Business24 Newspaper 14 December 22

Fuel price in a free fall as cedi records remarkable gains

By Benson Afful

signi cant due to the 6.60percent appreciation of the cedi against the US dollar.

The IES foresees the price of the various nished products reducing between 9percent to15percent, the institute said.

“This means the new prices will fall around Gh¢13 and Gh¢16 per litre for Gasoline and Gasoil respectively, and Gh¢12 per kilogram for LPG,” the institute said in its recent analysis.

per litre moved from Gh¢19.86 to Gh¢18.78; falling by roughly 5.44%.

In the pricing window under review, the IES MarketScan picked Shell/Vivo, TotalEnergies, Engen, Sel and Goil as OMCs with the highest-priced fuel on the market. Star Oil, Benab Oil, Zen Petroleum, and Goodness Oil were spotted as some of the OMCs with the least-priced fuel on the market.

Energy Security (IES) says with the continued price falls of fuel recorded on the international market, consumers are set to see further price relief at the local pumps.

The energy analysts predicted that on the back of 9.02percent, 8.08percent and the 7.38percent fall in prices of Gasoline, Gasoil and LPG respectively, the domestic Oil Marketing Companies outlets are set to reduce their prices further.

The expected price drops, according to the IES, would be

The rst pricing-window of December 2022 saw international market price falls re ecting on the domestic fuel market positively at all Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) outlets monitored by the Institute for Energy Security (IES).

The price reductions seen over the rst half of December 2022 pegs the national average price per litre of Gasoline at Gh¢15.16 from Gh¢16.31, representing a 7.05% reduction over the period. Gasoil’s national average price

Data from the IES Economic Desk as captured from the foreign exchange (Forex) market over the last two weeks, shows the local currency made gains, appreciating by 6.60% against the US Dollar.

The rate at close of the period under assessment was Gh¢14.03 to the US dollar from the previous rate of Gh¢14.96, to the US Dollar.

Abena Amoah appointed as Ex.Co member on ASEA

ments, large infrastructure project development, business start-ups and incubation, public education on investment and nancial matters, and capital markets development.

The statement from ASEA further announced Mr. Thapelo Tsheole as the Incumbent President of Asea following DR. Edoh Kossi Amenouve’s retirement, in accordance with the provisions of the African Securities Exchanges act and the Regulations thereunder.

from 7th December 2022.

The African Securities Exchanges Association is the Premier Association of the twenty- ve (26) securities exchanges in Africa who have come together with the aim of developing Member Exchanges and providing a platform for networking.

According to a statement from ASEA, Ms.Amoah’s appointment took e ect from December 7, following her exemplary work at Ghana’s Stock Exchange.

Ms. Amoah who took over from Ekow Afedzie, the former MD of GSE, has experience in stock market listings and trading, mergers and acquisitions advisory, investment research, asset management, private placement of equity, debt and hybrid instru-

Other members appointed include Mr. Celestine Rwabukumba the Chief Executive O cer of Rwanda Stock Exchange as ASEA Vice President with e ect from 7th December 2022, Mr. Temi Popoola the Chief Executive O cer of Nigeria Exchange Limited as an Executive Committee Member with e ect from 7th December 2022.

Ms. Joyce Dlamini the Managing Director of Eswatini Stock Exchange as an Executive Committee Member with e ect

ASEA was established in 1993 and works closely with its Members to unlock the potential of the African Capital Markets, Vision To enable African Securities Exchanges to be key signi cant drivers of the economic and societal transformation of the year 2025.

Its mission to provide a forum for mutual communication, exchange of information, co-operation and technical assistance among its members, to facilitate the process of nancial integration within the region for the e ective mobilization of capital to accelerate economic development of Africa.

The Managing Director of Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE),Ms Abena Amoah has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA).

Ghana secures conditional approval for $3bn IMF support

Ghana and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a preliminary agreement for the fund to support the economy with a US$3 billion credit to help resuscitate it and correct scal and monetary

The proposed three-year extended credit facility (ECF) was approved by the sta of the IMF this week, subject to nal approval by the management and Executive Board of the Bretton Woods institution.

A statement from the IMF said the Management and Executive Board approval was conditioned on the completion of a debt restructuring exercise to bring debt stock to sustainable levels.

It is Ghana’s 17th support from the Bretton Woods institution after joining it in 1957.

In the statement issued by the IMF Mission Chief to Ghana, the fund said the preliminary approval would be presented to the IMF Board for nal approval

after the country has made sucient progress with e orts to restore debt sustainability.

"To support the objective of restoring public debt sustainability, the authorities have announced a comprehensive debt restructuring. Su cient assurances and progress on this front will be needed before the proposed Fund-supported programme can be presented to the IMF Executive Board for approval," the statement said

Akufo-Addo attends US -Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Ghana on Sunday, , 11th December, 2022, to lead Ghana’s delegation to the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, at the invitation of US President, Joe Biden.

The Summit is expected to “demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to Africa, and will underscore the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities.”

The President was accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo; the Minister for Foreign A airs,

Shirley Ayorkor Botchey; the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye, MP; the Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, MP; and o cial of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

The President will return to Ghana on Saturday, 17th December 2022, and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

Dr. Agyepong For Multifaceted

ing the long-held ideology amongst Christians of just praying but instead launched into production.

This paradigm, according to the IGP, was very crucial, indicating that the Ghanaian Christian can turn prayers into business.

He decried the failure and laxity of Christians to turn what he termed 'theoretical Christianity' into practicality.

According to him, the principle of commitment to God held on for

The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Aku o Dampare, has showered praises on the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, for defy-

many years has not only propelled Dr. Agyepong to just a praying Christian but has transformed that into bene cial productive ventures.

He made the remarks at the climax of the joint annual service of thanksgiving of the Jospong Group of Companies and Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL) 2022 at the group's headquarters at Ashley Botwe-Nmai-Dzorn in Accra on Friday, December 9, 2022.

"We have come very far", he said.

Dr. Dampare found it very dicult to understand that with a total percentage of 70% Christians in the country, Ghana has remained the way it is.

He bemoaned the fact that there was a growing interest amongst Christians who would only seize any moment in the church against turning theory into

producing goods.

He said theoretical Christianity has accounted for the country's current state in the scheme of world developers.

He indicated that Ghana's stance as a consumption nation has done no good to her, especially when countries Ghana began with have progressed in terms of development.

He decried why citizens have dwelled on the theoretical aspect of Christianity to retarding both personality and the nation at large.

The IGP indicated that, that situation has taken the best part of the individual to the detriment of future generations.

"If after prayer, you can think about eating, then it means everything is not prayer", Dr. Dampare stressed.

The week-long thanksgiving service was held on the theme: "Celebrating God's Goodness" and was centred on Psalm 66:16.

The event attracted special personalities including the immediate past Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, the immediate past General Secretary of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah (rtd), Inspector General of Police, with Dr. George Aku o Dampare, as the special guest of honour and his entourage, past and present Members of Parliament, chiefs and queen mothers amongst others.

The Executive Chairman of the JGC,, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, used the opportunity to o er thank everyone who sympathised with him during the demise and burial of his late father.

But making a statement on the current challenges that have bedeviled the country with its corresponding harsh economic challenges, he assured Ghanaians that with a committed attitude, the fortunes of Ghana could be turned around.

Referencing the cost of fuel which impact spares no facet of the economy, he believed that the future was bright regardless.

He said the current situation should spur the country to do more with home-grown policies while completely curtailing the appetite for excessive importation.

He further urged the government to completely withdraw import cover on other products which the country has the capacity to produce.

This, he said, will serve as an incentive to local producers to step up their drive for production.

Time to make less and recycle more – stakeholders

By Eugene Davis

Stakeholders at a plastic recycling event have stated that it is time to “rethink plastic both to make use of its value and to stop it damaging the environment.”

Available data shows that industry-wide circular approach to the global plastics sector has the potential to create 700,000 jobs and generate savings of 200bn per year.

According to Olu Raheem, the Trade Commissioner for Finland in West Africa, Business Finland, said it requires a whole scale transformation of the plastics system and can only be achieved by bringing together all links in the chain under a shared commitment to act.

Speaking to the press at the Plastic Recycling Transformation in Ghana – World Circular Economy Forum Side Event in Accra on Tuesday, he indicated that Finland as a partner is ready to collaborate with Ghana, and added that everybody, businesses and organizations must demonstrate a will to act on plastic pollution and from the policy point of view government need to have a roadmap.

Roadmap action

Further he said “From policy making to decision making takes time. Yes, Ghana needs a stronger roadmap when it comes to circular economy, more policies around waste management and waste recycling producer responsibility.

When it comes to the producers creating the waste, there has to be people responsible and when make them accountable.”

Circular economy potential

The Finland Ambassador to Ghana, Leena Pylvanainen noted that circular economy portends huge potential for Ghana, and her country is keen to explore partnerships between the two countries in that regard.

For her transforming the way people think about plastic waste, and seeing it as a resource and seeing it as full business potential remains one of her objectives.

“It is about seeking synergies and forging partnerships, at government level, Finland and Ghana have partnered at the World Trade Organisation -we work

together on bringing circular economy onto the WTO and is a cooperation we are very keen to continue.”

Carbon footprint reduction

The Chairman and Founder of Block Solutions, Markus Sinlfverberg said circular economy provides an opportunity to innovate, drive superior business results, and better customer loyalty as well as job creation.

His company, Block Solutions uses bio ber and recycled products to produce blocks for construction and he plans to construct 10 factories across Ghana, which he says is “190,000 reduced carbon, we cutting down carbon footprint by 90percent and we also creat ing about 800 jobs with the establishment of these factories -and in the area of waste picking as well.”

Finland was the rst country to adopt a national circular econo my roadmap in 2016, the ambas sador stated.

An emerging way for companies to combat waste, and help

consumers get the most of their products now referred to as the “circular economy – the products that stay in use for longer, then the idea is to recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life.

Analysts have also suggested that circular economy for plastics that tackles the causes of plastics waste and pollution, not just the symptoms, focusing on innovation, better packaging design and end of use systems will not only generate long term bene ts for the environment, but also a huge economic opportunity.

Prostate Cancer: Vodafone Healthline doctor shares warning symptoms

tate is restricted by the enlargement. He mentioned that this illness can cause urinary symptoms that can worsen over time. "Because there is a narrowing as a result of the enlargement of the prostate, there may be some urinary problems such as a delay in urination, intermittency in urination, and the straining of urine by pressing against one's abdominal walls," Dr Yegbe told host Frema Asiedu on the Vodafone Healthline Spin-o show.

He warned that if left untreated, men with enlarged prostates could develop issues such as urinary tract infections, which can cause pain during urination, and kidney failure due to urine retention.

anti-in ammatory and antioxidant characteristics, as well as its capacity to improve digestion, relieve nausea and vomiting, aid in weight loss, and help with arthritis.

Vodafone Healthline has been on the air for over a decade and is still regarded as the country's most important and informative health and wellness platform.

Through the Vodafone Healthline show, Vodafone Ghana has provided free medical education and interventions to the Ghanaian public. The show keeps giving out useful information through interesting content on selected media outlets and social media.

fone Healthline Spin-o show, Dr Paul Yegbe, a prominent urologist, discussed various signs that may signal prostate problems in men. He explained that one of the most prevalent concerns that men face is

According to him, the enlarge ment of the prostate can produce a block in urine ow because the tube that transports urine from the bladder through the centre of the pros-

Dr Yegbe cautioned that when these signs and symptoms develop, it is critical to get medical assistance.

Aside from prostate illnesses, the show emphasised ginger's

The Vodafone Healthline Spin-O edition airs on UTV on Mondays from 9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on DGN on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Farmers in Savannah Region appeal to govt for subsidised machinery

Farmers in the Savannah Region have appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to assist them with farm machinery at subsidised prices.

According to them, such a move will help them to be able to purchase the needed farm inputs to reduce their operational cause and increase production.

The farmers, who were mainly into rice and cashew farming, made the appeal at a sta durbar organised by the MoFA at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

The sta durbar, which involved agricultural extension o cers and various farmers, formed part of the MoFA’s tour of the northern part of Ghana which kick-started on Monday, December 5, 2022, from the Upper West region.

However, the sector Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who had been leading the tour could not be part of the event because he had to attend to an urgent government business in Accra at

the time.

According to the farmers, the government should consider setting up rice and cashew processing centres in the region.

These facilities, they explained, would serve as ready markets, and also add value to their produce.

Furthermore, they asked the government to intervene in the pricing of their produce, stressing that it was having an adverse impact on their businesses.

The Chief Executive O cer (CEO) of Ghana Irrigation Service (GIS), Ing. Wilson Acquah on behalf of the minister, commended farmers in the region for their hard work.

“Indeed there was surpluses in production for all the commodities which clearly showed the positive impact of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme.

On the issue of pricing of food items, he told the farmers that the government was working to set up a committee to generate standard prices for various farm yields.

“Especially with the grains, a committee christened the Grains Development Committee will be set up to check the pricing of grains including maize, cereals, millets etc.),” he divulged.

He was particularly happy that the PFJ policy was yielding positive results.

In the wake of shortage of inorganic fertilisers, Ing. Wilson Acquah encouraged the farmers to adopt organic fertilisers.

He charged the extension o cers to educate the farmers on how to maintain the machinery and application of the organic fertiliser on their farms.

He said the government has also

imported some farm machinery such as threshers to be sold to farmers at a subsidised price of 40%

He tasked the extension o cers and directors to check the illegal exportation of food to neighbouring countries, stating that this measure is aimed at ensuring that “Ghana becomes self-su cient in terms of food.”

“If you want to export your produce, rst write to the government for permit so we could get taxes on them, without permit you can’t export. Let’s all act as a check to illegal export,” Ing. Acquah Wilson urged.

Chamber of Mines holds 8th edition of Ghana Mining Industry Awards

The Ghana Chamber of Mines has held the eighth edition of the Ghana Mining Industry Awards (GMIA) to reward individuals and companies that excelled in promoting sustainable and responsible mining in Ghana in the year 2021.

The awards night saw 25 individuals and companies awarded in various categories such as Best Performer in Environmental Management, Best Green Mine, Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety and Best Performer in Innovation among others.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, President of the Chamber, Mr. Joshua Mortoti reiterated the Chamber’s commitment “on supporting government to address current economic challenges. We believe that together, government and industry can collaborate to develop a more sustainable and economically viable mining sector.”

Mr. Mortoti noted that government has an important part to play in creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and added that “When businesses thrive, communities, citizens, and the country at large, thrive.”

According to the President of the Chamber, the mining sector had consistently played a vital role in the sustenance of Ghana’s economy through initiatives such as the “Bank of Gha-

Programme to support the government in these critical times.”

“Let me reassure you that the Chamber and its members will continue to support government, but it is our expectation that more clarity will be provided for the Chamber and its members to continue to support government’s initiatives in the short to medium term and the cardinal aim of maintaining the viability of the mines is not compromised,” he said.

Chief Executive O cer of the Chamber, Mr. Sulemanu Koney on his part thanked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor for his ministry’s un inching support for the industry. He also commended the Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission for their cooperation in the year. Mr. Koney stated that “the level of cooperation the Chamber has and continues to have from the Minerals Commission, the EPA and the Bank of Ghana is worthy of note. We appreciate you all as well as many others whose role has facilitated the work of the Chamber over the past year.”

A Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. George Mireku Duker on behalf of the Minister, Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor called on stakeholders to help address the menace of illegal

Mr. Duker said government was committed to creating a congenial environment for mining rms to thrive.

The winners at the awards night were

1. Mining Company of the Year- Asanko Ghana Gold Ltd

2. Mining Personality of the Year (The President’s Award)Daniel Egya-Mensah

3. Female Miner of the Year Technical- Shirley Oteng-Seifah

4. Female Miner of the Year Non-Technical- Irene Aboagye-Akari

5. Lifetime Achievement Award- Ing. Alfred Chinbuah

6. Best Performer in Local Content award- Asanko Ghana Gold Limited

7. Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety award –Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine 8. Best Performer in Innovation award- Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd - Ahafo Mine

9. Best Mining Company in Diversity and Inclusion- Newmont Golden Ridge Ltd –Akyem Mine 10. Best Corporate Social Investment Project of the year 2021- AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine 11. Best Performer in Environmental Management- Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd - Ahafo Mine 12. Best Green Mine- Newmont

13. Best Performer in Exploration (Junior) Category- Atlantic Lithium Limited

Best Performer in Exploration (Senior)- Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd - Ahafo Mine

Best Performer in Local Manufacturing of Mine Supplies and Support Services- ZEN Petroleum

Best Performer in Contract Mining-Ramoth Services Limited

Best Performer in Local Manufacturing of Mine Inputs- Interplast Ghana Limited 18. Best Green Mine – Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd. – Ahafo Mine 19. Best Level 200 Student (Male) in Mining Engineering at UMaTVictor Kweku Agadzie 20. Best Level 200 Student (Female) in Mining Engineering at UMaT – Justina Senam Lotsu 21. Best PhD Student in Research in Mining Engineering at UMaT –Clara Akalanya Abuntori

The award was sponsored by Gold Fields Ghana limited, African Underground Mining Service, Adamus Resources, AngloGold Ashanti, Golden Star Resources, Asante-Chirano Gold Mine, Interplast, Stanbic Bank, SMT Ghana and Liebherr.

GOIL, GTA show how

Economic crises: We must increase domestic production ---Dr. Agyepong

produce quality commodities.”

Furthermore, Dr. Agyepong stressed the need for Ghanaians to have a healthy attitude towards Ghana-made products and patronise them.

This, he explained, will help the Ghanaian economy to bounce back.

ic challenges currently bedeviling the country.

“The economic challenges that we are facing should rather bring forth our entrepreneurial spirit as we nd homegrown solutions to them,” Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong made the call at the 2022 Annual Thanksgiving Service of the JGC and Zoomlion on Friday, December 9, 2022, at the group’s head o ce at Ashalley Botwe in Accra.

According to him, it is now time for Ghanaians to increase domestic production and ensure that “we consume what we produce in order to reduce the incessant pressure on the Ghana cedi.”

To this end, he stressed the need for the nation to prioritise localisation, stating optimistically that “we shall come out of this situation victorious through the grace of the Almighty God.”

2022, he bemoaned, has been characterised by harsh economic challenges, adding that these have had negative impacts on businesses and individuals.

not appreciate Him for divine preservation. Let’s remember that through it all, the Lord has been good and faithful to us,” he reminded Ghanaians.

Dr. Agyepong was upbeat that Ghana would eventually come out of its economic doldrums.

He commended the government for its policy initiatives to boost local productive capacity and the protection of local industries by cutting down on imports.

“Indeed, the government’s decision to restrict the importation of commodities such as vegetable oil, rice, poultry, fruit juices, and ceramic tiles, is a step in the right direction towards self-sustenance,” he said.

However, the executive chairman of JGC called for an extension of the restriction to cover anything that is being produced by locals and for which “we have comparative advantage.”

“In this regard, we need to boost the domestic avenues for

their production, and these avenues would create ample job

“As we applaud government over its domestication e orts, we are humbly asking government to be committed and very rm on this policy. We don’t want a situation where people will invest heavily in local industries only to be derailed by a lack of commitment on the part of government,” Dr. Agyepong pleaded.

In the wake of the current economic circumstances, Dr. Agyepong applauded the hard work, patience, support and resilience of Ghanaians.

“By our nature and cultural orientation, Ghanaians are typically industrious, peace-loving, united and supportive. We are well-known, and ever will be, for these virtues. Ghanaians have been known to love their country, and able to work hard to manage their own a airs when given the opportunity. Regardless of how unsatisfactory conditions are, our people have been loyal to our beloved country,” he expressed.

“As we strengthen our feet in the paths of domestication, we are entreated to work harder than ever before, to do quality work and

“We must all cherish, support, and sustain the modest gains that we have made over this period. May I use this opportunity to also encourage other businesses to support the e orts and initiatives of the government. I will continue to admonish the youth to also put their hands on deck, launch out and take advantage of opportunities being provided by government through its various youth-related initiatives like YouStart, planting for food and jobs to contribute their quota to national development,” he stated.

"...I wish to take the opportunity to stand on my behalf and that of my wife Adelaide and the entire Agyepong and allied families to thank you all sincerely for the outpouring of love and support during the demise and nal funeral rites of my late father, Opanyin Samuel Kwame Agyepong", he appreciated.

He further said, "Words fail me as I recall the great support and services you rendered to make the nal journey of my father memorable and spectacular. To avoid a situation where I mention one and leave out others, let me just say thank you to you all. However, I cannot have this platform without thanking the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and their wives, Former Presidents John Agyekum Kufour and John Dramani Mahama for their presence at the funeral. It was one of the most humbling moments of my life and I will never forget it".

Regional collaborative approach, central to robust medicines regime in Africa -FDA boss

By Eugene Davis

The CEO of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Delese Mimi Darko, has asked National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to join forces to deepen regional collaborative approaches, aimed at achieving a robust Medicines Regulatory Regime in Africa.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the third African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) Week in Accra, she said “The momentum for joint learning and mentorship is prevalent and we are keen to grow along with many other NRAs to achieve the audacious vision of a robust Medicines Regulatory Regime in Africa. In the wake of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) it has become even more important for us to deepen our regional collaborative approaches.”

The CEO noted that in 2020, the World Health Organization designated the Ghana FDA as a Maturity Level 3 agency based on the Globl Benchmarking Tool and they are working assiduously to achieve ML4.

In August, this year the Drugs Physico-chemical Laboratory of the FDA’ s Centre for Laboratory

Services & Research attained WHO-Prequali cation status.

“These, though no mean feats in themselves, leave us in no doubt of the immense responsibility placed on us to support other NRAs in the Region.

The momentum for joint learning and mentorship is prevalent and we are keen to grow along with many other NRAs to achieve the audacious vision of a robust Medicines Regulatory Regime in Africa.

The AfCFTA creates a $3 trillion common market that we – as National Regulatory Authorities – must work hard to secure and protect.

As such the Ghana FDA recently became an anchor partner of the AfCFTA Hub Initiative, a strategic program of the AfCFTA Secretariat, to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA Single Market.”

Further, she stated that Ghana FDA has been a key driver of the ProPer Seals Initiative, which is laying the groundwork for a pan-African medicines and health commodities traceability,

anti-counterfeiting, electronic quality assurance, and digital supply chain coordination ecosystem. The ProPer Seals digital platform has indeed already gone live in Ghana, providing all citizens with a free and universally accessible means to instantly verify the status of their health products using nothing more than a basic phone.

The AMRH has been instrumental in implementing the operations of the PAVM and believes that the invaluable support will be extended to establishing the African Medicines Agency (AMA).

Since the last AMRH week, which was held virtually in December 2020 due to wide travel restrictions in place in many countries, conversations on COVID-19 have shifted from addressing the urgent short-term needs to building the long-term resilience of our continent with regards to Pandemic Preparedness.

It is therefore no surprise that vaccine production is at the centre of this need, culminating in the establishment of The Partnerships for African Vaccine

Manufacturing (PAVM). The rst ever such collaboration for Africa. PAVM’s laudable continental strategy and framework for action is founded on eight bold initiatives that have been translated into annual priorities for action. This year, our focus is on regulatory process harmonisation, strengthening National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and strengthening the Regional Centres of Regulatory Excellence (RCOREs) platform to facilitate

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana over the past 25 years, with support from our strategic partners, has attained ISO 9001-2015 certi cation for its technical and administrative operations and the ISO/IEC 17025-2017 accreditation for 58 tests covering allopathic medicines, medical devices, cosmetics,

These accreditations,Ms.Darko says have placed them in the unique position of possessing the largest testing capacity under one roof in Africa. As a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence, they have since 2017 strengthened the capacity of more than 151 African Regulators

This includes twelve (12) countries in medicine authorisation and registration, seven (7) countries in pharmacovigilance and eleven (11) countries in clinical trial oversight across The Continent.

The African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (AMRH) is an important platform that was established as a result of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa to address weak, outdated and fragmented regulatory systems on the African Continent. At its core, the mission of the AMRH is to facilitate and coordinate the harmonisation of medicines regulation with the desired outcome of increasing access to quality, safe, e cacious and a ordable medicines across Africa.

There are numerous reasons why this is critical but in recent times nothing has brought this closer to home than the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, from which the world is still recovering.

USAID launches $35.9m grant to support agriculture market systems in Ghana

and exporters.

Through the grant facility, which takes e ect from March 2023, smallholder farmers and other value chain actors would have access to a nancing amount between $5,000 and $25,000 for various projects.

The roadshow would also take place at Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa and the North East Regions, to help prospective applicants understand the purpose, eligibility requirements, application process and the nature of the grant.

Ghana MSR Activity also said that the grant would target private sector businesses and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), noting that applicants whose projects best aligned with the goals of the project would benet.

The United States Agency for International Development (USIAD), has launched a $35.9 million grant package to support Ghana’s agriculture systems to ensure food security and improve the livelihood of about 200,000 individuals.

The ve-year project would provide the needed nance and input to increase production of maize, shea, bambara beans, soybeans, cowpea, groundnuts, tomatoes, pepper, onion, mango and moringa, and their value addition.

Known as the Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity, the project would bene t smallholder farmers, particularly, women and youth, as well as out-growers, buyers, processors

It is expected that the project would increase o -farm employment and investment opportunities and help solve value chain challenges including single growing season, limited access to land, water, inputs and services and fragmented markets.

Mr Raymond Denteh, Agribusiness and Financial Services Team Leader, MSR Activity, Ghana, said the essence of the grant project was to make sure that the market system was more resilient, more robust and inclusive.

He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the launch of the project in Accra on Monday, which coincided with a roadshow for stakeholders in the agriculture value chain.

Mr Denteh said USAID wanted to start the project’s rollout as soon as possible, so they would fast-track processes for beneciaries to access the grant after four to eight weeks of vetting.

He said: “The project is to support and strengthen the agric market system for increased e ciency, productivity and investment to drive economic growth and increase incomes of households in catchment regions.”

He added: “We’ll target women and youth and people with disabilities and focus on commodities that would promote those elements. We want to make sure that the market system is resilient and sustainable, and we’re really committed to it.”

Mr Eric Sunu, the Monitoring and evaluation Manager for the

Does Africa deserve green aid?

women and youth, as well as out-growers, buyers, processors and exporters.

Through the grant facility, which takes e ect from March 2023, smallholder farmers and other value chain actors would have access to a nancing amount between $5,000 and $25,000 for various projects.

cided with a roadshow for stakeholders in the agriculture value chain.

He, therefore, encouraged applicants to ensure that they took part in the roadshows to acquaint themselves with the application processes and requirements to bene t and a ect the lives of others.

Mr Sunu said: “The grant is for actors and businesses within the ecosystem to use to implement activities sustainably to will bene t actors and meet the target that has been set out by the donor to the project.”

Some participants at the roadshow lauded the initiative and pledged that the grant received would go to the targeted areas to support the agriculture and food system in Ghana, while improving the lives of people in rural communities.

Source: GNA

The United States Agency for International Development (USIAD), has launched a $35.9 million grant package to support Ghana’s agriculture systems to ensure food security and improve the livelihood of about 200,000 individuals.

The ve-year project would provide the needed nance and input to increase production of maize, shea, bambara beans, soybeans, cowpea, groundnuts, tomatoes, pepper, onion, mango and moringa, and their value addition.

Known as the Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity, the project would bene t smallholder farmers, particularly,

It is expected that the project would increase o -farm employment and investment opportunities and help solve value chain challenges including single growing season, limited access to land, water, inputs and services and fragmented markets.

Mr Raymond Denteh, Agribusiness and Financial Services Team Leader, MSR Activity, Ghana, said the essence of the grant project was to make sure that the market system was more resilient, more robust and inclusive.

He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the launch of the project in Accra on Monday, which coin-

The roadshow would also take place at Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa and the North East Regions, to help prospective applicants understand the purpose, eligibility requirements, application process and the nature of the grant.

Mr Denteh said USAID wanted to start the project’s rollout as soon as possible, so they would fast-track processes for beneciaries to access the grant after four to eight weeks of vetting.

He said: “The project is to support and strengthen the agric market system for increased e ciency, productivity and investment to drive economic growth and increase incomes of households in catchment regions.”

He added: “We’ll target women and youth and people with disabilities and focus on commodities that would promote those elements. We want to make sure that the market system is resilient and sustain-

able, and we’re really committed to it.”

Mr Eric Sunu, the Monitoring and evaluation Manager for the Ghana MSR Activity also said that the grant would target private sector businesses and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), noting that applicants whose projects best aligned with the goals of the project would benet.

He, therefore, encouraged applicants to ensure that they took part in the roadshows to acquaint themselves with the application processes and requirements to bene t and a ect the lives of others.

Mr Sunu said: “The grant is for actors and businesses within the ecosystem to use to implement activities sustainably to will bene t actors and meet the target that has been set out by the donor to the project.”

Some participants at the roadshow lauded the initiative and pledged that the grant received would go to the targeted areas to support the agriculture and food system in Ghana, while improving the lives of people in rural communities.

Source: GNA

GNBCC and MDF West Africa present fourth edition of Dutch Export Academy

The Ghana Netherlands Business and Cultural Council (GNBCC) in collaboration with MDF West Africa has announced the fourth edition of the Dutch Export Academy, an initiative for entrepreneurs and exporters to take advantage of the European Union through the export of quality products.

Scheduled to start in February 2023, the fourth edition of the

Dutch Export Academy is a comprehensive training program designed for Ghanaian entrepreneurs and exporters looking at improving their exports or to start exporting their products from Ghana to the European Union market.

The training program covers key subject areas including EU Export Processes and Documentation, Export Planning, Certi -

cation and Practicalities of Export, Export Finance, Product Packaging, and Branding. In addition to the sessions, there will be two eld trips as well as a study trip to the Netherlands in April 2023.

The program forms part of various value-addition interventions the Dutch government has introduced to complement the government of Ghana’s “Ghana

beyond aid” agenda and contribute to Private Sector Development.

Interested entrepreneurs and exporters can register here.

For more information, please contact GNBCC at info@gnbcc.net or 0302 2767825.

Empowering women to change the world

There has been an ongoing conversation on the global call for the world to support, invest and empower women and girls. It is not surprising that the Sustainable Development Goals include not only gender-speci c actions and statistics, but also an entire goal dedicated to gender parity.

The fth Sustainable Development Goal is bold, broad and important. It challenges the world to “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls'', and it is a goal that most women around the world believe in wholeheartedly. It appears to be the goal of particular relevance as women and men are rallying for more equal rights at the o ce and in society.

Eunice Golloh is the President and Founder of Impact Wave Initiative, a women community driven non-pro t organization, dedicated to assisting young women build themselves to their best potential through mentorship, workshops, and physical development.

Eunice, who is very passionate about empowering young women

to know their self-worth and the greatest impact they can make with what God has placed inside of them believes women can change the narrative when they are given the opportunity and equipped with the requisite information.

Brought up in a Ghanaian household where education was very important and taught to be powerful, Eunice has risen through the ranks to become a Senior Cybersecurity Analyst by profession as well as the Chief Executive O cer and President of HKG IT Consulting, based in the United States of America.

A Ghanaian American, she has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Chemistry from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity Policy and Management from University of Maryland Global Campus. She is currently completing her Doctorate degree in Cybersecurity at Marymount University.

With her team in Ghana, they will be hosting the Impact Conference on 22nd December 2022

at the Holiday Hotel in Accra. Expected to attract hundreds of young women from across the nation’s capital and beyond, it is a platform to discuss solutions to challenges women are confronted with. There will be some distinguished speakers to share real life stories of the challenges along their journey to success.

Eunice believes women empowerment is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries. “When we get women to live safe, ful lled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential and also contribute their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier children. They are also able to help fuel sustainable economies and bene t societies and humanity at large”, she emphasised.

According to her, a key part of empowering women is through education as women who are educated can pursue meaningful work and contribute to their country’s economy. Her call on all key stakeholders to help in the empowerment of women is based

on her belief that empowered women alongside their male counterparts is the key to economic growth, political and social transformation of a country.

This is in line with the vision of Eunice’s Impact Wave Initiative to change the concept and mind-set of today’s women to change the narrative. “Our mission is to empower the 21st century young women in building themselves to their full potential, through mentorships, workshops and physical development. We are women of power, integrity and of excellence”, she added.

Oxford Business Group signs MoU with PwC Ghana for 2023 analysis

Ghana’s far-reaching digitisation programme and its implications for businesses operating across the economic sectors will be explored in a forthcoming report by the global research and advisory company Oxford Business Group (OBG).

The Report: Ghana 2023 will shine a spotlight on the wide-ranging tax reforms under way, which form a key part of broader e orts to boost revenue and bring about scal consolidation.

Focal points will include the newly introduced e-levy, nancial sector recovery levy, energy sector levy and Covid-19 recovery levy, alongside other key developments, such as the implementation of tax identication numbers.

The report will also map out Ghana’s growth prospects, providing in-depth analysis of the heightened activity evident across the extractive industries, which has been a major contributor to the

orandum of understanding (MoU) with PwC Ghana as it begins work on The Report: Ghana 2023. Under the agreement, PwC Ghana will team up for a third time with OBG to produce the Tax chapter of the report and other content for the Group’s suite of research tools.

The MoU was signed by Ramona Tarta, OBG’s Country Director for Ghana, and Ayesha Bedwei Ibe, Tax Leader, PwC Ghana and PwC Global Tax and Legal Services People Leader.

Commenting after the signing, Ibe said that OBG’s forthcoming report would be a valuable research tool for investors eyeing Ghana’s potential, coming against a changing business landscape marked by ambitious scal and tax reforms.

“Ghana is keen to attract investment for key sectors of the economy identi ed as ripe for

country moving to introduce policies and reforms aimed at ensuring new growth is sustainable and more inclusive.

“Ghana is taking steps to restore macroeconomic stability and boost GDP in the recovery phase, which is key to instilling investor con dence and increasing in ows,” Tarta said. “PwC Ghana has long been instrumental in supporting a wide range of businesses looking to establish themselves and expand their presence in the country, combining in-depth knowledge of changes to the local tax and scal environment with the bene ts of a global professional resource base. I’m thrilled that our analysists and, in turn, the international investment community will continue to benet from their expertise in analysing this important market.”

The Report: Ghana 2023 will be produced with the Association of Ghana Industries, PwC Ghana and other partners.

The Report: Ghana 2023 will mark the culmination of more than a year of eld research by a team of analysts from Oxford Business Group. It will be a vital guide to the many facets of the country, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments. OBG’s publication will also contain contributions from leading representatives across the public and private sectors.

The Report: Ghana 2023 will be available online and in print. It will form part of a series of tailored studies that OBG is currently producing with its partners, alongside other highly relevant, go-to research tools, including ESG and Future Readiness reports, country-speci c Growth and Recovery Outlook articles and interviews.

Click here to subscribe to Oxford Business Group’s latest content: http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/country-reports

Strengthening Ghana – US shared vision

By Chris Koney

The summit is expected to demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to the African continent and underscore the importance of US - Africa relations as well as an increased cooperation on shared global priorities, more especially in these di cult times of global economic challenges.

The gathering of public - private leaders across the continent, o cials of strategic US government Departments and Agencies as well as groups of American investors and other key state players is to foster economic relations through engagement on Africa shaping not just the future of African citizens but the world at large. Ahead of this all-important summit to make the di erence in tackling the most urgent challenges and seizing opportunities for the growth of Africa, I had an interact with Her Excellency Virginia E. Palmer, Ambassador of the United States of America to Ghana on the current state of Ghana – US bilateral relations at the US Embassy in Accra.

A career diplomat for almost four decades which has seen her play several important roles across the United States, Ambassador Palmer has also served in Kenya, Canada, Zimbabwe, China, and Hong Kong,working on various assignments including political - military a airs, corruption, trade and agriculture, labour and human rights issues, health and development.

“I saw the impact that US policy could have and also saw what it was like to live without the freedom I took for granted in the United States. Then again, I realised the opportunity diplomacy will give me to work for the United States government and partner countries to make them prosper and a ect the lives of their citizens as I make my country more prosperous and secured. So at age 15, I had wanted to be a diplomat and for that I studied French and Chinese in university”, she added.

Not new to the African continent, Ambassador Palmer has a deeper understanding of the situation in di erent parts of the continent. Commenting on the prospects of her Ghanaian assignment, she believes her long years of experience in Africa is a very vital element she brings to the table as well as her work on counter terrorism which saw her persuading governments to join the ght against terrorism to prevent violent extremism.

In spite of the current economic challenges Ghana is faced with alongside the uncertainties around a possible bail out deal from the International Monetary Fund, Ambassador Palmer reiterated the United States government’s commitment to boosting two-way trade and investment while promoting enterprise - driven develop-

carry on with other ongoing key collaborations and projects.

“I am very proud of the work the embassy has been doing which is very integrated. We have a big security programme between the Ghanaian and American Armed Forces, doing exercises together and we spend about USD20 million on that yearly. We do that alongside our work on human rights, rule of law, anti-corruption, and inclusive economic growth, women in agriculture, women and children’s rights, all of which will help the development of Ghana”, she emphasised.

On peace and stability in Ghana and the African continent at large, she stated that the US Government will want to work with its African partners rather than being in the lead, which she describes as often less successful and contrary to the philosophy of country ownership. She further lauded the Ghanaian Government’s leadership in a bid to achieve peace and stability across the continent, citing the Accra Initiative.

“We have asked for ways we can give support to the Accra Initiative which I think is a very remarkable project. In addition, we have been supportive of Ghana’s e ort to have inclusive economic growth in the northern part so you do not have a disenfranchised population there, because that makes them vulnerable to violent extremism. We

spend about USD130million a year on development programmes, mostly in thesionalization of security forces and respect for communities from the police and security forces are also an important part of combating violent extremism. It has been wonderful working in these areas in Ghana”, she added.

In the area of Energy, Ambassador Palmer said, “right before I came to Ghana, I worked on energy, and Ghana is blessed with oil and gas. The commitment to renewable energy I think can be a poster child for the clean energy transition and I am looking forward to working on those energy issues with Ghana. Though there are serious challenges in the power sector, I am convinced they will be dealt with and I look forward to the United States government helping with that”.

Bilateral trade between Ghana and the United States currently stands at USD2.7b. The Ambassador believes there is a huge potential to increase the trade volume between the two countries through important instruments such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is to assist economies of sub-Saharan Africa. She urged Ghanaian manufacturers to take advantage of AGOA to get their goods into the American market duty free.

“Under AGOA, there is a great example now with Niche Cocoa which just built a chocolate factory in Wisconsin in the USA. They will export cocoa from Ghana under AGOA to the US duty free to Wisconsin, a popular dairy state, where they will add Wisconsin milk to produce

where the United States is helping women bring shea processing to scale which has a good export market in the United States. It also has a huge potential for creating jobs in both the United States and Ghana”, she revealed.

Ambassador Palmer mentioned that Development Finance Cooperation would soon be available for projects the government of Ghana is involved in and further stated that the Partnership for Growth and Infrastructure is expected to make available about USD 200b to be unlocked for infrastructure projects all over the world. According to her, there is an ongoing engagement with the government of

Ghana to identify and present some bankable projects for nancing.

“We also have the African Trade Hub, a 5-year, USD140 million trade and investment facilitation activity designed to improve private sector productivity, pro tability, and competitiveness in West Africa through market-based approaches. It is also to help Ghanaian businesses to take advantage of AGOA, which I think will solve most of the challenges Ghanaian businesses face in accessing the US market”, she added.

According to Ambassador Palmer, the media can be a powerful force for change in both developed and developing countries and highlighted key support the embassy gives to the media in Ghana. “The fourth estate plays an important role in governance, keeping things transparent and government accountable. We do have programmes to help build the capacity of journalists to function more e ciently. In fact, we do have an investigative journalism programme right now for West African journalists who are starting their careers. We also have a fact-checking programme for journalists in the northern part of

Ghana and there are regular exchange programmes for journalists as well”, she indicated.

Responding to the future of Ghana – US relations as we concluded our conversation, Ambassador Palmer said, “I think our relations will grow from strength to strength as we are grounded in similar values. Learning from each other strengthens our bond and the people’s exchanges through projects like the Year of Return and Beyond The Return which has seen thousands of Americans visiting Ghana for several reasons tells of the great future

Ten lessons from the return of history

By Richard Haass

Few will miss 2022, a year de ned by a lingering pandemic, advancing climate change, galloping in ation, slowing economic growth, and, more than anything else, the outbreak of a costly war in Europe and concerns that violent con ict could soon erupt in Asia. Some of this was anticipated, but much of it was not – and all of it suggests lessons that we ignore at our peril. First, war between countries, thought by more than a few academics to be obsolete, is anything but. What we are seeing in Europe is an old-fashioned imperial war, in which Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to extinguish Ukraine as a sovereign, independent entity. His goal is to ensure a democratic, market-oriented country seeking close ties to the West cannot thrive on Russia’s borders and set an example that might prove attractive to Russians. Of course, rather than achieving the quick and easy victory he expected, Putin has discovered that his own army is not as powerful, and that his opponents are far more determined, than he – and many in the West – had anticipated. Ten months later, the war continues with no end in sight.

Second, the idea that economic interdependence constitutes a bulwark against war, because no party would have an interest in disrupting mutually bene cial trade and investment ties, is no

longer tenable. Political considerations come rst. In fact, the European Union’s heavy dependence on Russian energy supplies likely in uenced Putin’s decision to invade, by leading him to conclude that Europe would not stand up to him.

Third, integration, which has animated decades of Western policy toward China, has also failed. This strategy, too, rested on the belief that economic ties – along with cultural, academic, and other exchanges – would drive political developments, rather than vice versa, leading to the emergence of a more open, market-oriented China that was also more moderate in its foreign policy.

None of this happened, although it can and should be debated whether the aw lies with the concept of integration or with the manner in which it was executed. What is clear, however, is that China’s political system is becoming more repressive, its economy is moving in a more statist direction, and its foreign policy is growing more assertive.

Fourth, economic sanctions, in many instances the instrument of choice for the West and its partners when responding to a government’s violations of human rights or overseas

aggression, rarely deliver meaningful changes in behavior. Even aggression as blatant and brutal as Russia’s against Ukraine has failed to persuade most of the world’s governments to isolate Russia diplomatically or economically, and while Western-led sanctions may be eroding Russia’s economic base, they have not come close to persuading Putin to reverse his policy.

Fifth, the phrase “international community” needs to be retired. There isn’t one. Russia’s veto power in the Security Council has rendered the United Nations impotent, while the recent gathering of world leaders in Egypt to contend with climate change was an abject failure.

There is, moreover, little in the way of a global response to COVID-19 and few preparations in place to deal with the next pandemic. Multilateralism remains essential, but its e ectiveness will depend on forging narrower arrangements among likeminded governments. All-or-nothing multilateralism will mostly result in nothing.

Sixth, democracies obviously face their share of challenges, but the problems authoritarian systems face may be even greater. Ideology and regime survival often drive decision-making in such systems, and authoritarian leaders often resist abandoning failed policies or admitting mistakes, lest this be seen as a sign of weakness and feed public calls for greater change. Such regimes must constantly reckon with the threat of mass protest, as in Russia, or the real thing, as we have seen recently in China and Iran.

Seventh, the potential for the internet to empower individuals to challenge governments is far greater in democracies than in

closed systems. Authoritarian regimes such as those in China, Russia, and North Korea can close o their society, monitor and censor content, or both.

Something closer to a “splinternet” – multiple, separate internets – has arrived. Meanwhile, social media in democracies is susceptible to dissemination of lies and misinformation that increase polarization and make governing far more di cult.

Eighth, there is still a West (a term based more on shared values than geography), and alliances remain a critical instrument to promote order. The United States and its transatlantic partners in NATO have responded e ectively to Russian aggression against Ukraine. The US has also forged stronger ties in the Indo-Paci c to address the growing threat emanating from China, principally through an invigorated Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the US), AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US), and increased trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea.

Ninth, US leadership continues to be essential. The US cannot act unilaterally in the world if it wants to be in uential, but the world will not come together to meet shared security and other challenges if the US is passive or sidelined. American willingness to lead from the front rather than behind is often required. Lastly, we must be modest about what we can know. It is humbling to note that few of the preceding lessons were predictable a year ago. What we have learned is not just that history has returned, but also that, for better or worse, it retains its ability to surprise us. With that in mind, onward into 2023!

UN committed to supporting on-going

and constructively address complex drug issues while concurrently upholding, protecting and respecting the human rights of all, including people who use drugs.

“The United Nations family in Ghana stands ready to support you in this noble endeavour,” Mr Abani stated in his remarks at the opening of the National Dialogue on the International Guidelines on Humans Rights and Drug Policy in Ghana.

The two-day workshop, which is being organised in cooperation with UN agencies and civil society organisation seeks to create a space for State representatives, civil society and other stakeholders, including relevant Commissions and experts, to discuss drug policy-related issues from human.

Mr Abani said the UN in the Ghanastrongly believe that the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy was the best tool at our disposal for the implementation of human rights commitments of UN General Assembly Special

Common Position – were elaborated with further guidance in the Guidelines.

He expressed the hope that national authorities in Ghana, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in the Ghana would use these important Guidelines for advancing the recent drug policy reforms and make such reform fully human rights compliant under the leadership of the newly established Narcotic Control Commission.

Mr Abani said the COVID-19 pandemic had brought to the global community the basic truth that health and human rights were interconnected, and that human rights-driven e orts were crucial if Member States of the UN were to get on track to achieve the SDGs.

He said the pandemic also had made the criticality of science and evidence more important than ever – indeed a principle and practice that should also be the basis for both global as well as national drug policies.

those related to drug control. He said for too long, punitive and coercive e orts to address drug-related challenges had exacerbated stigma and discrimination, relied excessively on incarceration, and caused tremendous su ering.

He said in line with the international drug control framework, all states had to pursue a holistic approach that unites health, criminal justice and social services, and that respects and protects human rights.

“We are pleased to see that Ghana is one of key countries leading the world in pursuing such holistic approach. The current drug policy reform in Ghana clearly demonstrates it,” Mr Abani said.

He said most recently, this was further exhibited by Ghana at the UN – during the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the drug related matter, which put people, human rights and health at the centre of the world drug policy.

Mr Ambrose Dery, Minister of the

Mr Thomas Mbomba, a Deputy Minister of Foreign A airs and Regional Integration, said it was important that Ghana’s drug laws re ected the right responses to her situation and ensure that her people lived in good health, peace, prosperity, dignity and security.

Mr Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, a former Executive Secretary of the Narcotic Control Board, said the alignment of Ghana’s drug policies with development remains challenging.

He noted that the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy called for governments to address the root causes for which people and communities cultivate illegal crops such as cannabis, and to guarantee the right to an adequate standard of living for these communities, which means that they should be provided with a viable and sustainable economic alternative.

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