A new organic compost -- Biochar -- to improve on the yields of agri-businesses as well as reduce the poverty rate in the north has been introduced to farmers. Biochar is a natural fertiliser made from rice-husk, chicken manure and charcoal, which is mixed to form compost with no chemicals applied to it. It is organic compost that does not contain any poisonous chemical and has no side-effects on the crops. Rather, it drives away pests and the land can be used the following year without more fertiliser. The project to introduce the fertiliser, which started in 2011, has made lots of impact because it has a component that holds water and contains nutrients needed by the plants to grow well. Mrs. Kathrin Roessler, a scientist from the Free University of Berlin, Germany, where the fertiliser was developed, told the B&FT in an interview that research has shown that soil fertility in the three northern regions has decreased, making it difficult to harvest well every year. She noted that with the use of the fertiliser, plant nutrients hardly wash away and the leaves of the plants also look greenish and healthier. According to her, the project is done annually with free distribution of the fertilisers to farmers. She stressed that annual data is collected to ascertain the impact of the fertiliser and how to improve on it. She encouraged farming unions to join to make the project a success and ensure good yields annually. The B&FT visited some of the beneficiary farms and observed that they had been divided into two: one part where Biochar had been applied and resulted in good greenish leaves, and the less verdant part where the fertiliser had not been applied. Mr. Peter Billa, Project Coordinator of the Abokobi Society of Switzerland in Tamale, said the organisation sponsors the project and educates farmers on how to apply the fertiliser to help achieve its purpose. He said 20 farmers benefitted from the project last year, and they hope to assist 120 farmers next season. He said the organisation further inspects the farms of the beneficiaries to ensure that the right thing is done to prevent any problems to the farmer and the crops. Mr. Yussif Hamza, a beneficiary who the B&FT met on the field, commended the organisation for the kind gesture, saying the fertiliser has made them harvest about 10 bags of maize this year as compared to the previous year, when he harvested about four 4-5 bags. Some of the beneficiaries included Maltiti Farmers Union, Tungteya Farmers Union, Suguru Viella Women, Franz Zemps Neighbourhood Farmers, Taimako Farmers Union, Karaga Framers Union, Nyon Farmers Union, Presbyterian COG Mile 7, SARI, as well as five 2012 Best Tamale Women Farmers.     By Samuel SAM, Karaga

The Koforidua circuit court yesterday heard a chilling story of how two men said to be members of a gang of robbers that has been terrorising doctors of the Koforidua Medical Village locked up some of the doctors in their rooms and raped their female guests. The two - Samuel Kwame Akwetey (alias Agbeko) and Isaac Agomor - after satisfying themselves, called Gideon Boateng, one of their accomplices, who came in his vehicle and carted away a number of stolen items belonging to the doctors. The other members of the gang said to be responsible for a spate of armed robberies in other parts of the New Juaben Municipality are Godwin Ametorwu, Charles Awuku and Muhamed Zibo who, together with Boateng, were said to be accomplices. The six have been charged with conspiracy, rape, and armed robbery and dishonestly receiving and made their maiden appearance at the court a couple of days ago, but have again been remanded in custody to re-appear on February 17. Another person alleged to be a member of the gang, Harrison Ofori,is currently on the run. The adjournment is to enable the police ample time to complete their investigations. The prosecutor, Mrs Emily Addo Okyireh, a Chief State Attorney, pleaded with the court to give the police a few days to complete their investigations. Presenting what she referred to as a brief fact of the case, Mrs Addo Okyireh told the crowded court, presided over by Mr Ebenezer Osei, that on December 22, 2012 at about 1.30 a.m. while the doctors were asleep, Akwetey, Agomor (alias Baba), Ametorwu and Harrison, armed with a pistol and machetes, broke through the windows and attacked the doctors. She said they locked up the doctors in different rooms after which Akwetey and Agomor raped their female guests. Mrs Addo Okyireh stated that the robbers then called Gideon Boateng, who came in his Toyota Corolla saloon car, with registration number GE 2882- 12, to cart away the booty, made up of various items and cash. She further told the court that on January 23, this year (2014), a good Samaritan spotted Akwetey in the business area of Koforidua and caused his arrest. Akwetey, the prosecutor stated, during police interrogation, mentioned Agomor,Ametorwu and Harrison as other accomplices, as well as Awuku and Zibo who, he said, received the stolen items. Mrs Addo Okyireh said a number of items such as a pistol, belonging to one of the doctors, laptops, a DSTV decorder, 21 wax prints, which had been identified by some of their victims as theirs, had been retrieved from the gang. A car jack, two machetes and an industrial cutter suspected to have been used by the robbers in their operations have also been retrieved.  

  Women who collect and sell shea-nuts at Tamaligu -- a farming community in the Savelugu-Nanton District of the Northern Region -- have returned to active business after it slowed down drastically for several years. According to the farmers, the road they use to transport the nuts deteriorated and virtually becomes unmotorable during the rainy season, making their work difficult. This particular stretch of road is a 4.5km feeder road that links the community to Kukuobila, another town in the district that is located off the Tamale-Bolgatanga highway. Luckily for the women and the entire village, the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) intervened and awarded the road on contract for rehabilitation. The NRGP is an eight-year agricultural project jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Ghana, and is being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). Following completion of rehabilitation works on the feeder-road the women are happily back in business, and have begun transporting several bags of shea-nuts to market centres. Mma Azara Issah, one of the shea-nut collectors, said because the road has been put in good shape, buyers now prefer bringing their trucks to the village to buy the nuts. “So we do not even go to the market because they come here for the nuts,” she said, adding that it has made life easier for them and their families.   Mma Azara is the second wife of her husband and has seven children, the youngest of which is three. She said apart from the two older ones, the rest are in school and that she supports her husband in the upkeep of the home from the income she makes in her business. Each year, she is able to gather about 80 bags of shea-nuts, which she buys from other women in the community who go into the bush to pick the nuts. “Last year, we sold a bag of shea-nuts at between GH¢25 and GH¢40. Even though this is not so good, it is better than nothing,” she said. In addition to the shea-nut business, Mma Azara also cultivates maize, groundnuts and soya beans on a three-acre land. “I use the maize and some of the soya beans and groundnuts to feed the family and sell the rest.” The leader of women in the community, Mma Lamisi Yakubu -- also known as the “magazia”, said the rehabilitation of the road has not only improved their shea-nut business but also improved their well-being. “When the road was bad, travelling to Kukuobila was very difficult. Anytime somebody was sick, we had to put the person on a bicycle and push it through the muddy road to get to Kukuobila before we could get a car,” she lamented. “Now, we use motorbikes without any difficulty; and when we need cars, they come into the village without hesitation,” she further stated. Mma Lamisi commended the NRGP and the government for rehabilitating the road.She however entreated government to extend electricity to the community and thus enable them to establish a grinding mill. “With a grinding mill, we can also process the shea-nuts into oil and butter,” she said. The rehabilitation of feeder roads linking farming communities is part of the infrastructural component of the NRGP. The other components are focused on strengthening commodity value-chains, providing matching grants to farmers for equipment purchase, and building the capacity of financial institutions to provide financial services to actors in the value-chains. From Samuel SAM, Tamaligu

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on government to convene a meeting of the National Tripartite Committee to discuss the TUC's proposal for upward adjustment of the Daily Minimum Wage without any further delay. The TUC says: "Given the hardship facing the working people of the country, it is unthinkable that government can even contemplate a wage freeze in the public sector." The Union believes once consultation on the national minimum wage is concluded, the negotiation for review of the base pay and relativity on the Single Spine Salary Structure will commence. "A significant upward adjustment of wages is required to cushion workers from the current economic hardship. Workers of Ghana have been stretched to the limit; we cannot contain any further burden imposed on workers due to economic mismanagement," the TUC proffered. These and other pertinent economic discussions formed the basis of a statement released to all media houses on the general economic situation in the country. The TUC noted in the statement that since 2005, the Union and civil society organisations have made annual submissions on the economic and social policies for consideration of the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the annual budget statement. "At the heart of all our submissions has been the call for a national dialogue and consensus building on the nature of an economic policy and economic management that can create employment and reduce poverty which has afflicted millions of Ghanaians." However, the TUC says managers of the economy have chosen to ignore their advice and other brilliant suggestions put forward by civil society. It accuses government of relying on advice from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Thus in the last three decades, the Union says, economic policy has been heavy neo-liberal in character: privatisation of strategic national assets, unbridled liberalisation of international trade, and the ruthless deployment of market forces as evidenced by the removal of subsidies on utilities and fuel. "These bad economic policy choices have been exacerbated by pervasive corruption, cronyism, incompetence, and extreme partisanship," the statement stated. The Union says views are converging that the economy is failing or has failed, and that times are really hard for Ghanaians. The statement further went on to say that out of desperation, government has now resorted to increases in VAT -- which is a well-known regressive form of taxation. On the issue of the local currency’s sliding value, the Union puts the blame squarely on the policy of unbridled trade liberalization -- or more appropriately, import liberalisation -- which has compelled the nation to virtually live on imports. "Our increasing appetite for imports means that our demand for foreign currency, particularly the US dollar, is growing exponentially." The problem, it notes, has been compounded by the over-liberalisation of our external payment system; thus allowing for transfer of foreign currency of any amounts out of the country by foreign companies operating in Ghana. The TUC shares the view that dollarisation of the economy is partly to blame for the current messy situation, but it equally accuses government of being most guilty since state agencies like the Tema Development Corporation sell land at dollar-indexed prices. These and a raft of other anomalies cited by the Union account for the situation the economy finds itself in today. The Union agrees that there is no easy solution to the current situation, but believes the country requires immediate short-term remedial measures to ameliorate the plight of Ghanaians. First, it wants government to roll-back some of the taxes; second, government must re-introduce subsidies on utilities and fuel, and rid government machinery of corruption and corrupt elements. By Konrad Kodjo Djaisi

Minister of Energy Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah says government is determined to ensure that challenges within the power sector are brought under control. According to the Minister, the annual energy demand which stands at 12 percent -- up from 10 percent-- presents enormous challenges which must be tackled head-on if the country is to attain a marked level of development. Mr. Buah was speaking at the inauguration of the boards of the Bui Power Authority and the Energy Commission yesterday at the Ministry. Chairman of the Bui Power Authority, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, said the board will ensure the 400 megawatt facility's contribution to the country's energy supply is enhanced. "We will put in efficient operation capacity so the nation benefits from its investment," Mr. Nketiah said after being sworn in. He said government must harness the capacity of the artisans used in construction of the dam for other hydroelectric dam projects, rather than allow such expertise to dissipate. Other members of the board include Theresa Nyarko-Fofie, Kwame Twum Boafo, Joseph Akati Saaka, Kwasi Agyeman Gyan-Tutu, Dr. Kofi Nketsia Afful and Jabesh Ammissah Arthur. President John Mahama last year inaugurated the US$622million Bui Hydroelectric Dam, which will contribute a further 400MW to the country’s energy supply. The Minister also inaugurated a six-member board of the Energy Commission headed by Dr. Kwame Ampofo. The other members of the board are Dr. Syvana Rudith King, Innocent K.A. Akwayena, Dr. Isaac F. Mensa-Bonsu, Stephen Duodu and Dr. Ofosu Ahenkorah. By Richard Annerquaye Abbey

The 18th International Trade Fair, which is expected to be patronised by over 500 exhibitors and attract 250,000 visitors, has been launched. The fair, from 27th Feb to 3rd March, will focus on development through trade and investment, and will look at showcasing innovative initiatives from Ghana to the rest of the world. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC), Nana Kwame Ofori Amanfo, said the fair will give people from all over the world an opportunity to converge and trade in Ghana with their Ghanaian counterparts. “It will also give Ghanaian businesses opportunity to show the rest of the world what they also have to offer, and to look for partners in various market jurisdictions. “The International Trade Fair remains the only fair that gives Ghanaian businesses the opportunity to come face to face with their old and prospective clients both within and outside the country, as well as business partners and investors.” Mr. Amanfo said fairs are not only meant for businesses to sell their products, but rather to build networks with other businesses and partners. “Our marketing objective is to rebrand the focus of the International Trade Fair on the platform of being an exhibition and not mainly a sales point.” He therefore advised business people to use the platform to create more business networks with foreign partners. He said this year’s fair will promote made-in-Ghana goods and services as well as create and build awareness for the local businesses. He said the frequency of organising domestic, regional and international fairs has enabled the company to expose available domestic products and services to the international market. Through this, the G.T.F.C. facilitates the creation of export trade linkages between Ghanaian businesses and their foreign counterparts. In addition, he said, the fairs offer local businesses the opportunity to assess, evaluate and appreciate product-quality standards required by foreign markets, and hence encourage exporters to improve on the quality and standards of their products and services so that they can effectively compete on foreign markets. By Benson AFFUL

Businesses in the country have not made the most of the enormous opportunities that the United States government’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) presents, Haruna Iddrisu, Trade and Industry Minister, has said. AGOA is the US government’s trade initiative with 39 sub-Saharan African countries. There are over 7,000 products that are available under the AGOA and Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) list to enter the United States duty-free. The programme has spurred the export of processed agricultural products, manufactured goods, apparel and footwear from qualifying nations. However, the country, according to the Trade Minister, “has not made the most of the existing AGOA opportunity”. Compared to peer-countries, Ghana’s exports to the US under AGOA have not been significant. In 2012, the country exported US$245million under AGOA to the US, which was only one-quarter of Côte d’Ivoire’s exports of US$995million. Kenya, an economy that is about the same size as Ghana’s, exported US$355million in the period. In the first 11 months of 2013, Ghana’s export value was US$293million, compared to Côte d’Ivoire’s US$805million and Kenya’s US$384million. Ghana’s exports have also fallen from a peak of US$748million in 2011. Mr. Iddrisu made his comments at a stakeholder forum on the National Crusade Against Trade in Pirated Ghanaian Textile Designs and Trademarks held in Accra. The forum was attended by textile producers, retailers, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Immigration Service, and other stakeholders to fashion out ways of addressing the nagging issue. The Minister described the influx of copied local textile designs as a “threat to the national textile industry”, which also presents an imminent national crisis that must be dealt with in all its facets. Takoradi Port was in 2006 designated as the only entry point for the importation of textiles. However, this was expanded to include the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Harbour, but later reviewed again to allow entry via all borders. This, the anti-piracy taskforce contends, opened the floodgates for an influx of pirated textiles. Mr. Iddrisu urged security personnel manning the borders to be vigilant and stop the entry of pirated textiles. “There is no government policy to ban textile importation but to regulate it through approved routes for statistical purposes, and to ensure only genuine designs are imported. We respect intellectual property rights.” The anti-piracy taskforce was created by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 2008 and reconstituted in June last year. A committee was also instituted to vet any design that an importer intends to import for sale in Ghana.  By Dominick Andoh

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