WORKS of Kofi Adu Domfeh

Youth initiative drives Ghana on Bamboo Bikes

2012-02-10T04:59:00.000-08:00

The Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative in the West African country’s second largest city, Kumasi, is finalizing arrangements for the scaling up of production to serve the transportation needs of healthcare workers, teachers, students and farmers in rural Ghana.

The local bamboo bike industry is emerging to deliver a sustainable and affordable form of transportation that satisfies local needs and suitable for the European and US export markets.

The production of high-quality multi-purpose bicycles has so far attracted the support and partnership of the Green Microfinance in the United States and the World Bamboo Organisation and other research and development institutions such as the Kolding School of Design in Dennmark and other Ivy League Universities in the US.

“With our commitment to build a bicycle industry in Ghana, we will customize and develop bicycles for the local market especially for farmers in the rural areas. The bicycles will be distributed through the Independent Bicycle Dealers whom we are currently building relationship with throughout the country so that on scaling up we will be able to get our bicycles to the farthest regions of the country providing equal benefits to all Ghanaians from the North to the South”, said Kwame Kyei, Social Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of the Initiative.

The bamboo bike market is still growing and it is growing at a faster rate in its own niche market. With the wind of global warming and climate change issues blowing all over the world, coupled with increasing cost of steel and aluminium, concern for higher fuel prices, the environment and increasing efforts in bicycle advocacy, bicycle ridership has grown over the last few years globally and bicycle enthusiasts all over the world are gradually eyeing bamboo bikes.

Compared to the production of traditional metal bicycles, bamboo bikes require less electricity and no hazardous chemicals. The Ghana Bamboo Bikes contribute to a carbon-free and greener planet by reducing carbon emission by about 70 percent.

Ghana Bamboo Bikes design, develop and market multi-purpose bikes and related products and services using native bamboo. The light and stable frames are suitable for rough terrain and for carrying large farm loads and passengers.

The Bikes initiative aims at taking advantage of the abundant raw bamboo materials in Ghana to manufacture high quality bamboo bikes affordable to the poor and appropriate for the road conditions.

Bernice Dapaah is Executive Director of Bright Generation Community Foundation, which is responsible for the overall management of the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative.

She says the project is helping to improve the environment and creating employment opportunities for the youth and people with disability.

“Our vision is to help create employment for street children and also the physically challenged – we’ve employed ten street children and physically challenged and we are anticipating that by the end of the year, we can employ about 100 of the youth and also export thousands of bicycles to international platforms,” Dapaah noted.

The Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative achieved about 70 percent of its production target for 2011, exporting 50 bicycles to Austria, 10 to China and five to the US.

As part of its scale up strategies, the Initiative plans to establish a bamboo plantation to support climate mitigation strategies.

Bamboo is the fastest growing canopy for re-greening of degraded lands. It also provides nutrition for humans and animals as well as helps improve air and water quality.

The Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative seeks to break the status quo in the development of a bicycle industry in Ghana and train people with little or no education in the manufacturing and assembling of bamboo bikes and spearheading the production of stable, cheaper and reliable bikes in Ghana thus reducing Ghana’s dependence on fossil fuels whiles increasing economic activities of rural Ghanaians.

The project won the 2010 SEED Awards by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). It also received a $10,000 prize to invest and grow the enterprise in the maiden edition of the ImagineNations Global Business Plan competition 2011 and was recently selected as a winner of the German Government’s 2011 Impact Business Award in recognition of the innovativeness of its business model and achievements in combating Climate Change.

The awards, according Kwame Kyei, “have made a lot of difference for us especially with respect to urgently needed funds for some research and development and acquisition of some tools. If you are targeting the international market there is the need for you to get some level of ISO certification and in the bike industry, additional safety assurance certification which we are still working on. Of course the funds assisted us to start this process which we are almost through”.

He is excited at the number of offers and business opportunities coming from private investors interested in investing in the project and others seeking technology transfer to start bamboo bike production in their countries.

He however says “as a small social enterprise we do not want to be distracted by all the offers on board so we are in the process of working through which most closely match our strategy to pursue at the right time.

“We would like to take advantage of these unique opportunities coming on our way to develop other products and diversify our production and will hold brief onto that until those products are ready for the market”.

The Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative is based on the revolutionary idea that to truly enjoy lasting development, Africa producers must create, grow and control successful global brands and the equity developed in them, the very same formula that global brands in developed nations have so successfully deployed to build themselves and their countries.

A country like Ghana is rich in physical, cultural and intellectual resources and the country’s unique products is living proof that Africa can control its own destiny by rising up the value chain and exporting higher value branded finished goods, instead of low value commodity exports as creating innovative world class products and trading them with the world.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Weblinks January 2012

2012-01-31T03:35:00.000-08:00

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79090.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79591.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79204.php

http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79187.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79348.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79505.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79413.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/finance/201201/79923.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201201/79888.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79756.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/79637.php

http://world.myjoyonline.com/pages/africa/201201/80137.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/80099.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/80284.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/80285.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201201/80287.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/80626.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201201/80646.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/80649.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/80727.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201201/80728.php

ALL FOR GOOD IN ABC...

2012-01-09T03:55:00.000-08:00

An abracadabra of adoration averts aggression

Believing that blessings bespeak breezy bliss

Commanding character that creates comfort in compassion

Dazzlingly displaying discipline to discourage depression

Enhancing endurance to ease enamoured echelon

Freely forgiving failure to fortify faith in friendship

Generously giving to generate genuine gusto

Harnessing humility to harm hypocrisy

Instilling integrity to influence ignoble injustice

Jocosing in joy of jest with no jealousy

Kindly keeping up with knowing kindred

Living a limpid life of love in long-suffering

Mastering modesty to mystify myriad materialism

Nonchalantly nullifying nefarious nothingness

Opposing ostensibly obdurate outbursts of oppression

Peace packaged in perseverance of palatial prosperity

Qualm of quietism quashing queer quarrel

Relaxing in the reward of robust reputation

Sacrificing in service to salvage suffering

Taming truth in trust in times of trails

Upholding unity in unimpeachable unison

Verily vacating vainglory for valuable virtue

Warding off worry with words of wisdom

X-raying xenophobia as an x in ‘xpressionism

Yearning for a yobbo to yield as a yes man

Zealously zooming in zest to the zenith!

Bizness Year 2011 in Review

2011-12-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

In his State of the Nation's address 2011, President Mills said the country maintained a good growth rate in 2010 and therefore expected a higher level this year.

He reiterated his focus on achieving his better Ghana Agenda at a time petroleum prices had just been increased.

Series of industrial actions however hit the labour front in 2011 as a result of challenges in the implementation of the single spine pay policy.

Doctors, teachers, civil servants and others agitated better placements on the Spine, which dominated issues in this year’s May Day celebration.

Ashanti regional Acting Secretary of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, Clement Kaba, told Luv Biz Report things could have been better.

The pricing of sachet water brought producers face-to-face with city authorities.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly challenged the basis for increasing the retail price of the sachet of water from 5 to 10 Ghana pesewas.

The Association of Sachet Water Producers however justified the price adjustment citing rising utility and raw material cost as well determination to protect consumer health.

The year 2011 has been full of entrepreneurial activities. Several events were held in Kumasi aimed at empowering the youth to establish their enterprises.

Business advocates encouraged young graduates to look beyond government and other establishments for employment.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Chief Executive of rLG Communications, Roland Agambire urged the youth to regard failure as part of life and be anxious to dare into the world of business.

Ghanaian pharmacist and entrepreneur, Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo also schooled business students on creativity and innovation in business.

Local businesses were afforded an opportunity to enlist onto a website by produce marketing company, Made In Africa Investment Company.

Managing Director, Ms. Zuliatu Morton was upbeat about the success of the project in Kumasi.

The Association of Ghana Industries also resuscitated the Industrial and Technology Fair INDUTECH to support local industrial development for job and wealth creation.

Products showcased at the one week fair included building materials, agro-processed products, cosmetics, fabrics and other services to propel industrialization.

The fair was beneficial according to AGI’s Robert Nkatia.

The Bamboo Bikes initiative in Kumasi is perhaps the most innovative project in 2011, with thousands of bikes expected to be manufactured for the Ghanaian, European and US markets.

Bernice Dapaah, Executive Director of Bright Generation Community Foundation, said the project is helping to improve the environment and creating employment opportunities for the youth and people with disability.

The KMA also faced a difficult task in the ejection and relocation of traders at the Race Course Market, to pave way for construction of the Sun City project.

The Over 10 thousand traders were eventually moved to the new Abinkyi market and other satellite markets but the traders complained of inadequate arrangements for their resettlement.

Shop owners and other businesses at Ahodwo whose structures were demolished in a decongestion exercise by the KMA petitioned the Ashanti regional minister to investigate the motive behind the exercise.

They alleged the removal of their facilities was born out of mischief rather than beautification of the city.

Former Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Professor Kodwo Ewusi projected Ghana will achieve real per capita income of $4,800 dollars per annum by 2015.

Speaking at the 1^st Economic Conference of the KNUST’s Department of Economics, he said by exceeding the $4,000 mark, Ghana will become a true middle income economy.

A number of businesses in the course of the year established branches in Kumasi, and leading the pack were financial service providers and dealers in consumer products.

However, real investments in tourism, agro-processing and manufacturing remain unattractive to investors.

Investment promoters like the Coordinator of the Millennium Cities Initiative, Abenaa Akuamoah-Boateng, decried the centering of economic development in the Greater Accra Region.

There were also signs of mergers and acquisitions in the local business environment with the financial industry leading the pack.

Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Edward Effah, told Luv Biz there will always be room for different size of players but it is most important for indigenous institutions to survive.

2011 was a year of much talk about agriculture.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu the second noted Ghana can serve as a model for the World Bank in identifying missing links to solving problems for developing agriculture in Africa.

He observes the country has the requisite human resource capacity, adding what is left is how to harmonize and coordinate agricultural projects to achieve the desired objectives.

Farmers and food processors in the country were exposed to improved crop varieties to increase yield and add value to production.

The Crop Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) developed new technologies emanating from the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP).

Programme coordinator, Dr. Joe Manu-Aduenning, told Luv Biz farmers and processors can take advantage of different crop varieties to enhance food production.

On the heels of the 27^th National Farmers and Fishers Awards Day, concerns were raised that majority of Ghanaian farmers were interested in empowering their children to take up professions other than farming as their future economic activity.

Executive Director of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union, Emmanuel Arthur, observed food production and export of cash crops like cocoa would be negatively impacted if the youth are not made to be active in agriculture.

Farmers in the country were also asked to avoid using workforce that does not commensurate with the physique and stature of children, on cocoa farms.

Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Antwi Boseiko-Sekyere said the country’s middle income status will be meaningless unless children’s education and wellbeing are promoted.

Over 100 firms in the northern sector of the country registered with the Ghana Association of Microfinance Companies to play under the Bank of Ghana’s new rules and guidelines.

But Cooperative credit unions felt threatened by activities of microfinance companies in competition for clients.

Chairman of the Crops Research Institute (CRI) Credit Union, Michael Kofi Adu, called for the speedy passage of the Credit Union Bill to enable them retain and grow members.

The pozzolana cement factory at Gomoa Mprumem in the Central Region was shut down for lack of local patronage of its products, barely four months after production commenced.

This did not go down well with the workers who decried government’s foresight in things that matter to national development.

Climate change was topical in 2011 and one of the urgent calls was for Ghana to begin harvesting rain water for sustainable development.

Environmental rights activist, Nana Dwomoh Sarpong warned against the unbridled drilling of borehole facilities, which he identified as “a great threat to our water resources” and food security.

According to Nana Dwomoh, the reality of climate change requires the country to critically look at alternatives to access water.

Weblinks December 2011

2011-12-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/77534.php

http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/music/201112/77551.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/77667.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/77737.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201112/77745.php

http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78053.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/finance/201112/78091.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201112/78141.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78201.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201112/78212.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78265.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78332.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78419.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78474.php

http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78517.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/finance/201112/78561.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78612.php

http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78710.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78732.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/78821.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201112/79010.php

http://www.modernghana.com/news/364464/1/kumasi-worships-with-sonnie-badu.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/368308/1/reggae-lovers-to-jam-at-sunsplash-ghana-debut.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/368404/1/ghanaian-social-entrepreneur-picks-un-award.html

http://www.entrepreneurshipafrica.com/business-resources/entrepnews/ghanaian-women-convert-sweet-potatoes-into-potaghurt.html

Ghanaian women find new love for sweet potato

2011-12-14T09:44:00.001-08:00

Women in parts of the Upper East, Volta and Central regions of Ghana have found new love in sweet potatoes.

They farm a lot of the crop. However, the product is mainly boiled or fried to serve as menu on the local cuisine of households.

But, through the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), women’s groups in the local communities have new job opportunities to increase family incomes. Hitherto they were engaged in the production and selling of soymilk and soybean ice cream.

They are now in the business of producing yogurt from sweet potato and helping to train others in the production. The ‘Potaghurt’, is healthy and nutritious.

RTIM identified, supported and trained women’s groups in the business of producing value-added potato products.

“After the training on potaghurt production, we realized that the products that they trained us on were good so we asked for some of the things that we may need to produce the Potaghurt”, said Madam Doris, who belongs to the Wedada group in the Kasena Nankana West District of the Upper East region.

The women receive financial support under the RTIMP’s Micro-Enterprise Fund (MEF), a non-cash commodity chain facility designed to meet the needs of the rural poor. This involves a 10 percent equity contribution from beneficiary groups, 40 percent grant from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and 50 percent loan component from the Naara Rural Bank in Upper East Region.

The grant size ranges from $US400 for individuals in a group, to US$12,000 for growth oriented enterprises based on bankable business plan.

According to Dr. Oppong Mensah-Aborampah, business development training and marketing specialist in charge of the MEF, 48 enterprises and groups have been trained and supported to access the fund and over Gh¢382,000 total grant have been disbursed since 2007.

The women’s groups in the Potaghurt production have been supported with refrigerators, deep freezers, ice chests, sauce pans, ovens and blenders to prepare the Potaghurt.

They have performed “incredibly well”, says Kambilige Stanley, Project Officer of the Naara Rural Bank at Paga, noting that the women are recording almost 100 percent in loan repayment.

Already the RTIMP is looking forward to scaling up the Potaghurt business to other parts of the country where sweet potato is cultivated.

“All the farmers need to know is that there is market for the produce and they will go into the production of the sweet potato. So if the demand of the Potaghurt goes up, there will be market for the raw material and then farmers will go into production”, observed Veronica Ivy Dzreke, a Capacity Building and Linkages Officer with RTIMP.

She is excited at the demand for Potaghurt and believes building the capacity of the women in food hygiene, quality management and processing systems, business development, record keeping and costing will help sustain their businesses.

Presently, the business support has changed the fortunes of the women – beneficiaries can now further their education as well as support siblings and children’s education.

“It has helped some of us to be able to have market and that is bringing us income into our home… as at now I can use that money to purchase some small items that I need and if my husband gives me some money and it’s not enough I can use some of my profit to take care of the family”, said Madam Doris, who has moved her child from the public to private school because she can afford to pay the school fees from her improved income levels.

“What is left is to scale up and vigorously promote the product. For the start, sale points will be set up at the University of Development Studies whilst the RTIMP is in the process of advertising the product. The Ghana Institute of Packaging has been supported to develop a variety of packaging materials to snip varying products” says Akwasi Adjei Adjekum, the National Programme Coordinator of RTIMP.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Weblinks November 2011

2011-11-30T10:36:00.000-08:00

http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=477

http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=471

http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/comment/201111/77273.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/75713.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/75805.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/75758.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201111/75936.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201111/76170.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201111/76250.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/finance/201111/76495.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201111/76337.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/tourism/201111/76752.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76832.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76800.php

http://www.africanews.com/site/Ghana_moves_to_gain_from_carbon_trade/list_messages/40231

http://www.modernghana.com/news/358564/1/ghanaian-women-find-new-love-for-sweet-potato.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/358877/1/yam-farmers-increase-crop-yield-with-improved-plan.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/359695/1/good-practice-centres-add-value-to-cassava-product.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/359869/1/ghana-on-course-in-implementing-climate-change-mec.html

http://www.africanews.com/site/list_message/36109?data[source]=rss#m36109

http://ghanapolitics.net/Business-in-Ghana-News/ghanaian-women-find-new-love-for-sweet-potato.html

Reports from Reuters Training in South Africa

http://www.africanews.com/site/list_message/36345

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/investment/201111/77100.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/stockmarket/201111/77247.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/77403.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/77402.php

http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/comment/201111/77273.php

http://www.modernghana.com/news/362327/1/south-africa-is-not-winning-war-on-corruption-says.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/362967/1/trade-expert-questions-leadership-drive-to-grow-af.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/363519/1/african-stock-exchanges-to-find-ways-to-work-toget.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/363819/1/transfer-pricing-transgression-erodes-africas-tax-.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/364020/1/africa-to-sign-up-to-treaty-on-tax-information-exc.html

Changing our ways before we’re changed by the climate

2011-11-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

The hilly slope of South Africa’s Institute for the Advancement of Journalism offers a perfect bird’s eye view of the City of Gold’s rich ornamental environment.

Johannesburg is one of the world’s greenest cities and part of the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group. Home to some 10 million trees, the city boasts the largest man-made urban forest.

Fascinatingly, about 7.5 million of the planted trees are private properties, whilst the other 2.5 million are in parks. In 2010, the city planted 200,000 street trees and an additional 20,000 for 2011.

These figures should get everyone thinking about what other cities on the continent can do and should be doing, as the world’s biggest summit on climate change holds in Durban, South Africa.

So what are some of the little and big things everyone needs to be doing to dodge the damning impact of a changing climate, especially in Africa, where already the changing weather and rainfall patterns are having a major impact?

According to Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the youth are critical to global efforts to combat deforestation and natural resource degradation.

Getting the youth involved in conservation, he believes, could help preserve the African forests, sustain efforts on reforestation, and slow down the alarming rate of deforestation and natural resource degradation.

Between 1990 and 2005 alone, the world lost 3.3% of its forests.

Ghana lost 33.7 percent of its forest cover between 1990 and 2010, an average of 125,400 ha or 1.68 percent per year.

“The consequence of this situation has led to global warming and climate change that is now affecting agricultural production,” says Dr. Sanginga.

A recent study by the World Bank said Sub-Saharan Africa alone will need to find another $14-17 billion a year between now and 2050, with the cost of adapting to climate change added to the mix.

The Bank’s Vice President for the Africa Region, Obiageli Ezekwesili, says climate change is adding to an already tough set of development challenges for the continent.

The World Bank Group has about $7 billion in planned investments to help Africa deal with climate change – ranging from helping countries come to terms with climate risks and vulnerabilities to designing new climate-friendly policies to making the shift to renewable forms of energy.

These investments must however be driven by individual and collective commitment to mitigate the changing climate.

The Nigerian Field Society for instance, wants to recruit youths who are committed to the cause of environmental protection and raise awareness on the negative effects of deforestation, as a response in curbing forest loss.

The gathering of the 17^th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) would attempt to find a common solution to secure a future for generations to come.

But it is hoped that cities in Africa will not just be caught in the debate of a new global agreement on greenhouse gas emission.

The Johannesburg green credentials should be inspiring enough for Africa to start walking the talk of mitigating climate change.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Harnessing agricultural research for national development

2011-11-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has the research capacity to drastically reduce the huge annual import bill for rice and yellow maize, says Kwesi Ahwoi, Minster of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

He has however acknowledged the need for Ghana’s policy environment to be put right to increase the production of cereals from the current 51 percent.

“How to fund research in a focused manner”, he noted, is one key challenge for Ghana’s agric modernization and commercialization.

Mr. Ahwoi says it is his “avowed desire and commitment” for MOFA to work in unison with the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) and Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) to “significantly increase the funding of our research institutions to enhance the status of research and researchers and scientist so that Ghanaian farmers can get the best out of them through enhanced research-extension linkages”.

The Minister was speaking at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CRI) Open Day in Kumasi, under the theme: “Harnessing Agricultural Research for National Development”.

The Institute opened its doors to farmers, industrialists, students and general public to visit its research fields and laboratories as well as showcased improved technologies developed to increase agricultural production.

Citing the cocoa sector as a success story, Mr. Ahwoi challenged the CSIR and other research institutions to put up a strategic proposal to apply similar methodology to two or three other crops.

“Agriculture is not natural, it is a human invention based on the efficient and cost effective application of science and technology to nature through research and to make the research results readily available and affordable to farmers to increase agricultural productivity, ra

ise farm incomes, reduce rural poverty, improve food security and accelerate the rate of economic development”, stated the Agric Minister.

He lauded the contribution of CRI mandated crops to the national economy.

The CSIR-CRI, established in 1964, has been developing and disseminating environmentally sound technologies for high and sustainable food and industrial crops – grains, roots and tubers, horticultural and vegetables.

Crop varieties released for Ghanaian farmers and consumers include 25 maize (most popular is ‘Obaatanpa’ used across the Africa region), 11 cassava, 10 cowpea, 8 sweet potato, 7 rice, 4 soybean and 4 groundnut. There are also 3 yam, 2 pepper, 1 plantain and 1 banana varieties.

Deputy Director-General of the CSIR, Dr. Rose Emma Mamaa Entsua Mensah said the scientists have also introduced to rice farmers the ‘Sawah Technology’ for rice production in the inland valleys.

“Some of you may not be aware that some market women buy our improved rice varieties and bag them as imported American grain and consumers eat them without knowing the difference. This is because the Crops Research Institute and its sister institute, the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute have out with rice varieties comparable to refined rice such as Gbewaa rice, sika mo and ‘efie ne fie’”, she stated.

Dr. Entsua Mensah added the return of maize research in Ghana since 2005 stands at 79 percent.

She has however bemoaned the low staff salary compared with analogues institutions. This, according to her, has resulted in low staff morale resulting in high attrition, as most of the Council’s experienced research scientists leave for the universities and other institutions which offer better conditions of service.

The government has asked the CSIR to commercialize their research activities to generate internal funds.

The CSIR-CRI for instance is collaborating with some processing companies to add-value to varieties released by the Institute. These include the Premium Foods Limited – maize-based food products; Masig Natural Fruits Industries – banana variety into juice; JOSMAC Agro

Industries – cassava varieties into gari and other products for export and local consumption; and Panford & Sons Limited – pepper Shito Adope into pepper paste.

But according to the Deputy Director-General, though the CSIR is doing its best, it is constrained because “in the area of agriculture, our clients are mostly the resource-poor farmers most of who cannot afford to buy certified seeds for their own small farms, let alone pay for consultancy services from our research scientists”.

Dr. Hans Adu-Dapaah, Director of the CRI, observed climate change poses a major threat to agricultural production.

He however says the Institute has taken prudent measures to mitigate its effect including development of drought and flood tolerant crop varieties, early and extra maturing crop varieties to escape drought.

“The Millennium Development Goals are high on our priority list and the CSIR-CRI would continue to develop high yielding and quality crops in nutrients to reduce poverty, hunger, child mortality and improve maternal health”, stated Dr. Adu-Dapaah.

The Institute is currently collaborating with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the World Bank, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and international research centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to address various challenges in agriculture.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Weblinks October 2011

2011-10-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74166.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74303.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201110/74334.php

http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74431.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/investment/201110/74451.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201110/74577.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74586.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74624.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201110/74655.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74660.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74708.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/investment/201110/74725.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74799.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201110/74800.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74985.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201110/75018.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75181.php

http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/feature/201110/75210.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/fashion/201110/75301.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75400.php

http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75453.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75454.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201110/75489.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75581.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75594.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75634.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75646.php

http://www.entrepreneurshipafrica.com/business-resources/entrepnews/ghana-job-creation-ventures-vital-for-kumasi.html

http://www.africanews.com/site/Petroleum_retailing_booms_in_Ghana/list_messages/39952

http://www.modernghana.com/news/355499/1/police-shoot-to-kill-trader-in-kumasi.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/355516/1/ghanas-bamboo-bikes-factory-to-expand-production.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/355610/1/ghanaian-student-wins-10000-global-business-plan-c.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/355871/1/obama-honors-ghanaian-in-lifetime-presidents-call-.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/356021/1/biomedical-lab-scientists-take-steps-to-weed-out-q.html

http://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/2609/16/health-professionals-want-fair-and-equitable-salar.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/356991/1/what-is-the-economic-future-of-kumasi.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/358254/1/corruption-in-ghana-attributed-to-death-of-individ.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/358468/1/luv-fm-bridal-fair-records-huge-success.html

Petroleum retailing booms in Ghana

2011-10-27T07:42:00.001-07:00

Ghana’s emerging oil industry is creating, as anticipated, new economic opportunities.

More vehicles are expected to be imported into the country, which reasonably means increased demand for petroleum products.

This, perhaps, informs the growing investment in fuel retail stations.

The upstream oil industry is barely ten months old, but there is a proliferation of petroleum retail outlets and fuel service stations across the country.

Downstream market activities of supplying products, including bitumen and lubricants, have over the years been handled by the oil marketing companies.

The deregulation policy of the petroleum sector has however attracted indigenous entrepreneurs and other individual entrants.

With increasing interest in storage, distribution and sales, there appears to be good prospects for investors; fuel distribution has become an attraction for many people.

For instance, not less than 15 fuel stations are sited on the 27 km Kumasi-Offinso Road in the Ashanti region. New stations are also being established in the city centers.

This is exciting development, that’s according to Nana Yaw Owusu, who chairs the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Ashanti Region.

“It’s going to increase our economy so much, giving

employment to a whole lot of people and even the areas where these stations are

being located it opens up businesses and so on. So there are a whole lot of benefits

that we’re going to derive”, he observed.

Some industry players, however, caution the rush into this area of investment.

“The springing up of these petroleum stations has been too phenomenal and doesn’t augur well for the industry, says Daniel Owusu-Appiah, who has 25 years experience in petroleum retail, and he has researched into franchising in the business in Ghana.

According to him, there is a high correlation between economic growth and growth for petroleum and gas.

But he observes that failure of local investors to engage competent hands to undertake effective cost-benefit analysis could be costly.

“At every point just about 1km you find a filling station springing up and you know this industry basically is based on location; where you don’t have a very good location and you’re not able to make sales up to about a minimum of ¢100,000.00, you’ll lose because the margins are very little”, Mr. Owusu-Appiah stated, taking into cognizance the cost of utilities, staff salaries and other incidentals.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) encourages the establishment of fuel outlets to ease distribution of products. The authority guides prospective investors to set up and operate fuel outlets.

Northern Zonal Manager, Samuel Asare Bediako, says more people are applying to set up such stations.

He says over 60 applications have been received from people who want to “set up filling stations or service stations or LPG filling plants. So yes we expect more of such investments to come in.”

Despite his fears, Mr. Appiah shares the view of Nana Yaw Owusu that the Ghanaian economy will eventually benefit from the fuel retail business.

He acknowledged that “where there is competition, it’s good for the consumer. So right now we have what we call price differentials – some of the oil marketing companies have gone to the extent of reducing the prices which is good for the consumer.”

Mr. Appiah believes the rise in fuel consumption pattern is an “added advantage for people to engage themselves in this business [of petroleum retailing]”.

Demand for petroleum products in Ghana is expected to continue to grow due mainly to the surge in fuel for transportation, households, manufacturing, primary processing and the service industries.

As the vehicular population in Ghana grows, nothing would perhaps stop the investing public from venturing into petroleum retailing.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

What is the economic future of Kumasi?

2011-10-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital of Ghana, is a beehive of commerce – a melting point for trading in the West African sub-region.

It is therefore not surprising that businesses hoping to reach out to customers in most parts of the country would make the city their first point of call.

Over the past few years, a good number of institutions and firms have established branches in Kumasi – with financial service providers and dealers in consumer products leading the pack.

However, the economic future of Kumasi looks uncertain because growth-oriented and job-creation ventures are amiss in the region.

Available figures indicate over 80 percent of foreign direct investments into the country are skewed towards Accra and Tema. The attraction includes ease in accessing air and sea ports, proximity to policy makers and favorable business climate.

Takoradi is expected to get a fair share of the investment drive as a result of the oil and gas exploration in the area.

In places like Kumasi however, economic opportunities in the mining and timber industries are shadows of their past. The collapse of the Shoe, Leather and Tanning and Jute factories have also contributed to the dwindled fortunes of the region.

Suame Magazine, the amiable indigenous automobile and light industrial hub, is currently under threat of modern technologies in vehicular servicing and maintenance.

The service industry and merchandising of foreign produce seem to be the best thriving businesses.

But how sustainable is it when real investments in tourism, agro-processing, commercial real estate and infrastructure remain unattractive?

This situation may not be different from most other regional capitals of Ghana and it is a worry to investment promoters.

Abenaa Akuamoah-Boateng, a Coordinator of the Millennium Cities Initiative, is uncomfortable with the centering economic development in the Greater Accra Region, saying this is a huge disservice to other regions of the country.

“What we forget is that Accra and Tema can only expand to a point, beyond that it’s chaos and disaster”, she observed. “Investors tend to stop there because all what they need to make their investments a reality are also centred in Accra.

“Even when you talk about areas like the Registrar General now being in the regions, what happens is more often than not their offices are like post offices, where you have to drop it and it still has to come to Accra”.

Mrs. Akuamoah-Boateng believes the country’s sustainable growth will mostly depend on an investment model which hinges on the strength of regional development.

Potential foreign and domestic investors should be attracted to commercially viable ventures in the regions as well as help improve the competitiveness of local enterprises.

The investment promoter stated that the Boankra Inland Port, for instance, would have served as a growth point to change the face of business in Ashanti.

“There are some industries that if we are really to look at them properly, site them properly and give them what they need to grow, it will add on – it will not take anything away from Accra and Tema – it will rather add on”, Mrs. Akuamoah-Boateng suggested.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Weblinks – September 2011

2011-09-30T05:42:00.000-07:00

http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/feature/201109/72168.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201109/72186.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/72242.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/72507.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/72567.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/tourism/201109/72668.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201109/72673.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/72777.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/72834.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/72909.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/72945.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73039.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73176.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73195.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73198.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73252.php

http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201109/73206.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73405.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73357.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73310.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73541.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201109/73538.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201109/73545.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201109/73543.php

Feature: The human rights of sexual identity

2011-09-01T02:03:00.000-07:00

The debate on homosexuality in Ghana has indeed been heated, sentimental and religious; many holding on to entrenched positions.

Recent comments by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin A.B.K Amidu has however got me thinking about the subject of human rights and sexual identity.

Mr. Amidu has declared categorically that homosexuality, if practiced privately between two consenting adults, is not illegal, stating that although same-sex relationships are generally considered wrong culturally, an individual is allowed his sexual discretion as long as it is within the confines of his home.

Now, sexism and sexual relations are age-long socio-cultural issues surrounded by intriguing taboos and controversies. In many parts of the world, informing or educating a child or teenager on reproductive health matters is only a recent phenomenon. Discussing sexual matters in the presence of immature persons had been frowned upon. Similarly, most societies and religions had portrayed and defined heterosexual relations as the only ‘natural’ act of copulation and recreation among people of the human race.

However, history and literature repeatedly indicate that there had been continuous violations of these so-called natural laws overtime. It is acknowledged that man has not always directed his burning sexual passion towards the woman; neither can it be proved the woman has always been very attracted only to the man.

Realistically, society has only managed to suppress the acts of fulfilling sexual desires to the person of the same sex by declaring such acts as ‘abnormal’ and enforcing them with severe and sometimes inhuman punishments. This is certainly not the only emotional and sexual act that society has managed to ‘control’ over past generations: what reasons can be ascribed to son-mother, father-daughter, and brother-sister sexual attractions?

Some ways an individual human being would have liked or loved to express his/her sexual feelings and satisfaction has been tagged abnormal and unnatural. People who are determined to express their emotions in a way of living a happy life, but which a part of the society considers as an order against nature, are classified as less human, morally corrupt, psychologically crooked and emotionally unstable.

The issues of gender identity and the supposed right self-expression in relationships, as in sexual orientation, have given rise to the wondering and quest for true sexual identity among some human beings, leading to transgender controversies: going for gender reassignment has the more been condemned by the society.

Social advancements and civilization has brought about individual freedoms and human rights, but without its own social vices. It is well noted that one person’s rights stops where another’s commence. In this view, sexual acts such as sadism, rape and others, which involve the inducement of force and violence, are highly condemnable. But how can anyone deny any citizen of humanity the natural bodily affection to express love through the consent of a partner?

No segment of the human society can claim that an act of unharmful sexual contract between two sane persons to satisfy their inborn passion is criminal in practice.

In most countries of the West, people who belong to the non-heterosexual groupings suffer less persecution, probably due to the level of advocacy and tolerance. But in our part if the world, an act of homosexuality or lesbianism is treated as a criminal offence, ‘culprits’ compared to armed robbers or a murderers.

Heads of States and other social leaders have pronounced damaging homophobic statements in public, paving the smooth passage for physical, psychological and emotional persecutions and torture. Homosexuals are referred to as ‘animals’ that must be treated as such.

But for the entrenchment of the Internet and its accompanying activism, homosexuality and lesbianism would have been treated as a non-existing phenomenon on the African continent. The spontaneous rise of Gay and Lesbian Rights Groups on the continent indicates a realism of an age-long undercover and seemingly private act, in line with what prostitution and extra marital affairs had been.

So, do such people tagged ‘animals’ possess the rights and freedoms at all?

Today’s world is said to be a global village, where all things happen. Things our forefathers may have regarded as forbidden and observed as taboos are today been seen as primitive, uncultured thoughts or ideas or practices. However strange and absurd it could have been, no one can testify that our ancestors never observed acts of homosexuality in one way or the other because we cannot specifically declare how their sexual desires were satisfied while in the caves of the wilderness.

Today, all governments of the world claim to be promoters and protectors of human rights and freedoms. The various national constitutions had been drawn with regard to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), of which Article 2 states that “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, SEX, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.

This provision exposes the hypocrisy and the jiggery-pockery behavior of members of the human race. Is it in ‘a spirit of brotherhood’ to maltreat a fellow human being by calling him or her an animal just for the expression of emotional needs in accordance with the law?

People in power, families and communities sometimes attempt to play Supreme by defining the good and bad, yet turning a blind eye to their own harmful, distasteful and disastrous acts: fathers raping daughters; sons going after fathers’ wives; and mothers competing for daughters’ boyfriends. These abominable acts occur on daily basis, but how many are exposed?

Soon the media jumps into the fray of persecution, ill treatment and violence perpetuated against lesbians and gays. The Press has been very interested in reporting homophobic statements by the oppressors. Guiltier are they when negative and bias reports are published portraying gays and lesbians as agents in the spread of HIV/AIDS and other complicated Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Few civil society groups are able to master the courage to propagate and champion the dignity and rights of the homosexual because ‘society’ views the act as un-African, un-Islamic, un-Christian. The few who add their voices to its condemnation of prejudice are counted and classified among the gays and lesbians. Those few who are against the harassment and torture of the non-heterosexual often feel scared and threatened; they are forced to remain coiled for safety and not to ‘soil’ their ‘clean’ projects on human rights.

But could any segment of the society be fully liberated of human rights violations when a section is subjected to calculated and well-organized bondage?

Attacks on suspected lesbians and gays take place continuously unreported. Their rights to life, liberty and security are constantly violated. Just for their sexual identity and expression, they are subjected to humiliation, torture, cruel, degrading and inhuman treatments. There is continuous arbitrary interference to their privacy to rubbish their honour and reputation. In politics, the issue of being a gay or a lesbian is utilized by an opponent to prove a whimsical point.

Our human society is forever changing: call it the sign of the beginning of the end! Sexuality is getting ever complicated and sooner than later, references to Nature, the Bible, Quran and older socio-religious materials would seem meaningless to new generations. By this time, what is deemed nonsensical would be counted as sensible.

The truth of reality may look very stupid and uncultured, yet there may rest the objectivity in advancements. For a human being not to belong the heterosexual group is not a social ill or vice, especially in this morally corrupt world of ours, where hanky-panky affairs are the order of the day.

It is indeed reasonable, wise and right for all concerned to collectively condemn the persistent immoral sexual behaviour of human beings but not to wickedly crucify a segment because of the way they satisfy their sexual urge. Human rights are freedoms and freedom is tolerance of another person’s feelings that commit no harm to any creature. Live not in hatred but in true, sincere and compassionate love to lift the burden of grief. Let us leave the expression of sexual satisfaction to the conscience.

Oh yes, I’m a Christian and may abhor homosexual acts, but so do I abhor heterosexual acts like a married pastor engaged in adultery with the wife of a junior pastor. I will therefore preach the Gospel of Christ to both the homosexual and the heterosexual “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Let the saints say….

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

adomfeh@yahoo.com

Weblinks August 2011

2011-08-31T05:35:00.000-07:00

http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201108/70289.asp

http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201108/70310.asp

http://news.myjoyonline.com/finance/201108/70364.asp

http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201108/70426.asp

http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201108/70497.asp

http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201108/70559.asp

http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/70585.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/70720.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/70753.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201108/70832.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/70875.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/70902.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/70949.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/science/201108/70845.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71025.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71178.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71218.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201108/71312.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/finance/201108/71334.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71394.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71493.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71635.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71729.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71802.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71846.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201108/71906.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71921.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/71969.php

http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/comment/201108/72004.php

http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/72075.php

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201108/72119.php

http://www.modernghana.com/news/343374/1/us-salvage-auto-company-ventures-ghanaian.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/342965/1/group-wants-newmonts-akyem-project-suspended.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/344488/1/celebrating-ghanas-best-scientist-issue.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/344764/1/ghana-to-focus-on-cocoa-certification-to-achieve-p.html

http://www.modernghana.com/news/345177/50/asantehene-and-world-bank-talk-tough-on-agric-and-.html

Poem: What a World!

2011-08-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

In one world we all live
A world of integrated nations and empires
Yet we battle in constant chaos
For lack of cooperation and interdependence
A social solidarity needed for development
Where is the humanity in mankind?
In the face of plenty many wallow in extinction
Helplessly suffering in deprivation
More pain no gain!
A world of grave social emergencies
A world intoxicated in abject poverty
Yet in one world we all live

A few feeling safe and comfortable
Amassing all at the expense of many
Daring not to seek a better place for all
So hard so easy to understand
Where are the social architects?
Our world needs plans to build a tomorrow
A peaceful future based on truth of living
Where the wisdom of sharing is enhanced
And the power of justice is embedded
For our oneness must be fostered on trust
Let’s then work to secure sustenance for all
Then in one world we all will live!
© Kofi Adu Domfeh