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Deputy Agric Minister calls for empowerment of disabled women in agriculture
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo has called for the empowerment of more women, especially the disabled to thrive in agriculture by providing them with the needed support.
According to him, women played significant roles in agriculture, and stated that the country was currently enjoying food security due to the contribution of women in the sector.
“Women make up more than half of Ghana’s agricultural labour force with many engaged in ploughing, planting seeds, harvesting, processing foods, selling and cooking. If not for our women, we will be very hungry in this country and so it is important to give them the maximum support to enable them thrive and I believe will have significant impact on the nationl,” he stated.
Mr Addo was speaking at the 5th Women in Food and Agricultural Leader Training Forum and the Gold in the Soil Awards organised in Koforidua by Agrihouse Foundation in collaboration with World Food Programme, Global Affairs Canada and Yara Ghana.
The forum and awards, on the theme: “Overcoming Barriers of Women in Agribusiness: The Role of Stakeholders” awarded 13 women in different categories, who have made significant strides in farming and its related value chain.
The winners received equipment and machines to enable them improve their work for their benefit and for society.
Madam Margaret Agyei received the Ultimate Gold in the Soil Award and was given a tricycle, farming equipment and agriproducts.
The others winners included Naana Felicia Akyeamah who won the Passion for Farm Award, Change Champion Award, Mrs Dzidzinyo Fianu, Princess Carla Award, Enerstina Osei Tutu, Outstanding Woman in Extension Services Award, Delali Esi Agyeman, Feed to Food Award, Lydia Gyebi Asare and Development Partners Award, Global Affairs Canada and World Food Programme.
The others were She-Operates Award, Hajara Mohammed, She-innovates Award, Abigail Ghama, Climate Smart Award, Doris Opoku Hagan, Diamond in the Rough Award, Adwoa Agyeiwaa, Star Woman Agripreneur Award, Faustina Mamle Nartey, and Royal Agro Award, Nana Obaapanin Konadu Kontie II
Mr Addo noted that as part of ways to support women in the agricultural sector, the government has reviewed the Planting for Food (PFJ)initiative to include women who would receive financial and logistical support.
“The women and youth would be asked to register with an Aggregator and after that all farm inputs would be given till harvesting,” he revealed, adding the new programme under the PFJ would be launched soon.
He congratulated the winners and called on them to mentor and encourage the youth into the sector to ensure continuous development of the sector for the benefit of the whole country.
The Director and Head of Cooperation at Global Affairs Canada, Kathlyn Flunn-Dapaah stated that Agriculture continued to be the backbone of Ghana’s economy, where many women were employed but faced several challenges including inadequate access to financing and agricultural inputs to increase their yields and incomes.
She said empowering women in agriculture could improve the sector significantly and called on government to ensure their policies including PFJ favour women to excel in agriculture and agribusinesses.
For her part, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyea thanked the sponsors for their support over the years and stated that Agrihouse would continue to make significant impact on improving the lives of women farmers and people with disabilities in the agricultural value chain.
She said the winners would be engaged to help in mentoring others especially the youth to encourage more women into agriculture and revealed that the next awards edition would occur at the Bono East region.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
