APA – Accra (Ghana)
The report that the Bank of Ghana has received the initial instalment of $600 million from the $3 billion International Monetary Fund Extended Credit Facility (ECF) is one of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Monday.
The Graphic reports that the Bank of Ghana has received the initial instalment of $600 million from the $3 billion International Monetary Fund Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
The funds, which arrived on Friday, May 19, 2023, were confirmed by Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in a tweet.
He stated that the money would be utilized for balance of payment and budget support, as well as to stabilize the foreign exchange rate and potentially reduce inflation.
Furthermore, Ghana is anticipating the disbursement of another tranche of funds by June 2023. In June, an IMF Mission is scheduled to visit Ghana to assess the country’s program considerations.
Another evaluation is expected towards the end of 2023, likely in December, prior to the final disbursement.
All the funds will be directly deposited into the Bank of Ghana’s account to support Ghana’s balance of payments requirements.
Over a period of three years, Ghana is set to receive approximately $3 billion as part of the IMF program.
Last week, Ghana received the necessary financing assurance from Ghana’s Creditors Committee, including China, under the G20 Common Framework.
The newspaper says that Ghana has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions at entry points across the country, effective from today, Saturday, May 20, 2023.
The announcement was made by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye in a statement issued today.
The statement said the decision to lift the restrictions was in response to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration on May 5, 2023, that COVID-19 is no longer considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
According to the GHS statement, pre-departure testing and testing at all entry points are no longer mandatory for all passengers.
Additionally, the COVID-19 health declaration form for international travelers has been suspended.
During the national COVID-19 Task Force meeting held on May 17, 2023, the decision to remove these requirements was made based on the global and national situation.
While the restrictions are lifted, the Ghana Health Service emphasizes the need for constant vigilance and protection against COVID-19 infections. The vaccination drive will continue, and individuals with symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat will be tested for both influenza and COVID-19 at sentinel sites across all 16 regions. Surveillance efforts will also be ongoing to identify any new variants of concern.
The public is advised to maintain general safety measures such as regular handwashing with soap and water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Those experiencing symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat are encouraged to seek medical assistance at the nearest health facility. Positive COVID-19 cases will be managed according to existing protocols.
The Ghanaian Times reports that President Nana Addo Dank¬wa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has said that Africa and the world will miss outgoing Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“As leaders, we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari.
“West Africa, Africa, and, indeed, the world will miss his leadership – the leadership of the military ruler turned consummate democrat, who was extremely solicitous of Nigeria and Africa’s interest, and who sought for prin¬ciples in all decisions in which he took,” the President remarked.
He was speaking at the public presentation and launch of two biographies, “State of Repair – How Muhammadu Buhari tried to change Nigeria for Good”, by Anthony Goldman, and “The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari”, by Senator Abu Ibrahim, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The two new books talk about the legacies of President Buhari.
He is expected to exit the seat of power on May 29, 2023, when the incoming government would be sworn in.
President Akufo-Addo, who chaired the event, in a Facebook post, congratulated the English¬man, Anthony Goldman, and the Nigerian Senator, Abu Ibrahim, the two authors, for their industry and scholarship.
He urged authors, poets and playwrights on the continent “to tell the African story truthfully and with flair, and to give praise where it has been earned, and criticism where it is deserved.”
In 2015, Buhari (born on De¬cember 17, 1942), was elected as Nigeria’s President, the first time an opposition candidate assumed the helm peacefully, following years of political turmoil in the country.
The former military leader had served as Nigeria’s Head of State in 1984–85.
Buhari assumed office at a period when jihadist insurgen¬cies had reached their peak, with abductions and kidnappings being reported daily. —GNA
The newspaper says that the Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Adjepong, has chal¬lenged Ghana to learn from the Nigerian experience and become self-sufficient in rice production.
“If Nigeria has done it, we can do it, let’s not reinvent the wheel, let’s copy from them,” he passion¬ately appealed.
Dr Adjepong was speaking at a two-day Ghana Food Security Con¬ference 2023 themed “Enhancing food security: The role of Ghana¬ian scientists” at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region.
Nigeria, after banning the impor¬tation of rice, has made remarkable progress in rice production during the previous decade, surpassing Egypt with yearly production of 5.8 million tonnes.
In 2019, rice accounted for more than 14 per cent of the crops grown by Nigerian households.
“Nigeria is gradually becoming a rice growing super power,” he noted.
Dr Adjepong however, added that most commodities including rice, maize, soya and tomatoes were facing supply shortages in Ghana.
He, therefore, predicted that with the advent of the Jospong Group Rice Project, the importation of rice into the country would be min¬imised if not stop completely.
“Where we (JG) see a problem we confront it and solve it and this project that we have began, we pre¬dict that the rice importation must stop,” he vowed.
He encouraged the stakehold¬ers particularly the rice farmers and scientists not to despair that there were no adequate policies to support the initiative but rather be hopeful that when “fruits begin to yield” policies would change to favour them.
“Whether policy is supporting or not, never be discouraged, let us do our part and when we begin to yield fruits, policies will change to favour us,” he assured.
Quoting former President Barack Obama, he further chal¬lenged the government to choose hope over the fear that if it bans the importation of rice, Ghana¬ians will go hungry but rather be hopeful that the Ghanaian farmer will be challenged and empowered to produce quality rice for the country.
The CEO of the Asian African Consortium (AAC), Mrs Adelaide Siaw Adjepong, who is leading the Jospong Group Rice Project noted that science, research and develop¬ment have traditionally been the drivers of innovation and produc¬tivity and are central to everything done in the world.
According to her, if immediate measures to enhance food produc¬tion were not taken, the cost of Africa’s yearly food import might rise from $50 billion to US$110 billion by 2030.
“When there is a food crisis, the poor suffer the most since they are unable to obtain food due to price hikes” she noted.
GIK/APA