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GSA wants collaboration between Ghana, Egypt to boost trade ties

The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has called for a strong collaboration between Ghana and Egypt to help boost the trade ties between both countries.

“Statistics from the GSA indicated that a total of 1,220 metric tonnes of commodities were exported from Ghana to Egypt in 2021. Cocoa products constituted the largest of the export (834 metric tonnes) followed by Machinery and other equipment (192 metric tonnes), Cocoa Beans (104 metric tonnes) and General Cargo (89 metric tonnes).

“It is expected that greater collaboration would see exponential growth in the trade figures in the coming years,” a release issued by the GSA on May 31 said.

It said in 2020, Ghana exported $12.3 million worth of goods to Egypt, adding that the main products exported from Ghana to Egypt were Cocoa Paste ($8.07M), Cocoa Powder ($1.2M), and Machinery Having Individual Functions ($811k).

The release said during the last 25 years exports from Ghana to Egypt increased at an annualised rate of 12.6 per cent, from $633 thousand in 1995 to $12.3 million in 2020.

“Egypt Exports to Ghana was US$128.59 Million during 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade,” it added.

It said the GSA has begun processes to improve the trade facilitation procedures between Ghana and Egypt for the mutual benefit of shippers in both countries.

As a result, the GSA paid a courtesy call on the Commercial Minister Plenipotentiary in charge of Ghana-Egypt relations at the Embassy of Egypt in Accra, Aly Mohamed Basha, to discuss areas of interest in terms of trade facilitation between both countries.

The Head of Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation of the GSA, Monica Josiah, briefed him on the efforts by the GSA to improve trade relations between the two countries and also sensitised him to the GSA’s mandate.

She called on industry players of Africa to come up with a liner vessel to serve the continent as it would be key to supporting the ongoing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).

“We have noticed that shipping inter-connectivity within Africa is very low and that is affecting the whole continent; currently if I have to ship goods to Egypt, I may have to do so through another country and this is worrying,” she said.

Haiflow hosts architects and real estate players to “Cheese, Wine & Design”

Privately-owned distributor of high-quality sanitary ware, ceramic tile, bathroom accessories, shower enclosures, bathroom cabinetry and jaccuzis, Haiflow SAL, in collaboration with Spain-Ghana Chamber of Commerce has hosted players in the building and real estate sector to an evening of wine and cocktail at its Spintex showroom in Accra.

It was a sales activation and networking event to get its customers and housing stakeholders familiarized to its new range of household products.

Haiflow’s Sales Director, Tarik Ghazale, speaking to journalists at the event said the company is poised to play a leading role in Ghana’s building and interior décor space.

Executives of both Haiflow and Spain-Ghana Chamber of Commerce at the event

“We always strive to partner with the government from both the business standpoint and as our social responsibility. That’s why we’re always looking to reinvest more into the brand because we believe in the future of Ghana,” he assured.

“We’re working on all types of industry projects, from health care and education where we do a lot of school projects aside dealing in high end residential where have the products to support,” he added.

According to Mr. Ghazale, the real estate and construction sector is currently experiencing a boom and as dealers in household and décor accessories , they are ready to work with industry stakeholders to provide decent accommodation for both the high and low end of the housing market.

“Everybody deserves to have, you know, a decent place a decent living quarters, a decent sanitation system, and we are here to support in that. So I believe just to go back and conclude on your question. I think that Ghana can only go up upwards and I believe that hand in hand we can all strive to make it a better place,” he said.

Sales and Marketing Support Specialist at Haiflow, Mia Ghazale, said the of the event: “Today’s cheese, wine and design event, we basically invited architects, interior designers and real estate development companies to our showroom to mingle outside of their work environment,” she told journalists in an interview.

She added: “The idea is to interact, see what’s new in the country with the projects and to introduce to them our new product lines. It’s a sales activation as well, but we’re mostly doing it to get to know everyone that we might not know at the moment.”

According to Mia, the maiden networking event has been successful adding that it would be held regularly as a sales activation and customer engagement activity.

New guidelines to ensure good usage of organic fertilizer in Ghana launched

By Patrick Paintsil

Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched and handed over an organic fertilizer guidelines document to the Plant Protection and Regulatory Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to guide the application of organic fertilizer as part of efforts to transform the nation’s food and agriculture sector.

The guideline will be an essential tool for fertilizer inspectors and analysts who will regulate the provision of high-quality organic products to farmers and also serve as a useful reference material on the prudent use of organic fertilizer for all relevant industry players.

The new document is a product of strong collaboration between AGRA and the PPRSD of MoFA to combat the alarming rate of land degradation in Ghana and West Africa in general where it is estimated that about two-thirds of the its landscape is degraded or severely degraded.

“The agricultural sector is ripe for an increased uptake of fertilizers given that fertilizer use in West Africa remains the lowest globally with an average below 20kg/ha.

With the nutrients depletion currently observed, this is a critical factor to consider if we are to increase yields,” AGRA’s Regional Head for West Africa, Dr. Lionel Axel Kadja, said at the document handing over and awareness creation ceremony in Accra.

“We, as AGRA with the support of its PIATA partners have been investing in 3 main areas: integrated soil fertility management approach; the association with organic fertilizers; and the use of bio fertilizers to improve output and reduce import bills of a certain number of key commodities,” he added.

Acting Director of CSIR –Soil Research Institute, Dr. Edward Yeboah, indicated in his remarks that the decline in soil fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa is a major challenge to sustainable agriculture.

“This is mainly due to the poor inherent parent materials through which the soil is developed such as granite and phyllite. These parent materials are low in primary minerals needed for crops,” he said. According to him, proper soil management has the potential to improve farm productivity hence the need to provide effective guidelines to regulate the industry with respect to the quality of organic fertilizer.

The Commonwealth City of Accra Commemorates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a Beacon Lit from H.E Rebecca Akufo-Addo

By: Baptista S. Gebu (Mrs.)

At 9:15pm GMT, the commonwealth city of Accra on June 2, 2022 held a special event at the University of Ghana, Legon to commemorate the queen of England’s platinum Jubilee celebration. Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo-Addo – the first lady of the Republic of Ghana and special guest of honour lit the beacon for the commonwealth city of Accra. In her address, Her Excellency said; “Today 2nd June 2022, another unique milestone in history the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee which is her Majesty, the Queen’s 70th year as monarch and head of the Commonwealth is been celebrated. This is a feat no previous monarch has achieved reason for which more than 1,500 beacons will be lighted throughout the United Kingdom, and one in each of the capital cities of the Commonwealth countries in recognition of the Queen’s long and selfless service. I am very delighted to light the beacon for Ghana this evening”. The second lady H.E Samira Bawumia, a Rotarian was glad to be present to grace the all-important occasion. The British High Commissioner, H. E Harriet Thompson in her remarks said there is a long and unbroken tradition in Britain of celebrating royal jubilees, weddings and coronations with the lighting of beacons (bonfires). In 1897, beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1977, 2002 and 2012, beacons commemorated the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of The Queen, and in 2016 Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

In a welcome address delivered by Mrs. Adjei-Mensah the registrar, she celebrated women by appreciating the allfemale led leadership of the university and highlighted the University’s demonstration and believe in women. The Accra Rotary Coordinator Past Assistant Govenor Jack Dotsey highlighting the purpose for the program mentioned the commonwealth of Accra’s stance in using the occasion to provide empowerment and capacity building for women and girls as well as celebrate women’s achievement. The chairman of the occasion Past District Governor (PDG) Jeffrey Afful in his opening remarks emphasized Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta’s call for Rotary members to put improving girls’ futures at the forefront of their work. “Can you imagine a world where we all work to support empower women and girls” the chairman said.

PDG Yvonne Kumoji-Darko the first female Governor of Rotary District9102 and the first for Ghana after almost 64 years shed more light on Rotary district 9102’s commitment to empowering women and girls. She mentioned a number of projects undertaken by the district to include the girls focused project on coding. “Rotary in the last 117 years has been at, and is still at the forefront of improving the lives of people and ensuring that no one is left behind. The 7 Areas of Focus have been carefully chosen and designed to bring relief and empowerment to our needy communities”. She encouraged society to prioritize projects that improve the health, well-being, education, and economic security of women in our communities and around the world. She mentioned it took Rotary International 84 years to accept the first females into Rotary. And she further stated that, in a span of 35 years the first female Rotary International President has been elected and she will take office on the first of July, 2022, barely a month from now. Empowering women she added should mean supporting them to ensure that their basic needs are met whiles working to transforming the structures and institutions that reinforce and perpetuate gender discrimination and inequality. It includes helping women develop self-confidence, make their voices heard, exhibit sheer steely determination and work hard, rise to the top with hard work and perseverance, strive to break the ceiling, and be counted.

The celebration was interspersed with cultural and musical performances, poetry recital and melodious tunes. Present were the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister – Hon Kwaku Ampratwum –Sarpong, the Major of Accra – Hon Elizabeth Sackey, the District Governor Elect Victor Asante, the Queens Platinum Jubilee Beacons Planning committee, Ghanaian Queen mothers, Rotarians, Rotractors, the media as well as other dignitaries and guest.

The program was put together by Rotary District 9102 in partnership with the University of Ghana Legon and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly under the leadership of Jack Dotsey the Accra Rotary Coordinator.