Finalists named for Africa-wide Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Awards

Ten finalists have been named for the First African Climate Change and Environment Reporting Awards (ACCER), scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya on June 5, 2013.

The list showed Luv Fm’s Kofi Adu Domfeh emerging finalists among the broadcast entries of the Africa-wide competition, which was dominated by climate change and environment reporters from Kenya.

The Award is organized by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) in liaison with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), and supported by Christian Aid, Oxfam Novib, SIDA, Finn Church Aid, Diakonia, and BrandKenya Board.

All major scientific reports continue to show that Africa would be most affected by the impacts of Climate Change – a major environmental and sustainable development problem that requires global solutions. But since it is also a local phenomenon, interventions to cope with its impacts require the engagement of stakeholders at national and local levels.

The main objective of the ACCER Awards is to recognize African journalists who excel in environmental journalism.

“It is expected that this kind of initiative will encourage constructive environmental focus in the African media, both at policy and policy implementation level and at the level of public awareness and participation in environmental protection and protection”, said a statement from PACJA.

The first competition covered stories reported during the period January 2012 to March 2013. The judges received a total of 112 entries in print media, radio and television from across Africa in both English and French versions.

The list of nominees released by the team of judges showed entries talking about farmers finding cheap environmentally friendly alternative to fertilizers in waste products and articles that linked challenges of reproductive health, nutrition and climate change topped Kenyan reporters from the print media.

Domfeh’s radio piece focused on the role of community radio in helping local people mitigate the impact of climate change.

Announcing the Award Finalists, PACJA Secretary-General, Mithika Mwenda noted that “to prevent a global average temperature rise of two degree Celsius and ensure right to sustainable development, new and stringent regulatory framework, laws, policies and reforms are needed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, promote low carbon development pathways and support social, economic and legal transition to address climate change in particular and environmental downturn in general”.

According to him, the overall intention of ACCER is not only to reshape the African narrative as espoused in Climate Change and environment debates but also to build a new culture that Africans can consciously utilize their abundant biological resources while at the same time reduce carbon footprint.

The winners will be announced in an Award Gala Night before international audience in Nairobi, Kenya, during the World Environment Day on 5 June – the choice of Kenya is symbolic as the country hosts the environment-specialized Agency of the United Nations, UNEP, the only Agency in a Developing country.

Prospects in Ghana’s citrus industry impeded by poor market

Citrus growers in parts of the country, benefitting from a capacity building programme, say they are better equipped with knowledge and skills to improve production for higher yields.

They however say the interventions would only translate into higher income levels when Ghana is able to attract investments in fruit processing facilities.

“After getting better quality and more yields, if we don’t have better storage and market for produce, then it will amount to zero”, said Ofori Amanfo Dacosta, Chairman of the Ahafo Ano South Citrus Growers and Marketers Association.

A trilateral cooperation between Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Israel’s International Development Agency (MASHAV) and Germany’s International Cooperation (GIZ) is empowering citrus farmers across the country.

The training entails improved agronomic, pest and disease management practices in citrus production. The participants are taken through topics such as nursery management, planning citrus orchard, cultural practices, and factors militating against citrus production, irrigation and nutrition.

The overall aim of the cooperation is to contribute to improved quality citrus production for improved sustainable income to all actors within the citrus value chain, said Charles Kwame Sackey, Agriculture and Value Chain Advisor with GIZ.

The target is to double Ghana’s citrus yield which is currently stands at 20-25 tons per hectare – against industry average of 70-80tons per hectare in countries like Brazil, Spain and Israel.

Mr. Sackey told Luv Fm the programme also has the aim of training and certifying citrus nursery operators to produce right varieties of seedlings for the industry.

“We’ve also come to the conclusion, after doing a lot of research in the country, that most of our citrus trees are virus infested, so we we’d have to perhaps work with the Israelis so that they help bring us new virus-free seedlings to set up modern or improved nurseries in the country”, he stated.

Two Israeli agricultural experts, Dr. Shmuel Gross and Dov Rabber, led the Kumasi training session, which exposed 50 citrus farmers in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions to hands-on field training.

The farmers are enthused at the prospects of the training to enhance production quality to attract markets.

 

But they believe value addition in fruit processing remain critical to promote the citrus industry.

“When you harvest, you don’t have any storage facilities here, so within a very short time everything will get rotten”, Mr. Dacosta decried.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Police intercept truck load of cocoa beans robbed at gun point

Two suspected armed robber are in the grips of the police in Ashanti region for robbing a truck load of dried cocoa beans valued at over Gh₵120,000.

Twenty-six year old Kwabena Amoako and Awudu Razak, 22, together with other accomplices on run, took possession of an articulator truck loaded with 550 bags of cocoa beans at Hwidiem.

Narrating the ordeal to Luv News, truck driver, George Boakye, said that he and other three colleagues fell into the hands of the robbers at Hwidiem on the Sunyani-Kumasi highway.

According to him, the gang opened fire on him but managed to escape unhurt. His colleagues were however robbed and detained by the robbers for close to eight hours.

Ashanti Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Tanko, says Amajaro Ghana Limited on Sunday May 26, 2013 dispatched the vehicle from the Brong Ahafo region for discharge of the cocoa beans at Tema.

A gang of six men, armed with guns and knives onboard an unidentified private vehicle attacked and robbed the truck load of cocoa beans, together with three mobile phones and cash of Gh₵690.00.

ASP Tanko says the robbers were heading towards Kumasi when the police patrol team on Monday intercepted them at Mfensi in the Ashanti region.

“They were looking for a place to hide it [the goods] so that when things cool they can transport it to where ever they want to sell”, he alleged. “Mostly what they do is that when they are able to get a place and park, then they load it onto another vehicle for onward transportation to wherever they want”.

The police PRO entreated businesses to collaborate with the security agencies in instituting measures for swift response to protect lives and property on the highway.

An official of Amajaro Ghana intimated Luv news the installation of a vehicle tracking device on the vehicle facilitated the interception.

Police investigators are on the lookout for other suspected accomplices.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Theatre comes alive with staging of The Switch in Kumasi

Theatre lovers in the Ashanti regional capital will be treated to a hilarious stage performance this weekend.

The Switch is a play is set in 21^st century suburban Africa. The piece explores the lives of the BROWNS – a typical African family consisting of a breadwinner who is a civil servant, an uneducated yet resourceful housewife and children who are coming of age. They are a simple family – easy to identify with and understand and seek to improve their living standards ‘by any means possible’. The BROWNS eventually resorted to trickery and the events unfold...

In collaboration with Luv Fm, the production will be staged by of SpringVerve at the Golden Tulip, Kumasi City on Saturday June 1, 2013.

SpringVerve is an arts organization that seeks to revive the performing arts, educate, entertain, and edify by making movies, organizing play productions, training people and nurturing theatre groups to serve the theatrical needs of Ghanaians.

“We are committed to producing thought provoking, transformational and high quality art pieces that will not only entertain but also educate, edify and encourage”, said Director, Louis Lamis.

The works of SpingVerve mirror the ills in society through the arts and recommend remedies, whilst unearthing talents of young people in the area of performing arts.

Since its establishment in 2008, Springverve has produced and staged 11 plays – the Switch is the 12^th.

According to Louis, the new play is “a unique form of comedy presentation in theatre, and an experience of humor that will affect the lives of patrons, days, months, and years after the show”.

He believes the performing arts are too powerful to be restricted to entertainment therefore the company puts itself at the forefront of development in educating and informing target audience through qualitative arts.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Leadership qualities of Asantehene extolled

The Chief Executive Officer of M.Y. Ventures has extolled the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his prudent leadership in the Asante Kingdom and beyond.

Dr. M.Y. Caesar says the King’s commitment to the promotion of peace and development in the country and the world at large are worthy of commendation.

The Asantehene recently delivered a lecture on the topic, “Advancing Together”, under the auspices of the National Commission on Civic Education as part of its annual lectures on democracy.

A statement issued by M.Y. Ventures and signed by its CEO commended Otumfuo “for demonstrating in practical terms his commitment for initiating and facilitating development in various spheres of human endeavour aside the traditional institution”.

According to Dr. Caesar, the institution of the Otumfuo Charity Foundation is enough testimony of the Asantehene's genuine commitment to socio-economic development.

“The numerous visits of the Asantehene outside the country and the desire of most leaders to visit the country to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations as well as foster unity among Ghanaians and the outside world was an ample testimony of his love for peace”, he said.

Dr. Caesar noted that since his ascension to the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu has proved beyond doubt that he has a lot to offer Ghana in socio-economic development.

He said one way the Asantehene has endeared himself to Ghanaians is his quest to solve protracted land and chieftaincy disputes in Ashanti and other parts of the country.

Dr. Caesar pointed out that land and chieftaincy disputes are the main problems which militate against development in the country, emphasizing that any effort to solve them must be encouraged and supported.

He has therefore urged the people of Asanteman to support the good deeds of the Asantehene as a good ambassador in Africa.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

MTN Ghana Foundation increases investment in ICT facilities

The MTN Ghana Foundation has increased its investments in the provision of ICT facilities across the country, says Michael Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana.

He did not disclose the amount of increment but says the decision is based on the ‘necessity’ of using information communication technology in today’s world.

“ICT has become intricately woven into our very existence and wellbeing and students must certainly be armed with this resource. Indeed ICT is a major learning and development tool and the lack of it is considered a serious development gap”, observed Mr. Ikpoki.

He was speaking at the commissioning of a 20-seater ICT centre and refurbishment of a three-unit classroom block for the Akyawkrom Junior High School in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ashanti.

The project, which cost Gh₵103,100 will serve as a hub for computer literacy to enhance access to education for over 3,000 students from Akyawkrom and Ejisu communities.

The Chiefs and people of Akyawkrom are excited the facility would boost academic work in the area.

Mr. Ikopoki noted that MTN is committed to preparing students for the workplace where they are equipped to use ICT effectively and efficiently.

“MTN Ghana Foundation recognizes the important role education plays in the development of individuals, society and the nation at large. Education shapes attitudes, helps people unearth their talents and potentials and put them in a better position to make meaningful contributions to the development of their communities and the nation”, he stated.

The Foundation has, in the past five years, invested over Gh₵11 million on various community development projects in the areas of health and education across the country, including 22 ICT centres.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Pharmacists cost impact of strike on health service delivery

Public health facilities in the country are incurring huge revenue losses as a result of the ongoing strike by the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA).

The pharmacy departments in the hospitals contribute significantly to internally generated funds, which help sustain operations of these facilities.

According to GHOSPA, “close to Gh₵13million is being lost monthly at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and the same could be said of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital; the least said about the regional and district hospitals the better”.

Spokesperson for the Association, Patrick Kumi, says it is aware of the revenue losses and attempts by managers of health facilities to get their pharmacies working.

“We believe that such managers owe it a duty to the country to let the whole world know the massive impact the absence of the pharmacists is making instead of using behind the scene approaches”, he stated.

Pharmacists are better placed to inform and educate patients and other health care professionals on the appropriate use of medication to manage the adverse side-effects of administering medicines.

Patients are therefore disadvantaged as the safety of medication administered at the health facilities cannot be guaranteed, with the continuing strike of the pharmacists.

The public pharmacists are on strike over their market premium and implementation of a ruling by the National Labour Commission on their conversion difference and grading structure.

GHOSPA says members remain resolute to stay out of work until the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) complies with the NLC directive.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Striking pharmacists caution management against victimization of members

The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has cautioned heads of health facilities against what it says are ‘subtle threats” against striking members.

The public pharmacists have been on strike over their market premium and implementation of a ruling by the National Labour Commission (NLC) on their conversion difference and grading structure under the Single Spine Salary Structure.

Regional representatives of the Association at a forum in Kumasi stated they will resist any attempt to sabotage the welfare of individual pharmacist or pharmacy technician “who have been short-changed by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC)”.

“No CEO of any teaching hospital or any hospital management will be allowed to stand in our way to press home our demand for the full implementation of NLC’s ruling on our grade structure”, said Spokesperson, Patrick Kumi.

The Association says members remain resolute to stay out of work until the FWSC complies with the NLC directive.

Government expected the pharmacists to resume work as the Health Ministry sets up a committee to handle their grievances.

But GHOSPA has registered its displeasure with the way government has chosen to address their concerns.

According to the Association, the inaugurated Committee “is not a Cabinet Sub-Committee as earlier proposed by the Minister of Health and the Chief of Staff”.

“Its outcome could be deemed a political interference and could undermine the very institutions of state we want to see function independently and objectively” it said.

Mr. Kumi says the pharmacists will not relent in their quest for justice, fairness and equity on the SSSS implementation.

“We are on strike because of impunity on the part of the FWSC… We are telling the whole country that we are not going back to work until pharmacists are placed on the appropriate salary levels and that, the consequences thereof should be laid at the doorstep of government and its FWSC”, he said.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Telecom operator exposes traders to mobile technology value addition

Leading mobile telecom operator, MTN Ghana, is expanding its Traders’ Forum to engage more trade groups and professions in the use of mobile technology to enhance business operations.

The Forum was instituted in 2011 with the aim of meeting identifiable groups to share information on use of technology and other modern practices to advance their businesses.

It is also a forum to discuss ways in which MTN as an organization can partner with the trade associations for mutual benefits.

General Manager in-charge of MTN Northern Business District, James Bukari Basintale, says the company’s investments in network infrastructure expansion are geared towards adding value to the lives of subscribers.

He noted clients can maximum the benefits of innovative telecoms solutions and other network’s promotional activities only when they can efficiently make use of the mobile device.

The Kumasi forum discussed how members of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) can stay ahead of competition through the use of data or internet and MTN Mobile Money to advance their business.

Participants also had presentations on customer service tips and activities of economic empowerment by the MTN Foundation.

Maxwell Arthur of MTN’s traders’ segment market observed low application of SMS application on mobile phones among traders.

The Traders forum, he said, is therefore necessary to enable clients take advantage of products and promotions, hence expansion to cover more groups across the country.

He appreciated the loyalty of the traders in growing the network to record over 11 million subscribers in Ghana.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Ghana hosts 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is collaborating with Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to organize the 6^th Africa Agriculture Science Week.

The event is a continental gathering of all stakeholders in Africa Agriculture to create an open space for networking and exchanging information and knowledge on agricultural innovations and on topical issues with a bearing on agriculture research and development under the theme: “Africa feeding Africa through Science and Innovations”.

This milestone event will take place at the International Conference Center in Accra, Ghana from 15-20 July 2013 and will be officially opened by President John Dramani Mahama.

Speaking at the Official Launch of the Africa Agriculture Science Week in Accra, the Executive Director of FARA, Prof. Monty Jones, stated that “there is no better country to host this kind of meeting than Ghana, one of the few African countries that have succeeded in turning around its economy, cutting down hunger thereby remaining on track to achieving MDG Goal 1 of halving hunger and poverty by 2015”. 

 

As the target date draws nearer for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), food and nutrition insecurity remain cardinal problems especially in Africa. 

Africa has a great potential to feed itself given that 60% of its arable land remains un-utilized and the remaining 40% bear crops with low yields.  Of all possible topics that could have been considered at this time, the issue of home grown food security is at the top of the list.

Hence in reflecting on a theme for the sixth edition of the Africa Agriculture Science Week, enhancing Africa’s capacity for agricultural innovation was at the front burner of discussions.

The Africa Agriculture Science Week which has been internationally recognized as the apex gathering of all stakeholders in African agricultural research and development will be attracting key decision makers in governments within and outside Africa.

Participants will include Ministers, Parliamentarians, key players in the private sector, leaders of civil society and farmers’ organizations, women groups and leaders in agricultural research and development.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh 

The imminent bubble of Ghana’s booming microfinance industry

Microfinance companies, under the Bank of Ghana’s new regulated licensing regime, offer both lending and deposit products to their clients.

In the past year, about 100 firms have received full operational license. Over 400 others have provisional license to serve the needs of the unbanked population, with some 3,000 others in also yet to come under regulation.

Players in the sector are upbeat about prospects to create jobs and provide financial intermediation in poverty alleviation. But all is not well in the fast-growing industry.

Petty trader, Umar Moro Abubakari opened a savings account in the ‘Daakye’ (future) product of Graford Microfinance Limited in Kumasi, in his bid to save to pursue higher learning.

Trusting in the firm’s provisional license, he managed to save Gh₵810 over an eight month period. But he’s losing all his money.  

 

“I went to my bank to withdraw my money but I didn’t get my money; they’ve closed the bank and I don’t know why”, Umar Moro complained. “I’m worried because I want to go to IPMC, so I was thinking that I’ll use that money to pay for my bills”.

Like Umar Moro, frustrated clients of microfinance firms in distress have been frequenting police stations, media houses and other places to seek help in accessing their savings.

Incidents of firms closing down and bolting with depositors savings have been reported in most parts of the country, including the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Western and Volta regions.

“We are in crisis but does not mean that we’ve collapsed and this is not new in the banking system”, admitted a manager of one of the firms, in response to the fate of his clients in getting their money.

Checks indicate some of the big microfinance firms are struggling to stay in business.

“We started with some companies that are no more with us; some have gone through assessment by the regulator, some have even received their provisional licenses but you see them collapsing”, observed Collins Amponsah Mensah, National Chairman of the Ghana Association of Microfinance Companies (GAMC).

Greed, irresponsible and reckless operations as well as poor management of depositors’ funds have been identified as the bane of the microfinance industry.

Sources say some of the seemingly booming firms use multi-branching as a deceptive ploy to attract clients and investors with a credible imaging. In some instance, the firms have managed to open more than 10 branches in less than one year.

When faced challenges in managing their growing branches, the companies go into liquidity distress. One firm in the Ashanti region is reported to be indebted to the tune of over Gh₵10 billion.

In these instances, the monitoring role of the Central Bank has been questioned. “Why should the Bank of Ghana allow the unbridled opening of additional branches?” queried one industry operator, who expects the regulator to be bold in ensuring firms with additional branches recapitalize.

There is also the trend of microfinance operators venturing vehicle hire purchase schemes, with the attendant problems of their inability to sustain the vehicle distribution to customers who have deposited huge sums of money.

Kwame Sarpong Osei-Bonsu of the Banking Supervision Department of the Bank of Ghana acknowledged the Bank has had several complaints, which he says are under investigation.

Unfortunately, depositors with these financial institutions have no safety nets when such businesses collapse.

“There have been talks of bringing in Deposit Insurance Scheme as we have in other countries like US and UK and even Nigeria; once you’re a regulated entity, then you go into that scheme and that guarantees a person that if something goes wrong they’ll get their money back”, noted banking consultant, Nana Otuo Acheampong.

The GAMC is already thinking in that direction, in addition to establishing a Deposit Security Fund to serve as secondary reserve for members.

Whilst financial consumers are protected with the deposit insurance, the Fund, as a liquidity buffer, will aid in the management of deposit liabilities of industry players, explained Mr. Amponsah-Mensah.

“We’re going to mandate our members to deposit an amount each day out of their mobilization into that account; it will be invested, then anytime that there is pressure on them, they can fall on that deposit to free themselves from the pressure”, he said.

Presently, the credible microfinance firms are experiencing high withdrawal rate as clients take precautionary measures to protect their savings.

This is a worry to the GAMC. Mr. Amponsah-Mensah is therefore prevailing on the Bank of Ghana to empower the Association to play a key role in regulation, if the industry is to avoid a bubble.

“If the regulator is unable to enforce the rules and regulation that goes with the regulation itself, our hands will just be tied behind us. So that is why we’re working together with the regulator to ensure that whatever we say should be done under the regulation, operators are complying”, stated the GAMC Chair. “If we take away non-compliance, we should expect the system to collapse one of these days”.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

GSMA establishes new office in Africa to support burgeoning telecoms market

The GSMA has opened a permanent office in the heart of Nairobi's Innovation Hub (iHub) for the technology community, which is an open space for the technologists, investors, tech companies and hackers in the area.

The move is to enable the GSMA to work even more closely with its members and other industry stakeholders to extend the reach and socio-economic benefits of mobile throughout Africa.

“It is an exciting time to launch our new office in Africa, as the region is an increasingly vibrant and critical market for the mobile industry, representing over 10 per cent of the global market,” said Anne Bouverot, Director General, GSMA. “The rapid pace of mobile adoption has delivered an explosion of innovation and huge economic benefits in the region, directly contributing US$ 32 billion to the Sub-Saharan African economy, or 4.4 per cent of GDP. With necessary spectrum allocations and transparent regulation, the mobile industry could also fuel the creation of 14.9 million new jobs in the region between 2015 and 2020.”

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, spanning more than 220 countries.

According to the latest GSMA’s Wireless Intelligence data, total mobile connections in Sub-Saharan Africa passed the 500 million mark in the first quarter of 2013, increasing by about 20 per cent year-on-year.

Connections are expected to grow by a further 50 per cent, or 250 million connections, over the next five years which requires greater regulatory certainty to foster investment and release of additional harmonised spectrum for mobile.

The region currently accounts for about two-thirds of connections in Africa but the amount of spectrum allocated to mobile services in Africa is among the lowest worldwide.

Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa risk undermining their broadband and development goals unless more spectrum is made available. In particular, the release of the Digital Dividend spectrum - which has the ideal characteristics for delivering mobile broadband, particularly to rural populations - should be a priority.

The region also has some of the highest levels of mobile internet usage globally. In Zimbabwe and Nigeria, mobile accounts for over half of all web traffic at 58.1 per cent and 57.9 per cent respectively, compared to a 10 per cent global average.

3G penetration levels are forecast to reach a quarter of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2017 – from six per cent in 2012 – as the use of mobile-specific services develops.

However, despite the high number of connections, rapid growth and mobile internet usage, mobile penetration among individuals remains relatively low. Fewer than 250 million people had subscribed to a mobile service in the region, putting unique subscriber penetration at 30 per cent, meaning that more than two-thirds of the population have yet to acquire their first mobile phone. Clearly, there is an important opportunity for the mobile industry to bring connectivity, access to information and services to the people in this region.

The mobile industry contributes approximately 3.5 million full-time jobs in the region. This has also spurred a wave of technology and content innovation with more than 50 ‘innovation hubs’ created to develop local skills and content in the field of ICT services, including the Limbe Labs in Cameroon, the iHub in Kenya and Hive Colab in Uganda.

Of particular note is the role of Kenya as the global leader in mobile money transfer services via M-PESA, a service launched by the country’s largest mobile operator Safaricom in 2007. What started as a simple way to extend banking services to the unbanked citizens of Kenya has now evolved into a mobile payment system based on accounts held by the operator, with transactions authorised and recorded in real time using secure SMS. Since its launch, M-PESA has grown to reach 15 million registered users and contributes 18 per cent of Safaricom’s total revenue.

To support this huge increase in innovation, the mobile industry has invested around US$ 16.5 billion over the past five years (US$ 2.8 billion in 2011 alone) across the five key countries in the region, mainly directed towards the expansion of network capacity.

At the same time, given the exponential growth, Sub-Saharan Africa faces a looming ‘capacity and coverage crunch’ in terms of available mobile spectrum and the GSMA is working with operators and governments to address this critical issue.

GSMA research has found that by releasing the Digital Dividend and 2.6GHz spectrum by 2015, the governments of Sub-Saharan Africa could increase annual GDP by US$82 billion by 2025 and annual government tax revenues by US$18 billion and add up to 27 million jobs by 2025.

 

In many Sub-Saharan African countries, mobile broadband is the only possible route to deliver the Internet to citizens and the current spectrum allocations across the region generally lag behind those of other countries.

“A positive and supportive regulatory environment and sufficient spectrum allocation is critical to the further growth of mobile in Africa,” continued Ms. Bouverot. “I am confident that now that we have a physical presence in Africa, we will be able to work together with our members to put the conditions in place that will facilitate the expansion of mobile, bringing important connectivity and services to all in the region.”

Ghana could increase its earnings from mining and oil with greater transparency – report

Ghana has taken important steps to improve mining governance and limit corruption, but the government still fails to give citizens the information they need to make sure they are getting a good deal from mining companies, according to a new governance index released on Tuesday. 

The Revenue Watch Institute’s Resource Governance Index measures the quality of governance in the oil, gas and mining sector of 58 countries worldwide.

Each country on the Index, from top-ranked Norway to last-place Myanmar, is judged on four criteria: legal framework, transparency levels, checks and balances and its broader governance context.

Ghana ranked 15^th out of 58 countries and earned the highest score in sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting major reforms to improve competition and transparency in the mining sector.

However, while lawmakers are required to oversee the industry, they often lack the resources to do so effectively, and contracts between mining companies and the government are still kept secret from the public.

“The lack of systematic access to information on the licensing process and contract terms leaves a black hole in the information citizens need to make sure that that government is getting a good deal and that companies are paying what is due”, said Emmanuel Kuyole, Revenue Watch’s Regional Coordinator for Africa.

 

Ghana’s Index score applies to the country’s mineral sector only, but researchers noted major efforts by the government to improve transparency in the growing oil and gas sector as well.

Ghana has signed on to the Open Government Partnership and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). It now includes both petroleum and mining revenues in its EITI reports.

“Ghana’s participation in the EITI has contributed remarkably to the information available on the sector, such as production, prices and revenues, and the distribution of royalties to district assemblies”, Kuyole said. “The weaknesses identified in these reports have led to fiscal reforms designed to increase revenues. We now need to ensure that the regular and timely publication of EITI reports is enshrined in law”.

The Index offers recommendations for even the highest-ranking countries, and notes specific areas where Ghana could improve. The government has already published some contracts with oil companies, and should make it a priority to publish mining contracts as well.

Ghana still has not passed a freedom of information law that guarantees access to important information on the oil and mining sector, a critical issue that the Open Government Partnership is working to address.

Index researchers also noted the need for clear guidelines and information on the 10 percent share of mining royalties that are managed by the District Assemblies and traditional authorities in mining communities.

Similarly, the Mineral Development Fund, which receives a further 10 percent of mining royalties, is not currently covered by regulation, leaving it vulnerable to mismanagement

Finally, in order for mining projects to fully benefit communities, the government must encourage local content policies that help transfer important skills to communities and develop local businesses so that there is a lasting impact on the economy. In addition to local development programs, communities should be fully involved in and have access to environmental and social impact assessments.

“The Index analysis not only shows where we are now, but points out ways forward for countries, companies and global initiatives, and this matters because improved governance in natural resources is arguably the development challenge of this decade”, said Daniel Kaufmann, President of Revenue Watch Institute.

African leaders promote bread baked with 40% cassava flour

The inclusion of cassava flour in bread has received continental attention with some African leaders demonstrating their support for the innovation in Tanzania.

Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the President of Tanzania, Dr Mrisho Jakaya Kikwete, eat bread baked with 40 percent cassava flour, noting that it would bring several benefits to the continent.

Former Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa also ate the bread for the first time.

President Kikwete, after inaugurating the IITA Science Building in Dar es Salaam, commended IITA for the bread technology, saying that the bread had an “excellent” taste. “There is no difference between this bread and the normal bread we are used to,” he added.

The 40 percent cassava bread was first developed by IITA in Nigeria, as part of efforts to boost the utilization of cassava and create market for farmers.

The Director General for International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga said that the bread innovation is part of the cassava value chain, stressing that it complements breeding efforts.

Mr. Obasanjo, who is also IITA Goodwill Ambassador, encouraged the Tanzania President to promote the use of cassava in confectionaries in his country to transform agriculture.

He noted that the use of cassava flour in bread would stimulate the demand for the root crop, create jobs and, more importantly, make farmers proud.

In 2002, President Obasanjo initiated a policy on 10 percent inclusion in bread under a program tagged “the Presidential Initiative on Cassava.”

The program which was implemented by IITA and national partners, drove the demand for cassava, increased productivity by about 10million tons in 6 years, and made Nigeria the top world producer of cassava.

The IITA Ambassador urged African governments seeking genuine agricultural transformation to adopt the use of cassava in confectionaries, and institute policies that would make the continent food secure and cut import bills on food.

To facilitate the adoption of the technology across countries in Africa, IITA deployed a team of experts to train local bakers on the inclusion of cassava flour in bread in Tanzania.

Dr Victor Manyong, IITA Director for Eastern Africa noted that the adoption of the technology would improve the livelihoods of farmers, bakers and have a positive impact on the economy of Tanzania.

Consumed by more than 600 million people in the developing world, cassava has transformed from a food security crop to a cash crop with industrial uses in sectors such as brewery, pharmaceutical and confectionary industries.

The crop is one of Africa’s major staples, with the continent cultivating about 50 percent of global production.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh