TIG Post

Tag: Africa Free Trade

  • My priority is to ensure govt supports women-led businesses – Trade nominee

    My priority is to ensure govt supports women-led businesses – Trade nominee

    The Minister-designate for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has reiterated the government’s dedication to supporting women-led enterprises as a crucial avenue for enhancing the welfare of Ghanaian women and fostering economic development.

    During her vetting by the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, she highlighted the importance of promoting gender equity in national growth.

    She expressed the government’s resolve to establish platforms that enable women entrepreneurs to thrive and scale their businesses successfully.

    “Women empowerment is central to the John Dramani Mahama administration’s development agenda,” she stated.

    “Specific initiatives, policies and laws will be implemented to uplift women-led businesses, enabling them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the economy.”

    She also shared her intentions to roll out the Affirmative Action Law within the Trade Ministry, in line with President Mahama’s vision for promoting fairness and inclusivity.

    Recognizing the lack of women in senior leadership positions, the nominee suggested implementing a mentorship program as a key aspect of her approach.

    “There may not be too many women at the top, but those who are there can serve as mentors. This program will help young women entrepreneurs grow, scale up, and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship,” she explained.

    The mentorship program is designed to create a supportive network of established women leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs, focused on knowledge exchange, skill enhancement, and building confidence.

    Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare expressed her optimism that these initiatives would empower more women to actively contribute to the country’s economic growth.

  • EU to spearhead digital farming advancements in Ghana

    EU to spearhead digital farming advancements in Ghana

    Programme Officer for Economic, Private Sector, and Trade at the EU Delegation to Ghana, Malgorzata Pitura, has reaffirmed the EU’s dedication to advancing digital farming practices in Ghana.

    She explained that the EU recognizes the potential for further digitalization in Ghana’s farming sector, which led to the funding of a study conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

    “That is why we have come up with a study financed by the EU and implemented by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.”

    “The study has analyzed small holder, medium holder and large-scale holder farmers as regards the level of use of digital technologies, the use of computers, laptops, mobile phones, and other technologies such as digital weather checks.”

    Speaking at the EU’s agribusiness session, held alongside the 2024 Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition (GISE) by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Pitura highlighted the research findings, showing that while digital adoption has started, much more can be achieved.

    The session was themed “Promoting industrial development and digitalization of the Ghanaian agribusiness sector: challenges and opportunities”

    Madam Pitura emphasized the need for increased focus on remote areas where internet connectivity is inconsistent. She highlighted that many farmers lack the necessary tools to connect with markets. She noted that digital technology plays a vital role in facilitating market access, keeping farmers informed about the latest trends, and providing crucial weather updates.

    “This is why we want to be the prime partner of the Ghanaian farmers in digitalization of the farming practices”

    Madam Pitura emphasized the need for increased focus on remote areas where internet connectivity is inconsistent.

    She highlighted that many farmers lack the necessary tools to connect with markets. She noted that digital technology plays a vital role in facilitating market access, keeping farmers informed about the latest trends, and providing crucial weather updates.

    “We often choose specific value chains to support regarding sustainable practices. Sustainability is about going green or going environmentally friendly or social sustainability. These programmes usually relate to showing the entrepreneurs what they can do to limit pollution, to limit the waste.”

    She noted that many of these programs have already been launched, with additional initiatives in development, as they look forward to supporting Ghanaian agri-businesses.

    Madam Pitura urged the Government to make a digital agriculture policy, saying “in my view digital uptake would be the best. It should be something that the government is seriously committed to and must produce a proper implementation plan for every region. So that farmers everywhere are helped and supported in this regard.”

  • Free dialysis should have been discussed with hospitals first before making it public – MP to govt

    Free dialysis should have been discussed with hospitals first before making it public – MP to govt

    needed to be consulted before government announced free renal treatment

    A member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has criticized the government for not coordinating with health facilities before announcing free dialysis treatment for renal patients.

    Her comments came after patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital reported that they still pay for dialysis because the hospital hasn’t received official communication to cease charging.

    In an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on June 7, Ofosu-Adjare emphasized that engaging with health facility management beforehand could have prevented these issues.

    To ensure the continuous and prompt funding for hospitals providing free renal treatment, Ofosu-Adjare mentioned that the committee is working with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and other stakeholders.

    She also proposed that the COVID-19 fund be redirected towards healthcare delivery instead of supporting government budgets.

    “You see dialysis is a life support procedure and we all know that it is difficult for people to pay. I know there are patients who get help from family, once the announcement is made people will be reluctant to help them. So, I am also of the opinion that the preparation should have been adequate. There should have been a discussion with the health facilities as the modalities for the procedure to be done free of charge,” she said.

    “…We are still taking the Covid Fund. It should be directed at our health and not to support government budget because this fund is for health …

    “I am of the opinion that government should be looking at funding the National Health Insurance Authority and so we should look at funding so that these people can be catered for,” she said.

    The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) launched a six-month free dialysis support program for renal patients from June to December 2024. According to a statement from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) dated June 1, the program will benefit two categories of patients: vulnerable groups (those below 18 and above 60) and individuals aged 18 to 59.

  • Akufo-Addo to handover AfCFTA Secretariat building to the African Union Commission

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on Monday, 17th August, 2020 commission and hand over the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Building to the African Union Commission (AUC) in Accra.

    It will be recalled that at the 12th African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit held in Niamey, Niger in July 2019, Ghana was selected to host the Secretariat of AfCFTA by Member States of the African Union. As part of the obligations and commitments under the Host Country Agreement, Ghana is required to provide a fully furnished office complex as the Headquarters for the AfCFTA Secretariat and an official residence for the Secretary-General.

    The AfCFTA Secretariat will administer the free trade agreement creating a Single Market for 55 countries with a combined population of 1.2 billion and a total Gross Domestic Product of about US $2.5 trillion. So far, 54 countries have signed the Agreement with 28 countries ratifying same.

    The hosting of AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana will promote Ghana as an attractive regional and investment hub in Africa, boost economic activities, and provide job opportunities for Ghanaians.

    The handing over ceremony will be attended by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the newly elected Secretary-General of AfCFTA, the Speaker of Parliament, Chairman of the Council of State, Senior Government Officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited number of other guests from the Private Sector and other Public Sector Organisations have been invited to witness the ceremony.

    The ceremony will be broadcast live through local and international television networks and social media platforms to a global audience.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Parliament approves agreement on AfCFTA secretariat

    Parliament on Monday, approved the agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Union (AU) for the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra.

    It follows the adoption of the AfCFTA by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, at its 10th Extra-ordinary Session, in March, 2018, in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

    The report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the agreement presented at the plenary of Parliament, in Accra, said key provisions of the agreement required that Ghana, as the host country, provided at its own expense a secure, equipped and furnished permanent premises for the secretariat.

    Amongst other requirements are that the secretariat shall have a legal personality with the capacity to enter into a contract, and acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property needed for its operations in accordance with the laws of Ghana.

    It also requested for Ghana to provide a secured, equipped and furnished official residence for the Head of the Secretariat; and guarantee the inviolability of the premises of the Secretariat and the Secretariat shall be accorded diplomatic status.

    “Officials of the secretariat and state parties to the AfCFTA agreement shall enjoy within the host country privileges and immunities as established by the General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the AU.

    “Member states participating in the work of the secretariat and representatives of non-African States accredited to the secretariat shall be entitled to the same privileges and immunities as accorded to diplomatic envoys of comparable rank under international law,” the report added.

    According to the report, all persons enjoying privileges and immunities in line with agreement are to comply with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Ghana.

    “The secretariat shall freely purchase any currencies through authorised channels and hold and dispose of them, transfer its funds to or from the host country, and operate accounts in any currency.

    “The secretariat is exempt from any direct or indirect taxes except for charges and taxes on public utility services including compulsory contributions to any social security scheme of the host country.

    “General convention on the privileges and immunities of the OAU and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations shall be applicable to the Secretariat, its headquarters, properties, funds, assets, premises and facilities, officials of the secretariat, state parties to the AfCFTA agreement and persons performing missions for the secretariat,” it said.

    Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the agreement, including any question regarding its validity or termination, the report said, shall be resolved amicably through diplomatic channels.

    Disputes not resolved amicably within 90 days of instituting negotiations for the amicable resolution or such other time as the parties may mutually agree, the report indicated, shall be referred to or finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

    Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, moving the motion, said the AfCFTA Secretary-General has already been appointed and that the recruitment of four other directors and essential staff were underway.

    “Although the Ministry Foreign Affairs could not provide the specific percentage of Ghanaians that would be employed at the secretariat,  the committee was assured that the secretariat would be guided in its recruitment policy to hire the majority of Ghanaians particularly in the general staff category as the practice pertaining in countries hosting AU Organs,” Annoh-Dompreh, told the House.

     

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • No winner for Mo Ibrahim governance prize

    The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced that, for a second year running, it has not found a suitable winner for its annual Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

    The award, launched in 2006, recognises former African leaders who have shown “outstanding governance of their country, brought peace, stability and prosperity to their people”.

    The winner receives a $5m (£3.8m) cash award paid over 10 years.

    Sudanese-British billionaire Mo Ibrahim, chairman of the foundation, said the continent was facing a lot of challenges but he was optimistic there would be a winner soon:Quote Message: We need leaders who can govern democratically and translate these challenges into opportunities. With two-thirds of our citizens now living in better-governed countries than ten years ago, we are making progress. I am optimistic that we will have the opportunity to award this Prize to a worthy candidate soon.”

    We need leaders who can govern democratically and translate these challenges into opportunities. With two-thirds of our citizens now living in better-governed countries than ten years ago, we are making progress. I am optimistic that we will have the opportunity to award this Prize to a worthy candidate soon.”

    The Ibrahim prize was also not awarded in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018 as the committee did not find a leader who met all the criteria for the prize.

    The first winner was Mozambique’s former president Joaquim Chissano in 2007.

    Other winners:

    Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008) Pedro Pires of Cape Verde (2011) Hifikipunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014) Ellen Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia (2017) South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was given an honorary award in (2007)

    Source: bbc.com

  • B&FT Editorial: AfCFTA’s July implementation date could be missed

    The Economist Intelligent Unit (EIU), the London-based business intelligence unit, is predicting that African countries are likely to postpone AfCTA taking effect from July 1 this year (2020).

    The London-based business intelligent unit is making the prediction based on the hesitant behaviour of some African countries like Nigeria, which has closed its land border since August 2019 in a move to curb smuggling and protect its local industries.

    Read: Africa Free Trade to rake in $35bn Alan Kyerematen

    Other important economies, such as Ethiopia and South Africa, are gripped by domestic crises that are absorbing reformers’ energies, it notes, The EIU is of the view that whiles pan-African institutions like the African Union and AFDB continue to push for action, it expects the agreement’s activation to be postponed until at least the end of 2020.

    This has a telling effect on the proposed free trade area, as well as its secretariat that will be located in Accra. Per the EIU’s forecast, this could be another timeline missed – and it is not too hard to believe since evidence on the ground lends credence to the assertion.

    Sluggish implementation of necessary legal changes and other obstacles will therefore see the vast majority of African states fail to meet the July 2020 deadline, the EIU maintains.

    Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, has had a long history of economic protectionism and worried it could be flooded with cheap goods from more competitive neighbors – thereby undermining its efforts to revive local manufacturing and expand farming to reduce dependence on crude oil exports.

    These are genuine concerns, but the good news is that it was one of the last 54 nations to back the agreement to make it binding on Africa’s most populous nation. Any attempt by Nigeria to slow-pedal implementation of the new African free trade deal until it is satisfied it can compete with its neighbors could be undermining – and that’s precisely what it is currently doing with its border closure.

    Read: AfCFTA will make politicians powerless Ofosu-Dorte

    It is of little surprise, therefore, that the EIU is forecasting a postponement of AfCTA due to the actions of leading African economics like Nigeria.

    This brings to mind the misguided stance of groups like GUTA which are urging for a reciprocation of Nigeria’s border closure by Ghana, forgetting the role we have played in times past pushing for greater intra-African trade since the days of our illustrious first president, Kwame Nkrumah – which we can safely add was one of the prime reasons Accra was chosen to host the AfCTA Secretariat.

     

    Source: Business & Financial Times