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Farmers cautioned about use of fire
Farmers across the country have been urged to exercise extreme caution in the use of fire, as deceptive weather conditions threaten to trigger bushfire outbreaks despite recent rainfall in parts of Ghana.
Mr Thomas Kwabena Bonsu, Executive Director of the Kumasi-based Fire and Bush Burning Prevention Advocacy, issued the warning in a public statement responding to alerts from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet).
He noted that while isolated rains may give the impression of reduced fire risk, the underlying heat wave and dry conditions remain dangerously persistent.
“The rains we’re seeing in some areas are not enough to suppress the high temperatures and dry vegetation,” Mr Bonsu cautioned. “This is a critical time for farmers to be vigilant. A single spark could devastate entire farms.”
According to GMet, temperatures are expected to rise sharply in the coming days, with the approaching harmattan season further intensifying the heat. The agency has advised the public to prepare for scorching conditions and to avoid activities that could ignite fires.
Mr Bonsu identified common bushfire triggers such as burning for land clearing, hunting, smoking, and cooking on farms.
He stressed that farmers must take GMet’s warnings seriously and adopt preventive measures to protect their crops, livelihoods, and surrounding communities.
“Bushfires don’t just destroy farms—they erase years of investment and threaten food security,” he said.
He also called for stronger public support for fire safety education campaigns, urging community leaders, media outlets, and civil society groups to help raise awareness about responsible fire use both in homes and in the bush.
The Fire and Bush Burning Prevention Advocacy organisation continues to work closely with GMet and other stakeholders to promote climate resilience and fire prevention across Ghana.
From Kingsley E. Hop, Kumasi
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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
