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Strategic collaboration will safeguard cocoa industry
Strategic collaboration implies that two or more organisations or individuals will come together to work in the interest of parties in order to be able to achieve their purpose whenever they are faced with certain challenges or obstacles which they need to overcome to promote their common interest.
It may be possible for an individual to adopt a method that will help to promote the interest of that individual, but this cannot always be successful depending on prevailing circumstances. Whenever circumstances are highly unfavourable, an individual may not be able to come out with an option that may be as effective as expected to overcome the challenge.
Challenges
As a nation, Ghana has been faced with a number of challenges over the years. In 1983, for example, the country experienced a number of bush fires in various parts which resulted in food shortage in the country at the time. Prior to this, that is, in the late 1970’s, there had been similar food shortages in the country even though early on the Acheampong government had successfully introduced what was known as “Operation Feed Yourself”.
The “Operation Feed Yourself” was an agricultural programme that was introduced to encourage people to go into farming and produce enough to feed their families. Every available space in people’s backyard was to be utilised to produce food for the family. The programme proved to be very successful from 1973 to about 1975. By 1977, hunger had started to hit the country again, making the Acheampong government very unpopular.
Maximises production
These past challenges in the area of agriculture have guided Ghanaians to realise the need to maximise production in the agricultural sector so as to be able to feed themselves and possibly export food to other countries. Even though some governments that followed did not learn any lesson from this, the government of Akufo-Addo appears to have learnt something from what was experienced in the late 1970’s and also in the early 1980’s, hence the introduction of “Planting For Food and Jobs” and other programmes to alleviate the plight of the Ghanaian.
The challenges faced by the country in the early 70s and 80s could not be used to guide subsequent governments that were put in charge of the administration of this country. For this reason, the agricultural sector did not see much improvement.
Similarly, other challenges have emerged to confront the country today in spite of the successes chalked by this country. For example, for many years, cocoa had served as the backbone of the economy of Ghana, providing for many of its socio-economic needs to enhance the welfare of the people. Understood in this sense, the cocoa industry is vitally linked to the growth and welfare of the country. If the cocoa industry does well, the whole national economy also does well to the benefit of everyone.
Cocoa industry beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of the cocoa industry are numerous. Cocoa farmers in the country will be the first to emphasise that it is the industry that has sustained them and their families up to this time. Again, many cocoa processing companies have benefited from the industry by way of employment and incomes that have been earned over the years.
Also, as a nation, the country has earned substantial sums of income in form of foreign exchange to undertake numerous development projects. The building of hospitals and construction of roads as well as schools and tertiary institutions, among others, have all been made possible as a result of the earnings from cocoa over the years.
Cocoa Board Scholarship
It is equally important to note that it is earnings from cocoa that enabled Ghana to establish Cocoa Board Scholarship for many students. This assisted many of them to pursue their educational dreams and to prepare them adequately to become useful citizens.
All these are indications of the great strategic role that has been played by the cocoa industry to the economy of Ghana. It is for this reason that every effort will have to be made to protect the industry. If this is not done and the industry suffers, the effect will be disastrous for the country.
In recent times, we have heard of stories threatening the foundations of the industry in the sense that the operation of illegal small-scale mining is adversely affecting the soil on which the cocoa crop is grown. The industry has been threatened also with deforestation which is affecting the cocoa industry. Apart from deforestation, illegal small-scale mining has also adversely affected waterbodies in the country. It has even been predicted that a few years from now, if the situation is not checked, Ghana will be forced to import water.
Reversing the unfavourable trend
What this means is that strenuous effort will have to be made to reverse this unfavourable trend so that the cocoa industry will be safeguarded. This does not depend only on Ghana or Cote d’Ivoire who are the major cocoa producing countries but all other countries that also serve as consumers of the cocoa product as well as the processes.
The collapse of the cocoa industry is, therefore, a threat to many countries in the world. It is for this reason that a collective effort is needed to right every wrong that is plaguing the cocoa industry. It is in the light of this that Ghana and cocoa and chocolate companies have announced an agreement to accelerate collaboration to protect and restore forests in cocoa-growing areas.
With this agreement, the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Forestry Commission of Ghana (GFC) are building a partnership to further align the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) and the Cocoa & Forests Initiative to achieve no deforestation commitments. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by GFC and WCF, commits the parties to working together in six regions where the government of Ghana has initiated action to protect and restore forests as a priority.
Economic importance of cocoa
The importance of cocoa to the economy of Ghana cannot be overemphasised. This is because the cash crop is a major source of foreign exchange for the country. Again, as has been pointed out already, it is money from cocoa that is used to build hospitals and roads for the benefit of the country.
About 800,000 small scale cocoa farmers make up 60 per cent of the country’s agricultural base. However, despite their importance to Ghana’s development, many cocoa farming families live in poverty, a situation that ought to be changed without delay.
In a nutshell, cocoa is the backbone of the economy of Ghana. If this is the case, then Ghana together with other partners will have to do all it can to revive the cocoa industry from collapse. This can be done, so let all the partners work assiduously for our common good and welfare.
Dr Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
In a country like ours in which we are aware of our challenges, all that is required is focusing on strengthening our institutional processes by making them more robust and transparent. In this regard, investment in digitilisation must be prioritised since the human element to cut corners is inherent in the psyche of some people and therefore cannot be trusted to do the right things out of their own volition.
Enforcement of existing laws and regulations must be reviewed to see what is working, which ones have to be tweaked to be able to address current challenges, and those that have become obsolete and must be discarded.
One issue that needs to be given priority attention is remuneration. A former President is alleged to declare that we pretend to pay workers and they also pretend to work. This indeed sums up the quandary facing government after government. Workers’ salaries are crucial in the fight against corruption. A realistic living wage must be given to workers; otherwise, they will seek avenues to address their personal budget deficit.
On day one, what should engage the attention of government is Energy, making it available and affordable. The industrialisation agenda cannot be successfully executed without power that is readily available, reliable, and affordable. Solar energy must be factored in the quest for affordable and reliable power for industry.
The fuel sector issues must be urgently addressed so that it can impact positively on the transportation sector, which plays a key role in the supply of goods and services. The railway infrastructure plan linking places like Boankra Inland Port to prolong the lifespan of our roads and to fast track distribution of goods from the Capital City to the inland areas of the country should be a top priority item.
A well-structured system linking industry to academia must be quickly established to serve as a catalyst towards the industrialisation drive. Research findings from the universities must be channelled to captains of industry in a timely manner. Effective channels of communication should be established to facilitate shorter product-to-market times.
An effective mechanism for fishing out needy but talented children must be established, as well as a sponsorship package for talented individuals who are needed for certain critical areas of the economy — what I term critical investment in education.
Certain changes must be made in the constitution, particularly the appointment of the heads of certain constitutional bodies or institutions. This is to ensure that the Executive arm of government does not wield too much power to ensure accountability and checks and balances really work.
The Attorney General’s Office must be detached from the Executive arm of government. The Nolle Prosequi provision must also be amended to compel the Attorney General to give an explanation of why he or she is declining to prosecute a particular case or discontinue it. The provision that protects sitting Presidents from prosecution must also be reviewed.
The punishment for some of our laws needs a review. We must review the removal of CJ provision to ensure the independence of the Judiciary.
Above all, there must be a mindset of change, i.e., a paradigm shift from inability to capability. Inferiority complex must give way to a pacesetters mentality, and all will be well. God bless.
NB: KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
BY LAUD KISSI-MENSAH
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Features
The impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures
Abstract
THIS comprehensive review aims to explore the impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures. We examine the scientific literature on these approaches, including their definitions, theoretical frameworks, and applications. Our analysis highlights the potential benefits and risks of these approaches and discusses their implications for practice.
Introduction
Neurological and neurosurgical procedures are complex and delicate, requiring precision and accuracy to achieve optimal outcomes. Emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of these procedures. Emotional surgery involves the use of art and other creative techniques to promote relaxation and reduce stress, while emotional elysium focuses on cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being.
The Role of Emotional Surgery in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures
Emotional surgery has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, emotional surgery can help patients prepare for procedures, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.
The Role of Emotional Elysium in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures
Emotional elysium has been shown to be effective in promoting emotional balance and resilience in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being, emotional elysium can help patients cope with the stress and trauma associated with these procedures, leading to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life.
Benefits of Emotional Surgery and Emotional Elysium
The benefits of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures are numerous. These approaches can:
- Reduce anxiety and stress: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients manage anxiety and stress, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.
- Improve emotional regulation: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients regulate their emotions, leading to improved mental health and well-being.
- Enhance patient experience: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can improve the patient experience, leading to increased satisfaction and improved outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By reducing anxiety and stress, promoting emotional balance and resilience, and improving patient experience, these approaches can lead to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for patients undergoing these procedures.
Recommendations
- Further research is needed: More research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures.
- Integration into practice: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium should be considered for integration into practice, as they may offer a valuable tool in the treatment of a range of neurological and neurosurgical conditions.
By exploring innovative approaches like emotional surgery and emotional elysium, we can improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of life for individuals undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures.
BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
