The minority in parliament is predicting tough times ahead for Ghanaians as IMF nally approves the US$3bn bailout to the country.
In a press statement signed by the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, following the joint presser by the IMF and o cials of the Ministry of Finance to announce the deal, the minority caucus envisaged costly e ects on the citizenry due to unfavourable conditionalities that would accompany the deal.
“Let us brace ourselves for the full consequences of this IMF deal, which will without doubt bite hard on Ghanaians, especially the youth. This is not a counsel of despair, but a reality that will soon dawn on all of us.”
The Minority Leader also indicated that the public would be looking for the Board document on the true state of Ghana’s economy in the coming days.
He explained that the report/document will outline the full details of the bargain between the Fund and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government in terms of Debt Sustainability Analysis, Performance Criteria, Structural Benchmarks and the gamut of
other conditionalities that have been agreed upon.
To this end, Dr. Forson announced that the minority in the coming days address Ghanaians on the contents of the report and what the IMF deal portends for the country going forward.
Further, the minority commended the tolerance of Ghanaian bondholders who have taken haircuts on their investment and returns -the pensioners who have so far been denied payment of maturing coupons on their investments and Ghanaians, both young and old, who have so far endured various painful sacri ces such as turbulent economy, rising cost of living and anxiety over how to a ord the basic needs of life.
According to the minority, they advised government in 2021 to seek IMF bailout at the time they reckon things would not have been critically dire but government ignored that counsel.
The International Monetary Fund approved Ghana’s request for a $3 billion bailout over three years to support the debt-ridden nation’s recovery.
The West African economy will
receive an immediate disbursement of about $600 million, the IMF said in a statement on Wednesday following an Executive Board meeting.
Ghana, long seen as one of Africa's best run countries, has been struggling to recover from the combined e ects of the global Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Despite being one of the world's biggest producers of cocoa and the leading producer of gold in Africa, one of Ghana's basic problems is that it does not earn enough through exports to pay for everything it imports.
This is known as the balance of payments de cit and is partly what the IMF loan is designed to help with. But that is not all.
The programme is also expected to signi cantly slow the rate of in ation and ensure a stable local currency. All of this will bene t ordinary Ghanaians through stable prices of basic commodities including imported ones.
It has been considered risky to lend money to Ghana, but with the new IMF programme it should mean that the country can borrow again to implement its policies.
livelihoods, and food security by investing in sustainable sheries. We can lessen our dependency on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions by generating renewable energy. We can reduce pollution and safeguard our seas from further deterioration by encouraging prudent marine transportation.”
development.
Fidelity Bank, one of the foremost indigenous banks in Ghana, has emphasized its desire to continue to be socially responsible in its business and operations meant to contribute towards the sustainable development goals.
Speaking at the media launch of the upcoming National Blue Economy Summit in Accra, Nana Yaa Afriyie, the Head of Partnerships, Sustainability and CSR at Fidelity Bank, said “As the largest privately-owned indigenous bank in Ghana, we rea rm our commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic resilience by sponsoring this summit.
As part of our sustainability
agenda, Fidelity Bank will be actively involved in decarbonising our operations, reducing our exposure to sustainability-related risks within our portfolio, developing sustainable nance products and supporting the national e orts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.”
She also noted that there was the need to address climate change and secure a sustainable future for its citizenry and the generations to come, saying “we need bold, innovative solutions. The blue economy holds enormous potential in this area.”
“Amongst other things, we can conserve sh stocks, coastal
Fidelity Bank pledged its support for Ghana’s rst National Blue Economy Summit, an event of enormous signi cance for the bank, with Nana Yaa stressing that the battle against climate change and the national transformative agenda to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to her, the decision to support the summit stems from their strong belief in the potential of cooperation and collective action in addressing the challenges and opportunities as it relates to the country’s oceans and nature as a whole.
With its huge potential and abundance of resources, the blue economy o ers us a once-in-alifetime opportunity to support economic growth and sustainable
“Fidelity Bank understands that the health of our oceans has a direct in uence on the health of the communities and people we serve. As we experience the ominous e ects of climate change, the need to conserve and restore our marine ecosystems becomes increasingly pressing.”she said. She further indicated that all and sundry must do all we can to ensure that negative anthropogenic impacts on our oceans are halted and reversed.
Fidelity Bank recognises that the function extends beyond nancial transactions, disclosing that it has the potential to create shared value for Ghanaians. “We are agents of good change, proponents of sustainable development, and stewards of the environment.
One of the ways we demonstrate this is by supporting events like this summit, recognising that the health of our planet and the communities we serve, is inextricably related to the success of our bank.”
The Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has inspected some ongoing road projects estimated at Ghc10m in his constituency, meant to reduce tra c congestion and create more bypasses for drivers and other road users in and around Lapaz in the Greater
Accra region.
By Eugene DavisSome roads in the vicinity are also being given a face-lift, and this would be over 50 years now since roads within the Lapaz enclave saw any construction and rehabilitation works.
The speci c raods under rehabilitation are the Abete street, Boiman street, Twum Abeka street, Kanza and Abeashie street.
The 7.40km road when completed is also expected to facilitate business activities in the community since it would make access to
businesses easier.
Inhabitants are also assured of protection from dust and its related health problems upon the completion of the road.
Property owners are also expected to bene t from the road construction by way of increase in
property rates as a result of improved road networks.
According to Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, whose constituency the aforementioned roads are being constructed made a rmed the bene t inhabitants, stands to gain on the road during an inspection of some of the roads yesterday.
To ensure the passage of waste water in order to prevent oods, the roads in Lapaz came along with drains. According to the MP, a total 3.02km of drains are also being constructed in addition to the roads.
Expressing his delight at the project, the Okaikoi Central legislator said the project is a big deal for the inhabitants of Lapaz because they have endured using poor roads for the past 50 years.
He, therefore, extended his appreciation to the government for seeing to the construction of the roads.
The Assemblyman of Olengele Pona Electoral Area, Mr Ibrahim
Seidu Nkrumah, whose electoral area most of the roads are located thanked the MP for ensuring that roads “We thank the MP for facilitating this project for the people of New Fadama. We are very grateful.”
Some traders including Mr Bright Ntiamoah who also spoke to this paper expressed their excitement at the development of the roads.
Mr Ntiamoah, who has been selling furniture in the vicinity for the past six years was grateful to the MP for ensuring that the roads are being constructed because people have refused to buy his goods and that of his colleagues as a result of the due to the dust that usually dirties the furnitiure.
“Since the construction of the road, things are improving. People come and buy because they don’t get dirty. Before, even though the things were new, they usually looked old because of the dust and people were reluctant to buy.”
ing the most complex packaging needs and requirements in Ghana and Africa."
“Our reason for being is to ensure that global quality is delivered in a local context; through the Packaging & Storage industry. Locals have a right to receive global quality and standard and we make sure that happens” said Mr. Thevar.
rate to build a world in which Ghanaian goods are lauded for their excellence, sustainability, and exquisite packaging on shelves in both Africa and outside”, he urged.
To act as a catalyst in the transformation of the manufacturing sector across Africa, the international exhibition company, Afrocet Montgomery, a division of a global exhibition group brings together professionals from across the entire packaging supply chain, is set to hold the largest packaging, printing, plastics, and food processing portfolio exhibition in Accra.
Having organized similar shows in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, Propak Ghana, scheduled to take place from 6th – 8th June at the Grand Arena within the Accra International Conference Centre, is expected to attract over 2,500 visitors and more than 100 brands, both local and international.
Speaking at a press brie ng in Accra, George Pearson, Regional Director – West Africa, at Afrocet Montgomery said Propak Ghana has been designed to support companies and individuals
involved across the manufacturing spectrum, by creating an environment where business partnerships can develop and trade exchanges can take place”
“Visitors to the event will be able to explore the latest innovations and products from leading suppliers from the local region as well as international companies from all corners of the globe who will be showcasing the newest advances in industry innovation and products that are collectively supporting the local manufacturing industry,” he said.
The General Manager (GM), Sales & Marketing, Manufacturing Business at Polytank Ghana Ltd (subsidiary of Mohinani Group), Thevar Joseph commended Propak Ghana for the timely entrance into the Ghanaian packaging ecosystem.
"This collaboration allows Polytank Ghana and Sonnex, Nigeria a platform to exhibit over 50 years of expertise, technical and industrial know-how in address-
On his part, Deputy Chief Executive O cer (CEO) of Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Mr. Albert Kassim Diwura, implored Ghanaian companies to utilize Propak Ghana as a vital marketplace for nding cutting-edge packaging options.
“Packaging is important for product display, preservation, and marketability. Packaging today represents a brand's identity, values, and dedication to quality; it is much more than just a simple protective covering. Exposure to prospective partnerships and collaborations is another important bene t of taking part in Propak Ghana”.
“I implore Ghanaian companies to utilize Propak Ghana as a vital marketplace for nding cutting-edge packaging options. Through this partnership, we can increase Ghana’s export capacity, strengthen competitiveness, and take advantage of the enormous prospects the larger African market has to o er. Let's collabo-
Afua Ntiriwa Tekyi-Mills, Head of Corporate A airs at Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) said “Propak Ghana will serve as a vital platform for local manufacturers, international companies, investors and industry stakeholders to connect, collaborate and explore opportunities for growth and partnerships”
Alongside the 3-day exhibition booths and product showcases, there will be an industry leading conference program that will provide insight, explanations and thoughts on the trends and relevant topics faced by the industry today. These include sessions on circular economy, sustainability and nancing options for SME and Multi nationals among others. In total, more than 40 speakers are expected over the three-day program. The full program is available on the event website, which is PropakGhana.com, where visitors can also pre-register free of charge.
Propak Ghana is organized by Afrocet Montgomery, a branch of the Montgomery Group, which is one of the UK’s oldest exhibitions and events companies, originally founded in 1895.
cation[] and providing the benet of improved hearing to even more users.
Whether it’s listening to your favourite music, or simply tuning into—or tuning out—your surroundings, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro o er the ultimate in sound for everyone.
As we recognise Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Samsung is committed to helping those who are hard of hearing better enjoy the sounds of the world around
them with the introduction of new enhanced Ambient Sound.
Making Technology More Accessible and Inclusive
Previously available at three levels of customisation, the updated Ambient Sound feature—which gives users the ability to listen to and stay aware of their surroundings—now adds two additional levels, o ering ve levels of ampli-
To assess the feature’s e cacy, a clinical trial was undertaken by the University of Iowa’s Hearing Aid and Aging Research Laboratory. Their research concluded that Galaxy Buds2 Pro signi cantly improved speech perception in those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. A similar trial conducted by Samsung Medical Center also found that the Galaxy Buds2 Pro could be an e ective tool to help those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to better communicate in a quiet place.
With this improved feature, Galaxy Buds2 Pro users can also ne tune their Ambient Sound settings across a variety of needs. Users can adjust the volumes on the left and the right respectively, as well as customise their Ambient
Sound tone range from soft to clear across ve di erent stages. Additionally, Ambient Sound can tune to a users’ ears through the Adapt Ambient Sound feature, allowing for even more clarity in helping users hear the world around them better.
“We are excited to be introducing the new enhanced accessibility feature of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro to users on Global Accessibility Awareness Day,” said Han-gil Moon, Master and Head of Advanced Audio Lab, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung will continue to work to help each and every user experience the best possible audio anytime, anywhere with their Galaxy Buds2 Pro.”
Availability
The enhanced Ambient Sound feature will be progressively released on Galaxy Buds2 Pro via software updates in coming weeks.
For over 20 years, Nasibatu Awal cultivated one acre each of maize and groundnut—the yield was barely enough to feed her family.
The smallholder farmer and member of the Suglo Nbori Buni Group, a farmer group, in Shishegu-Tamale, capital of Ghana’s Northern Region, yearned to increase productivity.
But access to input credit in the form of improved seeds, fertilizer and tractor plowing services, or bank loans that would allow her to acquire these, were beyond her reach.
Like many small agricultural value chain actors living in hard-to-reach communities in northern Ghana, Awal could not access formal banking services. High interest rates charged by micro nance institutions and unfavorable repayment terms also discouraged her from applying for a loan.
Instead, the 51-year-old mother of ve relied on limited funds through her local village savings and loan association (VSLA) to buy seed and fertilizer and pay for plowing services. Still, Awal had to use her hard- earned savings to acquire enough inputs to cultivate more land, increase productivity, and sell extra produce for income to feed her family.
In the 2022 production season, this all changed when Awal received a $50 loan from the Rural Development Fund’s (RDF’s) VSLA Loan Scheme to access ploughing services and to buy enough seeds and fertilizer to cultivate an additional acre of groundnut. The 30 members of the VSLA save small amounts of money and use the accumulated savings to secure loans.
“The 25% interest on the RDF loan compared to the 35% charged by banks at the time came in handy,”
Awal said. “Monthly installment payments, which could be restructured upon request, also encouraged me to take it. Next farming season, I plan to take an even bigger loan to cultivate six acres of maize and groundnut compared to the original two I used to farm.”
Implemented under a strategic partnership between the USAID-supported Feed the Future Ghana Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture (MFA) Activity and RDF Ghana (a development nance institution established by the Ghanaian and Danish governments), the RDF VSLA loan scheme unlocks nancing for bottom-of-the- pyramid value chain actors in northern Ghana like Awal, who require only small amounts to boost production and
aggregation of maize, soy, groundnut, and shea.
Using the VSLA model, the MFA-RDF strategic partnership promotes nancial inclusion of small value chain actors largely underserved by the formal nancial system by providing access to a ordable credit through the formal banking sector. The partnership also provides VSLA members with training on nancial literacy and good agronomic practices.
Financing disbursed during the rst phase of the RDF VSLA loan scheme in 2022 was timely for Awal and other members of 14 VSLA groups in the Northern and North East Regions of Ghana. It enabled farmers to plan their activities for the season, buy seed
and fertilizer, and pay for plowing services. Those engaged in aggregation were also able to access working capital to mobilize produce from smallholder farmers in their communities for sale to bigger buyers. Expanding the RDF VSLA loan to more bene ciaries is exactly what the MFA-RDF strategic partnership seeks to achieve.
“The RDF-VSLA loan has restored bene ciaries’ hope and enabled them to sustain and expand their farming and crop aggregation activities. I appeal to RDF and MFA to expand it further to benet more needy VSLA members who are unable to access nancial support from the formal nancial sector,” Fati Seidu Tambro, Executive Director of Sung Foundation Ghana and a facilitating agent for the RDF VSLA Loan Scheme.
According to RDF Investment O cer Emelia Appiah, “The rst phase of the RDF VSLA loan facility has been a success in terms of utilization and commitment to repayment. RDF is very happy with the level of impact we are achieving. I’m very optimistic that VSLA groups will complete repayment, and access more loans for the next production season. Going forward, RDF will explore innovative ways to address bene ciaries’ access to farm mechanization and processing equipment.”
Increased nancing for small agricultural value chain actors facilitated by USAID-supported Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture provides opportunities for smallholder farmers in the country’s north.
change underway to position the business as a world class, Africa-focused open-access digital infrastructure platform serving not just MTN but other third parties as customers. We will also bring strategic partners into the business over time who will provide skills and capital to support and accelerate the growth of this business.”
the continent.”
MTN GlobalConnect has announced an important step in the evolution of its business through the unveiling of its new name and positioning – Bayobab. The brand reveal took place at International Telecommunications Week (ITW) Conference in Washington DC, attended by over 6000 delegates from across the digital wholesale telecoms community.
The new identity, Bayobab, represents the company’s strate-
gic transformation journey to connect Africa with open next-gen digital solutions through its two distinct businesses, Bayobab Fibre and Bayobab Communication Platforms.
MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, said, “Building the largest and most valuable platforms is part of our Ambition 2025 strategic priorities. The brand change from MTN GlobalConnect to Bayobab re ects the
Inspired by the Baobab tree –which many recognise as the “tree of life”, Bayobab is the enabler of the digital connectivity value chain across the African continent. The rebrand is the rst step in the business transformation journey since announcing MTN Group’s Ambition 2025 strategy to structurally separate its bre business, targeted for completion by 2024. This will enable Bayobab to unlock value within the business, attract strategic partners, and comply with local regulations across its key markets.
Commenting on the rebrand, Frédéric Schepens, Bayobab Group CEO, said: “As a young entrepreneurial business delivering value through open next-gen digital solutions, we believe Bayobab best encompasses our vision of connecting Africa and ensures we add meaningful value across
“Our strategy has borne much fruit, as evidenced by our performance and delivery. We are well positioned to open a signi cant digital doorway that bridges Africa’s digital divide to connect communities,” Schepens added. Looking ahead, Bayobab will continue investing in the business and its people to achieve its strategic goals. As Bayobab, we will remain committed to forging strong global partnerships that connect the unconnected, deepening internet adoption to accelerate Africa’s vision for digital transformation.
About Bayobab.Connecting Africa Bayobab, previously known as MTN GlobalConnect is a pan-African digital connectivity solutions company founded in 2018. As a doorway to the African continent, Bayobab leverages technology to o er reliable open next-gen digital solutions to connect Africa. Our two business lines, Bayobab Fibre and Bayobab Communication Platforms aim to bridge the continent’s digital communications divide by working behind the scenes to ensure the highest levels of availability, reliability, and encryption to ensure our customers can communicate safely from anywhere in the world.
Strategic Communication Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa), Ghana’s premier total communication agency, is 29 years old and is marking this anniversary with the “29 for 29“ initiative.
This involves equipping and empowering 29 women with digital communication skills through mentorship, hands-on practical training and advisory services.
The 29 women, made up of 19 female students in communication and 10 female entrepreneurs, will bene t from the yearlong programme leading up to the organisation’s 30th anniversary celebration in 2024.
Recognizing the growing power of digital communication globally, Stratcomm Africa seeks, through this initiative, to help the entrepreneurs and students to appreciate the value of these critical communication channels.
Sharpening the skills of the students in digital communication will prepare them better for today’s job market and help them become versatile communication professionals who deliver with excellence.
The initiative is a re ection of Stratcomm Africa’s commitment
to empowering young people, especially young women and a recognition of the power of mentorship in capacity-building and is being undertaken in partnership with Women in PR Ghana.
Providing digital communication support to 10 female-owned small businesses is designed to help them grow their businesses and improve their bottom line while contributing to national economic growth. Stratcomm Africa will, in this context, share with the female entrepreneurs some lessons from its own journey as a Ghanaian-owned company established and led by a woman over these 29 years.
Mrs. Sharon Anim, Stratcomm Africa’s Manager for Marketing Communication who is leading the “29 for 29” initiative, says, “For us at Stratcomm Africa, the commitment to professional excellence requires us to be constantly ahead of the curve; sharing our knowledge with future professionals as well as letting women entrepreneurs have the bene t of our expertise through this initiative will give us great satisfaction. My team and I are extremely delighted to have this opportunity to impact lives directly with what we love doing.”
Ms. Esther AN Cobbah, Founder of Stratcomm Africa, says, “As we mark 29 years of Stratcomm Africa in the communication industry and in business, we look back with gratitude and ahead with renewed resolve.” Ms. Cobbah adds, “This milestone is a testament to Stratcomm Africa’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and using communication as a tool for positive change in society. The journey to 29 years has not been an easy one. It has been a journey of challenges, learning, and growth as well as joys. We have weathered many storms and navigated several di cult times, always emerging stronger and more resilient.5 Stratcomm Africa is poised to set new standards of communication excellence in this digital era. We salute all the clients who have given us the opportunity to serve as well as our sta , past and present, and everyone who has been part of the Stratcomm Africa 29 -year journey. Above all we give glory to our God who remains our help, our strength, our hope.”
numerous organisations, public and private local and international, as well as individuals. Stratcomm Africa has grown from a home study table, through a shipping container o ce to an internationally acknowledged total communication agency. Stratcomm Africa’s work continues to be recognized, locally and internationally, with awards and accolades.
Established on 13th May 1994, Stratcomm Africa has delivered communication services to
Stratcomm Africa believes in deploying its communication expert for social impact and has over the years introduced a number of initiatives in this regard. Almost eleven years ago, Stratcomm Africa initiated the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement and has through this vehicle been helping to mobilise Ghanaians to take actions to help address climate change. Fifteen years ago, Stratcomm Africa established women SHARE an initiative for promoting female networking and support systems. Read it write it say it promotes reading among children through the use of innovative communication approaches. Last year, Stratcomm Africa introduced Reputation Week, a period in which attention is drawn to the value that communication brings to society with opportunities being provided for capacity building in communication skills.
MTN Ghana gave a special treat to over 500 women across the country as part of activities to mark this year’s Mothers’ Day celebrations.
A number of mothers were treated to the MTN Movie Mania experience at the Golden Eagle Cinema in Kumasi. Other mothers received gifts items such as electronic vouchers from Max Mart and Melcom to shop online. The celebration continues on May 19th 2023 with the premiere of the ‘Fast and Furious’ movie at the Silver Bird Cinema at Accra Mall.
Commenting on the celebrations, the Senior Manager for Consumer Marketing at MTN Ghana, Mrs. Nana Asantewaa Amegashie, said, “Mothers occupy a special place in the family system, working to ensure that families are well nurtured for the bene t of the entire society. As the biggest family in Ghana, MTN decided to use the Mother’s Day occasion to allow mothers to take a break from their daily activities, have some fun and enjoy some gifts. We celebrate mothers for their priceless contributions that have contributed to the growth of the MTN brand”.
The bene ciaries of this year’s MTN Mother’s Day celebrations They expressed their gratitude to MTN for being thoughtful and recognizing them not just as customers but as mothers making signi cant contributions to the development of Ghana. They congratulated MTN for its achievements over the years and especially for their Loyalty Schemes that have kept customers happy.
The MTN Movie Mania is one of the innovative programs that MTN introduced 9 years ago to reward high value customers for their brand loyalty. It provides
customers with free tickets to watch movies at the Silver Bird Cinema at the Accra Mall.
Mother's Day is an occasion that is observed every second week in May in many parts of the world to show appreciation and a ection to mothers. The occasion is meant to recognize the contribution of mothers to society, the nurturing and care they give to their children, and other important social roles they play. For several years, MTN has selected some mothers on its network and celebrated them with various special o ers as part of the Mother’s Day celebrations.
The maiden edition of the Single-Parent Empowerment Initiative Project (SPEI) has been slated for 1 pm on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at the Accra Business School, Spintex Road and will be held on the theme ‘Single-Parenting: the changing phase of modern families’.
The conference will serve as a platform where single parents and the less deprived in communities as a result of broken homes will converge to discuss pertinent issues a ecting their livelihood and well-being.
It is also expected to birth in these individuals new hopes and empower them as they move forward with their lives. The event will host more than 500 women from all walks of life who will come together to share experiences and ideas and to learn from resource persons who
will educate, empower and equip them to pursue their career path while serving God wholeheartedly.
Resource persons will include the rst lady of the Pleasant Place Church and founder of Christ Temple International School, Reverend Olivia Titi-Ofei; Gospel Artist, Abena Ruth; media personality, Tima KunKum and other astute women professionals working within the corporate environment.
The Single-Parent Empowerment Initiative Project is organised by the Beats Foundation, a faith-based foundation established with the sole purpose of helping children who are under single parental care as a result of divorce or death.
The Foundation is here to com-
plement the e orts of single parents by providing educational sponsorship opportunities, and vocational training opportunities, among others for the children and the parent.
Founder of Beats Foundation, Beatrice Bonney-Gyasi, told the B&FT that her out t sees the need to appreciate single parents and celebrate them as such while assisting and encouraging them to still discover their purposes in life.
Being raised by her mother, she believed that “no matter what had happened, be it divorce, separation, death or teenage pregnancy, one could still keep their dreams alive and strive in life” and that is what her foundation wants to unearth. She added that the conference is not limited to single parents, but
also beckons everyone who wishes to learn and make positive future and life decisions.
Ms. Bonney-Gyasi is hopeful the conference would give children of single-parent counseling and empowerment to live their best life, despite any hardships they may have had.
The team at Beats Foundation works hard each year to provide and improve the lives of needy children as they provide protection, show compassion, give hope to needy children and bring out the best in them to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
To ensure the success of this initiative, the Foundation is seeking partnerships and key stakeholders’ involvement to support this important and unique initiative.
In January 2022, some presentations were made to the Department of Parks and Gardens by its supervisory ministry. It reportedly included: a tipper truck (to replace a 30-year old one!); a Land Cruiser Prado; a pick-up truck; three desktop computers and two laptops; 29 lawn mowers; 24 chainsaw machines; 24 grass shapers; four polytanks and 11 ladders.
One may wonder if that would be adequate in making them e ective, nevertheless, the acting Director of the Department, Rev Charles Ayitey Okine, described it as a survival boom and indicated that from next month they will swing into serious action not only in the capital, but nationwide. He gave assurance that the Department will be helping to realize the President’s aspiration of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa. “He said in the past, the department wrote proposals for budgetary allocations, but they never materialized. Consequently, Rev Okine added: “The morale of sta had been boosted to work hard, adding that this year, Ghanaians would feel the presence of the department, not only in Accra, but also across the country.” Well it’s over a year now and the rain have started and Accra look weedy. Not only Accra Tema as well. I don’t know if other cities are in better shape. I have been driving within the city along some major streets i.e. Adenta to Accra, Tema motorway to Accra and Kasoa, Ofankor to Accra, Teshie to Accra, Teshie to Circle, Kasoa to Circle and I’ve not been impressed with the level of weeds and bushes around. Any rst time visitor to Accra may not be impressed seeing that. Anyone who has use any of these streets in
EDITOR: BENSON By Philip Geburecent weeks will notice that the medians and shoulders of the road have been engulfed with weeds and bushes. One wonders why these weeds and bushes have been allowed to grow to such an extent after given by thee Director. I saw some gentlemen weeding the median along the Tema motorway stretch. I was surprised to see them using their man power to weed when they could be given grace trimmers which makes the work faster and easier. On Monday I used the road leading to Kasoa and the weeds and bushes were so high. Every passing year, we are faced with this same problem. We need some education as to which agency is responsible to keep the city clean of weeds. Driving around the Tetteh Quarshie interchange in recent weeks is not the most beautiful sight of a city we want for Accra the capital city of Ghana. We must not forget that tourist who arrive in Ghana from Nigeria, Benin and Togo by road rst see the Tetteh Quarshie interchange and such a weedy area doesn’t speak well for our tourism.
It is worth noting that, The Department for Parks and Garden was established in 1961 by the enactment of the Local Government Act 54. In 1965, the Department was given a Ministerial status and was known as the Ministry of Parks and Gardens and Tourism. In 1966, it was reverted to a Department under the Department of Forestry. It then came under di erent Ministries between the years 1970 to 2000 namely Works and Housing, Local Government and Rural Development and Environment and Science. Currently, the Department is under Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The vision for the Department is “to establish a well-respected National Institution with progressive growth in our core and non-core mandates with the view of achieving higher standards in environmental beauti cation, horticultural policy development and sustainability through operational e ciency, professional and ethical conduct”. The Department will strive to provide excellent service to MDA’s, Governmental Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), and the citizenry at large. Their mission is to facilitate the rapid development of the horticultural potential of Ghana, for the bene t of her people through public education, e ective landscape beauti cation, maintenance programme and conservation through competent sta and technology.
Functions
To develop and promote e ective landscape beauti cation in our Cities, Towns and in the indi-
vidual homes (Home Gardens).
To maintain and sustain all landscaped areas on our roads medians, road shoulders and all roundabouts in the Cities and Towns.
The routine maintenance of Prestige areas in our Cities and Towns, maintenance of all ten (10) R.C.C grounds, maintenance of Castle Gardens, State House Gardens, Flagsta House and Peduase Lodge.
Taking the current state of a airs into considerations we may condently say that they have not lived up to their mandate and functions over the years.
Littering could be a psychological thing and once pedestrians and passengers in vehicles see the shoulders and median of the roads bushy and weedy, they are likely to litter. However it makes it dicult to litter when the environment is well kept. The life support the Department has received should indeed lead to keeping the capital clean and free of weeds. Beauti cation of every city is necessary to making tourists wanting to return. If we mean business let’s make the Department of Parks and Garden work again.
Philip Gebu is a Tourism Lecturer. 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.Vi sist our social media sites Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: FoReal Destinations.
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