myself in all things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana.

So help me God.

Philip Gebu is a Tourism Lecturer/Trainer. He is the C.E.O of FoReal Destinations Ltd, a Tourism Destinations Management and Marketing Company based in Ghana and with partners in many other countries. Please contact Philip with your comments and suggestions. Write to forealdestinations@gmail.com / info@forealdestinations.com. Visit our website at www.forealdestinations.com or call or WhatsApp +233(0)244295901/0264295901.V isist our social media sites Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: FoReal Destinations

Vodafone Ghana Foundation helps restore young girl with rare disease

In a touching turn of events, the Vodafone Ghana Foundation has made a profound impact on the life of Oleki Gaduga, a 12-year-old girl from Ada. Oleki was born with Infantile Blount Disease, a rare disorder that causes leg bowing and di culty walking.

Oleki had been su ering from severe pain and limited movement because of a failed corrective procedure in the past. Her family’s nancial situation was dire, and they could not support her much-needed surgery.

However, the Vodafone Ghana Foundation stepped in with timely support to give Oleki a second chance. The Foundation paid for a corrective osteotomy procedure to realign the bones in her legs and get them to work normally again.

After the corrective procedure, an overjoyed Oleki can now walk again. Her aunt, who has been her primary caregiver, expressed gratitude to the Vodafone Ghana

Foundation for bringing joy to their family and giving them hope for a brighter future.

"We are inspired by Oleki’s bravery and resilience in the face of such a di cult condition and are proud to have made a di erence in her life. Our mission is to bring hope and improve the lives of those in need, and we are thrilled to see the result of our e orts," said a representative of the Foundation.

The Vodafone Ghana Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable communities and making a positive impact on the world. Their support for Oleki aligns with their social protection initiatives aimed at improving the lives of those in need.

The Foundation’s e orts to provide essential services and support for vulnerable communities have made a signi cant impact and brought hope to many lives.

Ghana Link aims to boost economic growth with ICUMS training program

Ghana Link Network Services has begun its annual intensive refresher training programme on the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) for various stakeholders across the country.

The ICUMS platform has revolutionised customs processes in Ghana by integrating all stakeholders involved in the customs clearance process, from shippers, MDA’s (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) and freight forwarders to customs o cials and other regulatory bodies.

Raymond Amaglo, the Director of Operations for Ghana Link Network Services, told the media that, "The ICUMS is a game-changer in the way we do business at the ports. It has signi cantly reduced the time and cost of doing business while also ensuring the integrity and security of goods and our borders."

This year’s training also has covered the new additions to the ICUMS system on a range of topics, including the use of the ICUMS platform, customs procedures, and regulations, as well as best practices for customs clearance processes.

The training sessions which is still

ongoing is being delivered by experienced trainers and industry experts from Ghana Link and technical partners, who shared their knowledge and experience with the participants.

The rst phase of the refresher training programme, in collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), started with various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies on ICUMS from the 23rd to the 31st of January 2023.

It continued with training for the Trade Department of all Commercial Banks in Ghana on the 26th of January 2023.

The training continued in Tema with the Association of Customs House Agents, Ghana (ACHAG) on the 13th and 14th of February, followed by the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana (CUBAG) on the 15th and 16th of February, the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana (FFAG) was done on the 17th of February, the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) from the 20th to the 22nd of February, the Importers & Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) also in Tema on the 24th of February, Self-Declarants in Accra on the

27th of February, Self-Declarants in Tema on the 28th of February, and Direct Applicants (Embassies & Foreign Missions) on the 2nd of March.

"We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the ICUMS," Mr. Amaglo said and went on to state that Ghana Link the operators of the ICUMS believes the system will play a crucial role in improving the competitiveness of our ports and in boosting economic growth and development in Ghana. He further explained that the success of the ICUMS platform is closely tied to the level of knowledge and skills that stakeholders possess, which is why the company invested so much in organizing these training programmes to ensure that everyone involved in the customs clearance process is up to date with the latest trends and technologies.

"We are delighted with the positive feedback we have received from the stakeholders who attended these training programmes. It is clear that they have found the programmes to be very bene cial and have gained a lot of valuable

insights into how to use the ICUMS system more e ectively," Mr. Amaglo said.

The roll-out of these nationwide refresher training programmes is a testament to the commitment of Ghana Link Network Services and the Ghana Revenue Authority to ensure that the ICUMS platform continues to deliver value to stakeholders across the customs clearance process.

Vodafone sets the pace for green energy with the solarisation of 2 exchanges in Accra

Vodafone Ghana, a leader in Ghana's telecommunications industry, is at the front of the charge for a green energy revolution in Africa. In line with Vodafone Group, the business is taking signi cant steps to reduce impact on the planet by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025 and becoming net zero by 2040.

To set the ball rolling, the company is starting with the solarization of two telephone exchanges in Accra – Dansoman and Achimota. A telephone exchange is an important but energy-hungry part of the communications network, responsible for connecting people by constantly processing large amounts of voice and data.

25,622.1KWh of solar power was generated to run Vodafone’s Dansoman exchange in 2022. This is equivalent to ~11,839kg of CO2 reduced from the environment. While this may seem a modest amount in comparison to the ~400 million tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere yearly because of human activity worldwide, takes each individual cumulative e ect to make the substantial di erence necessary. Prior to the completion of the Achimota exchange solarisation project in 2022, Vodafone Ghana’s engineers are working to reduce energy consumption through obsolete equipment replacement with more energy e cient ones. This was made possible through advancements in

solar technology and recent upgrades to key components. Through these solarisation projects, Vodafone Ghana aspires to take full control of its electricity requirements and manage them more e ciently and at substantially lower costs. Vodafone has engaged the relevant energy authorities on the possibility of feeding the excess energy produced by the Vodafone Ghana solarisation projects into the national grid to bolster its output to the nation.

As Sustainability Manager at Vodafone Ghana, Jacqueline Makumator-Jones shared in an interview, ‘…it is important that our business success does not come at the cost of the planet. We have committed to halving our environmental impact and reducing our carbon emissions by 2040. At Vodafone Ghana, we are taking major steps to green our energy consumption which accounts for a large percentage of the carbon footprint of our core operations.’

In the last decade, signi cant advancements have been made in the development of cheaper and more e cient solar and other green technologies. Nevertheless, businesses and governments remain hesitant to implement these technologies, citing cost as a key factor – a nding which was con rmed at the 2022 World Economic Forum in Davos.

Other factors found to be limiting implementation of green technologies at both the macro and micro

levels include a lack of will, and a general ‘sluggish’ attitude towards green change. Experts and environmental activists from several countries have called for businesses and governments to nance the global transition to a greener future at a faster pace than they had been doing.

Vodafone Group is taking signicant steps to reduce its impact on the planet, in line with which it has made commitments towards going 100% green. These include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025, becoming net zero by 2040, and purchasing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. As part of its social contract, Vodafone Ghana is also committed to ensure compliance with all environmental

requirements.

Speaking on the solarisation e orts, Chief Executive O ce of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai stated that, ‘At Vodafone Ghana, our brand of corporate responsibility prioritises activities and actions that reduce the environmental impact on business and the communities in which we serve. The solarisation of our exchanges is testament to our e orts in putting into action our green energy agenda to curb carbon emissions towards reducing the negative e ects of climate change on our people and environment and reduce our dependence on the national grid. At Vodafone, we believe in advocating and practicing greater responsibility that has a positive impact on the wider society.’

Visit of the Spanish Warship ‘Audaz’ and of the Commander of the Operations Command to Ghana

The O shore Patrol Vessel ESPS ‘Audaz’ called at the port of Tema on March 6, where it carried out military activities with the Ghanaian Armed Forces for six days. In addition, the warship participated in the ‘Flintlock-23’ exercise, supporting a Force of Special Operations located in land. The main goals of the visit were to strengthen cooperation ties between Ghana and Spain and to promote maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Taking advantage of these events, Lieutenant General Francisco Braco Carbó, Commander of the Operations Command, travelled to Ghana in order to oversee the

military activities of the Spanish forces and to establish an agenda of high-level meetings.

Port visit in Tema

Audaz, constructed by Navantia, is one of the four OPVs (O shore Patrol Vessels) built for the Spanish Navy under the extension of “1st series navy ships”. It was delivered in July 2018, and it has its docking base in Cartagena, Spain. The current sta of ESPS. ‘Audaz’ is made up of 77 people, among them were an Operational Security Team of Marines and a rein-

forcement of soldiers and seamen for speci c capacities. It is commanded by the Captain of Corvette Marcos de Sousa Fuchs.

After having covered more than 8.000 nautical miles since it left Spain last January, the ESPS ‘Audaz’ set course towards Tema (Ghana). Previously, it had participated in the ‘Obangame Express 23’ exercise and it had visited the ports of Lagos (Nigeria), Pointe Noire (Republic of the Congo) and Luanda (Angola). Audaz’s operations in Ghana fall within the scope of “Foco África 2023” and “Plan Africa”,

By Chris Koney

two strategies of the Spanish Government, which consider Ghana a priority of Spain’s foreign policy.

The military cooperation activities carried out with the Ghanaian Armed Forces aimed at improving Ghana’s capacities in ghting terrorism, piracy and other maritime related crimes.

The cutting edge equipment of the vessel, together with the high level skills of the Spanish soldiers, were shared with the Ghanaian authorities, who learned about the use of unmanned vehicles such as drones, medical services or

Story continued from page 9

various defence mechanisms.

Exercise FLINTLOCK-23 and ESPS ‘AUDAZ’

Audaz also participated in the annual ‘FLINTLOCK’ exercise, organized and directed by the US Special Operations Command for Africa (SOCAFRICA). The exercise is designed to enhance the capabilities of Sahel countries to combat terrorist or extremist organizations, illicit tra cking and the ow of foreign ghters. It aims at increasing Border security, integrating the Air Forces of host nations in support of Special Oper-

ations, as well as adding “Information Operations” into these scenarios. It is the rst time that a ship participates in this exercise.

Although special Operation Units from di erent countries participated in Flintlock, (1300 troops from 30 countries), the ship was the only vessel taking part in the exercise. Furthermore, Spain is participating in Flintlock with additional units from the three Armies and Civil Guard, all working under the leadership of the Commander of the Operations Command, Lieutenant General Francisco Braco (CMOPS).

Letshego Savings and Loans granted extension to submit audited financial statements

The Ghana Stock Exchange has granted Letshego Ghana Savings and Loans an extension to submit its audited nancial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The new date for submission is on April 30, 2023.

A release published by the GSE said; “Letshego has indicated that the company is yet to complete and sign o the audit process with its auditors.

This is mainly because of the implications for the assessment of the Expected Credit Losses and its impact on the 2022 nancial statements due to the company’s participation in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme

launched by the government.”

The release explained that “it is against this background that the date for ling of the 2022 Audited Financial Statements is extended by one month to April 30, 2023.” Company pro le Letshego Ghana Savings and Loans Plc is a public limited company, incorporated and domiciled in Ghana. The company is licensed as a non-bank nancial institution under the Banks and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions.

The company’s corporate bonds are listed on the Ghana Stock Fixed Income Market of the Ghana Stock Exchange.

We need more partnerships that promote diaspora engagements – Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy

Participants at a lecture on new ideas for engagement with the African diaspora, have called for the institution of a truth and reconciliation process to help settle and assuage the scourge of slavery and to hasten the integration of African -Americans and Afro- Caribbeans back to the African continent.

The event was organized by the Institute of International A airs, Ghana (GhIIA.org) under the theme ‘New ideas for engagement and integration: Africa and its forced Diaspora’ at Mmofra Place headlined the eminent Professor

Esi Sutherland-Addy, a noted academic and public servant as the keynote speaker. The event was moderated by Dr. Kwabena Opoku Agyemang of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon.

The event was highly patronized with an audience consisting members of the Institute, retired and serving diplomats, members of the diplomatic community and the African-American and Afro-Caribbean Community in Ghana.

Professor Sutherland-Addy in her presentation noted that though

Ghana had done well to champion integration and the ‘return’ of the diaspora, more had to be done for Africa’s forced diaspora to come back to the country. Predicating her presentation on her personal experience, she noted that the draw of Ghana for African-Americans and Afro-Caribbean was strong in the pre-war and colonial era.

She noted that her father, Bill Sutherland, moved to the then Gold Coast with fellow African Americans like the Dr. Lee, as part of a desire to re-integrate and to promote Pan-Africanism, which

led to being part of the e ort in convincing Martin Luther King to attend Ghana’s independence celebrations.

She further indicated that, Ghana had done well with initiatives like PANAFEST and the YEAR of RETURN, but more had to be done to achieve a deeper level of engagement with the forced African Diaspora. In response to a question from Dr. Opoku-Agyemang, she agreed with the latter’s assertion concerning the weakness of the Story continues on page 11

Story continued from page 10 current educational syllabus in teaching Ghanaian students about slavery.

Professor Sutherland-Addy was gravely worried that if the battles on stories around the tragedy of slavery are not won, the narrative on slavery will be morphed into a warped recollection and will lead to a severance of ties with the Afro -American and Caribbean communities.

She drew parallels with the Holocaust, which had revisionists trying to warp the story of that tragedy, but because of the concerted e ort of the Jewish community, this was being mitigated and pushed back. She urged a similar e ort as regards to the question of the transatlantic slave trade. Both Professor Sutherland-Addy and Dr. Opoku-Agyemang agreed that this has led to the pernicious rise of the sentiment amongst African Americans that somehow slavery was positive or that Africans back home actively and joyously participated in the trade.

She explained that more deliberate and consistent policies and actions have to be taken to ensure a smoother ability for returnees to integrate and commended the

government for conferring citizenship on African Americans, including the recent conferment of citizenship on Viola Fletcher and Hughes Van Ellis, two of the oldest survivors of the Tulsa race riots.

Comments from the audience were supportive of the initiative. Nana Akosua Serwah Oyo, Director of Admissions at the Academic City noted that in her 20-year of stay in Ghana, this was the rst time she had ever witness an open dialogue event about a conversation that delved into the deep issues around ‘the return’. She agreed with the need for a general reeducation and re-awakening, noting that Ghanaians and other Africans sometimes used derogatory nicknames for African Americans, mocking their slavery in the plantations.

An eminent Ghanaian, Charles Zwennes who is of Afro - Caribbean and Ghanaian in his commentary also reiterated his admiration for the event. He expressed a view in support of a truth and reconciliation process to assuage and settle the feeling of abandonment felt by the forced diaspora. He argued fervently that the view and context of forts and castles be

reconsidered and that these structures be called for what they were - warehouses for slavery.

BUGUMS are the reside chat event at the Institute of International A airs, Ghana. It is a platform that provides key play-

ers in Ghana’s International A airs landscape opportunities to share recollections and lessons from their career and experience. This particular BUGUM was to commemorate Black History Month.

The Africa we want: a roadmap out of poly-crises for policy makers

The con uence of shocks – the cascading impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and severe natural disasters – have eroded Africa’s development gains, resulting in a staggering 149 million previously non-poor Africans now facing the risk of falling into poverty. The growing  number of new poor and vulnerable people is making it harder to close the gap between the rich and the poor. Moreover, Africa currently accounts for the largest share of the world’s poor. This inevitably has a far-reaching impact on achieving the sustainable development goals and the vision of the Africa we want.

The crisis, however daunting, presents an opportunity for the African ministers of nance, planning and economic development assembling in Addis Ababa from 15-21 March 2023, to make concerted e orts on providing concrete solutions. The theme,  fostering recovery and transformation in Africa to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities,  should yield long term actions to move the continent forward on a path of prosperity.

First, there is need for real action on reducing the high cost of trade. This can ease the burden on access to a ordable goods for poor, hard-hit households that are losing out on health, education, and meaningful opportunities. It is also time to expedite the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA) as a powerful lever for poverty reduction. The AfCFTA’s promise cuts across all economic sectors, presenting a new pathway for broad-based growth. In the agri-food sector, which is critical to overcoming vulnerabilities associated with food insecurity for the over 300 million a ected Africans, ECA estimates show that the sector will yield additional US$ 43.3 billion in trade revenue by 2045 if the agreement is expedited. Additional opportunities abound in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, vehicles and transport equipment, metals, and textile, apparel and leather products.

Second, climate action must be mainstreamed in policy development and implementation.  We

are living through the devastating impact of climate events that have led to the migration and displacement of some 85 million people in the region. Increasing temperatures have already contributed to a reduction by a third in average agricultural productivity growth, while the continent’s 38 coastal countries are facing climate-related threats to their blue economies. The climate crisis is not a fringe issue. It accentuates poverty through its impact on lives, livelihoods, and economies. Governments can nance development through innovative green nancing, such as investing in nature-based sequestration which can provide up to 30% of the world's sequestration needs. At 120 USD per tonne of carbon, up to US$ 82 billion per year can be mobilized from nature-based carbon credits in Africa.

Above all, moving the continent out of these crises will require resolving the fundamental aws underpinning the international nancial architecture and acting on lasting reforms. In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “today’s poly-crises are

By Antonio M.A Pedro*

compounding shocks on developing countries – in large part because of an unfair global nancial system that is short-term, crisis-prone, and that further exacerbates inequalities.” Reforming the system is key to reducing the shrinking scal space and allowing African countries to access a ordable long-term nancing with better lending terms by multilateral development banks, amidst increasing risks of debt distress. These funds are needed for a new cycle of sustainable growth and a reinvigorated business and innovation climate. The funds are also required for meeting the most urgent needs of the poor, for instance, through social protection measures. In addition, debt service relief and restructuring for the worst hit poorer countries and the extension of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) will also help create the scal space for the kind of urgent spending needed.

African ministers must turn up Story continues on page 12

Story continued from page 11

the volume in support of the Secretary-General’s advocacy  for a modi ed G20 Common Framework for e ective, fast-tracked, and broad-based debt restructuring. Furthermore, if multilateral development banks can expand the volume of lending, including concessional lending, it could be a game changer for struggling countries. This can be achieved through increasing their capital bases, better leveraging of existing capital and implementing recommendations of the G20 Capital Adequacy Framework Review, and re-channelling Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through MDBs. Moreover, as

long as African countries remain in need of urgent resources, the Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus will also require a new round of SDRs, resulting in high economic rates of return on sustainable development.

For millions of the previously non-poor and for the poor who face a future of chronic vulnerability, Africa’s policy makers can use this meeting, ahead of the World Bank / IMF Spring Meetings to tip the scales towards meaningful, long-lasting change.

Antonio Pedro is the Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa

Trust Hospital advocates women's self-care on IWD 2023

The Trust Hospital has observed International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 with a call for women to prioritise their self-care and wellness, as it is essential for the betterment of society. The event, themed ‘The total well woman; a woman's health conversation’, featured a range of speakers advocating for women to embrace equity without neglecting their own well-being.

Chief Executive O cer for Strategic Communications Africa (Stratcomm Africa) Limited Esther A.N. Cobbah, who was the guest speaker at the event, emphasised the importance of self-care and urged women not to be complacent when it comes to their health and wellness. She noted that this has become increasingly important as women juggle multiple responsibilities, including careers, families, children, community involvement, and relationships, leaving them with little time or energy to take care of themselves.

"As women, the disadvantaged position we nd ourselves in does a lot of harm to our wellness, either physically, emotionally, mentally and psychologically as well as spiritually. Relating our theme to the overarching theme for this year's IWD, embracing equity, the associated symbolism of clasping our hands across our bosom is a powerful image of self-embrace reminding us to care for ourselves amidst all

that we have to take responsibility for," Ms. Cobbah said.

According to recent research, women today are less content than they have been during the previous forty years. Many experts cite a shortage of free time as a key factor contributing to this trend.

Ms. Cobbah urged women to be intentional about giving themselves a break for the sake of their sanity and to prioritize themselves among other things, stating, "If we are well, the world will be well. If the caretaker is not well, the world is not well."

CEO of the Trust Hospital, Dr. Juliana Oye Ameh, expressed her out t's commitment to increasing opportunities for women to contribute to the growth of the organization and to the attainment of this year's IWD theme 'Embrace Equity'. This, she said, includes support for career development by enrolling women sta members in training programmes.

"You can tell how far an organization will go by the number of women in teams and here at Trust Hospital we have more women than men and we are getting things done. This year's IWD has been a call to action to accelerate gender equality. At Trust, we give and will continue to give equal opportunities.

We support women in career development by enrolling most of our women sta in one form of training or the other. We are

aiming for greater inclusion and we seek to celebrate, recognize and appreciate all of you in your di erent roles," Dr. Ameh said, as she urged women at the Trust Hospital to continue learning and seizing every opportunity to learn and grow.

Chief of Medical Sta at The Trust Hospital, Dr. Nana Ama Abankwah, in a presentation on the topic ‘Wellness for the Corporate Woman’, highlighted the potential challenges and

opportunities that corporate women may face, as well as solutions to some of these challenges.

The event also included an interactive session in which some participants discussed how they were able to rise through the ranks as women despite all of their responsibilities. The speakers emphasized the importance of women empowering themselves and speaking up when needed, adding value to themselves, and developing their skills as they climb the corporate ladder.

By Rita BOATENG

Thoughts on how technology can advance gender equality within society

Gender equality is a fundamental human right, yet it is still a challenge in many parts of the world. Despite signi cant progress made in recent years, women continue to face various forms of discrimination and inequalities in all areas of life, including education, employment, and access to resources. Technology, however, has the potential to advance gender equality in society by providing new opportunities and tools for women to overcome social and economic barriers.

This can be achieved through the following:

Online educational programs: Technology can provide access to educational programs and resources that empower girls and women to learn skills that will help them succeed in traditionally male-dominated elds. Online learning platforms, webinars, and virtual mentorship programs can be especially useful for women who live in

rural areas and have limited access to educational opportunities.

Digital nancial services: Many women in Ghana lack access to traditional banking services, which limits their ability to participate fully in the economy. By using mobile banking, e-wallets, and other digital nancial services, women can have greater control over their nances, access loans, and start their own businesses.

Online marketplaces: Technology can provide women with a platform to sell their products and services online, which can help them expand their customer base and increase their revenue. Online marketplaces can also provide opportunities for women entrepreneurs to network and collaborate with other business owners.

Social media campaigns: Social media platforms can be used to raise awareness about gender inequality issues and promote

positive change. For example, social media campaigns can educate the public about the importance of gender equality, highlight success stories of women in various elds, and create a supportive community for women to share their experiences and challenges.

Telemedicine: Technology can provide women with access to healthcare services, especially for those who live in remote areas where healthcare facilities are scarce. Telemedicine services can provide remote consultations, diagnosis, and treatment, which can help women to address their healthcare needs without the need for traveling long distances.

Remote work opportunities: Technology can provide women with exible work arrangements, which can help them balance work and family responsibilities. By working remotely, women can also access job opportunities that were previously unavailable

to them due to geographic barriers or traditional gender roles.

Arti cial intelligence (AI): AI can be used to reduce gender bias in various industries, such as hiring, education, and healthcare. By removing human bias from decision-making processes, AI can help to create a more equitable society where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

In conclusion, while gender inequality remains a challenge worldwide, technology provides a powerful tool for advancing gender equality by o ering new opportunities and tools for women to overcome social and economic barriers.

Through online educational programs, digital nancial services, online marketplaces, social media campaigns, telemedicine, remote work opportunities, and arti cial intelligence, women can access resources and opportunities that were previously unavailable to them. Personally, to harness the potential of technology, we can

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work towards creating a more equitable society where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed regardless of their gender.

Lieutenant General Francisco Braco Carbó visits Ghana

By Chris KONEY

Lieutenant General Francisco Braco Carbó (CMOPS), has visited Ghana to meet high-level authorities and to see rst-hand the activities carried by Spanish forces during the annual ‘FLINTLOCK’ exercise, organized and directed by the US Special Operations Command for Africa (SOCAFRICA).

To take advantage of the military

activities and the strategic importance of Ghana to Spain, Vice Admiral Alfonso Delgado and Brigadier General Ángel Herrezuelo accompanied Lieutenant General Francisco Braco Carbó.

Lieutenant General Francisco Braco led the team to hold high-level meetings with local authorities and other key government o cials including the Minister of Defence, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of the Defence Sta , Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, Chief of Naval Sta and General Francis Adu Amanfoh, Special Presidential Advisor for the Accra Initiative.

The delegation was accompanied by His Excellency Javier Gutiérrez, Ambassador of Spain in Ghana, who stated that “the visit of the Armada warship AUDAZ and of the Commander of the Operations Command of the Spanish Armed Forces are a testimony to the priority Spain attaches to Ghana and the security in the region”.

Book Review

Reviewer: Sylvia Happy Annang

DNA: Origins, a journey to the beginning of time

Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? What do we stand for? How did we end up on this planet called earth? Is there a supernatural Creator? Does man evolve with each passing century? What does the future hold for us? Who created our universe? Did the universe come out of its own? Is there a beginning of our universe? And will there be the end of our Universe? These are very pertinent queries; I have been asking myself for years.

But truth is that, I did not get answers for many of them. So I tried engaging some of my friends about these same questions. And to my utmost surprise, many of them said it is better we do not ask these questions at all. But rather we should continue living our lives and stick to what we have come to believe and accept as good.

The origin of the universe has di erent views and expositions in the scienti c world. Physicist believe in the big bang theory as

the origin of the universe, biologist believe in the ever-controversial  theory of evolution by Charles Darwin. Also biochemist herald the theory of abiogenesis and cosmologist also are convinced of the ever-intriguing theory of panspermia.  Christianity one of the major believes in the world believes in the creation story as the true origin of the universe to the Almighty God – the supreme intelligence.

But as the porpular adage goes, a people who do not know their origin would not have the right knowledge of where they are heading to. As we continue to live in their earth, we have divergent purposes and callings. We are all di erent. No two people are the same. And the uniqueness in our identity is based on our acceptance of the fact that, we are all di erent and have di erent destinies.

In his second science ction and fantasy novel titled DNA: ORIGINS, author Jacob A. Osae takes us back to the beginning of time. It’s an

origin story in this masterpiece. As humans, many have di erent schools of thought about the origin of the universe. DNA: ORIGINS is a story about the beginning of time. In DNA: ORIGINS, Jacob A. Osae rubbles our noble conscience on the subject of God as the source of all creation and the subjugation of scienti c knowledge in it unbridled attempt to superimpose its ignorance on the creation story. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. As prosaic as that statement seems, it is also a very cumbersome assertion for the savvy mind.

Jacob A. Osae in his new novel dabbles our mind in a fantastic world of genetics and oriental enquiry into the true origin of life here on earth. In DNA:ORIGINS, the life of a biologist and his wife an archeologist are set into utter mayhem and panic when they both receive a debilitating news about an onslaught against their children that had been averted in an arcane way. This situation sets the premise for the novel, as it spins the couple (the man and his

wife) on a journey of discovering the cause of their genetic mutation that has endowed them and their children with paranormal abilities. DNA: ORIGINS, is a must read for everyone. And you will never get bored as you turn the pages from start to nish.

DNA: ORIGINS is slated to be launched in the month of April of this year. Details of the book launch will be communicated in due time. But in the meantime, you can connect with the author via the handles below to get all the updates on the time, place and venue of the release of the novel.

Website/Word press: https://medium.com/@osaejacob94

Linked in: https://gh.linkedin.com/in/jacob-osae...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacobosae

Twitter: https://twitter.com/osaejacob94

Instagram: https://instagram.com/_osaejacob94

Email: osaejacob94@gmail.com

Contact: +233201632246.

J anua r y 20,202 3 March 3, 2023

J anua r y 20,202 3 March 3, 2023

Forging a Social Contract for Reducing Poverty and Inequality in Africa

Africa is at a crossroad. A convergence of crises – the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war along with climate change – have exacted a huge toll on the continent’s development. The pandemic pushed 62 million non-poor Africans into poverty in 2020, and 149 million non-poor people (whose consumption was 20 per cent above the poverty line) were at risk of falling into poverty in 2022.

Indeed, Africa is now home to more than half of the world’s poor, and 546 million people are living in extreme poverty – yes, that’s more than half of the continent’s population. These crises have set Africa’s development back by decades and with much poorer economic performance going forward, prospects are only getting dimmer and require concerted policy intervention.

One thing to note is that poverty in Africa is primarily a Sub-Saharan Africa phenomenon and is largely concentrated in least developed countries (LDCs), while middle income countries have less than 5% of their population in poverty.

While Africa’s robust economic growth in the last two decades reduced poverty, its bene ts were not equally accrued as inequality not only widened, but also remained pervasive across all sub-regions. Income and wealth inequalities are particularly stark in Southern Africa.

These high rates of poverty and inequality have exacerbated the

By Sweta Saxena and Jane Muthumbi

socio-economic conditions of the poor going forward. For instance, over 80% of the labor force works in the informal sector where they generally lack access to healthcare and other social schemes. Thanks to lockdowns during the pandemic, their earnings declined by 81 per cent in the rst month of the pandemic (ILO), increasing their risk of slipping into poverty. The same holds for the majority of Africa’s rural residents (an estimated 50 to 80 per cent according to the ILO) who cover their health expenses out of pocket, are being driven into poverty. Similarly, children from poor and vulnerable households were adversely a ected by the pandemic as prolonged school closures in many countries left them without access to education.

According to UNESCO, 98 million children in Africa were out of school in 2021, with girls whose school dropout rate was higher than for boys (4.2 vs. 3.1 percentage points, respectively), bearing the brunt.

At the  fty- fth session of the Economic Commission for Africa  themed Fostering recovery and transformation in Africa to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities,  which takes place from March 15 –21, 2023 in Addis Ababa, African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development will convene to deliberate these issues.

The meeting provides an opportunity for policymakers to consider how to best tackle Africa’s most pressing development challenges and ensure that bene ts of development are more equitably distributed and accrue to all.

pursuing pro-poor and inclusive macro-economic policies, with spending targeted at safety nets to support the poor and most vulnerable. Ensuring resource mobilization for an inclusive recovery, including through fair taxes and by leveraging climate nance for decent job creation, is vital to tackling poverty and inequality.

Carving a structural development path that is just and meets people’s needs, with industrialization and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) acting as catalysts, can provide the impetus for structural transformation that contributes to an economic recovery that leaves no one behind.

Finally, advancing reforms for a more just and inclusive global nancial architecture by advocating for the global debt architecture reform and the rechanneling of IMF Special Drawing Rights is crucial for building resilience and sustainability in countries.

Making the right turn to

reduce poverty and inequality in Africa

As the clock is ticking on the 2030 Agenda, achieving SDG1 on eliminating poverty appears untenable. Moreover, growing poverty and rising inequality pose challenges to an increasingly fragile social contract that could fray under the weight of citizens’ unful lled expectations while threatening the prospects for peace, security and prosperity. Taken together, these developments underscore the need to confront head on what are inarguably the continent’s most pressing development challenges.

The task is daunting as shrinking scal space constrains governments’ capacities to adequately respond to and meet citizens’ needs. However, to e ectively deliver on the social contract and accelerate the recovery from the crises’ adverse e ects, African governments need to take bold and decisive actions that ensure equal access to public goods as well as opportunities for all.

Policy measures that governments could consider include

Taken together, these actions can reduce poverty and inequality and help lay the foundation for a more inclusive, equal, resilient and prosperous continent.