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Gov’t commends Vodafone for supporting the youth Story on page 4 Tullow reacts to GOGSPA
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Government begins processes for energy transition Story on page 5
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
NEWS FOR BUSINESS LEADERS
.COM.GH
By Eugene Davis Story on page 1
Green bonds and debtfor-nature: From pledges to implementation in Africa
How do you finance a fair post-pandemic green and sustainable recovery? And how do you turn pledges into action? African ministers of finance, economy and the environment have been meeting in Egypt to discuss theses urgent questions.
With COP27 less than two months away, Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP27 President-Designate, said financing for climate action in Africa had not been forthcoming despite the pledges. “COP27,” he said, “is a chance to deliver”.
It was a theme picked up by Amina J Mohammed, Deputy-Secretary general of the United Nations. “We’re losing time in making promises a reality in the lives of people. Mobilise, Act. Invest”, she tweeted. “Our people and planet depend on it.”
Ministers gathered in Cairo addressed a number of pressing issues, including the need to increase private sector finance, reducing the cost of green finance, debt-for-climate swaps and investing in sustainable infrastructure.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has calculated that climate change will cost an average of 5% of GDP for African countries by 2030, based on a scenario of two degrees of warming.
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Horticulture fast becoming the new job-making machine
“When the last tree dies, the last man dies” they say and truly so because flora and fauna preserve the environment and hence human life, and at a time that economies are grossly feeling the harsh outcomes of climate change, the need to preserve our environment and green resources have become even more critical.
Aside the enviro-friendly outcomes, there is proven economic potential in the green economy, specifically the horticultural value chain.
Recent statistics put proportions of the youth (15 to 35) that are unemployed and seeking work at 34.2percent. Unemployment is therefore considered by many to be the most critical issue affecting the country.
It is trite to say that with the right national and individual orientation, policies, and drive, Ghana’s rich flora and fauna resources could provide millions of jobs to the country’s teeming youth.
Stratcomm Africa is leading the charge to green Ghana for the varied purposes of beautification, wealth and job creation as well as a sustainable fight against climate change.
Now in is tenth year, the annual Garden and Flower Show challenges and motivates the youth and businesses in the sector to aspire to grow and reach their full potential, in order to improve their livelihoods and impact society.
This year’s theme “Growth Unleashed” preps the mind of young Ghanaians to burst forth and to grow beyond the norms to achieve a blooming environment.
The global horticulture market is estimated to be valued at USD 20.77 Billion as of 2021 and is projected to reach US$40.24bn by 2026 at a compound annual growth of 10.2percent whilst global flower and ornamental plants market was valued at US$475.6m in 2020 and is expected to reach US$725.4m by the end of 2027, growing annually at 6.3percent during 2021-2027.
By Eugene Davis
The Minority in Parliament led by its leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has accused the National Communications Authority (NCA) of exceeding their mandates of the law by blocking Ghanaians of their sim cards.
According to them, today, digitalization and ICT are directly tied to key fundamental rights including the right to privacy and communication as no person should be subjected to interference with the privacy of their communication.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at parliament house, Mr. Iddrisu said “It is the view of the minority that the NCA is acting ultra vires in curtailing the exercise and enjoyment of the right to privacy of communication.
The government is proceeding erroneously as if every Ghanaian has a Ghana card. This is simply not true; it is not the case.”
The minority leader said the sector ministry and the NCA are simply ignoring the legitimate concerns of Ghanaians who are crying and saying ‘we do not have the Ghana card, help us access these public goods.’
SIM card owners in Ghana who failed to re-register their cards started facing punitive actions on Monday, September 5, 2022, ahead of the September 30 deadline.
The minority says the punitive actions are unreasonable, explaining that to completely cut telecommunication services to subscribers for no other reason than to limit usage by citizens is the lowest point in a nation’s telecommunications development.
“It is a backward regulatory/ policy prescription to follow in any regime. Too much reliance of rules/regulations exposes a communications system as immature.”
Meanwhile, the NCA has indicated individuals whose SIM cards will be blocked after the September 30 deadline set for the re-registration exercise can only retrieve them within a six-month grace period.
Unregistered SIM cards will afterwards be completely removed from the system.
