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Disa Community receives solar-powered irrigation system
The Market Oriented Agricultural Programme (MOAP NW) under the European Union Ghana Agricultural Programme (EU- GAP) has handed over a solar-powered irrigation system to the Disa community in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region.
The facility is expected to support the cultivation of vegetables throughout the year to enhance the livelihood of some forty vegetable farmers, comprising three males and 37 females.
Supervised by the Johnny Royals Construction Engineering, the facility which was equipped with taps at vantage points in the gardens would also ensure that many more women joined the cultivation to generate income and also enhance the nutritional value of their meals at home.
Addressing participants at a short ceremony at Disa to hand over the project on Friday, the Team Lead of the Agriculture Finance Consultant of MOAP NW, Dr Andrew Herbard said the development of the solar-automated groundwater micro irrigation scheme was proposed four years ago but construction began in November, last year.
“Rural women in agriculture remain challenged in areas of ownership and access to productive arable land as well as relevant information for their agricultural enterprises; there is therefore the need to channel resources and infrastructure to women engaged in the sector to improve productivity and an important feature of the MOAP-NW programme is its focus on women farmers,” he said.
He explained that the EU/GIZ Co-financed MOAP NW programme was designed to support the improvement of agricultural infrastructure and promote productive investments in North West Ghana, through strong community involvement, capacity building of stakeholders along selected value chains, extension training of service delivery systems for farmers and employment through agribusiness and sustainable utilisation of renewable natural resources.
“We are happy to contribute to the Government of Ghana’s efforts to develop the agricultural sector; in an era of climatic vulnerability, as evidenced by increasingly erratic rainfall patterns which require climate-smart agricultural solutions,”he expressed.
Dr Harberd said the facility would ensure a consistent water supply for all-year-round vegetable production, adding that the project aimed to increase the productivity of women vegetable gardeners by enhancing their livelihoods and generating economic opportunities.
To support climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, he stated that MOAP NW had supported a group of women in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region to produce Neem oil for spraying crops which was not harmful to either the crops or human consumers.
The Savannah Regional Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Seidu Sulemana who lauded NW for the intervention, said the irrigation scheme was one of the many benefits the community had enjoyed under the EU-GAP Project.
A beneficiary, Madam Mary Maana who was an okro farmer said even before the project was officially handed over, water from the scheme had kept her farm growing and said she had aleady harvested and sold some okro at the market, earning GH₵ 250.
FROM LYDIA DARLINGTON FORDJOUR, DISA
The New Times Corporation (NTC) on Monday held its annual thanksgiving service, bringing together staff and management to reflect on the past year, express gratitude, and renew their commitment to the organisation’s growth.
At the service, the Deputy Chairperson of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and a Board Member of the New Times Corporation (NTC), Madam Charity Binka, called for strong and intentional collaboration among staff, emphasising that unity and teamwork were crucial to transforming the corporation during its challenging times.
“This is a time to break silos, share ideas and work together as one team with a shared vision,” she said, adding that innovation and digital transformation must be embraced to secure NTC’s future.
Madam Binka expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the corporation and its employees despite financial and operational difficulties.
“Though the journey has not been smooth, God has sustained us. We are here today because of His grace,” she indicated, acknowledging the resilience and dedication of staff who have kept The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator among the country’s most respected newspapers.
Quoting Jeremiah 29:11, she encouraged staff to remain hopeful and confident that brighter days lie ahead.
Delivering the sermon, Rev. John Akorli of Word Divine International Ministry at Sukura, Accra, cautioned staff against excessive talking and gossip, warning that careless speech could create unnecessary problems.
Rev. Akorli further reminded staff that their identity should not be defined by past mistakes, family background, or negative labels.
He encouraged them to live confidently, depend on God’s guidance, and remain focused on their responsibilities, noting that spiritual awareness and discipline were essential to personal and organisational growth.
The service ended with prayers for unity, renewal, and a prosperous new chapter for the New Times Corporation.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Bishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has expressed concern over the rising rate of divorce in the country, attributing the trend largely to inadequate knowledge about marriage and misplaced expectations of couples.
He said many marriages were collapsing because couples entered into the union without a clear understanding of the responsibilities, sacrifices and commitments that marriage demands.
The Bishop raised the concern while addressing congregants at the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Madina on Sunday.
According to him, marriage was increasingly being viewed through unrealistic lenses shaped by social media, peer pressure and material expectations, rather than mutual respect, patience and shared values.
“Many people go into marriage with expectations that are not grounded in reality. When those expectations are not met, conflict sets in and eventually leads to separation or divorce,” he observed.
The Bishop noted that some couples lacked proper preparation before marriage, adding that pre-marital counselling was often treated as a formality rather than an opportunity to gain deeper insight into marital life.
He stressed the need for churches, families and society to intensify education on marriage, particularly among the youth, to help them make informed decisions before entering into marital unions.
The Bishop also urged married couples to embrace dialogue, forgiveness and understanding, saying disagreements were inevitable but could be resolved through patience and commitment.
He urged couples experiencing challenges to seek counselling instead of resorting to separation, emphasising that strong families remained the foundation of a stable and progressive society.
By Kennedy Afedzi
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