Investment Times Newspaper 2023 Edition | Issue 24

Akufo -Addo bulli sh on IMF bailout

...warns Fund will not restore fortunes

overnight

interest - CDS -Afric a to Parliament

PAP SS client transac tion

GC B B ank Pl c , one o f th e l ar ge st banks in Gh a n a , tod ay ann oun c ed

Pa n -Af r i c a n P ayment and

DBG to invest in agriculture value chains to t ackle fo o d inse curit y

2

D eloitte app oints C onsulting Par tner on International

Women’s Day

3

St anbic Bank leading the charge to bridge the gender

digit al gap

Th e D eve l o p men t B ank Gha n a ( D B G ) has reve al e d its in ten tio n to m a ke t ar ge ted i nve s t m en ts a c ross four value chai n s i n th e ag r

out hi g h fo od p r i c e s in Gha n a, which h ave co ntr ibu te d to th e c ou n t r y ’s reof Ja nu a r y 2 02 3 p rodu c tio n i n th e ag r i c ultu re

Th e D eve l o p men t B ank Ghana ( D B G ) has reve al e d its in ten ti o n to m a ke t ar ge ted i nve s t m en ts a c ross four value chai n s i n th e ag r i c ultu re s e c to r, with th e ai m o f add re ssin g th e p revaili ng fo o d i n s e cu r i t y i n th e c ou n t r y c aus e d by i n ad e qu ate l o c al p rodu c tio n to m ee t c o nsum p tio n n e e ds Th i s initi at ive co m e s a m idst i nc re asi ng c o n c e rns ab out hi g h fo od p r i c e s in Gha n a, which h ave co ntr ibu te d to th e c ou n t r y ’s reof Ja nu a r y 2 02 3 p rodu c tio n i n th e ag r i c ultu re

s e c to r c ould pl ay a c ru c ial rol e in s t abili zi ng fo o d p r i c e s a n d i mp rovi ng fo od s ec u r i t y i n th e c ou n t r y Ac c o rdin g to D ep u t y (CEO ) o f D B G, Mi c ha e l Men sah -B aah, th e four value c hai n s th at th e bank in te nds to i nve st i n a re p ou l t r y, r i c e, m aiz e , a n d s oyb e an Th e s e va l u e c hains h ave b ee n s e l e c te d bas e d o n th e ir po te n-

s e c to r c ould p l ay a c ru c i a l ro l e in s t abili zi n g fo od p r ic e s a nd i mp rovin g fo od s ec u r i t y i n th e c ou n t r y Acc o rdi ng to Depu t y ( CEO ) o f D B G, Mi c ha e l Me n sah -B aah, th e four va l u e c hai n s th at th e ba n k i n ten ds to i nve st i n a re p oul t r y, r i ce , m ai ze , a n d s oyb e an Th e s e value chains h ave b een s el e c ted bas e d o n th e ir p o te n-

c ant i mp a c t o n th e c oun t r y ’s foo d s e cu r i t y and th e c ur ren t c hall e n ge s fa c ed by far me rs in th e s e a re as The D B G’s i nve s t m e n t will b e c om pl eme n te d by p o li c y re fo rms in th e four value c hains, whi c h w il l b e bas e d o n th e h e ld by th e ban k Th e wo rk sh op s, s c h e dul e d to com m en c e o n Ma rc h 8 , 2 02 3, w il l e n g a ge re l evant s t a ke h o ld e rs i n th e a g r ic ultu re s e c to r to id e nti f y th e o bs t ac l e s foo d in th e s e l e c te d value c hains and p re s e n te d to p oli c y m a ke rs fo r refo rms th at wi l l b e co m p l e m en te d by

2

Akufo -Addo bulli sh on IMF bailout

…warns Fund will not restore for tunes overnight

P re side n t Nana A ku fo -Addo s ays h e i s upb e at ab out the c oun t r y ’s chan ce s o f se c u r in g the mu c h - awai te d b a i l out f ro m the In tern atio n a l Mo ne t a r y Fund ( IMF) by e n d o f the mo nth

s to re m a c ro ec o n o mi c s t abili t y a n d p ro m o te in c lus ive g row th

Howeve r, he min c ed n o wo rds whe n h e added th at a d e a l w ith th e Fu n d w i l l not re s to re th e c oun t r y ’s fo r tun e s overnight but rath e r set it o n the ro ad to re c ove r y

De l ive r in g the S t ate o f th e Nati o n

Add re ss in Pa rliament ye s te rd ay, th e P re sident s a id : “ We l o o k fo rwa rd to their fast- t rackin g th e th at , with their c o - ope rati o n, we wi l l re a c h our Ma rc h d e adlin e for go in g to th e Fund ”

He added th at c o n c ludi n g th e a rra n gem e nts with the Fund wil l n o t re s to re our fo r tun e s over n i g h t , but it wil l set us on the ro ad to re c ove r yn e ss p a r t ners a nd the i nve s to r c o mmu n i t y, whi c h will g ive us spa c e to c onti nu e our p rodu c t ive p l ans and po l i c i e s ”

Th e We st Af r i c a n n ation i s s tr ivin g to o b t a in exe c ut ive boa rd a pp roval fo r a $3 billion bail ou t

Ac co rding to the p re side n t , he rema ins re so l u te in h i s v i sio n to re -

He a l so indi c ate d th at gove r nm e nt i s making p ro g re ss o n th e exte rna l d e bt n e go ti ations sin ce it a n n ounc e d a n exte r n al d e bt s e rvic e su sp e n sio n o n 19th D ece mb e r 2 02 2 for c e rt ai n c ate go r i e s of exte rna l d e bt to en su re a n o rd e rly re s t ru c tu r i n g “ Th i s su spe nsio n i s an i n te r im e m e r ge n c y m e a su re towa rd a c o m p re he n s ive exte r n al debt o pe ratio n whi c h w ill c o n t r ibu te to the re s to rati o n of our debt su st a i n abi l i t y in l in e w ith our re qu e st fo r a d e bt t re at m en t und e r th e

Th e s e p o l i c i e s a re ai m ed at a c hi evi n g t wo re su l ts th at a re c r iti c al to th e h e alth o f our e c o n o my First ly, th ey w il l h e l p us p re s e r ve fo re ig n exc ha n ge, e spe c ial ly th e US do l la r,

c ou n t r y ”

D e sp air a n d D i s e n c ha n t m e n t , m in o r i t y s ays Mi no r i t y L e ad e r, D r Cassie l Ato

ec o no my i s in its wo rs e shap e in d e c ad e s.

G 2 0 C o mm o n F ra m ewo rk I wa n t to exp re ss our a pp re c i atio n to the m e mb e rs of th e Pa r i s Club and to the Peo p l e s’ Re publi c of Chi n a for the c o- op e ratio n th ey h ave s o far exhibi te d to us i n at te m p tin g to re ach a n a g re e m en t , and i n th e ir

C re dit C o mmit tee

Howeve r, in additio n to our e ng a ge m e nt w ith the Fu n d, we a re a l s o s ee kin g a n d i mp l e m e nti ng s o m e o r igina l a n d in n ovat ive id e a s to t r y to so lve our p robl e ms.

Fo r exam p l e , th e G old P u rchas e P ro g ramm e by the Ba n k o f Gha n a a n d the G ol d for Oil Poli c y a re c re at ive use of our re s ou rc e s, which a re al re ady b e a r i ng frui t

transac tion

the p aym e nt e co s ys te m and fa c ili t ate t rade a m on g Af r i c a n c ou n tr i e s “ We wou l d l i ke to exp re ss our p ro found g ratitud e to the

B ank of Ghan a and Ghan a I nterbank P aym e nt and Sett l em ent Sys te m s (G H I P S S) for the re g u l ato r y f ra m ewo rk and i m mense su ppo r t in o pe rati o na l i z ing th i s p l at form

We c ould n o t h ave a c hi eve d th i s with out your c o nti nu ous c o mm i t me n t to imp rovin g the p ay m ent s ys tem in Gh a na To Af r i ex imban k , and the PA P SS Te a m bas e d out o f Cai ro, we s ay Aye koo for m aki n g the AfC F TA d re a m a re a l i t y To our val ued cus to mers, we s ay tha n k you for c o ming o n th i s j our n ey w ith us At the

a n d s ec o n d ly, th ey w il l e n abl e us to s t abil i se th e p r i ce of o i l p rodu c ts such as p e t ro l a n d di e s e l o n th e d om e sti c m a rke t We h ave al re ady s ee n so me su c c e ss o n both f ro nts w ith th e p r i ce of US dollars a n d p et ro le u m p rodu c ts fal l in g sin ce we a nn ou n c e d th e p oli c y and b e g a n to im pl e men t i t Th e ave ra ge p r ic e of t ol t th p u m p, whi c h h ad ( 2 0 ) ce d i s a li t re , in D e c em b e r 2 02 2 , i ce d i s a n d ei g ( GH¢1 3 8 0 ) a l i t re di e s el h ad r i s en to m t y- th ree ce d i s a n d s ( GH¢ 2 3 70 ) a li t re and i n g o n th e ave ra ge a a n d e i g h t y p e s ewas li t re , whi c h i s a re du ten c ed i s a l i t re.

We exp e c t th i s t ren th e p r ic e o f eve r y thi t ren d of p r ic e s c o m in g d ow n b ec fe atu re of our re t a il b e i n g d e m o ns t rated p r i c e s. B e c aus e as p r i c e s, e spe c ial ly p rodu c ts, us e d o n ly

Fors on , s t ate d th at the p re sid e nt ’s s co re c a rd has n o t b ee n i m p re ss ive

g iven th e ec o n o m i c d ownturn

Re a c tin g to th e p re side n t ’s s t ateme nt h e said “M r P re sid en t , th e re i s ind ee d a w id e sp re ad of d e spair a n d d i s e n c han t me nt a mo n g st our pe op l e Mi l li o ns o f Ghanaians a re goi ng th rou g h u n b e a ra bl e ha rdhi s and i tin ains Our

h e a r t of the dep th i s inn ovat ive our un re l ent l e ss l eve ra ge te c hn ol o g y and p a r t n er ships to d el iver e nh a n c ed c us tomer expe r ien c e Th i s s ol ution p rovid e s you with a m o re se c u re, c o nve n ien t , t ran spa rent and c h e a per way of m a king and re c e iving p ay m ents a c ross Af r i c a ,” h e added. M i ke Ogb al u I II , CEO of PA P SS s a id “ I i nvi te you al l to join us in we lc omin g th i s exc itin g n ew c h a p ter in our di g i t al j ourn ey L et ’s e mb ra c e th i s p ay ment so l ution a nd c aptu re the e norm ous Pan -Af r i c an o pp o r tuniti e s it b r in g s to d r ive g row th, inn ovati o n a n d supe r ior c us to mer expe r ien c e ”

Ghan a’s e c o n o my i s bankru p t i n re p ayi ng our d e bts sin ce Ja nu a r y 2 02 2 , ye t your gove rn me nt i s fai l in g to c ut d ow n o n the siz e o f gove rn me nt a n d publi c exp en ditu re. Gha n a i s w i t n e ssi ng gove rn me nt all owe d th e B ank o f Ghana to p r i n t Ghc5 0 b n for 2 022 and an o th e r Ghc 4 bn in th e t t d t ro du c i ng solutions such a s the te lc o - agno stic e -walle t , e -p ayme nts, and c a shl e ss bankin g to th e m a rke t The PA P SS p l at fo rm i s expe c ted c us tome rs as ind ivid u a l s and busin e ss e s w ill n ow h ave a cc e ss to c h e ap e r, fas ter turn a round, t rac e a b le and t ran spa rent c ro ss - bo rder p ay ments. Th i s d eve l opment i s als o a m ajor s tep i n ope rationa l izin g the AfC F TA o bj e c t ive s “GC B i s exc i ted ab out th i s fe at , an d l e adin g- e d ge techn ol o g y pl atfor m. We be l i eve in PA P SS a s a key d r ive r in the AfC F TA a gend a an d th e p o tential it has to t ra n sfor m th e way our cus to m ers t rade a c ro ss the c o ntinen t He add e d th at the bank i s ve r y

DBG to invest in agriculture value chains to t ackle fo o d inse curit y

b a n k Th i s initi at ive wi l l e n su re th at farm e rs in th e se valu e chai n s h ave a cc e ss to the ne c e ssa r y re s ou rc e s a n d su pp o r t to in c re ase th e ir outpu t , t hus i m p rovin g food s e cu r i t y in the c ou n t r y in Ghana, w ith th e c oun t r y h avi n g o n e of th e high e st fo o d p r i c e s g l obal ly Th e high fo od p r ic e s a re main ly at tr ibu te d to l ow foo d output by farm e rs a n d hi g h i mpo r ts, pa r ticula rly of p ou l t r y and r ic e , whi c h h ave a n nu al imp o r t bil l s o f $6 0 0m a nd $1bn, re sp e c t ive ly Th e s e high fo o d p r i c e s h ave fu r th e r e nt ren c h e d th e food inse c u r i t y al re ady fa c ing th e c oun t r y, which has p rom p ted th e D B G’s i nve s t m e nt in th e a g r i c u l tu re se c to r The DB G s i nve s t m e nt i n th e a g r ic u l tu re se c to r c ould po te ntial ly h ave ao my The a g r i c ultu re se c to r e mp l oys a pp roxi m ate ly 4 4% of the c ou n t r y ’s wo rkfo rc e and c on tr ibu te s a b out 2 0 % o f th e

c oun t r y ’s g ro ss do m e sti c p ro du c t ( GDP)

T hus, i n c re as e d i nve s t me nt in th e ag r icu l tu re se c tor c ould sti mu l ate e c o n o m i c g row th a n d d eve lo pm e n t , l e adi ng to th e c re atio n of j o bs a n d i n c re as e d i n c om e for farm e rs a n d o th e r s t a ke holders in the va l u e chains. The D B G’s i nve s t me nt i n four va l ue c hai n s i n th e ag r i c ultu re se c tor i s a c o m me n dabl e i n iti at ive aim e d at i mp rovi ng fo od se c u r i t y i n Ghana The wo rk sh op s s c h e dul e d by the bank to e n g a ge re l eva n t s t a ke holders i n th e s e c tor w i l l en su re th at th e c hall e n ge s fac e d by farm e rs i n th e s e valu e c hai n s a rein g Th e i nve s t me nt i n the a g r i c u l tu re s e c tor c ould p o te n tial ly sti mul ate ec o n om i c g row th a nd d eve l o p me n t , l e adin g to i nc re as e d i n co me for farm e rs a n d oth e r s t a ke h ol ders in th e valu e c hai n s, as we ll as imp roved fo od s ec u r i t y i n the c ou n t r y

D eloitte app oints C onsulting Par tner on International Women’s Day

With over 26 ye a rs of exp e r i e n c e in de l ive r ing to p -no tc h busi n e ss t ra ns form ation and p e r forma n c e i m p rove ment se r vi c e s, Ms Dz o gbe nu ku i s a c on summ ate p ro fe ssi o n a l who b r ings exte ns ive k n owl e d ge a nd expe r t i se to th e De lo it te te a m

A rel e ase i s su e d in Ac c ra s a id; “ Her t rack re c o rd of suc c e ss sp a ns multiple indus t r i e s and ve rti c a l s, in c luding busin e ss o p e rati o ns, p e r form a n c e optim i s ati o n, e n terp r i s e per forman c e ma n a gem en t , t a r get o pe rating m o d e le nue e nhan c emen t and c ost o pti m i s ation ” She h a s se r ve d in va r i ous c a p a c i -

ti e s i n th e de l ive r y o f t rans for m ati o n p ro je c ts a c ross multi p l e i ndus tr i e s, i n c l udin g gover n m e nt a n d th e in tern atio n a l do n or co mf a c tu r i n g , te l e c o m mu n i c atio n s, a n d fast - m ovi n g c o n sum e r goods " We a re exc i ted to h ave S e r wa j o in our te am as a C o n sultin g P a r t ne r," C oun t r y Mana g i ng Pa r tn er of De l oit te Ghana, Danie l Kwadwo O w u su said He said " He r we a l th of expe r i e n ce a n d exp e r t i s e i n th e c o n su l ti ng i ndus t r y wil l be i nval u abl e to our fo r wa rd to wo rki ng w ith h e r to d r ive g row th a n d p rovid e i n n ovat ive s o luti o ns to our c l i en ts

He r a pp oi n t m en t i s also a te s t am e n t to our u nwave r i ng c o mmi tm e n t to e m p owe r i ng wom en a n d e l evatin g wom en l e aders within Ms Dz o g b e nu ku o n her pa r t said : “I a m h o n o red a n d exc i ted to e mba rk o n th i s n ew c ha p te r of my c a ree r at D e loit te My n ew rol e re p re s e nts a n i n c re dibl e o pp o r tuni t y to cha l le n ge mys e lf a nd m a ke a m e a ni n g ful im p a c t o n our pe o p l e , c l i e nts, a n d so c i e t y I am e a ge r to c o l lab orate w ith c ol l e a gu e s a c ro ss th e g l o bal ne t wo rk a n d l eve ra ge our u n i qu e s t ren g ths to shap e th e Edu c atio n al ba c kg roun d

Ms Dz o g b e nu ku holds an MS c in D evel o pme nt Fina n c e a n d a B A i n Acc ounti ng and E c o n o m i c s f ro m the Un ive rsi t y of Gha n a, L e go n, and als o a Cha r te re d Acc ou n t a nt with th e I nstitu te o f Cha r te re d Ac c oun t ants Ghana

Mo n i to r in g and Eval u ati o n p ra c t itio ne r Rol e A s th e Pa r t n e r i n c har ge o f our C o re B usin e ss Op e rati o ns, sh e w ill wo rk c los e ly w ith th e L e ad C on sultin g Pa r t n e r to exe cu te our s t rate gi c v i sio n of e s t abl i shin g a p ree min e nt C o n sulti ng busin e ss i n th e re g i o n whil e adva n c i n g our j our n ey towa rds u n d i spu te d l e ad -

e r shi p in P ro fe ssion a l S e r vic e s a c ross We st Af r i c a

St anbic Bank leading the charge to bridge the gender digit al gap

Ac ro ss th e wo rl d, the di g i t al revoluti on h a s ful ly t a ken ove r a n d the pe r va s ive sp re ad of digi t a l te c hn ol o gi e s c onti nue to c re ate n ew o pp o r tuniti e s fo r those w ith a c c e ss to th e s e n ew tech n ol o g i e s.

A s revol uti o n a r y as it has b ee n, h oweve r, a l ar ge c hunk o f th e di gi t al e c o s ys tem a c ross th e wo rl d a re co n t ro l l ed by men, maki n g wo m en hu ge ly under rep re s e n te d in sh a pin g the s o c ial t rans form ation as a re sult o f global adva nc em e nts in digi t a l te c hno l o gi e s. Add re ssin g th i s ine qui t y has b ec om e s o c ieti e s a re g ra ppling w ith.

I n Gha na mo re than 88% o f st udents pur suing e ngin e e r i n g c ours e s at th e te r tia r y l eve l a reu c ati o n 2 0 19 S t at i sti c a l Re p o rt , w ith fema l e s making up l e ss tha n

1 1% of th e underg rad u ate e ng inee r in g c oho rt Simila rly, u n d e rg rad u ate S c ienc e e n rol m e n t , th ough bet te r, with 68% mal e s a nd 32 % fe mal e s en roll e d, i s, a l l the sa m e, far f rom id e al The und e r rep re sen t atio n o f fem al e s in STEM (S c ienc e , Techn o lo g y, E n gin e e r in g , Mathem ati c s) d i s c ip l in e s i s eve r-p re sent on a gl o ba l f ro n t The p reval en c e of in stud e nts’ form at ive a n d p re - se co nda r y s c ho o l ye ars. STE M d i s c i p lin e s h ave a re pu t ation fo r being rather intimid atin g S te re o t y pi c a l ge nder bias e s te n d to unde re stim ate and s nub you n g gi rl s’ a bi l iti e s co nse qu e nt ly d i sc ou ra g in g th e m f rom p ur suin g Th e se n o t w iths t a ndin g , the re i s en ou g h evid e n c e th at wo m e n a re e qu a l ly c a pable of bei n g at the fo ref ro nt of te c hnol o gi c a l d eve l -

o pm en t a n d adva n c e m en t Th e B o a rd Me mb e r o f S t a n bic B ank Gha n a, g ive s c re d en c e to th i s f a c t He r unders t a ndin g , exp l o its a n d c on tr ibuti on to th e d eve lo pm e nt o f Af r i c a s ICT e cos ys te m has b ee n p ar exc el l e n ce It i s u nfo r tu n ate , h oweve r, th at the re a re ve r y few o f su c h wo me n l e adi n g t ra n s form ati o na l c ha n ge within the te ch spa c e Th e digi t a l a n d te ch spa ce wil l c on ti nu e to b e a ma l e- d o min ate d sp h e re a s lon g as n ot en ou g h fe ma l e c o n te nt i s d eve lo pe d, as l o ng as techni c a l i nn ovatio n s do n ot add re ss th e n e e ds o f wo m en , as l on g as wo m e n re m ain th e m o re f re qu e nt t ar gets o f di g i t a l v io l en c e , c yberbu l lyi ng a n d h ate spee ch, as lo ng as c od e s a n d al gor ithms a re w r it ten o n ly by me n, wh o so m etim e s au to m ati c a l ly d i sc r imin ate against wom en a n d fe ma l e i n put ex an te , and as l o n g as s o m e so c i e ti e s forbid wom e n f rom ac c e ssing a c om p u te r or e nrol lin g in a c o m pu te r s c i enc e c ourse Th e tim e has c o m e for d e lib e rate m e a su re s th at en su re th at wo me n a re e m p owe re d w ith the to o l, ski l ls and o pp o r tu n iti e s th at w ill w ith their mal e c ou n te r p a r ts. It i s ve r y re f re shin g to n o te th at S t a nbi c B ank Ghan a’s di g iti z ati o n a ge n da i s b e in g sp e a rh e ad e d by four s t ro ng wo m en n am e ly E ste lle A s a re ( He ad, Digi t al and I nn ovati o n ) , Je mil atu Abdulai ( He ad, Di g i t a l & e C o m me rce ), Ma r ia n Ama r tey ( He ad, B usi n e ss E n ab le me n t) and Aya Aye t tey ( He ad, P ro du c ti o n A s su ra n c e a n d Cus tom e r Ca re w ithin th e En g in e e r i n g Te am fo r th e ban k , respo nsib l e fo r e n su r i ng th e bank ’s

tec h n o l o g y s ys tem s a re availabl e at a l l ti m e s ) I n de e d, th e re i s a re c o gn itio n th at a c tio n i s ne ed e d a c ross d ivers e a re as to en su re al l wom en a n d g i rls c a n ful ly p a r ti c ip ate in th e o n li ne wo rld. O ver th e ye ars, gove r nme nts, c ivil s o c i e t y a n d c o rp orate or g a n i z atio n s h ave i n ten s iwo m en , e spe c ial ly, i n a bid to ge t m o re wom en to p a r ti c i p ate i n th e digi t al tec h n ol o g y sp ac e S t a n bi c B a n k Gha n a has b een at the fo ref ron t w ith c utti n g e d ge i n te r ve ntio n s i n STEM e du c atio n for g i rls

On e o f su c h i n te r ven tio n s was a c ol l abo ratio n w ith the Wo me n in STEM Gha n a ( WiSTEM ) to t rain, e quip a nd i n sp i re 2 0 0 g i rls f ro m va r i ous s e nior hi g h s c hoo l s i n tec h n o l o g y Th e 5 - d ay c a m pin g t rai n i ng p ro g ramm e took th e g i rls th rough a se r i e s of exe rci s e s a n d t rai n i ng to h e l p th em sharp e n th e ir tec h skills. Th e p ro g ra m m e was d eve lo pe d o n th e ba c k of th e fa c t th at th e di g i t al gen der d ivid e i s also fu e l le d by di g i t a l illi te ra c y, whi c h of ten t ran sl ate s in l ack of c o m fo r t i n usin g te c h n ol o g y and a cc e ssi n g the I n te rn e t Such “ tec h n o p hobi a” i s of ten a re su l t of c o nc ur re nt fa c to rs i nc ludin g e du c ati on , em p l oy m e n t s t atus a n d i nc o me l evel

B eyo nd th i s, S t a n bic B ank Ghana has p a r t ne re d m a ny a c ad e mi c i nstituti on s a nd Fin Tec hs to de l ive r a numb e r of STEM re l ate d p ro je c ts whi c h h ave so far g iven b e n eto rs a n d adv i sors a c ro ss 4 8 d i s c ip li n e s a n d te c h n i c al a re as, ac c e ss to s t ru c tu red t rai n i ng p ro g rams a n d c ur r i c ulum, i n te r n shi p o pp o r tu n iti e s w ith S t a n bic B an k , a n d o th e r p a r t n ers, a n d due dil i -

ge n ce si mul ati o ns fo r stud en t e nt rep re n e urs, m ost of whi c h a re wo m en Th e initi at ive i s pa r t o f th e S t a n bi c B usi n e ss I nc ub ator p rog ra m l aun c h e d in 2 01 8 to su ppo r t s t a r t-ups and SMEs th rou g h a cc e ss to s t ru c tu re d p ro g ra m s, a cc e ss to S B I nc ub ato r has to - d ate , p rovid e d su pp o r t fo r ove r 7, 2 8 8 en t rep rene urs, 6 82 busi n e ss e s and 1 ,639 wo m en own e d s t a r t - ups S t a n bi c B ank Ghana i n p a r t n e r ship w ith Ghana En te r p r i s e s A ge n c y ( GE A) als o l au nc h e d th e Wo men En t re p re n e ur shi p Wo rk sh o p at th e S B I nc ub ato r Th e t wo - d ay wo rkshop was d e si g n e d to p rovid e fema l e ow n e rs of Mi c ro, Sma l l and Mediu m En terp r i s e s (MSMEs) with th e n ec e ssa r y to o ls and kn owle d ge i nc ludi n g di g i t a l tec h n o l o g y skil l s, to g row th e ir busin e ss e s

Wome n f ro m va r i ous se c to rs of the ec o no my i nc ludin g a g r i c ultu re textil e ssh o p Th e pl at fo r m als o p rovid e d a u n i que pl at fo r m fo r a spi r i n g fe m al e e nt rep rene urs in te r tia r y i n stituti o ns to mee t w ith fem al e busin e ss l e ad e rs Oth e r e p i s o di c initi at ive s und e rt a ke n, pa r ti c ula rly ove r th e past 18 mo nths i nc lud e th e S t anbi c I n c ub ato r p rog ra mme , th e S t anbi c Ha c k ato n p rog ra mm e s, th e S t anbi c Mo n ey App C o nte s t , a n d th e an nu al Kwam e Nkru m ah Un ive rsi t y o f S c i e n ce a n d Tec h no l o g y (KNUST) n ee dy but b r illi a nt STEM st ud e nts f ree la p to p su pp o r t p ro g ra m m e , to geth e r with th e Appi ats e STEM su pp o r t do n ati o n Th e re i s a m oun t ai n to c li m b in b r idgin g th e ge nd e r digi t al g ap f ro m s t a ke hold e rs a c ro ss all fa ce ts of s oc i e t y, th e s c al e will h ave so me ba l an ce

Review C.I carefully for nation’s interest -CDS-Africa to Parliament

I ndependent thin k- t a n k th e C en t re for Demo c ra c y a n d S oc i o - E co nomi c D eve l o p m e nt ( CDS -Af r i c a ) has a sked pa rliame n t to revi ew tho rough ly the p rop os e d C o nstitutional Ins t rum e nt ( C .I) fo r vo te r re g i s t rati o n and e n g a ge in c ons t ru c t ive dia l o g u e be fo re it m atu re s to be c om e l aw Th i s a ss e r tion was c on t ain e d in a p re ss s t ate ment i s sued by th e g roup a n d signed by D r.F rank B a rn o r, senior re s e a rch ana lyst and D r Abena B o aten g , di re c to r, re s e a rc h Th e s t ate ment fo ll ows the EC ’s c hair p ers o n, Je an Aduk wei Mens a h p re s e n t ation to Pa rli am ent l a st Tu e sd ay Febr u a r y 28, 2 02 3, on n ew CI 12 6 CIs a re u sum in i s t rat ive or p roc e du ra l i s su e s and a re subje c t to pa rliam e n t a r y s c ruti ny The p rop o s e d re fo rms

o f CI 126 by th e El e c to ral C o mm i ssio n o f Ghana i n c l ud e the us e o f th e Gha n a Ca rd as th e o n ly docum en t fo r th e re g i s t ratio n o f n ew vo te rs. Th i s m e a ns th at oth e r forms of d r ivi ng lic en s e s, a n d the g u a ra n tor s ys te m w ill no l o n ge r b e ac ce p te d vo te r re g i s t ratio n Fo r CDS -Af r i c a , i n sp i te of th e mi xe d re a c ti o ns it gen e rated th ey re c ko n “On th at s c o re CDS Af r i c a a g re e s w ith th e p ro p os e d re for m s o f CI 126 by th e El e c to ral C o mm i ssio n of Gha n a, p a r ti c ula rly th e ad o pti on o f th e Gha n a Ca rd as th e o n ly d o cum e nt fo r re g i s te r in g n ew vo te rs. We co nsid e r th e se re for m s to be s t ro n g a n d fo r wa rd - l o oki n g , a n d we a n ti c ip ate th at th ey wi l l e nhan c e Gha n a's d e mo c ratic rep u t ati o n

Howeve r, it i s im p o rt ant all sid e s o f th e h ous e c a re ful ly co nsid e r th e co nten ts of th e CI a n d eng a ge i n co ns t ru c t ive dial o g u e to en su re th at a ny c o nce r n s a re add re ss e d b e fo re it m atu re s i n to l aw Th e d e mo c rati c p roc e ss in Gha n a i s built o n t ra n sp a re nc y, a cc ou n t abili t y, and dia l o gue, and th e s e p r i n c i p l e s must be u p he l d in th e l e g i sl at ive p ro c e ss We would th e re fo re ur ge p a rl ia me nt to e n g a ge i n a frui t ful deb ate to e n su re th e p roth e g re ate st i n te re st of th e n ati o n at h e a r t and towa rds a mo re t ra n sp a ren t vo te rs re g i s ter th at w il l s t and th e te st of tim e ” th e s t ate m en t n o te d

CDS Af r i c a also ur ge d th e gover nm e n t to p rovid e ade qu ate fu n di n g to th e El e c to ral C o m m i ssi o n and the

( NI A) to fa c ili t ate th e re s o luti o n o f th e pen di n g a ppli c ati o ns for Gha n a Ca rds. Fu r th e rmo re, sh ould th e se

re for m s b e p ass e d by pa rlia m e n t we im p lo re the auth o r iti e s to exp edi te th e re g i s t ratio n and i s su a n c e of Ghana Ca rds fo r all c itiz en s a n d t a ke m e a su re s to p reve nt a ny fo r m of vo te r d i s e nf ran c h i s eme n t

At th e s a m e ti m e, CDS Af r i c a would s t ron g ly en c ou ra ge th e Nati o na l

C o mm i ssi on fo r C ivi c Edu c ation

( NCCE ) to pa r t n e r with th e El e c to ral

C o mm i ssi on to p rom o te awa re n e ss of th e re for m s th rou g h c ivi c e du c a -

ti o n and p reve n t the sp re ad of m i si nfo rm ati o n am o n g th e p ub l i c We b eli eve th at su c h c o l l ab o ration w il l p rom o te t ran spa re n c y and e n su re th at c itiz en s a re ad e qu ate ly i n for me d ab out th e p ro po s e d c han ge s sh ould it be p ass e d by Pa rliam en t

The El e c to ral C o mm i ssi o n has sh owbiliti e s by re g i s te r in g ove r 17 m i l li o n vo te rs in j ust 38 d ays du r in g th e

C OV I D -19 pand em i c. CDS Af r i c a e n c ou ra ge s th e El e c to ral C o mm i ssi o n to m ain t a in its exc e l l e nt and e qui t a bl e e l e c ti o ns i n Gha n a The purp o s e o f th i s re for m i s to e n su re th at vo te r re g i s t rati on i s us e o f th e Ghana Ca rd i s exp e c te d to re du ce th e in c id en c e of mult ip l e re g i s t rati o ns, im pe rs o n ati o n, and o th e r fo rms o f e l e c to ra l f raud. Th e re fo rm i s als o exp e c te d to ma ke it e asi e r fo r e li g ibl e vo te rs to re g i s te r a n d pa r ti c ip ate i n th e e l e c to ral p roc e ss

Nor thern Re gional Mini ster lauds co op eration

The No r ther n Re gi o nal Min i s te r, Hon ou ra ble Shani Alh aj i Shaibu, h a s p ra i sed th e Gh a na Nati o na l Pet rol eu m C o rp o ration (GN P C ) fo r its n ati o na l and l o c al c o m muniti e s based d eve l o pmen t al initi at ive s a i m ed at imp roving the l ive s o f Ghan a ians.

Du r in g a c ou r te s y meeting w ith the Exe c ut ive Di re c to r of the GN P C

Found ation, Domini c Ed u ah (PhD)

wh o i s cur re nt ly l e adi ng a te am i n the re gi on to hand ove r s o m e c o mp l e ted GN P C fu n ded p ro je c ts, th e Mi n i s te r re i te rated th e im p o r t an ce o f GN P C ’s C S R a c t iviti e s i n buil din g c o m muniti e s a n d p e o p l e , and re p o sin g faith i n the C or p o ratio n s busin e ss as an S o E He fu r th e r en c ou ra ge d th e C or p orati o n to main t a i n s t ro n g c o l lab orati o n w ith th e va r i ous MM DA s i n

ide n ti f yi ng th e c o re nee ds of c o mmu n iti e s a nd in th e d e sig n i n g o f i n te r ven tio n s. Do m ini c Ed u ah ( PhD), o n h i s pa rt , tha n ke d th e re g i o nal mi n i s te r and as su re d him o f GN P C ’s c o m m i tm e n t to utilizi n g pa r t of th e revenu e s f rom Gha n a’s oil a c t iviti e s to m e e t th e n ee ds o f c om muniti e s a n d p eo p l e i n di re ne ed of th e m

Mac ron Outlines France's New Polic y Strate gy for Afric a

F re n c h P re sident E m ma nuel Ma c ron h a s gained s om e c o nsid e ra bl e su c c e ss du r in g h i s tr i p s to Af r i c a , m ost ly c api t a l i zin g on th e ge o politi c al neu t ral it y o f Af r i c a n l e aders. And Af r ic a n l e aders, with out d oub t , wi l l n eu t ra l p ositio n

He wa s i n Gabon for a n e nvi ro nm en t al summi t , be fo re h e adin g to A n go l a th e n th e Re pub l i c o f C on go a lso kn own as C o nth e n e i g hb ou r ing Dem o c ratic Rep ub l i c of C o n go

Ma c ron also held t a l ks with C en t ra l Af r i c an Repub l ic P re s ide n t Faustin -A rch a n ge Tou ad era i n G a bon, a f ter rel ations h ade n ce in c re ased in Ban g ui a n d F re n c h t roops l eft the t roubled c ou n t r y l ast ye a r Th i s Af r i c a n tr i p s aim at ren ewin g f rayed ti e s, a nd th e re fo re al l a l ong the lin e he p oin ted ly foc us e s o n p ra c ti c a l d evel o p m ent p roje c ts a nd humani t a r ian n e e ds, a nd p u sh e s a bit fo r wa rd F re n c h soft p owe r in th o se Af r ic a n c ou n tr i e s. Anti-F ren c h se nti men t runs high in s om e fo r me r Af r i c a n co l oni e s as the c o n ti ne nt becom e s a ren ewed di plo m atic b attl e g round, w ith g rowin g But Ma c ron, with hi g h de termin ation, explained the e ra o f F re n ch in ter fe re n ce"F ra n ç a f r i que" - in Af r i c a h ad e nd e d a nd the re was n o d e si re to retur n to the past meth o ds He re i s i n te re sting to no te th at m ajo r i t y o f Af r i c an l e aders, with the simple unders t andin g

th at their c oun tr i e s h ave s eve ra l ye a rs a go at t a ined their po l i ti c a l f reed o m f ro m c ol onia l i sm, and cur rent ly the m a in c h a ll en g in g t a sk i s c en te red a round t ra ns formin g the s t a g ge r ing e co n o my in o rder to win th e h e a r ts a nd minds of their e l e cto rate as we l l a s o rdina r y c it ize n s Th i s i s exa c t ly the s t rateg y, to ba c k away f rom c r iti c a l anti - c olo nial rhe to r i c and adoptin g o n externa l re s ou rc e s ne e ded fo r d eve lo pment in the c o n tin e n t

Ac co rdi n g to repo r ts m oni to re d by th i s auth o r, B russe l s wou l d set up a hu m ani t a r i a n air b r id ge" to de l iver aid to c o npub l i c o f C o n go, as the v i siting F ren c h p re sident s a id a l l sid e s h ad g iven su pp o r t to a c e a s e -

b r id ge, the air b r id ge w i ll l ink with G om a, the c api t a l of DR C o n go ' s e a s tern N o r th K ivu

the re be l g roup M 2 3 has d i sp l a c ed m o re th a n 6 0 0,0 00 pe o p l e The ope ration wi ll "d el iver hu m ani t a r ian su pp o r t in the fo r m of m edi c a l a nd nu tr iti o n a l su pp l i e s a lo ng with a ran ge o f o ther emer gen c y i te m s", a Eu ro p e a n C om m i ssion s t ate m ent said

Du r in g t a lks with An go la n P re sid e nt Jo ã o L ou ren ç o a nd D RC

P re sident Fel i x Tsh i se kedi, as we ll as Rwandan P re sident P au l Ka g a m e, Ma c ro n said a l l h ad

"g ive n c l e ar su ppo r t" to a c e as el ine m edi ated by An go la The EU said it was a l so re l e a sing

B y Kestér Ke nn Klo m e g â h

so m e €47 mi l li o n to be cha nne ll ed th rough hum a ni t a r ian p a r t n ers fo r im m edi ate needs su c h a s nu tr ition, h e a l th c a re, she l ter a nd wate r The D RC government has a cc used Rwand a of ba c king the mi l itia g roup M 2 3, whi c h re - e m er ged f rom dorm a n c y in l ate 2 02 1, subs equent ly oc cu pying s wath e s of te r r i to r y in No r th K ivu

"The EU s t a n ds re ady to mobi li se a ll the ne c e ss a r y m e ans to su ppo r t hum a ni t a r i a n wo rkers, in cl uding l o g i sti c s a nd a i r, to me e t the needs of the p o pu l aC on go," said the EU's c o m m i ssi o ner fo r c r i s i s m ana gem e nt Ja ne z L e n a rc ic I n the An go l a n c a pi t al L u anda, Ma c ron he l d t al ks with h i s c oun terp a r t Jo ã o L ou re nç o, c a l l i n g the oi l - r i c h c oun t r y a "s t rate g i c p a r t n e r in the re gion." He c hai red a n e c on o mi c forum at tended by mo re th a n 5 0 F re nch c o m pani e s, unde rl ined the ind e lib l e f a c t th at " the h e a r t of the v i sit wa s the s t re n g th e ning of a g r i c u l tu ral p a r t n er ships" with An go l a. Rec o rds, h oweve r, sh ow th at F ra n c e h a s fo r d e c ad e s been i nvo lved in the pe t rol e um indu st r y in the Po r tu g u e s e - sp e aki n g s outhern Af r i c an c oun t r y, whi c h i s one o f the c o n tinent s to p c rude p rodu c ers

I n G a bon, the re i s one in te re s tin g po l iti c al d evel opmen t P re sident A l i B on go Ondimb a i s c u rrent ly in the run-up to p re s identia l e le c tions l ater th i s ye a r A l i B o n go, 64, h a s been p re s ident sin c e suc c e e ding h i s l on

f ather in 2

p e r ts h ave e nv i sa ge d th at Mat r y S om e o ppositio n a c t iv i sts in Gab o n d em ons t rated against h i s v i si t , which th ey p e rce ive d as b r ingi n g su pp o r t to A l i B on go Ondi m ba, whose fa m i ly has ru l ed sinc e th e 1960s, be fo re the p re side n tia l e le c tion schedu le d l ater th i s ye a r

On the o th e r side o f po l iti c s, th e

On e Fo re st Su m mit in th e c ap it al fo c used o n p re s e r ving fo re sts wo rl dwid e , in cl uding a l o n g the vast C o n go R iver basin C ove r in g 1 62 m il l io n s qu a re ki l om e t re s ( mo re than 62 5,00 0 m i ll i o n s qu a re mi l e s), th e fo re sts o f

C e n t ral Af r i c a re p re s e nt th e p l an e t's sec o nd- l ar ge st c arb o n sink a f te r th e A m a z on Th ey a re a l so h o m e to hu ge bi o d iversi t y

i n c l udin g fo re st e le ph a nts a n d go r i ll as, a nd b e ar t ra c e s o f th e sett le m e nt o f e a rly humani t y B ut th ey fa c e th re ats such a s p o achin g d e fo re s t ation for th e o i l pa lm and rubber indus tr i e s, and i ll e ga l l o g ging and mine ra l exp lo i t ati o n

Rep o r ts m oni to re d f ro m the

E lys e e p a l a c e in Pa r i s i n a p re - depa r tu re sp e e c h, the re was o n e h e adway s tep unde rl i n ed in the F ren c h p ol i c y a pp ro ach : F ranc e 's m i l i t a r y b a s e s i n Af r i c a wi ll g rad u a l ly be c o -run and m a n a ged with th e ir host n ations, a f te r Pa r i s su ffe re d a se r i e s o f setba c ks in its

pa r ticu l a rly in F re nch We st

Ac c o rding to hi m , th e s e bas e s w i ll n o t be c l os e d but re - orga -

niz e d, the n ew b a s e s or "a c ad em i e s" w i ll s t a r t to g rad u a l ly be " a f r i c ani z ed" and ran in c o nj un c tion with Af r i c an and Eu rop e a n p a r t n e rs Mo re than 3,0 00 F re nch s o ldi e rs a re d ep l oyed in S e n e g al , Ivo r y C o as t , Gab o n a nd D j ib outi, a c c o rdinging in Ni ge r and Ch ad P au l Me l ly at the Af r i c a P rog ra m m e , L o nd o n based Ch atha m Hous e , w ro te th at Mac ro n's m ain m i ssio n was to c oun ter Russia in Af r i c a Acc o rding to th e Ch ath a m exp e r t , the whi rlwind tour o f Af r i c a n c api t a l s was di re c te d at shifting F ren c h p ol i c y o n th e c o nti n ent away f ro m mi l i t a r y i nvo lvem en t And the e co n o m i c ti e s be t we e n F ranc e a n d its form e r c olo ni ze rs we re a form of c o nti nu e d exp lo i t ati o n Russia, h o ping to rebui l d the i nse c u r i t y su pp o r t to gover nm ents th at fe e l und e r th re at or i so l ate d f ro m the in te rn atio n a l m ains t re a m : me rc ena r i e s f rom the K rem lin- l i n ke d mi l i t a r y c o n t ra c to r Wa gner a re n ow o pe rating in Ma l i a nd the C e n t ra l Af r i c an Re pub l i c , wh e re th ey h ave b ee n ac c used o f hu m an r ights abus e s. Chin a i s a ma ss ive fund e r and builder of inf ras t ru c tu re , al b e it o n te r m s th at Ma c ro n fe ars c ou l d t ra p s o me c oun tr i e s in debt c r i s i s Tu rkey and Indi a a re in c re asing ly a c t ive to oo n c i l i ati o n ove r past h i s to r y Ma c ro n has b e en s e eking to

d ee p e n to d ay s c u l tu ral c o nne cti o ns a n d exc han ge of id e as A s pa r t of p u shin g "s o ft p ower" w ith F ren c h - sp e akin g Af r i c a, he h a s a n n ou n ced schem e s to p romo te sp o r ts t ra inin g and to e a se acc e ss to v i sas for Af r i c ans to p ur sue p o st - g rad u ate stu dy in F ran ce Howeve r, the pub l i c i mp a c t of th e se initi at ive s, p a rti c u l a rly in the eye s of Af r i c a n p ublic o p inio n , has been l ar ge ly lo st du r ing ye ars when the m o st p ro mi ne nt di m ensi o n of F re nch e nga gement has been th e mili t a r y s t ru g gl e against m i l i t a nt g roups in the Sahel N eve r th e l e ss, F ra nce c a l ls ti m e on a n ti -j ih ad i st Sahel ope ration G row i n g c on t rove rsy c ame to sur rou n d the o pe rations of the w ithd rawn f ro m Mali in August la st ye a r Th i s has fue l led an u psur ge in p opu l i st n ati o na l i s m in s om e c oun tr i e s a n d a mo re ge ne ral i s e d re sen t m ent o f F ranc e a c ro ss m ost o f F ran c ophone We st a n d C en t ra l Af r i c a , pa r ti cu la rly a m on g urban youth.

Havin g instig ate d a shift to -

c o ll ab o rat ive mi l i t a r y a pp ro a c h, Ma c ro n h a s tr i e d to rei nvi go rate th i s b ro ader re fo r m and c han ge a genda

In re ce n t m onths, Pa r i s h a s a cc used Russia of sp re ading d i si nfo r m ati o n to under m ine F re nch in te re sts in former c o l oni e s At the Uni ted Nations vo ted ove rwhe lm in g ly to de m and Russi a i mm edi ate ly withd raw its t ro o ps f ro m its p ro -We s tern neighb our Uk ra ine, th ree of th e four c oun tr i e s Ma c ron v i si te d e a rly Ma rc h - - Gabon, A n go l a and C on go - B ra z z avi ll e a bs t ained a l ongsid e Chin a a nd

India

p re sident b o rn a f ter the c o l oni a l e ra, and has been in a

s ou g ht to extend F ra n c e's c o o pe rati o n with a number E ng l i sh - sp e aking c oun tr i e s, l i ke Gh a na, Ni ge r i a and Ke nya, and in c re ase F ren c h i nve s t ments in

Af r i c a's p r ivate se c to r, a s we ll a s p ro g ra m m e s Af ter h i s re - e l e c -

ti o n as F ren c h h e ad of s t ate l ast ye a r, has m ade Af r i c a i s a p r i o r it y, a nd in Ju ly h e unde r to o k a tr ip to C a me roon, B enin an d Guin e a - B i ss au. The P re sident's admi n i s t ration no te d in a s t ateme n t th at "h i s p r i o r iti e s and h i s method to deepen the p a r t n e rship be t ween F ra nce, Eu rop e a nd the Af r i c a n c o ntinent" a nd f rank ly c r iti c i z ed "the c r im e s o f Eu rop e a n c o l on i s ation" and c a l l ed for a " t ru ly n ew re l atio nship" be t ween Af r i c a and I t i s ve r y c ru c ia l th at Eu rop e a nd Af r i c a be a s cl ose as p o ss if ro m F ren c h i nve s t men tti o ns, and i s sti ll the t radition a l m a rket fo r Af r i c a It i s a m at ter of mut u a l ly unders t and a ble c oop e rati o n, but not to c lose c o rpo rate busin e ss d o ors A s wide ly kn own, Russi a 's ins t r ume n ts fo r n ow in cl ude the hyperbo l i c po l i c y rhe to r i c , b o as tin g s eve ra l bi l ate ra l a g reements with Af r i c a Af te r a l l , Russi a i s

n o t i nve sting in e c on o mi c se cto rs as exp e c te d a nd has eve n n o t pub l ic ly said h ow much it was p re pa red to i nve st i n Af r i c a Judging f ro m d eve lo pm e nts a nd in a sum m a r y, F ran c e's Af r i c a p ol i c y i s under n e c e ssa r y t ran sform ati o n a nd re - d e signing ge ne ra l ly fo r a chi eving a " mut u a l and re sp o nsib l e rel ation shi p "

w ith Af r i c a and within th eu rati o n a nd ge o po l iti c a l chan ge s Th e re fo re, with war m -h e a r tedn e ss a nd a n ir reve rsib le p le d ge to b re ak away f ro m th e form e r p o st - c o lo ni al p ol ic i e s, th e re i s a b r ight h e ad l ight at h o r iz o n and in the futu re o f the chan ging F ran c e -Af r i c a n rel ations

‘Emp owering te enage mothers high on WIAfric a agenda’

L o c a l no n - gove rn m en t a l org an i z ati o n with in tern ati o na l foc us, Wom e n o f I m pe r ium

Af r i c a (W I Af r i c a ) has set its si g hts o n su ppo r tin g l e ss p r iv il e ged gi rls who d ro p out of s c h o o l due to p re gn a n c y a nd o th e r forms of d i s c r imin ation

The m ove i s p a r t o f the orga n ip ro g ra mm e c al l ed ‘ we ar her a u n i for m wh e re th ey in tend to pa r t n e r other institutions to d r ive th i s o b j e c t ive of ass i stin g th e s e tee na gers

W I Af r i c a has a s t ro ng d e si re to i m p a c t a n d chan ge the l ive s of wo m e n & child re n towa rds sus t a i na b l e sel f- re lian c e. W I -

Af r i c a i s c o mmit ted to the e mp owe r m ent o f wo m en within s o c i e t y th rough Fe m a l e - l ed i n iti at ive s w ith the in tention of i m p roving the l ive s of wo men i n the va r i ous so c ieti e s in Gha n a S p e aki n g at the l aun c h o f the g rou p, its P re siden t , L e sl ey

Aid o o - Men sah to ld j ourn al i sts th at ““ We wa n t to fo c us o n l e ss p r ivil e ge women who

d ro p out of schoo l due to e a rly p re g n a n c y - teena gers wh o a re unab l e to go b ac k to s c ho ol due to d i s c r imin ation a mo n g st the oth e rs, th i s i s to our c ause.

We a re co min g up with a p rog ra m m e c al l ed we ar her a uni fo r m’ whe re we a re going to pa r t ner with institutions wh o a re c ha m pionin g th at a re a as we ll , with wo m an o f i m pe r ium we be l i eve in h el pin g the l e ss p r ivi l e ge and one o f the a re a s i s wom e n a nd c hild ren a nd we be l i eve th at the te e na ge r i s sti ll a c hi l d and in our p a r t o f the wo rl d.

We d o n’t t re at teen a ge rs a s c hild ren simp ly be c ause th ey h ave got ten p re gn a nt and we want the c om muni t y to kn ow th at re g a rd l e ss o f the sit u ati o n o r c i rcums t a n c e of their p re g na n c y th ey a re sti ll c hi ld re n, and so th ey need to be p ro pe rly edu c ated and e nl i g h te n ed and t a ken out of th at and edu c ated p rope rly whi c h wi ll h el p the wh o le c o m muni t y

B y Euge n e D a v ie s

Acco rding to he r, W I Af r i c a v isu al i z e s th e c re ation o f a c o mmuni t y th at th r ive s in the i nc hi l d ren th rough se l f- e mp ower m en t , mut u a l e m p owerment a n d so c ia l e m p owe rme n t th rough out the c ont inent o f Af r i c a

The Di re c tor o f the Dep a r tme n t of G ender at th e M in i st r y of G ende r, Chi l d ren and S o c i al P ro te c tion, Rev D r M rs. C o m fo r t A s a re, s t ated th at government needs the p r ivate se c tor to su ppo r t d eve l op m ent and ur ged W I Af r ic a to fo ll ow its v i sion a nd o bje c t ive s it has set fo r itse l f.

She al so c a l l ed on the rank p ra c ti c e s such a s Fe ma l e G e ni t a l Muti l ation a nd ac cus ati o ns o f wi tc h c raft which p l aque women “ Peo p l e adh e re to t raditions a nd c ultu re th a n su ppo r ting me m bers o f th e ir fami l i e s, t raditio n i s l i fe - i s p a r t o f us eve r y thin g we do i s guid e d by our t raditions a nd c u l tu re but

th e re a re tim e s when we re a l ly ne e d to c onsider th e it h a s on hu m an b e i n gs

Cu l tu ral p ra c tic e s li ke FG M , wi tch c raft a c cus ations and so ma ny thin g s th at d e s t roy huma n i t y, th at d e s t roy th e di g n i -

t y o f hum a n beings, sh ou l d b e co nd e m n ed by eve r yo ne, we all h ave to co m e to ge th e r to co nd e m n such n e g at ive p ra cti c e s th at i s why I said p e o pl e s e e m to e n j oy p ro te c ting cu ltu re, p ro te c ting t raditio n s th a n to p ro te c t me mb e rs of th e ir fami l i e s G ove rn me nt n e eds th e p r ivate s e c to r to su pp o rt d eve lop m e n t i s n ot fo r o n e s e c to r, i s n o t fo r o ne perso n , l aws th at a re m ad e eve n fo r the min i s tr i e s a re not fo r the m i ni s tr i e s a l o n e, it i s a l s o fo r th e p r ivate s e c to r for the m to foll ow a p a r ti c u l ar v i si o n a nd d re a m towa rds th e d evel o pm e nt o f our c oun t r y, so th ey h ave to fo ll ow their v i sion, ma n d ate a n d their o b j e c t ive s wh ateve r th ey s e t fo r th e ms e lve s to d o, th at i s wh at th ey

h ave to adhe re to Th ey sh ou l d kn ow th at the ro l e th ey a re c om ing to p l ay w i lle rn m en t , a lo t o f p eo p le a re p l aying th e ir rol e s but we sti ll se e a lo t m o re wo m e n, c hi l d re ning and th at a lo ne te ll s us th at Wom en o f I m p e r iu m Af r i c a , th ey h ave c o m e to a l s o p l ay their rol e and co n t r ibu te to the d evel op me nt o f our c oun t r y ” Th e o c c asi o n wa s a l so used to indu c t 2 0 me mb e rs in to th e g roup a s we ll as s we a r ing in of exe c ut ive s Th e o rgani z ati o n fo cus e s o n e mp owe r i n g te en a ge m oth e rs, o rphans and vu l n e rab le c hi l d re n, p o or wo m e n, un e mp l oye d wo m e n, fe m a le d om e stic vi ol e n c e vi c tims, th e p oo r in gen e ra l and p e rs o ns with d i s a bi l iti e s WI Af r i c a has a go a l of h avin g 1 bi ll i o n gi rl s and wom en l e arn h ow to l ove th em s e lve s and su pp o r t e ach o the r

S t a n bic B ank Gha n a, as p a r ts of h e al thier and c o ll ab o rat ive wo rk fo rc e o r g anized a h e a lth Ma rc h

i t y sh

up to

pa r ti c ip ate in th e 2 -h our h e a r t y wa l k Sp e akin g at the even t M r Mawu ko Af adzi nu, He ad o f Ma rketi n g at S t a nbic B an k , e na h e a l t hy li fe s t yl e by m a king exe rc i se a p r io r i t y in o rder to l ive

He s a id, “At S t a nbi c Ba nk we s tr ive to g ive our wonderfu l c us to m ers the b e st b a nking expe r ien c e when ever th ey wal k th rou g h our do o rs. B ut we c a nnot de l iver o n our b rand p rom i se if we as a g roup do not wo rk to geth e r or a re not in good h e al th Th at i s why we

h ave g ath e red h e re tod ay a s o ne big Bl u e fa m i ly to wal ke nt exc iting te a m bui l ding a ct iviti e s He add e d, “A s wo rkers, m ost o f us h ave seden t a r y l i fe s t yl e s whi c h i s at tr ibu t ab l e to th e nu m b e r o f h ours we spend in

to be m indfu l o f our l i fes t yl e s and p reve nt i ll h e a l th th rough re a s o nab le exe rci s e s’’ M r Af ad z i nu we n t o n to bank fo r th e ir c om mi tm ent to wo rk and their

ro l e in th e succ e ss of the co m pa ny

He s a id, “ We a re on ly th re e mo nths in to 2 02 3 but we h ave a l re ady rece ive d a number of awa rds i n cludi n g our re co gn iti o n as the cus to m er s e r vice l e ader in the Gh ana i a n b a nking se c to r at th e 5th Cus tomer Se r vice

In d ex ( C SI). Th e se ac hi eve m e nts would n o t b e p o ssib l e w ith out the h a rd wo rk o f our l oya l w ith m a ny mo re su c c e s se s ”

The 8 6k m walk b e g an

f ro m S t anbic Heights, the He ad qu a r ters o f S t a n bi c B ank Gh a na at Airpo rt , to L ands c om m i ssion th rou g h to the Gha n a Po l i c e He ad qu a r ters and ba c k to S t anbi c Heights, under th e g uid a n c e and ins t ru c ti o ns o f The N ew You te a m The bank e mp l oye e s g athe red for a n in te nse a e ro bi c s s e ssion and o ther te a m bondin g exe rc i s e s at the fo re c ou r t o f S t anbi c Heights, a f ter whi c h th ey h ad th e ir bodi e s c hec ked by c hi rop ra c to rs f ro m S o l a c e Medi c al C en t re and P ath ol a b

International Women’s Day- embrac ing equ alit y of women in agribusiness

A s we ce l eb rate I n tern ati o naltu re who h ave c o nti nu ou sly ove rco m e bar r iers and p o s iti o n e d themse lve s as key d r ive rs o f e c o n omi c g row th Ma rkin g th e d ay with the th e m e “E m b ra c in g E qui t y ” it h a s b e c om e n ec e ssa r y to advanc e ge n der e qu ali t y by ra i sing con ti nu ous awa ren e ss ab out d i s c r i m in ati o n a nd c re ati n g a pl at for m fo r e qu al o pp o r tun iti e s fo r b o th m en and wo men

A l th ough the ro le o f wo men in ag r i c u l tu re i s undeniab ly i mpo rt a nt to the e c o no m i c d eve lopm e n t o f our c oun t r y, m a ny of th e m c o nti nue to fa c e c ha l len ge s such a s l a c k o f a c c e ss to land fo r farmin g , l ack o f c ol l ate ra l to b a si c to ols a nd p ro c e ssin g e quip m e n t S om e o f th e se c ha l len ge s a re as a re sult o f so m e m i s c on c epti o ns an d o n e way of c l osin g the gap wou l d be to exp o se and d i s c re dit them M i s c o n c e ptions ab out wo men i n Ag r i c - Wo men d o not p l ay ag r i c u l tu re Th e re i s a m i s c on c epti o n th at wo m en en g a ge o n ly in s ma l l - s c a le a g r icu l tu re and do la r ge - s c a le ag r i c u l tu re. O ver the ye a rs, wo men a re n ow seen to b e m o re i nvo lved in the enti re ag r i c u l tu ra l value chain, f rom f a rming to p rodu c tion to m a rth e n e ed fo r their c o n tr ibuti o n to the se c tor to re c e ive the nee d e d rec o g nitio n to sh ow th at wo m en h ave evo lved f ro m s ma l l - s c a le a g r i c ultu re to la r ge - s c a le far m in g j ust li ke th e ir m a l e c oun terpa r ts Th i s w i l l go a lon g way towa rd m o t ivatin g mo re wo m e n to en ter the i n dus t r ysu me r m a rke t gen d e r e qu a li t y, c o mpani e s w ithin the va r i ous s t a ge s o f the val ue c hain h ave s t a r ted en g a g-

in g fem a l e farmers to p rovide the m with input a nd re s ou rc e s to be at par with their ma lewa rds gender p a r i t y c o nti nu e s to in c re a se g l oba l ly we wi l l b e gin to see a mo re p rominent shift towa rd c ate r ing to wo m en

Emb ra c ing e qu al i t y P rovidi n g wom e n w ith nec e ssa r y su pp o r t in ter m s of the p rere qu i si te ski ll s fo r p ro du c ti o n, p roc e ssin g and m a rketing wi l l se r ve a s a way of en su re e qu a l it y in the a g r i c u l tu ra l se c to r, pu tti n g the m at p a r w ith their m a l e c ou n te rp a r ts.

In the p as t , it wa s e a sier for a c a m e l to go th rough the eye of a ne e d l e than it wa s for a woman in a g r i c to ge t ac c e ss to la nds for far m in g A l th ough th i s i s g rad ua l ly c hangin g , m a ny wo m en sti ll fa c e th i s c ha ll en ge. To sus t a in the a g r i c u l tu ra l se c to r, it i s i mpe rat ive th at wo men be g ran te d l and as e a si ly as it i s for m e n to a cc e ss far m l ands.

Kn owled ge th ey s ay i s p owe r Howeve r, I be l i eve th at p ower l i e s in kn owin g h ow to a pp ly kn owl e d ge We h ave seen th at the re a re p l etho ra o f semi n ars and wo rk shops fo r wo m en in A g r i c But when it c o m e s to hands o n t ra ining wh e re wom en c a n impl e ment wh at has bee n t aught i n th e s e minars o n th e farm, wo men a re found to be l a c king in th at re g a rd O pp o r tu n iti e s su c h a s h a nds - on p ra c ti c al t rainin g must b e m ade avai l ab l e to en a b l e fema l e f a r mers to s t ay a b re a st o f wh at n e eds to be done o n the f a rm or in their va r i ous ag r ibusin e ss e s fo r we a l th c re ation.

a cc e ssin g funding be c aus e o f l a c k of c o ll ate ra l. Wh e n a wom an wants to s t a r t or expand her Ag r ibusin e ss, the c h a n c e s of se c u r i n g a l o an a re h e avi ly s t a c ked a ga inst her as c o m -

p a red to her m al e c oun terpa r ts. A s we s e a rc h for m e a su re s to put in p lac e to en su re e qu al i t y be t ween m en a nd women in a ce c os ys te m sh ou l d b e red esi g ned to p rovide o ppo r tuniti e s fo r women to ac c e ss funding with out being a sked to p re s e nt c o ll ate ral e spe c ia l ly in i n s t an c e s whe re she m ay not h ave a ny

The p ra c ti c a l s to r y of t wo su cc e ssfu l wo m en in a g r ibusin e s s Th at no t withs t andin g , it i s wo r th hi g h l ightin g the rem a rka b l e co n tr ibutions a nd o r a chi eve m ents of 2 women in the Ag r i c u l tu re se c tor a s we l l as so m e c h all en ge s stil l f a c ing th e m.

1.Edith Wh e atl a nd A kors a Edith Wh e at l and A korsa, CEO of Ro c k la nd Fa r m s C ompa ny Li m i ted o pe rate s a 1 0 0,00 0 c ap a c i t y in te g rated p ou l t r y f a rm l o c ated in the A sh a nti re gion of Ghan a Es t ab l i shed in 2 0 1 3, The c o m pa ny h a s t wo subsidia r i e s –E co Feeding C o mp a ny and Ro c k l a n d Me ats. Ro c k l and Me ats i s in to the p rodu c tion, p ro c e ssin g a nd d i s tr ibuti o n o f l o c a l ly p rodu c ed c hic ken, whi c h i s pa c k a ged under th e b ra n d n a m e A ko ko Tas t y Together the c omp a ni e s h ave over 15 0 wo rkers, whi c h in cl uded t rai n ed b roi l er out - g rowers th at su ppo r t Ro ck la nd Far m’s su pp ly c hains, b o osting its p rodu c tion c ap a c i t y to m o re tha n 2 0 0,0 00 bi rds per c yc l e. Ro c kl a n d Farms p rovid e s t raining a nd other su ppo r t to 3 00 0 m a i z e out g rowers ( 2 a c re s ave ra ge ) who su pp ly maize to fe e d th e f a r m Edith at t r ibu ted th e g row th o f Ro c k l and Fa r m s C o mp a ny to funding f ro m th e Ag r ic u l tu ral D eve lo pment B a nk (AD B ) PLC in 2 0 15 a nd at th e ti m e, the c om p a ny was a n 85 0 0 c a pa c i t y f a r m with s eve n wo rkers. “ Th rough AD B’s su pp o rt , ob l i g ations enab l ing it to g row to over 10 0,0 00 c ap a c i t y tod ay

D e s c r ibing th e p ou l t r y s e c tor and ge nd e r, the CEO of Ro c kl and Farms C o mp a ny, s t ated th at th e s e c tor i s t raditi o n a l ly m a l e d om in ated and i s not a cc e pting o f wom en l e ading in m ost o f the s e g m ents a l o n g th e va l u e c h a in Howeve r, she h ad o bs e r ved th at over the ye ars, the re h a s b e e n a c e rt ain l evel of a c c e p t anc e and ge tting su pp o r t as a wo m a n e n t re p ren e ur i s bet ter and e a sier n ow th a n it used to b e She a l s o added th at the gen e ral wo rk e nvi ro n me n t in th e p ou l t r y se c to r i s i m p roving and e c on om ic a s we l l as l e ad e r ship o pp o r tuniti e s fo r wo m e n a re o p e ning up mo re spe e di ly Edith s t ate d th at su pp o r t f ro m m a l e s in the se c to r i s a l so mo re ac c e ssib le n ow than be fo re Sh e no te d th at th e re was the n e ed fo r the re o r ien t ati o n o f wo m e n to l eve ra ge th e wind o f chan ge b l owing th rough c apa c ito a chi eve their p o te ntia l s.

2 Jan e t Ad ad e Ja net Ad ad e , own e r of E l s jy n e En te rp r i se, a n Ag r ibusin e ss ve n tu re i n th e Oti Re gi o n She i s a r i c e and c o c o a far me r who a l so p ro c e ss e s, pa c ka ge s and m a rke ts h e r p rodu c e Sh e i s a l s o in to m e chani z ati o n and p rovid e s m achin e r y and t raini n g for ab out 2 0 0 0 wom en far me rs Ja net Ad ade b e gan farming in 2 0 10 when sh e d e c ided to rel oc ate to the Oti Re gi o n f ro m the cha lle n ge she s t ate d as wo m an ve n tu r ing in Ag r ibusin e ss was her b e ing p reve n te d to far m o n her Fathe r s l and j ust by being a

wo m a n and n o t h aving the r i g ht to d o s o b e c aus e wo m e n do not inhe r it i n their fa m i ly Janet m e ntion e d th at she h ad o bse r ve d was th at , a lth ough ove r th e ye ars, m a ny organi z ati o ns h ave be e n e s t ab l i sh e d to su pp o r t wom en in Ag r ibus in e ss, m o st wom en b el itt le the m se lve s in to thinking th at th ey a re sti ll n o t go o d e n ough to be at par w ith their m a l e c oun te rpa r ts and think th at their m a le c oun terpa r ts sh ou l d rec e ive th e s e g ra nts Sh e said the re wa s th e ne e d for sensiti z ation a nd ed uc ati o n o f wo m e n fo r a ren ewa l o f m inds fo r th e m to kn ow th at th ey a re e n ough a nd c a pab l e to d o wh at th e ir m a l e c oun te rpa r ts a re d o i n g and m o re On the i s su e o f a c c e ss totion e d th at it was sti ll a s t ru g g l e as m aj o r i t y of wo m e n did n o t h ave ad equ ate re s ou rc e s to a cc e ss lo ans o r fa c i l iti e s to exp a nd their busi n e ss e s and m o st of ten than n o t , m en a re p r i o r iti z ed “If wo m e n a re g ive n th e sa m e o pp o r tuniti e s as m en, it w i ll p ave th e way for fe m al e f a rm e rs to i nc re a s e p ro du c ti o n 2 0 -3 0 tim e s m o re C o n c lusi o n Whi le ti m e s a re changing and wo m en se e m to b e g ive n mo re o ppo r tu n iti e s than th ey we re b e fo re p aving the way for e qu al it y, the Ag r icu l tu ra l se c tor sti ll re m a ins a m a le d om in ated se c to r with wom en sti ll f a c i n g s om e o f the cha lle n ge s, inc l uding thos e s t ate d a b ove Th e re fo re, as we c e l eb rate I n tern ation a l Wo me n’s D ay, l et us a l l r i s e togeth e r to p rom o te wo me n s e qu a l i t y within the Ag r icu l tu ral se c to r a nd a ll o th e r s e c to rs

Its Assurance To Streng then L ar val

C ontrol Pro gramme

The Pa rliame n t a r y Se l e c t C o mm it te e on He alth has as su red th at it would e n su re the s t re n g th e ning of the la r va l s ou rc e m a na gement p rog ramm e t a r ge ted at i m m atu re mo s qui to e s to su ppo r t the e l i mi n ati o n of mala r ia in the c ou nt r y

Acco rding to the c o mm it tee, d e sp i te s o me c hal l en ge s th ey w i t n e ssed, the p ro g ra m me wa s a c r iti c a l component o f a ny e ffe c t ive in te g rated ve c tor m a na gem e n t ( I V M ) t ar ge ted at kil li ng im m atu re mos qui to e s b e fo re d evel o pin g in s t a gn ant

water to c ause m a la r ia

The c hair o f the He a l th C o m -

m it tee, D r Na n a Ayew Af r iyi e , g ave the a s su ran c e whi l e add re ssin g the medi a af te r an i nspe c ti o n tour of m os qui to

b reedin g si te s in va r i ous d i str i c ts i n the A sh a nti Re gi o n,

T hursd ay, Ma rc h 2 , 2 02 3 Tou c hin g o n the p rob l ems, h e indi c ated th at some of th e

b reedin g si te s th ey v i si ted in

Ta fo, fo r ins t an c e, h ad d r i e d out due to the d r y s e ason

b reedin g si te s, which o r igina l ly

wou l d h ave to be m a pped ou t , a nd e a si ly a ss e ssed. B ut th e n a ss e ss th e se si te s

He a l s o obse r ved th at some of th e sp rayers t ra ined to unde rt a ke the sp raying exe rci s e we re a lso a c ha ll en ge For s o me re a sons, so m e of th e m [the wo rkers] h ave l eft th e job s o you h ave a hu ge po pul ation, wide c ove ra ge a re a, but few p e o p l e - ab out 8 o r 9doing the sp rayin g I t tel l s you th at th ey a re s t ru g g lin g A n d s o, th e re fo re, wo rk i s bein g d o ne

added Th e se cha lle n ge s n o t w it hs t a ndin g , D r Ayew Af r iyie a sse r te d th at la r vi c iding was a n to m a na ge ins e c ti c id e re s i st an c e in m a l a r ia c on t ro l in the c oun t r y “S o, as I said, it i s a s t re n g t he ning exe rci s e. We a re t r ying to ge t it bet te r be c aus e the te chn o c rats ke ep s ayin g it i s a ve r y goo d in te r ve nti o n S o as pa r t of our oversight re spo nsibi l iti e s, we wou l d s t re n g th -

e n the c ours e o f th i s p ro j -

He was, h oweve r, ha ppy to l e arn th at the re h a s be e n a re du c ti o n in the nu m b e r of re po r ted c as e s o f m a l a r ia and a l s o unde r-5 m o rt a l i t y f rom

0 0 4 i n 2 01 8 to 0 0 0 in

2 022 in th e S e k ye re E ast

D i s t r i c t a re b e ing tol d th at m a l a ria c as e s at th e OPD h ave be e n on th e de cl in e f ro m

2 01 8 whe re it was 41 3 1 per a pop u l ati o n of 1 ,0 0 0 to 2 70 4 pe r 1 ,0 0 0 p opu l ation , ” he s a id

O n th e i s sue of in c re asin g bu dge t a r y al l o c ation fo r the p ro je c t , D r Ayew Af r iyie, wh o i s al so th e Me m ber of Pa rl ia m ent

C o nstitu en c y, aver red th at h i s com mit te e wou l d weigh both sid e s o f th e a r g ument and t a ke a de c i si o n on i t Mo re i m po rt a nt ly h e said the com mit te e wou l d pu sh Zo o ml i o n to sit u p to e n su re va lue for mon ey

“S o wh at ha pp e ns i s th at e a c h pla c e we go we need to h ave th e s t ru c tu re The s t ru c tu re, h e expl a ined, the re fo re, m e an s th at we n eed to kn ow th e o p e rationa l te am on the

g round S o we a re going to be s o mu c h o n the m , a nd s om eti m e s we a re goin g to d o surp r i se v i sits whi c h we wi ll n o t te l l them we a re go i n g to th i s a re a ,” he no ted

Th i s, he s t re ssed, wou l d m a ke Z o om li o n sit up a nd en su re th at Gh a nai a ns get va lue fo r mo n ey in the l a r va l s ou rc e m an a ge ment p rog ra m me

The R a nkin g Me m ber o n the

C omm it tee a nd M P for Ju abos o, Ho n. Kwa bena Min t a h Ak a nd o h, said th ey h ave e ng a ged the m ana ge m ent o f

Z oo m l i o n and c har ge d th e m to add re ss the cha ll en ge s c o n f ro n tin g the p ro je c t , p a rti c u l a rly th o se th at e m an ate f ro m the c om pa ny “ We h ave held d i s c ussions

with the m a na gement of the c o m pa ny a nd th ey h ave a g reed to in c re a se the s al a r y a nd a lso cl e ar al l the b a ck l o g o f sa la r i e s , ” he i n di c ated

Howeve r, he underpinned th at th e go a l of the c om m it tee wa s th e su cc e ss o f the p roj e c t a nd its i m pa c t

Fo r h i s p a r t , the D e pu t y Ran kin g Me mber o f the c o mmit tee,

a nd a n M P for Na bda m , D r

Ma rk Ku r t Nawaa ne, exp re ssed : “ my obse r vati o n i s th at th e re see m s to be a d i sc o nne c t b e-

a g a inst m a l a r i a ."

He exp la ined th at th i s wa s ev ident in the a ppa ll ing c onditions of the m a ny b reedin g si te s th at th ey h ad v i si te d

I be l i eve th at it i s l i ke a vi c i ous c yc l e whe re you co me and t r y to ki ll the m os qui to e s. You l e ave th e e nvi ro nm e nt in th at o rde r; the water i s n o t m oving; the d rains need d e si l tin g ; we d o n’t d o i t , a nd;ly reo c cu r Th i s i s be c ause we d o n’t ki ll th e m os qui to e s to z e ro : we ki l l so m e of the m and s o m e o f the m rem a in ,” h e said E ast D i s tr i c t A sse m b ly, th e Medi c a lernment Ho spi t al D r D avid An twi -A g ye i, reve a le d th at m a l a r i a OPD c as e s h ave b e en on the d ecl ine f rom 2 0 1 8 whe re it wa s 41 3 1 per 1 0 0 0 p o pu l ation to 2 70 4 p e r 1 ,00 0 popu l ation in 2 02 2 He fu r th e r d i sc lo s e d th at s eve re m al a r ia c a s e s h ave p l ate aued ove r

the sa m e p e r i o d, adding th at " c as e f at al i t y of m a l a ria de cl in e d f ro m 0 0 4 in

2 0 1 8 to 0.0 0 in 2 022 , Th e C oo rdin ator of th e L a r val S ou rc e Mana ge m e nt P ro g ra mm e ( Mo s qui to C o n t ro l P ro g ram m e) fo r Z o oml i o n, Reve re nd D r E ben ez er Kwa m e Addae, ad m on i sh e d Gh a n a ia n s to h ave a p o sit ive attitud e towa rds the e nvi ron me nt "s o as to h el p th e c ou n t r y's e ffo r ts in c urbing m a l a r ia Th e c om mit te e v i si te d so m e b re e ding si te s i n Ta fofo rded th e m e m bers th e o pp o r tuni t y to o bse r ve th e o pe rati o ns of Z oo m l i o n, and a l so in te ra c t w ith the c om muni t y m em b e rs

The great global c rack-up

Th e wo rl d i s at l ast wakin g up to th e ways in whi c h econ o mi c i nr i sks of geop o liti c a l turm o i l B ut whil e the re i s go o d re as o n for c ou n tr i e s to boost re sili e nce, a wh o l e sa l e shift f rom in te g rati o n to f rag m en t ati o n, d r iven by ge op o l iti c a l hostiliti e s, b o d e s we l l fo r n o o n e ’s p e a ce or p ro spe r i t y Th e g l oba l e con o my i s n o t the rec li ne d conside rab ly f ro m their g l o b al GDP ) – a t rend th at b e g an w ith the 2 0 08 c r i s i s – e co no m ic in te g ration remains s t ro n g To t al g l o b al t rade in go ods a n d se rfol d i n c re ase since 199 0 B u t , f ro m 2 0 16 to 2 021, t rade rew id e , owin g p r ima r i ly to te n sions be t wee n the Uni ted S t ate s and Chi na. I n f a c t , f ragmen t ati o n –l i ke g l ob a li z ati o n be fo re it –wou l d n o t be p ossible with out th e re gional c ompetition for e c oc l out i n to a glob a l one Whi l e so me ho p e to balan c e r iva l r y w ith e n ga ge m ent – the Eu ro p e an fo r c o o p e ration, an ec o n o mic c o mpe ti to r, a nd a s ys te mi c r iva l” – th e dy nami c s a re o bvi ou sly c o mpl ex

The C OVI D -19 c r i s i s a nd Russi a’s war a g ainst Uk ra ine h ave a ls o c o n tr ibu ted to f ra g men t ation, as th ey h ave spur red c oun t r i e s to e mb race on sh o r in g , “n e a r- sho r in g ” a nd “f r iend - sh o r i n g” with a g rowing se n se of ur gen c y Ye s, the pa nne c e ssa r i ly s qu a re with e c on om i c secu r i t y B ut whi l e adj us t me n ts a re needed to s t ren g then su pp ly- c hain re si lie n c e , returni n g to a wo rl d d ivided i n to e c o no m i c (and ge op ol iti c a l) b l o c s h ol ds s e r i ous

r i sks

We h ave been he re b e fo re Re c a l l th at Wo rld Wa r I e nd e d th re e de c ad e s of e c ono m i c in teg rati o n, sh owing th at “d o ingc ient c o n diti o n for p e a c e But it i s a ne c e ssa r y one

The e c on om i c c o sts o f f ra g me nt ati o n a re al re ady m ountin g For s t a r ters, ac c o rding to the I n te rn ation a l Mon e t a r y Fund, t rad e and 7% Mo re ove r, whi l e t rade and t rad e - re l ated t ra nsm i ssion c h a nne l s h ave domin ated d i sc ussio n s ab out the r i sks of f ra g-

c ia l a nd m o ne t a r y in te g rati o n i s a l s o i n pe r il, a nd the r i sks a re n o t as sl ow- m oving or mode rate

a s m a ny see m to thin k

C onsider s ove reign deb t He re , th e h e te ro genei t y of c redi to rs a nd c on t ra c ts. I n addition, key

a l o ng ge o po l iti c a l l in e s : Chin a i s the la r ge st bi l ate ral c redi tor fo r d eve l oping c oun t r i e s, bi ll ion in 2 00 8 -21 Fo r c o m pa ri son, the Wo rld B ank l ent th e se c oun tr i e s $ 6 0 1 bi ll ion ove r the s a me pe r iod

governan c e C oun tr i e s with un sus t a in a b l e debt p ositions l a c k in c ent ive s to add re ss th e m in a time ly way; on th e c on t ra r y, th e fe ar of lo sing m a rket a cc e ss de ters su c hc i al c onditions wo rsening the debt p o sitions of poor c ou ntr i e s in A sia, Af r i c a and S outh A m e r i c a – 15% of whi c h a re a lother 45% at high r i sk – an a g reeme n t on debt re so l uti o n i s ur gen t The p ro b le m i s th at f ra g men t ati o n i s h a mpe r ing n e goti ations, not l e a st be c ause d i suni te d c redi tors e s c h ew bai l outs a nd h a i rc uts – the m a in too l s used fo r debt re so l uti o n. Th i s wa s th e c a se j ust la st month, wh e n – on the f r in ge s of the G 2 0 Fi -

n anc e Min i s ters’ a n d C e n t ra l

B a nk G ove rn o rs’ Me eting i n

B e nga l uru, I ndia – th e I M F

b rou g ht to ge ther rep re s e n t a -

t ive s f ro m th e G 7, Chin a ,

I ndia, S audi A rabia, and th e

Wo rl d B ank to s t re n g th e n the

f ra m ewo rk fo r re s o lving s ov -

e reign - debt d i s t re ss

At th at m e e tin g , the G 7 s requ e st th at s ove re i g n c redi tors

a c c ept hai rc uts a l o ng w ith p r ivate c redi to rs fell on d e a f e ars Chin a th e l ar ge st extern a l c re di to r to t wo of the mo st ur ge nt c as e s – ho l ding 35%

a nd 2 0 % re sp e c t ive ly of the to t a l exte rna l d e bt o f Z a m bia a nd S r i L ank a – ins i s ted th at it wa s mu l ti l ate ral instituti o ns l i ke the Wo rl d B ank th at n e e d e d to a c c e pt hai rc uts, p utting an ag re em ent out of re ach

D e bt re so l uti o n i s an i m p o r t -

a nt exa mp le o f th e kind o f i ntern ati o na l p ol i c y c oo pe rati o n th at i s n ee d e d to ave r t g l oba l ec o n om i c f ra gm e n t ation

c oChin a B ut wh e re to b e gi n? A goo d s t a r tin g point wou l d b e to al ign Chin a’s in c ent ive s with those of o ther bi l ate ra l c re di to rs, mu l ti l ate ra l instit uti o ns, and the p r ivate se c to r Mo re b ro ad ly, the G 2 0 sh ou l d g round a m ong g lo b al a c to rs,

and wo rk to s t re n g then p ol i c y c oo pe ration in a re as w ith th e b ro ad e st c o nse nsus a nd the l e ast sc o pe for p ol iti c a l tensi o n Fo r exa m p le , it c ou l d l aunch a c oo rdin ate d initi at ive to bui l d a g lo ba l digi t a l p l atform for in te rn ati o na l rem it t an c e s, whi c h wou l d e nab l e mig ra n ts a rou n d the wo rl d to s e nd m o n ey ho me s e cu re ly a nd wit hout exto r ti o n ate fe e s Mu l ti l ate ra l m e c h a n i s m s a re ne e ded to p reve nt un il ate ral a c ti o n f ro m p ro du cing in te rn atio n a l spi ll ove rs and d ee pening e c on om i c f rag me n t ati o n A s digi t a l cur ren c i e s and n ew p l atforms be c o me ava i l ab le to sett le c ro ss-b o rder p aym ents, c oun tr i e s’ n ati o na l - se c u r i t y c o nc e rns, d om e sti c e c on om i c ob j e ct ive s, th e n e ed to c re ate sho c ks, and sh e er e c o no mic r ival r y wi ll e n c ou ra ge the m to e m b ra c e th e s e n ew s ys tem s as a m e a n s o f redu c ing th e ir d e pe n d e nc y o n th e US - d o min ate d f rag me n t ati o n w i ll b e c o m e r i sk m ana ge m e nt w i ll b e

B y P a ola S u b acc h i

Th i s i s n o t a d e si rable p ath O ver the p ast th ree d ec ad e s, ec o nomic in te g rati on an d c o o p e rati o n e na b le d th e g l o bal econ o my to tr i p l e in size, lif ted a pp rox i m ate ly 1.5 bil l i o n pe o p l e out of ext reme p ove r t y, a nd su ppo r ted p e a c e an d p ro sp e r i t y a round the wo rld. To e n su re th at we d o n ot s qu a n der th e se ga i n s, le t a lon e under m ine our abi l i t y to c o nf ront the c ha l l e n ge s of the futu re u p h o ld some l evel of in tee ratio n

Afric a centre to promote le gal and sust ainable small- sc ale mining (ACMMSD) in Ghana launched

The Af r i c a C en t re for M ine rals, M inin g , and Sus t a inab l e D eve l o pme nt (ACM M SD), a C en t re with th e p ur po se of p ro m o tin g l e g al an d sus t a inabl e mi n in g , e spe c ia lly s mal l - s c a le m ini n g of m ine rals i n Gh a na has been l aunched in Ac c ra In a p re ss rel e ase to ma rk the l au n ch, th e Execut ive Se c re t a r y o f th e C e n t re , E dwin L etsa K Kp ed o r und e rsco red the i m p o rt an c e o f the C e n t re in en su r in g s t a ke h o lders in the ext ra c t ive s e c to r u n ders t a nd a nd adopt su st a in a bl e m e a n s in the m ining of m in e ra ls to e n su re our e nvi ro nme nt i s p ro te c ted, p re se r ved, an d re - cl ai m ed foll owin g su c c e s sfu l s m al l - s c a le minin g a c t iviti e s. In our c o m muniti e s tod ay, we a re exp e r ien c ing the n e g at ive e ffe c ts o f i l l e g a l and un sus t ainabl e m ining p ra c tic e s on our water b o di e s, fo re sts, farms, a nd c o mmuniti e s. The re fo re , the foc us o f th e C e n t re i s to su pp o r t s t a keh ol ders enga ged in the re gu l ati on , supe r v i sion, a n d s m a l l - s c a l e m ining o f mine rals to ad o pt n ew sus t a i n ab l e p ra c tic e s to en su re we reverse the cur rent t re nds o f e nvi ro n m en t al d e g rad ati o n,

water bodi e s p ol lution, and fo re st d e s t ru c ti on a s being wi t n e ss e d a c ro ss our minin g c o m muniti e s ”

He fu r ther no ted th at the ro l e o f the C en t re wi ll be to “c oo rdin ate the p ra c ti c al imp l emen t ati o n o f l e g a l and sus t a in a b l e m i n ing s o l uti o ns a nd c o nso l id ate in te r ve nti o ns th at seek to p rom o te su st ai n able l ive l iho o ds, p a r ti c u l a rly fo r wo men a nd young peop l e in the mini n g c om muniti e s a c ro ss Gh a n a The re l e ase fu r ther n o ted th at the C e n t re i s co mmit ted to harn e s sin g re s ou rc e s to d r ive th e re g ul ati o n and supe r v i sion, advo c a c y, t ra inin g , su ppo rt , a nd s t a ke ho l der e ng a ge ments a c ross the va r ious m inin g c om muniti e s e sp ec ia l ly i n the A sh a nti, E as tern,

C e n t ra l, a n d We st-No r th re gi o ns o f Ghana

“Our initia l ass e ss m ent of the s m a ll - s c a le m ining re gi m e a c ross the c oun t r y reve a l ed th e se reg i o ns a re the hot spots for i ll e g al

( g a l a m s ey) a nd un sus t ainab l e m ini n g p ra c tic e s a nd we s e ek to p r i o r itiz e our a c t iviti e s in th e se re g i o ns ,” M r Kp e d o r no ted C omm enting on the C en t re ’s p l an n ed a c t iviti e s, Richa rd

Nunek p e ku, Di re c tor for P rog ra m m e s and P roje c ts n o te d th at , “the C en t re wi ll p rovide di re c t t rai n ing a nd c a p a c i t y buildi n g to key s t a keholders such as sm all - s c a l e miners, t raditi o na l ause m b l i e s a nd re l ated se r vi c e p roviders to imp rove their kn owled ge of the use of l e ga l a nd su st a in a b l e minin g p ra c ti c e s ” Addition al ly, the C e n t re wi l l u nde rt a ke re s e a rc h a nd pub l i c ation, advo c a c y, eng a ge in po l i c y fo rmu l ation a nd p rovide te c hni c a lg ra m m e s to sm al l - s c a l e m in e rs in its o pe rationa l c om mu n iti e s. Our a pp ro a c h wi ll be to p rovid e c o m p rehens ive su ppo r t se r vi c e s whi c h wi ll he l p s t a keh o ld e rs to c o m mit fu l ly to the ad a p t ati o n of sus t ain a b l e p ra c ti c e s th at de l ive r re su l ts. We re c o g ni z e th e n e ed to fa c i l i t ate the ava i la bili t y of l e g al re gu l ato r y, t ra inin g , l a nd m a na ge m en t , minin g , and sus t ain a bl e c o m mu n i t y d eve l op m e n t su pp o r t p ro g ra m s and a re co mmit ted to doing th e se as p a r t of our e nga geme n t p ro g ra mm e s a n d initi at ive s ,” M r Nunekpe ku said

Closing the gender gap in ICT

We d n e sd ay 8 th Ma rch 2 02 3 ma rks th i s ye a r ’s editi o n of In te r n ational Wo m e n's D ay (I WD 2 02 3), a gl o ba l h ol id ay cele b rated an nu al ly a s a fo c a l poi n t in the wo men ' s r i g hts m ove m en t , b r inging at te n tion to i s su e s such as gen der e qu ali t y, re p ro du ct ive r i g hts, and violen c e a n d a buse a g ainst women

I WD 2 02 3's c a mpaign theme a ims to ge t the wo rld t a l kin g a b out why e qu a l o ppo r tun iti e s a re no lon ger e n ou g h. Im a g i ne a gender e qu al wo rld. A wo rld f ree o f bi a s, s te re o t y p e s, and d i s c r imin ati on A wo rl d th at i s d iverse, e qui t a bl e , and inc l us ive A va l u e d a n d c eleb rated I t i s b e li eved th at eve r yo ne eve r y whe re sh ould h ave the r i g ht to a c c e ss the t rans fo rm at ive p ower of the in tern e t In te r ne t a cc e ss h a s be c ome an e ss e ntial pa r t of modern l i fe , n ec e ssa r y to e n su re f re ed o m o f exp re ssion, p ol iti c a l pa r ti c ip ation, h e a l th, and o th e r fu n damen t a l r ights

In te r ne t acc e ss p rovid e s an i nva l u a ble sp ace whe re m a rg i na lized c o m muniti e s init iate s o c i a l cha n ge and id e nt iti e s a re c re ated. Howeve r, it i s e sti m ate d th at over si xt y pe rcen t (60% ) of peop l e a round the wo rld, mo st of th em b e ing wo men and gi rls, co nti nue to be exc luded

A s a C yberse c u r i t y Ana lyst who has r i sen th rough the ra nks, I h ave re al i sed th at wo me n’s advan t a ge s o f the in ternet and I nfo r m ati o n C o m muni c ati o n Te c hn ol o g y a re o ne – thi rd l e ss than m e n’s and the gender g a p m e a ns th at 2 0 0 mi ll ion fewer wom en than m en a re o nline

A s we s tr ive towa rds t rue gender e qu a l i t y, we kn ow th at a c c e ss to the in ternet i s c r iti c al for wo me n’s e m p owerment with s eve ra l

fo r wo me n and gi rl s to build s o c ia l c api t al th rough vi r t u a l n e two rks and o nline a sso c i ations

A l s o, p rovidin g a pub l i c spa c e to m a ke imp o rt ant in form ation o n wom e n’s r ights un iversa l ly avai lab l e, su pp o r ting wo men to c l aim and de m and their r ights as we ll as c re atin g n ew possibi l iti e s for edu c atio n and e m p l oyment fo r wom en and g i rl s in the digi t al e co n o my

An imp o rt a n t e l e m ent in the d r ive to b r id ge the gender gap i s the re p re sen t ation of wo m en in

wom en wo rl dwid e a re und e r- re pre sen ted i n the va r i ous te c hno l ore s e a rc h e rs a nd on ly t we lve p e rc ent (1 2% ) of e ngineers in th e wo rl d a re wo men

The number o f wo m en in te c h wo rl dwide has c onti nued to s te adi ly r i se in re c ent ye a rs; h oweve r, th e numbers rem a in ve r y

l ow co mpa rat ive ly At th i s c ur rent p ac e, it w i ll t a ke 1 2 ye ars be fo re women s e e e qu al rep re sen t ation in te c h.

I n additi o n, if you think th at s ou n ds b ad, at the c ur rent p ac e, it wi l l t a ke m o re than

2 0 0 ye ars unti l the e c ono m i c gender g a p i s cl osed.

At the end of 2 02 0, women m ade up n e a rly 2 9% of th e te ch wo rk fo rc e, ac c o rding to d at a f ro m Ani t a B o rg (a g lo b al o r g ani z ati o n fo r wo m en te chno l o g i sts)

Wo men c ur rent ly hold o n ly

2 6 7% o f te c h - re l ate d jobs.

1 0,0 0 0 emp l oye e s rep o r t wo m en s rep re sen t atio n at

2 6 2% The pe rc en t a ge o f wo m en in al l te c h- re l ated c areers has a c t u al ly de c re ased over the la st 2 ye a rs

adva nc ed stu dy in th e see ra l ly high due to s te re ot yp e s, th e do m inan c e of m en po l i c i e s fo r in cl usi o n of wo m en, and ski ll s g a ps in STE M a re a s.

I t i s i m po rt ant to re lo ok at our n ationa l po l i c i e s, whi c h fo cus on wo men and th e ir c a reer d eve lop m en t Nati o na l p o l i c i e s sh ould e n c ou ra ge in c re ased acc e ss, t ra inin g a nd us e o f the In tern e t for wo m en a nd gi rl s. Women

sh ou l d be em p owe re d and e n c ou ra ged to pur sue c areers in te c hn ol o gy w ith c o nc re te t ar ge ts for ge nd e r e qui t y in th i s a re a

I n additi o n, th e va r i ous s c ho la r ships and g rant p rog ram m e s sh ou l d b e m ade ava i l ab l e to su pp o r t wom en in s c i e nc e and te chn o l o gy t ra ining and re s e a rch, and I C T- re l ate d busin e ss t raining p ro g ra mm e s sh ou l d t ar ge t wo m e n to p ro m o te and ass i st wo m e n te c h en t re p re n e urs O ve r th e ye ars, n ation al ICT p l ans o r s t rate g i e s inc l ud e a rhe to r i c a l c o m m i t m e nt to gend e r e qui t y, but f a i l to

t ra n sl ate th i s in to co n c re te, m e a su rab le t a r gets b a c ked by re s ou rc e s Th e re sh ou l d b e c o n c re te t ar ge ts for ge nder e qui t y in ICT a cc e ss and sh ou l d beg ra m m e s th at h ave b e en a ll oc ated a n ad e qu ate bud ge t , and the re sh ou l d b e a p l a n to c olle c t tim e ly gende r- d i sa gg re g ate d d at a to m o n i to r the t ar ge t I t sh ou l d be re a l a c ti o n and n o t l ip se r vi c e ! Th e w r i ter i s th e P re sident & Found e r o f I m pa c t Wave I n iti at ive and Chi e f Exe cut ive C o n su l tin g

Edwin Letsa K Kpedor, Executive S ecretar y of the Centre

Richard Nunekpeku, Director for Programmes and Projects

Emp owering women through blo ckchain: unlo cking opp or tunities and driving innovation

-

In th e bl o c kc hai n indus t r y, gen d e r d i sp a r i t y co nti nu e s to be a ppa ren t , whe re wo m en's i nvo lveme nt a nd rep re sen t ation a re n o tic e ab ly l ower c o m pa red to m e n Alth ou g h the exa c t nu m b e rs va r y depending o n the a re a b e i n g a na lysed, studi e s con s i s ten t ly sh ow th at wo m en a re u n d e r rep re sen ted in bl oc kc h a i n a nd c r yp to c ur ren c y in ge ne ra l

The Gl o bal C r y p to User Ind ex re p o r ts th at of the 378 ve ntu re - b a c ke d c r y p to and bl oc kc hain co mpani e s found e d gl o bal ly b e t we e n 2 012 and 2 0 1 8 , on ly o ne h ad an a ll - fem al e foundi ng te a m, and on ly 31 (8 2 p e rc en t) h ad a c ombin ation o f m a l e a nd female founders Outside o f l e ad e r shi p, wo men a re al s o g ros sly unde r- rep res e n te d i n the wo rk fo rc e, with 95 p e rce nt o f p eo p le in the b loc kc hain indus t r y b e ing me n N o t ab ly b r idging th e gender ga p i n bloc kchai n will b r ingi c e mp owe rment to wo men

g l o ba l ly, which w i ll i nva r iab ly h ave a s t ron g impa c t on re du cin g p ove r t y, in c re a sin g edu c ati o n, and ove rall d eve lo pment o f lo c al co m muniti e s. Th i s i s a ppa rent be c ause imp roving ge nder e c o nomi c e qu a l i t y l e ads to re m a rkab l e c om mun a l g row th and d eve l op m en t B r id g ing the Ga p B l oc kchain te c hn o l o gy h a s en dl e ss p o ssibiliti e s but for it to su cc eed, in cl us ivi t y i s key Sti ll , it c an o n ly be fu l ly re a l i sed if o rg an i s ations re c o gniz e th at a l l i nd ivid u als p l ay a n in te g ra l pa r t in the su c c e ss o f th e ir ope rations. To add re ss the gender g a p in the bl oc kchain te c hnol o gy se c to r it i s c ru c ia l fo r rel eva nt s t a keh ol ders, su c h as gove rnment a ge nc i e s and p r ivate or g an i s ations,c ia l in cl usi o n fo r wo men C o ll abo ration be t ween the publi c and p r ivate se c to rs i s n e c e ss a r y to a chi eve i n c l us ive e c o n o m i c e m p owerment fo r wom e n in th i s indus t r y By c om m itting re -

th e gender g ap and c re ate a m o re e qui t ab l e and th r iving b l o c kc hain techno l o g y se c to r B in a n c e, th rough its phi l a nth ro p ic a rm, B in a nce Cha r i t y, us e s the p l at form to p ro m o te wo m e n’s c on tr ibutions to the b l o c kc hain Its 8 -week boot c a mp in c o ll abo ration with Ut iva , fo r examp le , was e s t a bl i sh e d to e quip wo men with th e ne c e ss a r y to o l s a nd ski ll s requi red fo r a c a reer in b l o c kc h a in. The t ra ining p ro g ra m c ove red s eve ra l e ssentia l topi c s, i ncl uding b l o c kc h a in funda m e nt al s, c r y p to c ur ren c y b a si c s, d ec en t ra l i z ation, web 3, a nd th e me t averse. Additiona l ly, p a r ti c ip a nts en g a ged in p ra c ti c al , h a nds - on p ro je c ts to d eve lo p c ru c ia l c r iti c a l thi n king skil l s and t ac k l e re al -wo rl d i s su e s with p ra c ti c al so l uti o ns

a round in the pe rc e ption, and pa rti c ip ati o n o f wo m e n in the wo rl d o f b lo c kchain

Th e adva nc e m e nt in b lo c kchain te chn ol o gy sh ou l d be fue le d by va l u e s th at p r i o r it i s e qu a l i t y co ntr ibuti o ns, d i s re g a rding ge nd e r, a ll , The pe e r- to -p ee r s ys te m inhe r-

e nt ly e mb o di e s e qu a l i t y,r iers to en t r y and us e c o mc ia l m a rke ts In c lus ivi t y i s pa ra m oun t , a s the bl o c kchain indus t r y s tr ive s to a c hi eve c r iti c a l m ass a n d p ro m o te w id e sp re ad ad o ption

T h

A s a n organ i s ation, B in a nc e c o nti nu e s to add re ss ine qu a l i t y in th e b l o c kc hain indus t r y, th rou g h in cl us ive a nd t ran sp a rent e mp l oy m ent p r in c ipl e s Rem a rk -

Highlights: Chinese FM briefs media

Chi n e s e Fo re ign M in i s ter Qin

G a n g h e ld a p re ss con fe rence

Tu e sd ay o n th e sid e lin e s ofti on a l Peo pl e 's C ong re ss in

B e ijin g

" A s th e wo rld i s under goin g m aj or c h a n ge s unseen in a ce ntu r y, China w il l c o nti nue to p ur sue the indepe n dent fo re i gn p oli c y o f p e a c e and co nti nu e to im p lem e nt the th e o p e n ing rema rks

Chi n a w il l a lways be a bui l der o f wo rl d p e a ce, a con t r ibu to r to gl oba l d eve lopment and a d e fen d e r of the in tern ati o na l o rd e r, h e said

He re a re some o f the hi g hl i g hts o f the p re ss con fe ren c e

Chin e se m o derni z ati o n s ol uti o ns to m a ny cha ll en ge s fa c in g human d evel opmen t , Qin said

Achi evin g the moderni z ation o f a c oun t r y o f mo re th a n 1 4 bi ll i o n pe o p l e wi l l be an unp re c ede n ted fe at in hu m an h i s to r y, -

c an c e i n itsel f, he to l d rep o r ters

"It busts the my th th at m o der ni z ati o n i s we s terni z ation. I t c reate s a n ew form of hum a n adva n c em e n t , and it p rovid e s an i m p o rt ant s ou rc e of in spi ration fo r the wo rl d, e spe c ia l ly d eve lo pin g c oun tr i e s," he said

The re l ati o n ship be t we e n China and Russi a i s based o n the p r i nc ip l e s o f n o n -al l ia nc e, n o n - c o nf ro n t ati o n and non - t ar geting o f

thi rd p a r ti e s, Qin said With Chin a a nd Russia wo rkin g to gethe r, the wo rl d wi l l h ave the d r iving fo rc e towa rd mu l tip o l a r i t y and g re ater d em o c ra c y in in te rn ationa l rel ations, a nd g l oba l s t rate gi c ba la n c e a nd s t abi l i t y w i ll be

Chin a - U S rel ati o n s

The U S pe rc eption and vi ews towa rd China a re se r i -

Chin a h o p e s the Uni ted S t ate s wi ll exp l o re the r i g ht way to get a l on g with Chinatr i e s a nd the enti re wo rld pe rc epti o n, vi ews towa rd Chin a s e r i ou sly d i s to r te d Ta iwan qu e sti o n How to re so lve the Ta iwa n

qu e stion i s a m at ter for the Ch in e se p eo p l e and n o o th e r c ou nt r y has th e r ight to in te r fe re in i t , Qin s a id " We wi ll wo rk with th e g re ate st sin c e r i t y and exe r t u t mo st e ffo r ts to achi eve p e a c efu l reun ioption o f t akin g a ll n ec e ssa r y m e a su re s," h e added Uk ra in e c r i s i s Qin c alle d for " c a l m n e ss, rati on al i t y and di al o gu e to s o lve the Uk ra in e c r i s i s, which h e te r m ed a t ra ge dy th at c ould h ave b ee n avoided Qin s a id the Uk ra in e c r i s i s h a s c o m e to a c r iti c a l ju n c tu re , a nd wo n 't so lve i t Chin a c h oo s e s p e a ce ove r wa r, dia l o gue ove r s a n c ti o ns, and l owe r i n g th e te mpe ratu re ove r fanning the

B e l t and Ro ad Initi at ive Th e B el t and Ro ad I niti at ive i s a high - qu a l i t y p ub l i c goo d initi ate d by China and j oint ly bui l t by a ll by the wo rl d, Qi n said, addi n g th at it i s n eve r China th at sh ould be a ccus e d of c re atin g the s o-c a lle d debt t ra ps Th e B el t and Ro ad I niti at ive h a s att ra c ted the pa r ti c ip ation o f over th re e - fou r ths o f c oun t r i e s in th e wo rl d and 32 in te rn ati o n a l o rg a n iz ations, c re ate d s o m e 4 2 0,0 00 j o bs in c oun tr i e s a lo ng th e rou te s and he l p e d l ift n e a rly 4 0 m il l io n pe o p le out o f p ove r t y ove r th e past de c ad e , he add e d

FX Insights

Forget Nigeria’s election: it’s the Naira shortage that markets are watching

Foreign Exchange Down

As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls on Saturday to elect a new president, a cash shortage caused by a policy to exchange old Naira notes for newly designed bills continues to cripple the economy, creating a rift in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party. The note swap plan championed by incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari has led to violent protests across the country and resulted in a temporary suspension of banking e Supreme Court to overturn the policy, citing severe hardship faced by people and businesses dependent on cash for survival. Buhari’s apparent intention behind the policy is to curb vote buying by politicians, turning a deaf ear to APC governors who have made repeated calls to postpone the implementation of the policy. Amid fears of the current tensions spilling over to political violence, Buhari said he’s mobilising military and security agents to monitor polling stations for evidence of vote rigging. The severe cash shortage has held the currency steady in spite of the economic turmoil, with the Naira strengthening marginally against the dollar to 755 from 756 at last week’s close. In this context, resolving the cash shortage has become more rate likely to hold around current levels until Naira supplies recover. 32%

Ghana’s latest ratings downgrade drives Cedi lower

Foreign Exchange

Down 18%

Rand sinks to lowest in more than 3 months

The Rand depreciated against the dollar, trading at 18.25 from 18.05 at last Friday’s close—its weakest level since early November. The currency is being dragged lower by broad more than half of the power company’s debt over the next three years to help strengthen the balance sheet and avoid the risk of default. We expect the Rand to continue trading with an 18 handle in the near term, mainly due to the

Foreign Exchange

The Cedi weakened against the dollar, trading at 12.76 from 12.38 at last week’s close as Fitch Ratings cut Ghana’s foreign currency credit rating to ‘restricted default’ after the country missed a $40.6m coupon payment on one of its outstanding Eurobonds. The downgrade aligns with Fitch’s local currency rating, which was cut earlier this month. The foreign debt default was largely expected after Ghana said it would suspend payments on certain bonds as part of its restructuring plan to unlock $3bn in emergency funding from the IMF. The country faces pushback from bondholders over preferential treatment for bilateral lenders, who are being slight improvement in January—we expect the Cedi to depreciate further in the near term.

Egypt issues debut $1.5bn sukuk

The Pound depreciated against the dollar, trading at 30.60 from bond, or sukuk, raising $1.5bn. The three-year deal priced to yield 11%, having attracted investor demand of more than $5bn. expect the Pound depreciate further in the week ahead mainly due to dollar strength.

Foreign Exchange

Down Down 99%

94%

Shilling strengthens as Uganda resists rate rise

The Shilling strengthened against the dollar, trading at 3674 from 3684 at last week’s close. Uganda’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate on hold at 10% for a second consecutive monetary policy meeting. The bank last raised by 100 basis points in October, with rates ending the year 350 basis points higher than they were at the start of 2022. Policymakers said the decision to hold rates was aimed at containing domestic demand pressure and supporting

edging up to 10.4% last month. In the near term, we expect the Shilling to weaken amid continued food and energy price

Foreign Exchange Down

4.8%

Kenyan Shilling hits new low as FX reserves dwindle

Foreign Exchange Down

The Shilling weakened to a fresh low against the dollar, trading at 126.15 from 125.90 at last week’s close amid increased FX demand from the oil and energy sector. The currency has now lost more than 2% of its value this year. Kenya’s foreign currency reserves also dropped to a new record low $6.88bn from $6.94bn secured a $27m funding deal with the European Union to boost exports to the 27-nation bloc and strengthen the overall business environment. The government is also anticipating $3.4bn in tourism-related earnings this year as it expects tourist numbers to exceed pre-pandemic levels. In the immediate term, however, we expect the Shilling to remain under pressure as importers clamour for dollars to meet month-end obligations.

11.7%

Mitch Diedrick Forex Dealer, AZA Finance

Fragmented globaliz ation

Fo r th ree de c ad e s, bus in e ss e s a n d governments a round the wo rl d o pe rated und e r the as sumption th atba l i z atio n w ill conti nue a p ace. A s th e in tern ati o na l o rd e r has c ome under s t ra i n in re c ent ye ars, h oweve r the c once p t of d e g l oba l i z atio n – the delinkin g of t rade a n d i nve s t me n t – has in c re a si n g ly g ained t ra cti on w ith h ouseholds, c o mp a n i e s, and governments B ut th e ava ilabl e d at a su gge st th at gl o bali z ati o n i s n ot e n ding so much as it i s c h ang i n g N o t to o l o n g a go, it seemed th at th e re we re n o li m its toc i al i n te g ration Fo r d ec ad e s, g l ob a li z ati o n s ben ea nd un a ss a ilabl e The in te rc o nne c te dn e ss o f p ro du cti on , c on sum p tion, a n d i nc o n su me rs with a w ider ran ge of c hoic e s at at t ra ct ive p r ic e s, en a bled co m p an i e s to exp a nd their m a rc i en c y o f their su pp ly c h a i n s G l obal c a pi t al m a rke ts exp and e d acc e ss to c re dit a n d l owe red its c o st fo r p r ivate and publi c bo rrowe rs a l i ke. The wo rl d’s govern m e n ts e n ga ged in wh at se e med to be a se r i e s o f w i n -w in p a r t ner ships. And te ch n ol o g y – in c lu din g , m ost re cent ly, the a cc e le ratin g shift towa rd rem o te wo rk – m ade n ati onal b o rders seem lar ge ly ir rel eva n t

B ut whi l e g l o b a li z ation m ade m a rkets wo rk bet te r, po l i c ym a kers l o st si g ht of its adverse d i s t r ibuti o nal c ons e quen c e s Ma ny co m muniti e s a nd c ou ntr i e s we re l eft behi n d, c on t r i butin g to a wid e sp re ad sens e o f m ar g ina l i z ati o n and al ie nati o n The re su l t was a b ac k l a sh a g ai n st g l o b a li z ation, whose m ost v i sib l e po liti c a l ma n i fe st ati o ns we re the Uni ted Kin gd o m’s vo te to l e ave th e Eu rop e an Union and Don a ld Tru m p’s e l e c tion to the US p re siden c y in 2 0 1 6 Soon, the Un i ted S t ate s h ad en te re d ain g th e d ivide be t ween the t wo e co n o mic p owe rs. We s tern c o n sum e rs, m e a nwhi l e, h ave in c re asin g ly pu sh e d ba c k a g ai n st hu m an - r i g hts viol ators and c oun tr i e s th at h a r m the e nvi ro n m en t And the i nvasi o n of Uk raine has l ed to u np re ceden ted s a n c tions on Russia (a G 2 0 c oun t r y) a nd th e we ap o ni z ati o n of th e in tern ati o n a l p ay m ents s ys te m It fol l ows, then, th at m a ny wou l d c on cl ude th at gl ob a li z ati o n h a s ended. B u t , rath e r than a sharp revers al of the past 3 0 ye ars, it s e ems far m o re l i ke ly th at we a re en te rin g an e ra of f ra gm en te d g l oba l i z ati o n c ha ra c te r ized by substituti o n, n o t n e g ation The san c ti o ns re g ime imposed o n Russia i s a c ase in poin t O ver the p a st ye a r, th e EU - US- l ed re s tr i c ti o ns h ave n o t m ate r i a l ly redu c ed Ru ssi a’s o il exp o r ts but redi re c ted the m e l s ewhe re, p r i m a r i ly to China and Indi a Si m i la rly rather than b r in g ing Russi a’s

e c on o my to its kne e s as m a ny h ad p redi c ted, the c o m p rehe njust 2% , a s Russian te c hn o c rats fou n d ways to reo r ient a nd rewi re b o th do m e sti c and exte rn al a c t iviti e s. Even mo re wo r r yin g ly, Russia a nd so m e o f its

a l l i e s h ave al so m ade p ro g re ss in c re ating so m ewh at of a p a ra ll el c ross - bo rder p ayments a nd se tt l em e nt s ys te m, a l beit a rud i -

Th i s t rend wi ll l i ke ly c onti nue over the n ext few ye a rs, as c o mp a ni e s in c re a sing ly d ive rsi f y th e ir su pp ly chains away f ro m Chin a and a s We s tern gover nme n ts re so r t to n e a r- sho r ing a nd f r ie n d - sho r ing to m a in t ain th e p ro du c tion o f c r iti c a l inputs a nd sensit ive expo r ts I n sho r t , the c ombin ation o f ge opo l iti c a l sh o cks, c orpo rate s t rate g i e s, a nd chan g ing s o c i e t a lve s t ment p at terns a l o ng four m a in a xe s. A s c o m pani e s opt fo r wi ll in c re a sin g ly shift th e ir a pp ro a ch to su pp ly c h a ins f rom “just in time” to “just in c ase ” Th i s wi ll c o me at a time when s ec u r i t y co n c erns g ain g re ate r wei g ht in co mme rc ia l c onside rati o ns, a nd c omp a ni e s wi ll m ove away f ro m r i sk- sha r ing a nd ge ne ra l pa r t ner ships to m o re n a rrowly- d e si g ned ar ran gements Me a nwhi l e, c o n su m ers wi ll i nc re asi n g ly l o o k for a n e mphas i s on purpose in their c omm e rc i al in te ra c tions Whi l e th i s p ro c e ss wil l p rodu c e winn e rs a nd lo s e rs, their id e nt iextent on h ow po l i c ym a ke rs ad a pt to the g l oba l e c ono my s

n ew o p e rating mo d e l Mex ic o, fo r exa mp le , s t ands to g a i n f ro m US f r iend - sh o r in g , as wel l a s th e c or p o rate se c to r s shift c h a ins. Ye t , a s th e Mex i c a n govern m ent itse l f has re c o gni z ed, notion al d e m a nd wi ll de m and un l e ss po l i c ym a ke rs a c cel e rate p ro g re ss o n inf ras t ru c tu re , c l e a n e nerg y, d e re gul ati o n, a nd th e l i ke I n a wo rl d in whi c h h ous eh ol ds a c t ive ly avo id c e r t ain c o m m e rc i al in te ra c ti o ns, govern m ents a nd busin e ss e s w il l need to wo rk h a rd e r to d ev i s e a l tern at ive s. C o m pani e s must wo rk w ith gove rn m ents, b o th at ho me and ab ro ad, to f a c i l it ate the inhe re nt ly tr i c ky p roc e ss o f rew i r ing su pp ly c h a ins a nd to a c c e le rate th e g re e n t ra n siti o n Nati o na l a nd g l oba l

p ol i c y m a kers n e ed to rev i se h ow th ey think and o p e rate And lo n g- te r m i nve s to rs sh ou l d inc o rp o rate mo re soph i sti c ated ge o p ol iti c a l , so c i o po l iti c a l, and e nvi ro nm e n t a l an a lys e s in to their a ll o c ati o n s t rate gi e s Whi le s om e m ay c onsider the ph ra s e “f ra g m e n ted g lo b al i z atio n” an oxy m o ron, I b e li eve it i s the m ost p ro bab le sc e na r i o fo r the g lo b al e co n o my A s th e wo rl d in c re asing ly d ivid e s i n to m ost oth e rs, g lo ba l i z ati o ntion a r y, re du c ing p o te nti a l g row th. Avo iding th i s ou tc om e dep e nds on h ow n ati o na l gove rn m ents a nd mu l til ate ra l inst ituti o ns n avig ate the n ew e c on o mic re a l i t y The wo rl d m ay n o t fu l ly d e g lo ba l i ze , but th at do e s n o t m e a n we sh ou l d as su m e s m o o th sai l ing a h e ad