Process of land acquisition under review - Kufuor
Joint NEPAD/G8 Meeting opens in Accra
Wa (Upper West) 07
December 2002- Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister on Friday urged
Muslims in the country to put aside their political, religious and other
differences and support the government in its efforts to provide the
socio-economic needs of the people.
Mogtari was
addressing both Orthodox and Ahmaddi Muslims who called on him and the Regional
Co-ordinating Council after celebrating their open air worship at their
respective prayer grounds to mark the end of the month-old Ramadan fasting.
The Ahmaddis were led
by Maulvi Innayatullah Zafid, the Regional Missionary while the orthodox
Muslims, were led by the Chief Imam of Wa, Alhaji Mohammed Tasleem. Mogtari
urged them to abide by the Islamic virtue, which requires Muslims to be good
citizens and honest members of the society.
They must also be
disciplined and obedient to the laws of the land, pointing out that it is only
when we are disciplined that we can make meaningful contribution to the
nation's development.
Touching on the
number of Upper West students at the Wa Campus of the Faculty of Integrated
Studies of the University for Development Studies, he regretted that out of the
over 400 students, Upper Westerners form a twenty percent and urged students in
the region to strive to improve their chances of getting admission to the
university.
Earlier, the two
Muslim leaders took turns to pray for Allah's blessings for the progress and
prosperity of the country.
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Takoradi (Western
Region) 07 December 2002-President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday said
government, in consultation with chiefs has put in place measures to simplify
the process of land acquisition in the country.
This, he said, is to
solve problems associated with land acquisition, which has been a major disincentive
to plantation and medium-scale farming and also discouraged the youth from
taking to farming.
President Kufuor was
addressing the 18th National Farmers Day held at Takoradi in the Western
Region. It was to honour outstanding farmers and fishermen in the country.
About 64 farmers and fishermen were honoured during the celebration, which was
under the theme: "Modernising Agriculture to Enhance Rural
Development".
President Kufuor said
the theme was apt because it was government policy to develop the rural areas
through the modernization of agriculture. He noted that the back breaking
drudgery that farmers have to endure and the antiquated methods they still
employ and the inequitable returns for their toils have made farming
unattractive to young people.
President Kufuor said
the aim of Government therefore, is to make farming a modern attractive
business that would encourage young people to stay in the rural areas. He said
efforts to modernize agriculture, must go along with the modernization of the
rural areas where most farmers live, adding, "Those who choose to live in
the rural areas should not be denied the basics of modern life."
President Kufuor
noted that ensuring effective modernization of agriculture requires a
partnership between government and the private sector. In this regard, he urged
the banks to support the private sector to invest in the particular areas of
processing storage, packaging and marketing.
President Kufuor
indicated that there are now increasing market opportunities in Europe and the
United States, especially through the country's participation in the EU/ACP
accords and the AGOA.
In addition, he said,
Ghana's globally famed cocoa, Ghanaian fruits and vegetables have already made
a good mark with consumers in Europe and America. President Kufuor said
government has begun to use money from HIPC savings to modernize agriculture to
address poverty among farmers.
An amount of three
million U. S. dollars has been allocated to the Ministry of Food and
Agriculture (MOFA) for various water harvesting facilities to break the near
total dependence on rainfall for agriculture in the country this year, he
disclosed.
In the Upper East
Region, he said, the rehabilitation and construction of 12 dams and dugouts
have started and preparation for the construction of 24 extra ones is also in
progress, adding that next year's budget would give pride of place to the
building of irrigation canals wherever possible.
Under the Agriculture
Services Sub-sector Investment Project (SIP), an amount of six million dollars
has been allocated to train farmers to improve their know-how and capacity.
President Kufuor
hinted that by next year, about 40 per cent of cocoa beans would be processed
in the country, making the industry more vibrant.
He said in
recognition of the contributions of cocoa farmers, government has given a
special offer to the farmers to purchase at a discount, the shares in the cocoa
processing company that have recently been lofted on the stock markets.
In a reply to
suggestions by Mr Thomas Ahimah, 1987 National Best Farmer and Chairman of the
National Farmers Award Winners' Association to review the government's policy
on liberalisation, President Kufuor assured the farmers that although his
government is liberal, it would never undermine farmers.
He said government is
committed to good governance and would therefore, not ignore dialogue with its
partners. President Kufuor finally thanked companies, individuals, financial
institutions and all those who donated prizes and contributed towards making
this year's National Farmers Day a big success.
The Minister of Food
and Agriculture, Major (RTD) Courage Quashigah said the New Patriotic Party
(NPP) government is determined to revert the poor situation existing in the
rural areas by improving living conditions of the people.
He stressed that any
effort to improve the economy must take into account the plight of farmers in
rural areas. Major Quashigah regretted that most of the youth in the rural
areas have left farming on the shoulders of the aged and said everything
possible was being done to make agriculture attractive to the youth.
In a welcoming
address, the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Buahen Aidoo appealed to
chiefs and all Ghanaians to be watchdogs over cocoa smuggling along the
country's borders, which is seriously undermining the contribution of the cocoa
sub-sector to national development.
He said, while the
government was making efforts to improving upon the roads at the borders, it is
necessary for communities living along the borders to stop this economic crime
against the nation.
Thomas Ahimah, 1987
National Best Farmer and Chairman of the National Farmers Award Winners'
Association, expressed the need for all stakeholders to work hard to ensure
that the country's agricultural goal is achieved.
He appealed to the
government to review its liberalisation policy to help protect made-in-Ghana
goods. Alima called for a dialogue between farmers and the Government Economic
Team to brainstorm on the way to tackle the country's economy.
He thanked the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the successful organisation of the Award
Day and suggested to the Ministry to institute champion of champions contest
among farmers as a way of attracting more people into agriculture. Odeneho
Gyapong Ababio, 11, President of the National House of Chiefs presided.
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Central
Region farmer wins National Best Farmer Award.
Takoradi (Western
Region) 07 December 2002- GNA - A 63-year old farmer from Upper Denkyira in the
Central Region, Abdul Takora was on Friday adjudged the 2002 National
Best Farmer at the
18th National Farmers Day held in Takoradi.
He has 395 acres of food
crop, livestock and cash crop farm. Takora, who has four wives and 34 children,
had as his prize a three-bedroom house donated by the Agricultural Development
Bank (ADB).
Opanin Kofi Adiyiah,
a 59-year old farmer of Kotobaa in the Juabeso Bia District of the Western
Region was adjudged the second best national farmer and was presented with a
double cabin pick-up.
Lawrence Yaw Adoma,
52-year old farmer at Dormaa Ahenkro placed third and was presented with a
single cabin pick-up. Kofi Assafuah, a 48-year old fisherman from Shama in the
Western Region was adjudged the best National Fisherman.
Assafuah, who has
been a fisherman for 14 years, was presented with a double cabin pick-up
donated by Auto Parts. Koshi Abedze, 47 years from Wuti, Keta in the Volta
Region was adjudged the second best national fisherman and was presented with a
50- horsepower outboard motor donated by the Ghana ports and Harbours
Authority.
The third best
national fisherman was Opanyin Daniel Botwe from Chokor in the Greater Region
Accra Region. His award was 40-horse power outboard motor donated by Japan
Motors.
President Kufuor
presented the national best farmer, Mr. Takora's prize to him and later
decorated him. Nana Kwesi Bonsu Mathew, 2001 best national best farmer handed
over the sword of honour to Mr. Takora and urged other farmers to work hard to
receive similar honours in future.
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Peki (Volta Region)
07 December 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday, said with genuine
and enthusiastic support of Ghanaians, the path being pursued by the government
for the country's development would lead to a rapid expansion of the economy.
"My government
has laid down a path for the development of the country. This path will lead to
rapid expansion of our economy if we have the genuine and enthusiastic support
of all the people," he said.
President Kufuor was
addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Peki Traditional Area to
mark their annual Gbidukorza festival at Peki, in the Kpando District. The
celebration, which is alternated between the people of Hohoe and Peki, was
instituted to consolidate unity between the two communities.
The durbar also
marked the 40th anniversary of the enstoolment of Togbe Kwadzo Dei XI, as Deiga
of the Peki Traditional Area. He was enstooled on 8 May1961.
President Kufuor
asked the people of the Volta Region to join in the march to create wealth and
sustainable development, adding, "This government has opened its arms to
you. I expect that you in turn will give us your wholehearted support. This is
the time to resolve to work together for a happy future".
He urged the people
especially the chiefs to establish structures of dialogue to deal with the
problems in the area.
President Kufuor said
the Peki area was well noted for the people's exceptional intellectual
capabilities, which he said was worthy of commendation and paid glowing
tributes to Dr Ephraim Amu, a renowned musicologist and Dr Esther Ocloo, an
industrialist and entrepreneur, both deceased.
The legacy of Dr Amu
as a cultural icon would never fade and now that his image would be on a
national currency, every Ghanaian would have to take to heart his visionary
ideas of self-reliance and confidence in the country's culture.
Togbe Dei called on
the chiefs in the area to learn from the bitter lessons of the past and
dedicate themselves to the mobilisation of their people for a "new
war" against ignorance, disease and poverty.
"We must wage a
relentless war for economic development and peace in the country," he
added. Togbe Dei said a Peki Development Plan to improve on the infrastructure
and human resource development, provision of basic social amenities and other
measures to create wealth and improve on their living standards had been
initiated by the people and appealed to the government for support.
Bernard Duose,
President of the Peki Union, regretted that the area had many people with very
high intellectual capabilities but their achievements had not reflected in its
development.
He appealed to
citizens of the area to translate their knowledge and experience to create
wealth for the people and the youth. Togbe Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of Gbi
Traditional Area, called on the youth not to use such occasions for immoral
practices, which were detrimental to their future.
Togbe Gabusu who is
the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, appealed to traditional
rulers to spearhead the campaign against the HIV/AIDS menace.
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Takoradi (Western
Region) 07 December 2002- The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Red Cross
Society, on Thursday undertook a measles immunisation exercise at the durbar
ground of the 18th National Farmers Day in Takoradi.
Over 480 children had
been immunised, Mr Jacob Ghansah, Western Regional Secretary of the Red Cross
Society, told GNA during the exercise. He said most of the children who were
immunized were between nine and 15 years with some few cases of less than nine
years.
Ghansah said the Red
Cross Society embarked on the programme to educate parents on the need to
immunise children against diseases. He advised parents to ensure their children
benefited under the exercise, which is free of charge.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
07 December 2002- Sheik Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater-Accra Regional Minister,
Saturday said there would be a mini fair to showcase strides the region has
made particularly in food production over the past two years when he takes his
turn at the Meet the Press Series on Tuesday.
He was speaking at
the opening of the first Ghana Rice Festival organized by Metro TV in
conjunction with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Accra. The festival,
which involved the serving of 3,000 people with rice meals at the Freedom and
Justice Park, was part of activities marking the 5th anniversary of
Metro TV and the celebration of the Eid-Ul-Fitr.
At least 3,000 people
would take part in the second feast at the same venue on 26 December 2002 to
mark Christmas. Sheik Quaye said the government had supported farmers,
especially women in the region over the past two years resulting in an increase
in food production.
"We will mark my
turn at the meet the press this Tuesday with a mini fair,” adding that during
the fair we will sell rice and other products at highly subsidized rates to
afford everyone the opportunity to taste of locally produced food."
Ferdinand Agbemadu,
Special Advisor to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, said the Ministry had
over the past two years developed particular interest in the cultivation and
consumption of locally produced rice to reduce the import bill.
He said the country
was spending over 100 million dollars to import rice every year, adding that,
consumers confuse some locally produced rice with imported ones, which gives
credence to the move to encourage local consumption.
Talal Fatal, Chief
Executive Officer of Metro TV, said the station would assist the government to
cut down the importation of rice by at least 30 per cent.
"We hope that as
this rice festival becomes a rice train that moves from region to region every
year, Ghana will become self sufficient in growing the rice we eat and need,
reduce the huge import bills on the scarce foreign exchange, for the benefit of
our people," he said.
He congratulated
farmers for their efforts to produce enough to feed Ghanaians and called on the
people to encourage them by patronising their produce.
Fatal called on the
government and the private sector to patronize Made-in-Ghana products and
thanked the various sponsors for making the festival a reality. The police and
security personnel from Accra Metropolitan Assembly had a hectic time
controlling the crowd who struggled to have their share of the rice packs.
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Takoradi (Western Region)
07 December 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor was on Friday given a warm
welcome when he arrived at Takoradi for this year's National Farmers Day
celebration.
Many people, both old
and young lined along the route from the Residency in Sekondi to Takoradi to
catch a glimpse of the President, some of them for the first time. President
Kufuor, riding in an open land cruiser vehicle happily waved in response to
cheers from the people.
On his arrival at the
Polytechnic Park, President Kufuor went round to exchange greetings with the
large number of people who have gathered at the park. The crowd included the
award winners, chiefs, diplomats, service commanders, clergy, parliamentarians
and top government officials.
People started
converging at the durbar grounds as early as 6.00 a.m. and by 8 a.m. almost all
the available seats have been occupied. The prizes for the award winners were
also beautifully displayed with the Navy Band providing music. Acrobatic pole
climbers from Dixcove in the Western Region entertained the crowd to the
admiration of the gathering.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
07 December 2002- Muslims throughout the country are on Friday offering open
aid prayers as they celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr, the end of their month-long fasting.
At Ashongman in
Accra, Maulvi Abdul Wahab Bin Adam, Ameer (Head) and Missionary in charge of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, observed that the occurrence of this year's
Eid-ul-Fitr and Christmas celebrations within the same month was not a mere
co-incidence.
"To me it
symbolizes the mutual respect and cooperation that should necessarily exist
between the adherents of the two great world faiths, Islam and Christianity,
for the cohesion, harmony, peace and development of our dear country," he
said in a sermon.
He said the
month-long fasting was not merely a period of abstention from food and drink
but had the ultimate aim of inculcating in Muslims a high sense of discipline,
which was essential for progress within the nation.
Maulvi Adam said the
fasting also enabled Muslims to experience hunger and thirst, which was a
common experience to the poor, and made them more pathetic towards the plight
of the needy.
Touching on the
HIV/AIDS pandemic, he cautioned Muslims to desist from discriminating against
those infected with the disease.
He said HIV/AIDS
patients rather need the love and support of the society, adding that service
to God was incomplete if it is done without love and compassion for human
beings. Maulvi Adam urged Muslims to use the occasion to promote peace and do
away with violence.
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Gomoa Potsin (Central
Region) 07 December 2002- The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has
introduced a new farming technology known as "no till" in Gomoa
District.
With the new
technology, farm lands are prepared through the use of chemicals to control
weeds without disturbing the soil. Francis Kwaku Nutakor, Gomoa District
Director of Agriculture Announced this at the 18th National Farmers Day at
Gomoa Potsin in the Central Region.
Nutakor said a pilot
project established through the use of the new technology has proved very
successful and urged farmers to adopt the new method to enhance sustainability
of soil fertility and improve yield.
He said a crop farmer
in the district has been selected for a national award because his farm
operations were found to be highly scientific. He said over 1000 farmers are to
be supplied with improve cassava sticks from Gomoa for planting next year to
boost the president's special initiative (PSI) on cassava.
He said 25 selected
farmers who were support3d by MOFA have cultivated 70 acres of the improved
planting materials for supply to farmers to alleviate the problems they
encounter before accessing the materials.
Nutakor said 55 other
farmers in the district, who were supplied with the sticks, were also expected
to harvest them for other farmers who needed them.
He said the Ministry,
under its land and water management project is putting in some interventions to
address declining soil fertility problems of the area to ensure that
agriculture production is carried out in a sustainable manner.
According to him said
the Ministry is collaborating with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency
(ADRA) an NGO to support selected farmers groups to embark on agro-forestry and
wood-lot farming.
He expressed concern
about rampant bush fires in the district and also activities of Fulani herdsmen
whose cattle destroy farm produce.
Miss Joyce Mildred
Aidoo District Chief Executive announced that the Social Investment Fund (SIF)
has approved 66 million cedis to a viable rice farmers group at Okyereko and
73.7 million cedis to a fish processing group at Mumford.
She also announced
that the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP) has provided a rice mill and
accessories to rice farmers groups at Gomoa Okyereko, to enable them to add
value to their farm produce.
Miss Aidoo said the
government was pursuing programmes and policies to diversity agriculture to
make it sustainable in order to reduce rural-urban drift. Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe,
Member of Parliament for Gomoa West advised farmers, especially women to seek
advice from agriculture extension officers to enable them to increase their
produce.
She appealed to the
District Assembly to support women farmers with the Poverty Alleviation Fund
(PAF). Fourteen farmers were presented with awards at the function, which was
chaired by Obirifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II., Omanhene of Goma Akyempim.
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Takoradi (Western
Region) 07 December 2002 - The government has been urged to assist farmers to
obtain financial assistance to undertake large-scale farming.
Miss Grace Afia
Owusuaa, this year's National Best Oil Palm Farmer, who has her farm at Samahu
in the Wassa West District, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News
Agency (GNA) at the National Farmers Day celebration in Takoradi on Thursday. She
said it would be difficult for most farmers to expand their farms without
financial assistance.
Miss Owusuaa
commended the President for the initiative to boost oil palm cultivation and
the production of palm oil, which she said had great economic potential. She
further praised the government for its support to farmers and urged it to keep
it up.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
07 December 2002- A Joint G8 and NEPAD meeting with a Government of Ghana team
opened in Accra on Saturday, to address issues pertaining to the role of
partners within the New Partnership for Africa's Development programme.
Attending is Baroness
Valerie Amos, British Minister for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office and the Prime Minister's Personal Representative to the G8 and
representatives of the Group in charge of African affairs.
They would discuss
specific roles of development partners especially the G8 in support of the
overall implementation of the programme. Joseph H. Mensah, Senior Minister is
leading the government team including Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor,
Defence Minister and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and
Cooperation.
Other members are Mr
Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Development, Mr Jake
Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mrs Gladys
Asmah, Minister of Women and Children Affairs and Felix Owusu-Adjapong,
Minister of Communications and Technology.
The NEPAD is an
initiative of African leaders to address problems of poverty and deprivation on
the continent.
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