News
Shama District gets rice factory
Inset: Mr. Jesse Prah (second left) assisting Mr. Darko-Mensah (3rd left) to inaugurate the rice factory
A rice processing plant, owned by Jesse Prah Enterprise at Anto, in the Shama District of the Western Region, has been inaugurated by SNV Ghana under the European Union (EU) GrEEn Project.
Sited on a two-acre land, the facility, producing ‘Roland Rice, is equipped with a rice mill, de-stoner, a rice de-husker, polisher and a pelletiser machine, also converts rice husk into feed for pigs.
It is expected to create jobs for youth in the Shama District and provide local rice growers access to a mill to improve rice production in the region.
As part of GrEEn project objectives of supporting green businesses and entrepreneurs, SNV Ghana rolled out the GrEEn Innovation Challenge in 2021, to award a matching grant of up to EUR 25,000 to small and medium scale businesses that have innovative products and services.
Key areas include agriculture, renewable energy and energy efficiency and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
Jesse Roland Prah Enterprise, a rice farmer, was among 12 SMEs in the Ashanti and Western regions, who received the matching grant of 25,000 Euros.
Additionally, it received six-month free business advisory support from SNV Ghana under the GrEEn Incubation Programme facilitated by Duapa Werkspace, a business hub in Takoradi.
Speaking at the ceremony last Friday, Senior Adviser, Incubation and Acceleration at SNV, Ms. Genevieve Parker-Twum, remarked “Jesse, has really done well. He took all that he was taught to good use. From EU, SNV Ghana, we say congratulations to Roland rice”.
Chief Executive, Jesse Prah Enterprise (Roland Enterprise), Roland Prah, said: “We have the finest and most nutritious rice in the country, and with this facility, production is going to increase. I want to encourage the youth to invest in agriculture.”
He expressed his gratitude to SNV Ghana and the EU for their support.
Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, said government believed in production, and that, if the private sector was supported, it could go far.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Anto
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has advised Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures ahead of planned protest activities expected on June 30.
In a public advisory issued on Monday, June 29, the Mission urged Ghanaian nationals to prioritise their safety following a deadline announced by a group known as “March and March” and its affiliated organisations, which could lead to demonstrations and disruptions in parts of the country.
The High Commission advised Ghanaians to stay indoors, especially in central business districts, transport hubs, informal trading areas and other locations where protests may occur.
It encouraged them to temporarily close their businesses where necessary and avoid unnecessary movement until the situation stabilises.
The Mission further urged members of the Ghanaian community to avoid confrontations or provocative discussions, including on social media, and to ensure that their passports, residence permits and other identification documents were readily available at all times.
According to the High Commission, emergency telephone lines have been activated to provide assistance and receive reports from Ghanaians who may require help during the period.
It encouraged Ghanaians to remain calm, obey the laws of South Africa and cooperate fully with local authorities.
The Mission advised them to rely only on information from credible official sources and avoid sharing unverified reports or rumours that could create unnecessary panic.
The Ghana High Commission assured the Ghanaian community that it would continue to monitor developments and provide updates when necessary, adding that it remained committed to protecting the welfare of all Ghanaian nationals in South Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s handling of the flooding that hit parts of Accra and surrounding communities on Monday, urging it to move beyond what it described as public relations activities and take decisive action to address the country’s flood challenges.
In a press release issued on June 29, the party expressed sympathy to thousands of people affected by the floods but maintained that the government had failed to respond effectively to the recurring disaster.
The NPP noted that communities including the N1 Highway, Apenkwa, Achimota, Kaneshie, Weija, Spintex, Darkuman Junction and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange were flooded after heavy rains.
According to the party, these communities have experienced flooding repeatedly over the years, making it necessary for government to adopt long term solutions.
The NPP argued that the current administration had created confusion by splitting responsibility for flood management between the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
It claimed that the arrangement had resulted in poor coordination, with the two ministries competing over responsibilities instead of working together to address the problem.
The party questioned the decision to place Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe in charge of coordinating flood response efforts.
According to the NPP, he does not have the authority to direct ministers, making the current command structure ineffective.
The opposition party further alleged that some anti flood measures announced by the government had either not been implemented or had been poorly executed.
It claimed that delays in the release of funds for flood mitigation programmes had affected ongoing interventions.
The NPP rejected recent comments by President John Dramani Mahama that flooding was partly caused by poor environmental practices and indiscipline among some citizens.
It argued that while public cooperation was important, the government should take responsibility for designing and implementing effective flood management policies.
The party called on the President to place flood management under one ministry, appoint a single minister to lead the response, and provide a public account of the work and spending of the Anti Flood Task Force.
It also urged the government to work closely with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and technical experts to improve land use planning, sanitation management and drainage infrastructure.
The statement, signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, stressed that the party would continue to hold the government accountable while standing with families affected by the floods.
By: Jacob Aggrey
