APA – Accra (Ghana)
President Akufo-Addo’s assurance that government is prioritising value addition in the natural resources sector to ensure the state derives optimal benefits dominates the headlines of the Ghanaian press on Friday.
The Graphic reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed government is prioritising value addition in the natural resources sector to ensure the state derives optimal benefits.
The government, he said, was also strengthening local content and local participation as well to ensure Ghanaians have more roles in the extraction of these resources.
According to him, this is imperative in view of the fact that the world’s poorest countries are those with the largest deposits of mineral resources.
Delivering the keynote address at the Natural Resources Stakeholder Dialogue in Accra on Thursday, 11th May 2023, President Akufo-Addo indicated that 60% of the world’s extremely poor live in sub-Saharan Africa with most resource-rich countries on the continent being among the poorest in the world.
“These include countries that hold huge deposits of iron ore, diamonds, bauxite and the largest mineral reserves in the world; the largest producer of cobalt, the second largest producer of industrial diamonds, and fifth largest producer of copper; as well as the world’s largest reserves of bauxite.”
“Worst of all, many of the areas where these resources are found appear to be among the most deprived areas in the world. In our country for example, Obuasi, which, for years, hosted the richest gold mine in the world, remains largely underdeveloped. The story is no different from other areas such as Tarkwa, Prestea, Wassa, and Bibiani, which have for centuries been the attraction for adventurers and fortune seekers.”
The newspaper says that the Managing Director(MD) of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Abena Amoah, has called for greater collaboration between players in the financial sector to build a robust financial system.
The Government of Ghana has plans to build a robust financial sector and make the country a financial service hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) framework.
At the opening of the “Money Summit”, Ms Amoah said for this year’s event, the government, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, private sector entities and civil society must work hand in hand.
“We need to foster a culture of transparency, integrity and accountability.
By strengthening governance frameworks, enhancing risk management systems and promoting ethical behaviour, we can build a financial ecosystem that commands trust and attracts investment,” she stated.
She said a robust financial system was the bedrock upon which sustainable economic growth in Africa could flourish.
That, she said, would enable capital mobilisation, drive financial inclusion, promote trade and investment, foster innovation, and support sustainable development.
Ms Amoah pointed out that the theme for the summit “Africa’s Robust Financial Sector: The Catalyst for Sustainable Economic Growth”, was timely; given the current global and domestic challenges and financial difficulties faced by the continent.
The Ghanaian Times reports that one study by (Chandrasekara and Kumar, 2016) explained that yams (Dioscorea) are a type of tuber vegetable that originated in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. About 95 per cent of yams today are grown in Africa. History has it that yams got their name from the Fulani (a language spoken in Guinea, West Africa) word nyami, which means “to eat.”
Yams come in white, yellow, purple, or pink flesh. In Ghana, there are many varieties of white yam, but the most important ones include Puna, Lariboko, Denteh (Punjo), Asana, and Araba.
The colour depends on the maturity of the yam. White yams are high in potassium, while yellow, orange, and purple flesh yams are full of antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, and vitamins. They have a ton of health benefits. For example, they are a source of resistant fiber, which makes them an ideal food option for digestion and weight loss. Yams help prevent spikes in blood sugar after a hearty meal. In addition, they have several other qualities that make them nutritious.
Yams are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Two studies (Weaver, C.M, 2013; Aschner and Dorman, 2006) also found that apart from the rich fiber content in yam, it is also high in potassium and manganese, which play an important role in aiding bone health, growth, metabolism, and heart function. Yams also provide good amounts of other micronutrients, such as copper and vitamin C.
The newspaper says that the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), Dr Isaac AdjeiDoku, says the outlook for the gas industry is bright as discussions are underway to further develop gas infrastructure in the West African Sub-region.
“Discussions are going on. There’s something we call the Nigeria- Morocco gas pipeline that is going to fly along the whole of the West Coast, all the way to Morocco,” he said.
Dr Doku revealed this during an interaction with Journalists in Takoradi on Tuesday to update the media on operations of the company.
ECOWAS, he said, had the vision to also build a pipeline distribution “so that we can have gas flowing to the landlocked countries.”
For example, he mentioned that, Ghana exported a lot of power to Burkina Faso, a landlocked country, adding that, “the idea again would be adding Niger, Mali, also landlocked countries, connected with gas.”
Additionally, he said power stations could be built in those countries for power generation.
“These are long term goals, but, currently, unless our shareholders of course, express interest. The key thing is to consolidate what we are doing between Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana. I think we have been a success story because we read a lot about WAPCo in the media,” he said.
WAPCo, he said, over the years, had acquired the knowledge and expertise, operated the pipeline in four countries with different fiscal and tax regimes.
These factors, the General Manager said, would be harmonised and leveraged for the long term view of ECOWAS.
The Ghanaian Times also reports that the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) as part of its ‘Experience Ghana, Share Ghana’ campaign has visited six tourist sites to boost domestic tourism.
The sites visited were the Kakum National Park, Cape Coast Castle, and Elmina Castle in the Central Region, and Nzulezu, Bisa Abrewa Museum, and Ankasa Resource Reserve in the Western Region.
The move by the GTA is to encourage domestic tourism in the country and market both popular and unfamiliar tourist sites, both domestically and internationally.
Speaking on why Ghanaians need to visit castles and forts in Ghana, Robert Morgan Mensah, Head of Education at the Castle, said it was important to learn about the Ghanaian history and to honour the memories of those who suffered during the slave trade.
“It is fascinating to learn about the different powers that occupied and fought over the same piece of land over the centuries. The dungeons, governor’s residence, tunnels, and other areas give visitors insight into the harsh realities of the transatlantic slave trade. It is again significant to know the symbolism of the Door of No Return and the Door of Return and the role the castle played in the propagation of Christianity in Ghana,” he said.
Benjamin Amoah, a tour guide at Elmina Castle, also noted that visiting the castle offers a chance to appreciate the architecture and craftsmanship that has survived for over five centuries.
At Kakum National Park, Mr Samuel Dunkwa, Assistant Wildlife Officer with the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana, revealed that the park had a gift shop where visitors could purchase locally made clothes, jewelry and artifacts.
“Currently, Kakum National Park has diverse plant and animal species, with more than 100 mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The park offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, such as the canopy walkway, nature walks, treehouse camping, and watching butterflies,” he said.
On his part, Sam Isaac, Tourism Officer in-charge of Ankasa Reserves Area, said that the Ankasa National Park offered visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty of Ghana’s nature and unique wildlife.
GIK/APA