News
4 schools benefit from ICI, Nestle, ETG Beyond Beans project in cocoa c’nities
Four schools in cocoa growing communities in the Ashanti Region have benefited from new infrastructure through the efforts of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), in partnership with Nestle and ETG/Beyond Beans.
The project is to enhance students’ access to quality education and provide water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities.
At Ntinanko R/C ‘A’ Basic School in the Bekwai Municipality, a new three-classroom block was commissioned, furnished with 120 mono desks, four teachers’ tables and chairs, office, storeroom, and staff common room.
The school also received a five-seater water closet (WC) and a mechanised borehole with overhead tank.
Similarly, Pewodie D/A Basic School in the Adansi North District had a three-unit KG/ Nursery and office renovated and furnished.
The school received 100 tables and chairs each for the KG, three cupboards, four tables, and eight chairs for teachers, as well as a four-seater WC toilet and mechanised borehole with overhead tanks.
Agogooso D/A Basic School in the Adansi North District also benefited from the project, with a two-unit classroom block and office refurbished and furnished.
It received a five-seater WC toilet, mechanised borehole with overhead tank, and 50 tables and chairs.
Agyeikrom D/A Basic School received a refurbished three-unit classroom block, furnished with 80 mono desks and three sets of teachers’ tables and chairs.
The project was implemented by the ICI and funded by Nestle through the Nestle Cocoa Plan. The plan aims to improve cocoa farmers’ livelihoods, ensure long-term sustainability of cocoa farming, and promote responsible cocoa sourcing.
Ms. Salome Azevedo, Nestle’s Central and West Africa Business Executive Officer, stressed Nestle’s commitment to the well-being of communities linked to their operations.
“We are committed to enhancing the well-being of communities directly linked to our operations. We deeply appreciate the tireless efforts of the farmers who supply us with the finest cocoa for our production”, she mentioned.
Ms Azevedo urged the pupils to make the most of the upgraded school environment, complete with improved WASH facilities, and fully dedicate themselves to their studies.
Mr Mike Arthur, Country Director of the ICI, noted that the initiative was an example of how to reduce child labour and poverty in cocoa growing communities.
Mrs Leticia Obeng, Bekwai Municipal Education Director, praised the initiators of the project and pledged to ensure the facilities would be highly maintained.
Mr. Stephen Kofi Akomaning, Head teacher at Ntinanko R/C Basic School, expressed appreciation to the initiators of the project and also promised to see to the maintenance of the facility.
Mr. Charles Ofosu Ansong, Project Manager, ICI, noted that research has shown that the presence of schools in cocoa growing areas has significantly increased school enrolment and reduced child labour.
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
A new international whitepaper on democracy in Africa has placed Ghana’s Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, at the centre of a major research study on the role of opposition parties in strengthening democratic governance across the continent.
The study is being conducted by the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) in partnership with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Ghana.
It uses Ghana’s 2025/2026 parliamentary session as a case study to examine how opposition parties can contribute to peace, development and democratic stability.
President of the ACCP, Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, said the research forms part of a wider continental project aimed at identifying successful governance models in Africa.
He explained that the chamber is interested in promoting positive African stories and finding practical democratic systems that other countries can adopt.
Mr. Dwomoh-Doyen said political differences should not create division or hostility among leaders and citizens.
He stated that despite belonging to different political sides, people must work together in the interest of national development.
According to him, Ghana’s democratic journey and parliamentary system made the country an important case for the study.
The whitepaper, titled “A Strong and Responsible Opposition in Africa: A Ghanaian Case Study (2025/2026 Review)”, reviews the Minority Leader’s parliamentary activities, including his statements, motions and media engagements.
Researchers are also conducting public opinion surveys in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale as part of the study.
Head of ACCP’s Liberia branch, Dr. Murphy T. Jackson, said African countries should formally recognise and support the office of the Leader of the Opposition through legal structures and institutional resources.
He noted that such systems would help reduce the chances of unconstitutional changes of government on the continent.
Head of Research at ACCP Ghana, David Adofo, described Ghana’s opposition institution as one of the strongest in Africa.
He said although the current research focuses on Ghana, future studies would examine opposition institutions in other African countries.
Deputy Secretary General of UPF-Ghana, Tegha King, stressed the importance of a responsible opposition in national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Universal Peace Federation and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), he said opposition parties should not be seen as enemies of progress.
According to him, respectful debate, alternative policy ideas and cross-party dialogue are necessary for strong democratic institutions and national peace.
The research comes at a time when some African countries are experiencing political instability and military takeovers.
Despite these challenges, Ghana continues to be recognised as one of Africa’s stable democracies, having recorded several peaceful transfers of power since 1992.
The completed whitepaper will later be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal, while the abstract has already been made available upon request.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NuGhana Expat Center to launch ‘AfroTango Platform’ to support diasporans in Ghana and Africa — Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang
The Executive Director of the NuGhana International Expat Center, Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang, has disclosed that the organisation is preparing to launch the “AfroTango Platform” to support diasporans with integration in Ghana and across Africa.
According to him, the platform is intended to help diasporans navigate African systems, which many often find difficult to understand after relocating from Western countries.
“The AfroTango Platform will provide a structured bridge, offering orientation, vetted service referrals, and a trusted community to help them integrate smoothly for business or relocation,” he said.
Mr. Opoku-Agyemang made the disclosure while speaking about a proposal submitted by the NuGhana International Expat Center to the government of President John Dramani Mahama for the establishment of a specialised multi-agency Diaspora Protection and Human Capital Task Force.
According to their statement, the proposal has been submitted to the President and shared with key institutions, including the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of National Security, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Diaspora Affairs, and the Black Star Experience Secretariat.
Mr. Opoku-Agyemang explained that the proposed task force would help protect diasporans and foreign nationals from organised fraud and exploitation while also helping the country benefit from their expertise, investments, and professional skills.
He noted that many diasporans relocating to Ghana often face challenges such as land disputes, business fraud, and difficulties finding trusted people to guide them through local systems.
President of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, who endorsed the proposal, described the initiative as timely and necessary.
According to him, the leadership of NuGhana understands the realities and expectations of diasporans because of their experience living in Western countries.
He appealed to the government to consider the proposal seriously, stating that it could help protect lives and investments while encouraging more diasporans to contribute to national development.
The statement identified key challenges facing diasporans, including organised land and business scams, the absence of a unified system to engage skilled professionals entering the country, and fears over investment security.
Some diasporans who spoke on condition of anonymity also welcomed the initiative and said a state-backed protection system would give them more confidence to relocate and invest in Ghana.
NuGhana said it has already built a human capital and risk database over the past four years to catalogue diasporans and foreign nationals according to their professions, skills, investment interests, and reported incidents.
The organisation added that it is ready to engage the President’s designated team to demonstrate its database and begin a pilot phase of the proposed framework.
By: Jacob Aggrey
