By this time I am sure you have obtained for yourself a personal bottle of hand sanitiser? You should for one reason -- Ebola! This current outbreak seems to be defying all efforts to control it. While West Africa, and indeed the whole of Africa, is struggling to come to terms with the highly contagious disease, tourism stands as the first casualty in the line of industries affected.
The potential effect of the Ebola Virus disease on the already soft Ghanaian economy could be severe. It is in view of this that Business & Financial Times and Dalex Finance supported by UNICEF Ghana have launched the Ebola Education Fund to raise private sector money for a nationwide education campaign.
The initial target of the Ebola Education Fund is GH₵1millionm and this is expected to be raised from organisations and individuals that do not engage in activities detrimental to public health such as child labour, manufacture and sale of tobacco products, manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, and manufacture and sale of baby food.
The nationwide education will be carried on radio and television as well as in newspapers and by mobile phone text messages, posters and handbills. The education campaign will enlighten the public on preventive measures and symptoms of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, and how any suspected case should be handled.
Mrs. Edith Dankwa, Chief Executive Officer of Business & Financial Times, stated that “as partners of this initiative, we are motivated by our concern for the well-being of the Ghanaian populace and the grave implications an Ebola Virus Disease outbreak could have on businesses in the country. This is a call to action and we are fully involved as a responsive media organisationâ€Â.
Ms. Susan Namondo Ngongi, Country Representative of UNICEF noted: “We are happy to partner this laudable private sector initiative to raise money for Ebola education in Ghanaâ€Â.
The Ebola Education Fund will have an initial mandate of 60 days and may be continued for an additional 30-day period and thereafter for 30 days in each instance of an extension. Upon the completion of the education campaign, the Fund shall cease to exist after the accounts have been audited. All unused funds shall be donated to the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital in Accra; the Children’s Ward of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi; the Children’s Ward of the Tamale Teaching Hospital; and the Children’s Ward of the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho to undertake clearly defined priority projects or procure vital equipment to support healthcare delivery.
In Ghana a number of flights and international conferences have already been cancelled. Tour operators such as Land Tours, Sunseekers and Apstar Tours have reported that tour packages have been withdrawn for fear of Ebola. These run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Airlines, car rentals, hotels, restaurants and other hospitality outlets are looking at a gloomy picture if this trend continues -- plus the fact that when the macro-economic environment itself is struggling, tourism tends to struggle along with it. Today, we examine the general economic situation in West Africa vis-a-vis the Ebola scourge, reports Kofi AKPABLI.
The rush for energy resources in some West African countries is leading an infrastructure boom accompanied by rising consumer markets and positive development trends.
Peace efforts and political stabilisation have led to this economic growth and regional integration, but terrorist groups and organised crime networks still present major challenges.
West Africa’s biggest short-term challenge is dealing with the world’s worst outbreak in history of the deadly Ebola virus disease. More than 1,013 people have died and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared spread of the virus an international health emergency.
The latest outbreak started in February 2014 and is affecting people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. So far, 1,848 cases of the highly contagious disease have been reported.
The most affected countries are increasingly isolated, with substantial cuts in international flights and cross-border commerce. Land frontiers are being closed.
Key-sectors like tourism, mining and oil, which depend on foreign investment and have substantial numbers of foreign workers, are severely affected.
The Ebola outbreak cost Liberia`s economy US$12million between March and June 2014 -- two percent of its national budget according to official sources.
But West Africa is also a symbol of success. Cape Verde, Ghana and Senegal stand as African models of democracy. Liberia has recovered following a long-running and violent civil war.
Ivory Coast, the world`s leading cocoa producer, is now stable. Its former President Laurent Gbagbo was formally accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Sierra Leone registered a 20.1 percent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013, just 12 years after the end of a war fuelled by blood-diamonds.
And Nigeria has overtaken South Africa to become Africa’s biggest economy. West Africa’s economic growth is being driven by untapped natural resources, political stabilisation, regional integration and an expanding consumer class.
It will be the fastest-growing region in 2014-2015, according to the African Economic Outlook annual report, with growth estimated between 6.7 and 7.4 percent.
China has become a major investor and the first trading partner for many West African countries over the last 14 years. The European Union has signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with 15 West African states in a strategic move for Brussels. West Africa represents 40 percent of the total trade between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions.
West Africa is becoming a major oil supplier, especially for Western countries. The oil rush started seven years ago following significant offshore discoveries in Ghana, although the first explorations date back to the 1950s.
The region`s stake in global oil production has attracted major Western oil companies because of its geographic proximity, high quality fuels and relatively barrier-free markets.
Political stability and cheaper and improved exploration technology have seen countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mauritania and Chad emerge as oil producers.
West Africa is also rich in mineral deposits, especially gold and iron. Global demand for iron ore is expected to double by 2030, driven by demand in expanding market economies like China and India.
Significant iron ore deposits discovered in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mauritania, Ivory Coast and Cameroon have given the region a new mining boom that is boosting investment in infrastructure -- railway construction and ports -- to transport ore from the mines for export.
Agriculture, retail and services are also growing sectors -- increasing employment which is crucial for political stability, economic growth and reducing poverty. A rising consumer market in Ghana, Gabon, Nigeria and Senegal is being driven by an emerging urban middle-class.
The 15 countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have a population of more than 300 million including Nigeria, Africa`s economic and demographic giant.
The region expects to see its urban population increase by 56 million by 2020. Urban growth is concentrated along the region’s coastline in cities like Abidjan, Accra, Lagos, and Dakar.
But the old threats to stability, such as high poverty rates and political differences, persist along with new security risks such as petro-piracy.
Large-scale smuggling and illegal markets are flourishing. Piracy and trafficking generates considerable annual income for non-state armed groups like al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO).
The Ebola outbreak is compromising economic growth prospects in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Both governments have declared a state of emergency and closed schools and markets.
Organisations can make donations for the Ebola Education Fund to account number 076001447767102, which has been opened with the Abeka Lapaz Branch of Ecobank Ghana (account name: BFT Ebola Education Fund).
[email protected]
Kofi Akpabli is author of Tickling the Ghanaian- Encounters with Contemporary Culture and A Sense of Savannah-Tales of a Friendly Walk through Northern Ghana
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