The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ghana

  • Association urges FG to formulate artists’ policies

    The African Arts and Cultural Heritage Association (AACHA), has called on the Federal Government to formulate policies that would guide the operation of artists in Nigeria.

    Mr Kennedy Eguakun, the Public Relations Officer of AACHA told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that such policies would improve the country’s economic growth.

    Eguakun also called on the government to provide a conducive environment that would make artworks thrive in the country.

    He noted that the art sector in Nigeria had not been fully developed due to the concentration on the oil sector by the government.

    “The art sector of the nation’s economy has not been tapped into even up to 20 per cent.

    “Look at Ghana and Kenya for instance, these countries depend much on tourism, they don’t really have many natural resources like Nigeria.

    “But they are doing well with the tourism sector because tourism works hand in hand with art and craft,” he said.

    He added that fusing the art and craft industry with tourism would improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

    He, however, called for a policy that would assist to boost the sector using art and crafts.

    “Aside oil, art and craft will also be generating money for Nigeria.

    “It is a known fact that oil will one day dry up but art and craft will never dry up because it has something to do with the human instinct” he said.

     

  • Five exotic places Nigerians can visit in Ghana

    Five exotic places Nigerians can visit in Ghana

    Ghana is like second home to Nigerians, just like Nigeria is same to Ghanaians. Both countries and its citizens share some common affinities. If you’re planning to travel from Nigeria to Ghana or you haven’t decided which African country to visit, you should try shooting your best shot at Ghana. There are lots of exciting places to visit in this country such as its castles, and forts used during the slave trade. There is also the less travelled Volta region.

    Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 5 exciting places to visit when in Ghana.

    Elmina & St. George’s Castle

    If you’re enthusiastic about fishing or knowing the story of slave trade in the country, this castle is a good place for fishing and learning about their history. It is synonymous to Nigeria’s slave trade in Badagry. The castle is not too far from Cape Coast. According to history, the castle was built by the Portugese in 1842 but was later taken over by the Dutch some 150 years later. There are tour guides at the castle and a small museum.

    Kumasi

    Kumasi is located at the southern-central Ghana and it’s the second largest city. The Ashantis who are famous artisans domicile mostly in Kumasi. They are famous for making gold jewelry and trinkets around the world. Surprisingly, the king of Ashanti is always enthusiastic to meet visitors every 42 days. When you are in Kumasi, make effort to visit the Kejetia market where they make Kente clothings.

    Busua Beach

    This is one of the best beaches in Ghana. It is a large and modern hotel with dining facilities, pool and chalets. There are lots of low and high budget hotels located along the beach. The bar and restaurant of the hotels serve excellent French foods. It is a great place to relax, paddle around in the Atlantic and enjoy some lobsters.

    Volta Lake

    If you enjoy visiting a lake, doing boat rides and all, Volta Lake is your best choice. It’s the largest man-made lake in the entire world. The entire length of the lake takes about 24 hours to complete. Although, there are smaller ferry services on the lake. Bookings can be made through the Volta Lake Transport Company. When on the boat, you will have some livestock and vegetables to share the ride with.

    Accra, Ghana’s Capital

    Accra is the capital of Ghana with over 2 million residents. It’s a mixture of shanty towns, castle and lively markets and modern buildings. There are a lot of attractions in the city such as the National Museum which showcases the country’s culture and history; Makola market, a colourful and blissful market where you can shop for everything and anything; and some fantastic beaches.

     

     

  • Enugu farmers lament scarcity, high cost of cassava

    Farmers in Enugu State on Wednesday lamented the acute scarcity and high cost of cassava stems for this year’s cultivation.

    The farmers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the scarcity had become a source of concern to cassava farmers in the state.

    A big-time cassava farmer, Mr Onyekwere Ikem, said that getting cassava stems for cultivation had never been a problem before now.

    Ikem said that before now, all one had to do was ask a friend or neighbour for some stems to cultivate.

    “The stems are hardly sold in the market because people are always ready to provide it for whoever cares to have it.

    “However, because of its scarcity, people have started to hoard it and will rather prefer to sell it in the market than give it out due to its high price,’’ Ikem said.

    Mr Obiora Ugwu, another cassava farmer, said he had gone from house to house, and from farmer to farmer in his quest to get cassava stems to plant.

    “This is unbelievable, I have been searching for cassava stems from one farmer to another and from house to house so that I can have enough to cultivate, but to no avail.

    “I was able to get a few bundles which will not be enough for me because my plan is to have much cassava next year,’’ the farmer said.

    Ugwu said it was hard to explain why the stems had become so scarce.

    A seller of cassava flakes, otherwise called “Garri’’ in local parlance, Miss Ebere Ekwo, said that if the scarcity of cassava stems persisted it would increase the price of commodity next year.

    Garri is a popular West African food made from cassava tubers. The spelling ‘garri’ is mainly used in Cameroon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin, Togo and ‘gari’ in Ghana. In some sub-Saharan regions of Africa, it is referred to as ‘gali’.

    Ekwo said that farmers who were desperate to get the stems now bought from markets at high price so as to have some to cultivate.

    Another farmer, Madam Ego Ibezim, said that a bundle of cassava stems which formerly sold between N300 and N400 now went for between N1000 to N1, 500 at the rural markets in Enugu.

    Mr Azubike Okoye, a cassava farmer, expressed fear that the situation might result in poor or low yields and late harvest in the year.

    Okoye called on the State Ministry of Agriculture to come to the aid of farmers by providing them cassava stems at subsidised rates.

     

  • WHO unveils new malaria vaccine to be piloted in three African countries

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday unveiled a new malaria vaccine called RTS,S that will be piloted in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi next year to gauge its efficacy and safety.

    The WHO Regional Director for Africa,  Matshidiso Moeti, said the launch of the malaria vaccine, developed after years of painstaking research, marked a critical milestone in the fight against the tropical disease.

    The director added that “the prospect of a malaria vaccine is great news. Information gathered in the pilot programme will help us make decisions on the wider use of this vaccine.

    “Combined with existing malaria interventions, such a vaccine would have the potential to save tens of thousands of lives in Africa.”

    Moeti explained that developed through a public-private partnership, RTS,S malaria vaccine was recommended by a scientific panel appointed by the WHO to gauge its efficacy.

    The selection of Kenya, Ghana and Malawi to participate in the malaria vaccine pilot programme was based on their well-laid structures to fight the disease alongside high prevalence levels.

    The WHO director noted that RTS,S vaccine would complement existing interventions like drugs, indoor spraying and treated nets to vanquish the malaria-causing parasite that transmitted by mosquitoes.

    “We require new diagnostics, more effective anti-malarial drugs and new chemical formulations to prevent insecticide resistance to win the war against malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Moeti said.

    She said the UN Health agency had mobilised funds to support implementation of the initial phase of the malaria vaccine pilot programme that covers 2017-2020.

    She said “the vaccine would be assessed as a complementary intervention in Africa that could be added to our existing toolbox of proven preventive, diagnostic and treatment measures.”

    She added that the Sub-Saharan African region prevented an estimated 6.8 million malaria deaths between 2001 and 2015, thanks to political goodwill and robust financing toward prevention and treatment tools.

    WHO statistics show that in 2015, 13 out of 15 countries accounting for 80 per cent of global malaria burden were in Africa.

    The Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, Pedro Alonso, urged African governments to scale up investments in proven interventions like insecticide treated nets, indoor spraying and medicines to reduce malaria infections and deaths.

    “We have highly efficacious prevention and treatment options that should be scaled up to eliminate malaria in high endemic African countries,” said Alonso.

    He said the initial pilot programme of the RTS,S malaria vaccine would target 700,000 African children.

    Kenya’s cabinet Secretary for Health, Cleopa Mailu, hailed the launch of the malaria vaccine, saying it would accelerate progress toward eliminating the disease.

  • Ghana, Kenya, Malawi to pilot world’s first malaria vaccine in 2018 – WHO

    Ghana, Kenya and Malawi will pilot the world’s first malaria vaccine from 2018, offering it for babies and children in high-risk areas as part of real-life trials.

    The World Health Organisation said in a staatement on Monday that the injectable vaccine is called “Mosquirix”.

    The WHO said the vaccines was developed by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to protect children from the most deadly form of malaria in Africa.

    In clinical trials it proved only partially effective, and it needs to be given in a four-dose schedule, but is the first regulator-approved vaccine against the mosquito-borne disease.

    The WHO, which is in the process of assessing whether to add the shot to core package of WHO-recommended measures for malaria prevention, has said it first wants to see the results of on-the-ground testing in a pilot programme.

    “Information gathered in the pilot will help us make decisions on the wider use of this vaccine,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO African regional director, said in a statement as the three pilot countries were announced.

    “Combined with existing malaria interventions, such a vaccine would have the potential to save tens of thousands of lives in Africa.”

    Malaria kills around 430,000 people a year, the vast majority of them babies and young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Global efforts in the last 15 years cut the malaria death toll by 62 per cent between 2000 and 2015.

    The WHO pilot programme will assess whether the Mosquirix’s protective effect in children aged five to 17 months can be replicated in real-life.

    It will also assess the feasibility of delivering the four doses needed, and explore the vaccine’s potential role in reducing the number of children killed by the disease.

    The WHO said Malawi, Kenya and Ghana were chosen for the pilot due to several factors, including having high rates of malaria as well as good malaria programmes, wide use of bed-nets, and well-functioning immunisation programmes.

    The UN organisation said each of the three countries will decide on the districts and regions to be included in the pilots.

    It also said high malaria areas will get priority since these are where experts expect to see most benefit from the use of the vaccine.

    “Mosquirix” was developed by GSK in partnership with the non-profit PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and part-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

    The WHO said in November it had secured full funding for the first phase of the drugs pilots.

    The organisation said the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis would provide 15 million dollars and up to 27.5 million dollars and 9.6 million dollars respectively from the Global Vaccine Alliance and UN global health initiative for the first four years of the programme.

  • Ambode calls for political reformation in Africa

    Ambode calls for political reformation in Africa

     

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday called for collaboration among political leaders in Africa to reform political process for development and economic transformation of the continent.

    Ambode, represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, made the call at the 2nd African Political Summit organised by the Association of Political Consultants in Africa (APCA) in Lagos.

    The theme of the summit is: “Democracy and Political Consultancy.’’

    “The nature of politics in Africa has for long been a source of grave concern to those who are genuinely interested in taking Africa to its rightful position in the mainstream global system.

    “It is in our best interest and in the interest of our democracy to reform our political process and enhance the engagement of the electorate in the democratic process for credibility and transparency.

    “The resultant effect will be effective leadership for transformative growth and development,’’ Ambode said.

    Also, Mr Benjamin Eisenberg, a Political Consultant based in U.S, said that professionalising politics was the only way for democracy to succeed in Africa.

    Eisenberg said that the recent elections in Ghana and Gambia showed that democracy was growing and political processes in Africa were becoming encouraging and there was need to intensify the reformation.

    “This conference will avail us the opportunity to discuss better ways of training campaign managers to organise voters and help the people to get a better understanding of politics.

    “Professionalising  politics in Africa will enhance moving to issue-based campaign instead of ethnic or tribal politics,’’ he said.

    In a goodwill message, Mr Kipngeno Dunchi, a representative from Kenya, said that there was the need for African countries to reform their political practices for the growth of democracy.

    “We shall be exchanging ideas on how we can really democratise Africa and ensure that our political system has a stronger ballot which will decide the leadership.

    “When we make politics a profession in Africa, we will likely see more people with genuine interest engaging in politics and political affairs will be properly managed,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Mr Kehinde Bamgbetan, the Chairman of APCA, said that the way politics was practised in Africa, with poor campaign processes, poor financing, poor mobilisation, violence, fear and anxiety called for concern.

    Bamgbetan said that politics in Nigeria and Africa was negatively affecting the growth of democracy.

    “APCA seeks to redefine the way politics is played in Africa.

    “We need to emulate advanced countries where politics is characterised with healthy rivalry and scientific approach.

    “We can achieve such in Nigeria and Africa by following scientific pattern of politics to enhance political practice with healthy competition and reduce corruption in politics for the good of the people,’’ he said

     

  • African fashion market hits $31bn – Europe

    African fashion market hits $31bn – Europe

    The founder, Africa Fashion Week London/Nigeria Ronke Ademiluyi says that the annual turnover from African fashion in Europe is about $31 billion.

    Ademiluyi, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos said that African designers are very creative which made their work to stand out.

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    “The African fashion industry has according to the Euro monitor is worth $31 billion, annually and it is still growing.

    “A lot of big brands like the Swedish IKIA are doing a flagship collection of African furniture and require many African designers to work with them.

    “So for me, I think it’s a new revolution of African fashion it’s not going anywhere, it’s here to stay, our colours are vibrant and bold and everybody loves them so it’s a worldwide revolution.

    “The first year we had 53 designers from across Africa and 4, 500 visitors, and it’s been growing every year, it’s the biggest platform in the UK and Europe that promotes African fashion.

    “Every year we have about 20, 000 visitors who attend we have designers from various African countries, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, from all over the world.

    “They come and they experience the latest fashion out of Africa.’’

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    She said that the recently concluded 2017 Africa Fashion Week, Nigeria “The Iconic Catwalk Show”, was a boost for Nigerian prints, fashion display and iconic sites to the world.

    NAN reports that the 2017 fashion week had in attendance over 10 fashion designers from Nigeria, Cameroon and Zimbabwe who presented models that showcased their creativeness in catwalks.

    Some of the designers included Vonnie Couture, Yikodeen (footwear), Valery Royal (Cameroon), Nyaradzai (Zimbabwe) and Telvin Nwafor.

    The highlight was the cultural show by Lixi Cardow, a fashion designer who displayed designs made from ABC fabrics (local Ankara) in various styles.

  • Expert advice artisans to embrace micro pension scheme

    A financial expert, Mr Mufutau Oyegunle, on Wednesday advised Nigerians in the informal sector to embrace the micro pension contributory scheme being developed by National Pension Commission (PenCom).

    Oyegunle told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the scheme, which would begin in 2017, would enable them develop saving culture and live better at old age.

    He urged artisans such as tailors, plumbers, vulcanisers, mechanics, hairdressers and others to key into the scheme.

    The expert said that the scheme was not particularly new as it was being successfully practised in India, Kenya, Ghana and other countries.

    “Those who think they are unable to save due to low income will still find it difficult to save when they have more because saving requires discipline.
    “If you can’t save N10, you can’t save a billion.

    “If you think your fund is too small to save, you may not save when you have it increased by 10 million folds.

    “This is the fundamental principle when it comes to money. So, no amount is too small to be saved,” he said.

    Oyegunle, who is the Managing Director of LAKEG Insurance, said PenCom had targeted over 50 million workers in the informal sector for the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) using the Micro Pension initiative.

    “The commission expects to get at least 20 million savers in the informal sector into the scheme in the next four years,” he said

     

  • Ghanaian President names new central bank governor

    Ghanaian President names new central bank governor

    Three months after he was inaugurated, President Nana Akufo-Addo has appointed a new governor for Ghana’s Central Bank.

    He is Mr Ernest Addison, an Economist. He takes over from Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku, who tendered his resignation from the bank on March 29 about 11 months after being appointed.

    According to a statement by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications in the Presidency, the president after received the outgoing governor’s letter decided to appoint a replacement.

    The incoming governor had served as Director of Research in the bank between 2003 and 2011 and Chief Economist for the West Africa Monetary Institute from 2001 to 2002.

    Until his appointment , he was a leading regional economist of the African Development Bank at its Southern Africa Resource Centre.

     

  • West African entrepreneurs collaborate to enhance trade, create jobs

    Young entrepreneurs from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone have come together to form a new network aimed at addressing challenges to sub-regional trade and youth unemployment in West Africa.

    The group, the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs – West Africa (CAYE-WA) was inaugurated on Wednesday in Accra, Ghana, according to a statement from Mr Will Henley, the media contact at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

    The network aims to support youth business leaders to expand cross-border trading opportunities.It would also provide a platform for recommendations to policy-makers to improve access to capital and markets, overcome barriers for business and enhance entrepreneurship education.

    The event, which launched the group, was hosted by the Ghanaian Governmen

    Mr Isaac Asiamah, Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports noted that its launch was “most welcome at this time when most African governments are seeking innovative ways of solving the youth unemployment crisis’’.

    Asiamah said that the group would develop the skills, creativity, innovation, knowledge and confidence of young entrepreneurs.

    According to him, it will also enhance the social, political and economic integration of youth in the sub-region through peer to peer learning and networking.

    “The Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs, West Africa has come at an opportune time to help the youth develop their capacities and support them to contribute to the sustainable development of their respective countries,” he said.

    The Director of Youth at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Katherine Ellis commended the establishment of CAYE-WA, recognising that it would help drive trade and give young entrepreneurs a stronger voice with policy-makers.

    “This initiative will help position entrepreneurship as a credible career choice, and ensure that young entrepreneurs have the access and tools to be successful, create jobs, and contribute to development and economic growth,” Ellis said.

    She further said the initiative was directly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “This includes SDG Goal 8, aimed at achieving sustained and inclusive employment and economic growth.

    “It will also contribute toward SDG 16 which is focused on promoting peaceful societies for sustainable development.

    “Going forward, we plan to connect the young entrepreneurs with their colleagues around the Commonwealth.

    “This is so that we can foster and increase trade between all our countries,” she added.

    Mr Bernard Takyi from Entrepreneurs Club in Ghana, who was elected as the inaugural Regional Coordinator of CAYE-WA, noted that entrepreneurship was a sustainable way to eradicate poverty.

    Takyi added that part of the aims of CAYE-WA was to partner with government and other strategic partners to advance youth entrepreneurship in West Africa.

    “I hope that one day, I will be able to travel to Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone, or any other country in the Commonwealth of Nations, and meet young entrepreneurs who are members of CAYE.”

    Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri, Chief Executive of Ghana National Youth Authority noted that youth development was key to nation building.

    “Without young people’s ideas and skills, we would be missing the best hope for our current development and the future.”

    He also urged the young entrepreneurs to use the SDGs as a platform to “generate more innovation and creativity”.

    Representatives from government, the private sector and Civil Society Organisations were on hand to endorse the creation of CAYE-WA.

    CAYE-WA was modeled on existing Commonwealth networks in Asia, the Caribbean, and East and Southern Africa, which were all founded with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

    As early actions, CAYE-WA plans to launch a speaker series across all member nations and provide role models and mentoring to young entrepreneurs.

    It would also facilitate bilateral and multilateral trade missions by young entrepreneurs to open markets and develop a joint policy statement and recommendations for engagement with governments regarding entrepreneurship policy.

    It will further build the number of organisations and networks of young entrepreneurs which are members of CAYE-WA as well as create a Pan-African Young Entrepreneurs Summit.