German trade show specialists, agrofood & plastprintpack West Africa, will from November 29 - December 1, 2022, organise the 7th edition agrofood West Africa in Ghana. The 2022 agrofood trade fair conference, the 7th edition of the fair, will come off at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC). It is expected to bring together exhibitors from thirteen (13) registered countries who will showcase their products at the fair. The participating countries are Ghana, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Iran, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, USA, South Africa, Egypt and Sri Lanka. The agrofood & plastprintpack West Africa 2022 is a collaboration between fairtrade and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), and Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC). The rest are the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG). Addressing a press conference in Accra Tuesday, October 11, 2022, in Accra, the Managing Director (MD) of fairtrade, organisers of the upcoming event, Paul Marz, announced that the trade fair will focus on agrofoods and plastic products, printing and packaging. "From November 29 to December 1, 2022, at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, here in Accra, we are going to have exhibitors from 13 countries all over the world, displaying their latest technology, latest products from their respective countries in the entire food and agrofood value chain. ...From production processing to the final product on the table and everything you need," he noted. He added that the products that will be showcased will include food packaging and labelling, plastic printing and packaging materials. He disclosed that the objective of the fair is to create trade partnerships and value between international and Ghanaian companies within the agrofood and plastic packaging industry. "...and the second very important objective is to bring production to Ghana to enhance production in Ghana so Ghana becomes less dependent on food imports, and produce more in the country," he further disclosed. Elaborating on the plastics printing and packaging, Mr. Marz revealed that exhibitors in this space will display plastics raw materials, machinery for printing and labelling on plastic products. "We will also have some of the exhibitors exhibit packaging machinery and products," he mentioned. According to the MD of fairtrade, the international exhibition will be supplemented by a three-day programme that will be laden with presentations and conferences. Mr. Marz used the opportunity to invite all professionals in the agrofood and plastics packaging sector to endeavour to participate in the event. In a brief statement, the Director of Plant, Protection and Regulatory Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Eric Quaye, commended fairtrade for putting together the exhibition. He stressed that such events were very crucial to the policies of the ministry, adding that there was the need to produce good quantities of foods that needed to be processed further. He entreated Ghanaian businesses that will be participating in the event to take full advantage and shore up their businesses. He pledged MoFA's support to fairtrade to ensure that the event becomes successful. The 6th agrofood West Africa held in 2019 featured 87 exhibitors from 17 countries. The exhibition presented a platform for the exhibitors to offer solutions to hundreds of trade visitors and buyers from Ghana and neighbouring West African countries. The exhibitors came from Belgium, China, France, Germany, Ghana, India and Italy. The rest were Jordan, Morocco, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Turkey. About fairtrade Founded in 1991, fairtrade has long been one of the leading organisers of professional international agrofood and plastprintpack trade fairs in Africa and the Middle East. Over the decades, more than 36,000 exhibitors and 1.5 million trade visitors have expressed their confidence in fairtrade. With its international trade shows, they employ innovative ways to connect emerging markets with solution providers from across the globe. Facilitating valuable business contacts between their exhibitors and trade visitors -that is what fairtrade stands for. Fairtrade is managed by its founder, Martin Marz, and his son, Paul Marz, who joined the company in 2006 and builds on a highly motivated team of experienced and young professionals, many of them qualified in-house over three years in partnership with the German Cooperative State University to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration - Exhibition, Convention & Event Management or Media & Communication Management. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Deputy Lands Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands  Forestry, Benito Owusu-Bio has sounded a clear warning to illegal miners to stay off forest reserves as he stressed that regardless of positions, they will be driven out and sanctioned. "No matter who you are, we don't care, if you enter the forest reserves we will drive you out and sanction you as well" He intimated that the forest reserves are not for mining but was quick to add that unless for exceptional cases like that of Chirano mines and Newmont who have been granted legal licences to operate "but that doesn't mean that anyone can just jump into the forest to mine and if we find you like that, we will deal with you" The Deputy Minister said this when he paid a working visit to Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve to ascertain the veracity of news of Akonta Mining Company still operating in the forest even after the directive by the Lands Minister to the Forestry Commission to halt the company's operations in the Forest through a Press Release on 30th September, 2022. It will be recalled that the Ministry’s Press statement pointed out that "while Akonta Mining Limited has a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Somreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, the company has no mineral rights to undertake mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. After an aerial view of the entire forest, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio and his team spotted about three site in the forests with some equipment but no operations and immediately charged the forestry officers to burn and decommission everything on the site upon arrival. The team also discovered a different group of illegal miners, working along the banks and edges of the river and a few in the forest. Per the map guiding that aerial view 98% of the miners were outside the restricted area, which are the banks and edges while the remaining 2% worked in the Forest reserves itself. It could however not be determined which mining company these miners belong to. Addressing the issue of this new group of illegal miners found mining on the river he said "these are not small scale miners, these are obviously people who are just burnt on destroying our forests, waterbodies and the entire environment but I cannot tell wether that is Akonta or any other company because this is not organised so I can say it's purely illegal mining that is going on there!" He assured the media that as a matter of urgency the Ministry will unleash Operations halt II to the area who with speed boats and the right equipment will bring a halt to all activities ongoing in the river. "With what we have seen here, I will report to the Minister and we would immediately see how we can strategize and bring the operationas to a halt with the speed boats recently pocured to chase them out" He also noted that together with the Forestry Commission and Samartex, a timber company in the enclave they will soon beef up the number of forest guards who patrol the 300sq kilometer forest with support from the military. The Deputy Lands Minister warned that with the help of the military, the Ministry and the Forestry Commission will embark on similar operations in all forest reserves across the country to ensure they rid all forests of illegalities of any sort. "This will not stop here, we know this is not the only forest reserves under attack and so we will continue to ensure all forest with any illegal activity is brought under scrutiny" Hon. Benito called on the community members and traditional leaders of the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region to join in the fight against illegal mining for their own sake and for the betterment of the environment and the country. The Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey on his part gave details to the extent of the devastation saying out of a total area of 205sq kilometer, close to about 0.12sq kilometer of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve has been impacted upon by the illegal activities. He noted that since August when the Commission started having the challenge of groups trooping into the forest to mine, the Commission have sent out the military to the area about 8 times all in efforts to keep them out of the forest. He assured that heeding to the directives of the Hon. Minister, the Commission is committed to ensuring that all those found culpable to this matter will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A Jinapor says the President Akufo-Addo led government is committed to bring  Aisha Huang and other persons who are involved in illegal mining to face the full rigorous of Ghana's laws. He indicated that one of the key pillars on which the Ministry is seeking to deal with the issue of illegal small-scale mining is law enforcement and prosecution particularly as it relates to foreigners. He added, "as you can see, the Attorney General himself is conducting the trail and prosecuting the case in a spirited and enthusiastic manner". The Minister reiterated that his outfit will continue with efforts on all fronts on law enforcement reforms and as well as the prosecutorial path which they are fully committed to. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, on his part told the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, that the State will file 8 witness statements in the trial of Galamsey kingpin Aisha Huang. According to the Attorney General, he initially filed four witness statements but the state will withdraw same and file a fresh set of eight witness statements. The Attorney General subsequently prayed the court to adjourn sitting to allow his office the time and space to file the documents as suggested. *Meanwhile* , a case involving three Chinese and One Vietnamese person who are alleged to be accomplices of the notorious galamsey kingpin Aisha Huang, have been denied bail and case adjourned to 1st November, 2022. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker has clarified that he has no links to activities of any illegal mining anywhere. The Deputy Minister made these known following a news publication by certain media houses on his alleged involvement in illegal mining around Dompim-Pepesa in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region. In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the Deputy Minister said "I must indicate that the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) is a herculean task which cannot be won by just pointing fingers at leaders, government appointees among others at various levels in mining districts with the intent of tarnishing their image for political expendiency and selfish parochial interest without any fact. The Deputy Minister hinted that these deliberate false representations are being made against him by a rival claimant to the Dompim Pepesa Divisional Stool. He described the false representations as needless, baseless, vain and unfortunate. Hon. Duker noted that the Akufo-Addo administration is committed to winning the war against illegal mining and is calling on all stakeholders to support government in that regard. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Dr Helen Tettey who is a Medical Doctor at the Takoradi Port Hospital says, the number of people who are dying from breast cancer disease keeps increasing. Speaking to Skyy News in an exclusive interview, she indicated that awareness of the disease is very necessary because the occurrence of the disease is on the rise but when the disease is detected early and treatments start early there is a higher chance of survival. She said this is the reason October has been designated as a breast cancer awareness month worldwide to increase awareness about breast cancer, get people to examine themselves and also offer people hope as far as breast cancer is concerned. Dr Tettey added that as of 2022, statistics show that there are over 250,000 cases of breast cancer have been recorded in Ghana but 50% of them lost their lives to the disease. She said, “WHO has designated that we need to increase awareness of breast cancer because the disease is on the increase.” “The situation in Ghana is that, as of 2022, over 250,000 cases of breast cancer were recorded and about 50% out of that number died from the disease.” “We also have what we call a 5-year survival rate which is just about 25%, these figures are poor compared to what happens in other countries, this is because some women detect it late and they also delay visiting the hospital.” Speaking on risk factors for breast cancer, Dr Helen Tettey added that being a woman is a risk factor, ageing, smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol, obesity, or a genetic trait can also be factors and others. She added, “The big risk factor is that fact that you are a woman, breast cancer happens in both males and females it is only 1 per cent in men compared to women.” “Being a woman is a risk factor, ageing, smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol, obesity, or genetic traits, oral contraceptive pills and exposure to radiation.” She advised women to examine their breasts at least once a month to know if they are affected by the disease so treatment can start early. “As a woman, examine your breast once every month, usually around the time of your menses because the breast is usually engulfed and painful so you can wait 5 days after your menstruation.” Credit: skyypowerfm.com

President Akufo-Addo, on Monday, 10th October 2022, was presented with an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Sorbonne, in Paris, France, one of the most prestigious universities in Europe and the world. Sorbonne University conferred the award on President Akufo-Addo, in recognition of his commitment to entrenching the values of democracy in Ghana, fostering peace within the West African Region, guaranteeing access to a minimum of senior high school education for all of Ghana’s children through the implementation of the Free SHS policy, and also for the leadership shown in the fight against COVID-19, amongst others. This is the fourth Honorary Doctorate Degree to be conferred on the President - the first being an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree conferred on him in May 2016, from the celebrated Fort Hare University of South Africa; the second, in December 2017, being an honourary doctor of humane letters degree from the University of Liberia; and the third, in May 2021, from the University of Cape Coast. Receiving the honour, the President was delighted to be in the company of Pablo Picasso, Kofi Annan, Amartya Sen and Nelson Mandela, as persons who have also received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Sorbonne University. In his acceptance speech, he addressed issues on climate change, equity and justice, reform of the multilateral system and the importance of strengthening international co-operation amongst nations. On climate change, President Akufo-Addo recounted events at the just ended Summit for financing Africa's adaptation to climate change in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, and noted that Africa contributes only 4% to the global production of greenhouse gas emissions, but it is the region of the world where the consequences of these are felt most heavily. He explained that the Adaptation Summit's mission, ahead of the Conference of the Parties in Egypt, was to mobilize twenty-five billion dollars by 2025 to mitigate the consequences of climate change in terms of food security, resilient infrastructure, creation of suitable jobs and green finance. With Africa’s 1.3 billion inhabitants representing nearly eighteen percent (18%) of the world's population, he told the gathering that this population will balloon to some 2.5 billion by 2050. “It is on the African continent that the future of the world will largely be played, in any case the future of Europe and that of France. These are not words. These are facts. And, as you say in French, facts are stubborn. Twenty-five billion in three years, for adaptation to climate change for the whole of Africa. This is about five times the annual cost of medical transport in France. That is a lot, of course. But that is derisory,” he bemoaned. As paltry as it was, and with G20 countries responsible for 80% of emissions, President Akufo-Addo stated that Africa left Rotterdam with pledges of $55 million, outside of the pledge of the African Development Bank to mobilize 12.5 billion United States dollars. “You heard it right. I am talking about millions. 55 millions for 54 countries, that makes an almost round count. 1 million each. One would have hoped that the international community would have shown greater solidarity with the African continent, which is suffering the consequences of problems that she did not create. This is not right. This is not fair,” President Akufo-Addo stated. To this end, the President told the gathering that African leaders have a duty to build, together with their respective populations, fairer societies, where women and children, but also the most fragile, are treated appropriately. According to him, “Societies where everyone, whatever their incomes, beliefs or ethnic origins, can have equitable and guaranteed access to the goods essential to the development of every individual and of society as a whole: access to water, food and quality care, access to energy, access to education, access, in short, to the decent life to which every free being can and must aspire.” From this point of view, the President was proud that, under his tenure of office, “Ghana has implemented a policy of free public high schools during my first mandate. It is a symbol for us of the central place that education must hold in the development of societies and the training of enlightened citizens able to play their full role.” Calling for a reform of the multilateral system, which, he said, “is leaking from all sides”, President Akufo-Addo noted that the world of 2022 is not the world of 1945. “The crisis of the multilateral financial institutions and the United Nations system, which were born from the rubble of the Second World War, is a deep crisis. It will continue until a fair system is put in place; a system that reflects the new balances, no longer based on who lost or won the Second World War, but on the major contemporary and future balances,” he stated. Reiterating Ghana’s position as a beacon of democracy and stability in contemporary Africa, President Akufo-Addo condemned the unacceptable aggression of Ukraine by Russia, which is leading the world to the edge of the precipice and has dramatic consequences on the African economies and populations. “Ghana, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain her independence and to free herself from the colonial yoke, in her case the British yoke, has always defended a vision of the world free of hegemonic practices, in which all nations, large or small, co-exist peacefully, in fairness and with mutual respect, a vision that insists that disputes between countries are settled through dialogue and negotiation, and not by force and violence,” he added. Credit: Presidency

The Dompim Pepesa Divisional Council has clarified that a self-styled Nathaniel Dekyi is not a Chief of its town as purported. According to the Dompim Pepesa Divisional Council, its attention has been drawn to a purported interview granted on Joy News Channel by one Nathaniel Dekyi who in the Interview styled himself as the Chief of our noble town Dompim Pepesa. In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, and signed by its Secretary, Nana Nyarkefole III, it said "The Council wants to state unequivocally that Nathaniel Dekyi is not the Chief of Dompim Pepesa. Nananom as well as our Chief Ohyeawora Bian Nyonwa Panyin IV commend the media in assisting to clamp down illegal Mining activities in Ghana" "However we will entreat the media to contact the right people to get accurate information in order to be able to fight this canker" "The Council wishes to state on record that the said Nathaniel Dekyi is the Chief architect of illegal Mining in Dompim Pepesa by selling over 40 acres of his own family's cocoa farm to illegal miners at Trabuom/Asoampa. Nathaniel Dekyi on record led NDC Campaign in 2020 election against Hon George Mireku Duker claiming that the MP didn't support him in his bid to become the Chief of the area" The statement also noted that Nathaniel Dekyi with his accomplices on video were caught discussing strategies as to how these illegal miners should operate in Dompim Pepesa. "It is also part of his strategy to demoralize and thwart the effort of Hon. Mireku Duker, who has dedicated all his time and energy to fight the galamsey menace" "Nathaniel Dekyi has written several letters to areas with the aim of halting projects lobbied by Hon George Mireku Duker to the good people of Dompim Pepesa just because of a Chieftaincy dispute in Dompim Pepesa which he thinks the MP who doubles as a royal and a former Chief of Dompim did not support him" The statement entreated the media and the general public to disregard any interview by him as he is not and has never been the Chief of Dompim Pepesa. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Accra has been named as the World Book Capital for the year 2023 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This was disclosed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday, October 10, when he addressed the 215th Session of the Organization in Paris, France. More to follow.. Credit: 3news.com

The Founder of Heaven Way Church in Accra, Patricia Asiedua formerly known as Nana Agradaa kept singing several gospel songs including ‘Wo din ne Yehowa’ , to wit “Your name is Jehovah’ when she was being escorted from the court room in Accra to the Police vehicle after being denied on Monday October 10. Her supporters also sang along with her but one of them was heard telling her to be mindful because she was on the premises of a court. Her case has been adjourned to Thursday October 13. The Police arrested her on Sunday October 9 following allegations of money doubling scam levelled against her by some members of the public. She is currently assisting police investigation. “Anyone who is a victim of the alleged money doubling scam should report to the Accra Regional Police Command for further action to assist the investigation,” the Police said in a statement on Sunday October 8. Meanwhile she has denied defrauding members of her church. She explained in a video recording that went viral on social media that “I announced to Ghanaians that I was going to give out cash to members of my church to invest in their businesses and that anyone who needed cash support should come. If you aren’t a church member, the first thing to do in order to benefit from this gesture is to register to officially to join us. “I did the all night event and distributed the money to members of my church and so if you only registered that day and couldn’t get a share of the cash, that cannot be fraud, I have not offended you in any way" “In every church we have offertory, I am the only one who does this on camera. This was a fundraising exercise which I announced to everyone that it was starting from 1000 Cedis to Coins,” she said in a recorded video which has gone viral on social media. She added “Everybody in Ghana knows that people are plotting my downfall, they want to destroy my ministry , there were demonstrations against me when I was being ordained , people even accused me of burying my own child to grow the church but God is with me.” Credit: 3news.com

The Founder of Heaven Way Church in Accra, Patricia Asiedua formerly known as Nana Agradaa, who has been arrested for allegedly scamming some members of her church, has been denied bail. She appeared in court on Monday but her case has been adjourned to Thursday October 13. The Police arrested her on Sunday October 9 following allegations of money doubling scam levelled against her by some members of the public. She is currently assisting police investigation. “Anyone who is a victim of the alleged money doubling scam should report to the Accra Regional Police Command for further action to assist the investigation,” the Police said in a statement on Sunday October 8. Meanwhile she has denied defrauding members of her church. She explained in a video recording that went viral on social media that “I announced to Ghanaians that I was going to give out cash to members of my church to invest in their businesses and that anyone who needed cash support should come. If you aren’t a church member, the first thing to do in order to benefit from this gesture is to register to officially to join us. “I did the all night event and distributed the money to members of my church and so if you only registered that day and couldn’t get a share of the cash, that cannot be fraud, I have not offended you in any way. “In every church we have offertory, I am the only one who does this on camera. This was a fundraising exercise which I announced to everyone that it was starting from 1000 Cedis to Coins,” she said in a recorded video which has gone viral on social media. She added “Everybody in Ghana knows that people are plotting my downfall, they want to destroy my ministry , there were demonstrations against me when I was being ordained , people even accused me of burying my own child to grow the church but God is with me.” Credit: 3news.com

Some traders in the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi have locked up their shops following the woes of the Cedi against the Dollar and its effect on businesses. They are also protesting the high taxes they are paying. TV3’s Ashanti Regional correspondent William Evans Nkum reported that parts of the business community in Kumasi are shut down. “Most of the merchants here” he said, “deal in food commodities.” “We want the government to come and dialogue with us. The cost of doing business is high due to tax and the Cedi performance. We have been using our profit margins to pay tax which is not fair,” a trader said. Source: 3news.com

The Oti Regional Minister, Joshua G. Makuba has called on investors to start looking for lands in his region following the discovery of iron ore. According to the Iron Ore discovery will help boost businesses of these investors. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Sunday, the Regional Minister said “I want to advise people in Accra to start looking for land in the Oti Region because what is going to take Ghana from our current state to a very industrialized nation has been found. In my region, Oti Region, we have iron ore,” The Minister also noted that the discovery of iron ore will transform the country’s economy. He stressed that the discovery has been made in greater quantities by the Ghana Integrated Iron Ore Development Corporation in collaboration with the Geological Service Department. Mr. Makuba hinted that the iron ore was found in the Guan, Biakoye, Jasikan, Kajebi and Krachi districts of the Oti Region. "Mining of the iron ore has not commenced" He further mentioned that engagements with technical persons are ongoing to ascertain the exact tonnage available in his region. "Currently we are at a stage the technical people will call it mineral resource estimation to get the actual tonnage available on the land,” he stated. The Oti Regional Minister pointed out that although estimation is being done to ascertain the tonnage, some private investors have already committed funds to the development of the natural resource. Mr. Makuba on the other hand touted the government’s achievement in the Oti region after its creation. "The Akufo-Addo government has improved the roads network system in the region while other roads are currently in the pipeline to be completed. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith