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Find innovative ways to diversify staple foods…Scientists told
Scientists have been entreated to find innovative ways to diversify staple foods to increase consumption among Ghanaians.
Such innovations according to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie would help tackle the challenge of importation in the country.
He made the assertion at the opening of the 34th ordinary session of the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) directors meeting in Accra on Tuesday.
The three-day meeting organised by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in partnership with CORAF seeks to discuss matters surrounding science, technology and innovation in the field of agriculture.
It brought together representatives from diverse research institutions, governmental bodies, and private sector entities.
Dr Afriyie revealed that Ghana spends per anum 3.5 million dollars in importation of foods that could locally be manufactured in Ghana adding that the high dependence on imported food , despite vast untapped domestic potential, came with ramifications for the cedi and local job prospects.
He was of the view that the staple value chain in Ghana, when supported would lead to increased commercialisation and improved production of high quality and quantities that are competitive, adding that it will also help reduce the impact of imports on the economy.
He stated that the result of such investments will have far-reaching impacts on the economy, as it will retain value within, as well as create sustainable jobs for the country’s teeming youth.
He called on all stakeholders to create an enabling environment that encouraged the adoption of scientific knowledge and technological advancements in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
Mr Bryan Acheampong, Minister, Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in a speech read on his behalf said Ghana’s food production dropped yearly and was expected to drop further as time went by, due to the impact of climate change.
He explained that long dry spells, floods and increase in temperature, were impacting the country’s agriculture sector which had led to decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He noted that continuous decline could lead to food insecurity, poverty, and malnutrition.
The Executive Director of CORAF, Dr Abdou Tenkouano said his outfit was committed to improving agriculture in Africa, hence thanked CSIR for their immense contribution to food security.
Prof Paul Pinnock Bosu, Director-General, (CSIR) said the council had to shifted its focus from being a public sector institution to a private sector-driven research institution.
As a result, the council now liaised more with the private sector and conduct research to assist in product development, including the use of innovation, to make the council competitive on the global market.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
