The launch of a $15-million fundraiser from Corporate Ghana to support the Black Stars’ bid to win the AFCON 2022 in Cameroon and reach at least the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the report that the entry of China into cocoa production may not affect Ghana’s share of the global cocoa market are some of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Tuesday.
The Graphic reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday set the nation on the path to claim its rightful place in continental and global football when he launched a $15-million fundraiser from Corporate Ghana to support the Black Stars’ bid to win the AFCON 2022 in Cameroun and reach at least the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He announced that the national team would require $25 million for the two campaigns, and that as its commitment, the government was providing $10 million of the amount.
Those leading the charge to raise the funds are the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Mustapha Yussif; the Deputy Minister designate for Youth and Sports, Mr Evans Opoku Bobbie; the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kurt Okraku, and a former Black Stars defender, Sammy Kufuor, representing the coach of the team.
“I have called you out here this morning to lay these facts before you and to ask you, from the bottom of my heart, to help in raising this amount to support the progress of the Black Stars,” he charged the team.
He appealed to captains of industry to join him in that respect and together make the Black Stars a force to reckon with once again on the continent and in world football.
It has been 39 years since the Black Stars last won the AFCON at the tournament held in Libya.
The newspaper says that a farmer with experience in cocoa production has allayed fears about the supposed threat posed to Ghana’s share of the global cocoa market following the entry of China into cocoa production.
The Akyeamehene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Nana Aduna II, said China’s entry into cocoa production should challenge Ghana to be more aggressive about adding more value to its cocoa beyond chocolate and cocoa powder.
In addition, he said, under the One-District, One Factory policy, there should have been a special initiative built around cocoa to boost the produce.
Nana Aduna, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ohene Cocoa Company Limited, told the Daily Graphic that China’s entry could be the push and the boost Ghana needed to develop simple local technologies to add value to its cocoa.
“China’s entry, is a very positive move. It should spur Ghana on to be more aggressive about cocoa value addition beyond chocolate and cocoa powder,” he said.
He said, for instance, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) had already used cocoa to develop over 19 products, which could be tapped into to generate more revenue for the country.
CRIG’s research had explored products such as cocoa juice, cocoa wine, cocoa brandy, cocoa jam, flavoured nibs, roasted nibs and sun-resistant chocolate; shampoo, shower gel and cocoa skin gel from pruned cocoa leaves.
Other products considered under the research were cocoa butter creams, anti-aging cream, black soap, cocoa butter soap, cocoa pod pellets for fish farming, cocoa potash for fertiliser and energy, furniture from cocoa wood, cocoa husk, biofuels and health benefits of cocoa.
The Graphic also reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana on Monday, 26th April 2021, to attend the 60th Independence Anniversary Celebration of Sierra Leone, at the invitation of President Julius Maada Bio.
The President is attending the event in his capacity as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS.
He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.
President Akufo-Addo and the delegation will return to Ghana on Tuesday, 27th April 2021, and in the absence of the President, the Vice President of the Republic, Dr.. Mahamudu Bawumia, will, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.
The Times says that at least 507 illegal immigrants have been arrested in a swoopin the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East, on Sunday, by a combined team of the Police, Ghana Immigration Service and National Security.
The suspects, who are between the ages of 19 and 35 years, comprises 494 Nigerians, including six females, and 13 Burkinabes, were reported to have entered the country through unapproved routes.
The exercise, which was conducted in areas, including Zaare, Sokabisi and Yekeni, was to check the influx of illegal immigrants and criminal activities in the municipality.
The Director of the Police Public Affairs, Superintendent of Police (Supt) Sheila Kessie Abayie-Buckman, who disclosed these to the Ghanaian Times, in Accra, yesterday, stated that the illegal immigrants entered the country while the borders were closed as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Abayie-Buckman said the swoop was conducted as a result of concerns raised by residents in the municipality about the influx of foreigners, who engaged in criminal activities.
She also said there had been series of robberies in the municipality recently hence the need to embark on such operation to clampdown on criminal activities.
GIK/APA