The hosting of the African business giants, industry players in the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) policy makers and investors in Accra from October 19 to 22 this year for the second Africa Private Sector Summit is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Friday.
The Ghanaian Times reports that African business giants, industry players in the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), policy makers and investors will converge in Accra, from October 19 to 22 this year, for the second Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS).
Under the auspices of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the European Union (EU), the summit, is expected to set the tone for African businesses to actualise innovations and ideas to turn round the fortunes of the continent.
It will among others discuss opportunities industry players could leverage with the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to improve trade, grow businesses and create jobs on the continent.
It is on the theme: “Awakening Africa’s sleeping giants in implementation of Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – Leveraging Strategic Opportunities for Africa’s Turnaround.”
The Secretary General of the APSS, Nelson Godfred Agyeman presenting an overview of the Summit to journalists in Accra yesterday said, the high level meeting presented a unique opportunity to move away from “talk shops” into action plans that address challenges facing the continent.
He said, drawing on conclusions from the maiden APSS, the meeting would seek to draw a roadmap towards implementing a “Bill of Rights” for an enabling business environment in line with treaties and protocols under the AfCFTA.
“The Bill of Rights in doing business in Africa will help clear impediments that stand in the way of private sector including insecurity, possibility of wars, peace, rule of law and good governance which is the bedrock for businesses to thrive on the continent and we hope this bill will create that enabling environment,” he said.
The need to bridge the gap between academia and industry, Mr Agyemang said, would be another topical issue that will be focused on during the summit to ensure that research outcomes are utilised to promote intra-Africa trade.
The newspaper says that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Sierra Leone, Dr Ambrose Michael Sovula, paid a courtesy call on his Ghanaian counterpart, Dr George Akuffo Dampare at the National Police Headquarters in Accra on Tuesday.
According to the Police Service Facebook monitored by the Ghanaian Times, the two IGPs discussed issues relating to best practices in Community Oriented Policing, exchange programmes for personnel and other matters affecting the internal security of both Ghana and Sierra Leone.
This was in line with their vision to have a world-class Police Service committed to the delivery of planned, democratic, protective and peaceful services.
Dr Dampare and Dr Sovula also proposed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on law enforcement for consideration by their respective governments to foster stronger bilateral relations between the two countries.
Present at the meeting were Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno- Director General, Administration, COP Kofi Boakye- Director General, Legal and Prosecution, COP Paul Manly Awuni- Director General, National Patrols Department and COP Fred Adu Anim- Director General, Human Resource.
The Ghanaian Times also reports that more than 150,000 hectares of land have been identified for the development of grazing reserves to address challenges with cattle production and mobility in the country.
With about 500 kilometres of demarcated corridors and service centres, the land is scattered at various locations including the Kintampo North Municipality, Fanteakwa North, Sekyere Afram Plains, SekyereKumawu and Adaklu districts.
Estimated to cost GH₵25 million, the facilities with an effective forage management, when completed, could sustain the feeding of about 520,000 heads of cattle over a four month period.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mohammed HardiTufeiru, said the development of the grazing reserve was part of the government’s strategy to enhance cattle production for job creation and ensure food security.
He was speaking at the opening of the 5th Project Technical Committee Meeting of the Regional Dialogue and Investment Project on Pastoralism and Transhumance in the Sahel and Coastal Countries for West Africa (PREDIP) in Accra yesterday.
PREDIP, represented by eight countries comprising Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, is aimed at strengthening the contribution of pastoralism and cross-border transhumance to food security, equitable socio-economic development and regional integration in West Africa.
The Deputy Minister noted that the government’s interventions on pastoralism were to curb violent clashes between nomadic herdsmen and farmers that mostly resulted in deaths.
He said between 2001 and 2006, 68 persons died as a result of the clashes.
Despite the challenges, he explained that the contribution of pastoralism to food and nutrition security was massive adding that the Ouagadougou-Accra corridor alone was estimated to generate US$73.5 million in cereals and livestock trade yearly.
Mr Tufeiru said the government was focused on investing in infrastructure and establishments, especially in coastal areas to support the management of transhumance and livestock mobility in the sub-region.
Already, the livestock markets at Buipe and Gushegu in northern parts of the country, he noted, had contributed in creating value in livestock production.
GIK/APA