Wednesday, January 17, 2018
New districts must be adequately funded
New districts must be adequately funded: New districts must be adequately funded
Stable prices of goods prior to Xmas
By Ama Amankwah Baafi & Jessica Acheampong
With just a few days to the celebration of Christmas, traders have positioned themselves in the markets in anticipation of a sales boom this season.
They have displayed a wide variety of goods which are mostly patronised by shoppers during the Yuletide. In shops, big or small, on table tops on the pavements of every street in the business district of Accra, for instance, traders are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to attract the most of shoppers during the period.
Price trends
On a visit to the various market centres in Accra, it was revealed that unlike some other years, the prices of goods meant for the celebration of Christmas have remained fairly stable, perhaps, as a result of the fierce competition among the traders.
At the CBD area, which is the hub of trading in clothing and other personal accessories, brand new kids clothing are going for GH¢35 upwards, just around the same price last year. Similarly, shoes for kids are ranging between GH¢25 and GH¢40 depending on the type and quality preferred by customers. Also, Christmas hats, sunglasses, hairbands and watches for kids are also selling for between GH¢2 and GH¢10.
Women and men apparel, sewn with different materials and in assorted colours and designs are also from GH¢40 upwards, while prices of shoes also start at the same price.
For those who desire to sew their own clothes, there is also on display, a wide array of lace, flowered and plain materials both locally made and imported, on display. Some of the cloths are going for between GH¢8 and GH¢15 per yard depending on the quality. Valuable, authentic Ghanaian prints such as Printex, ATL and GTP are going for a minimum of GH¢85 for six yards.
Also on display are decorative Christmas items from GH¢10 upwards. For instance, a 4-feet green Christmas tree is going for GH¢32 on the average.
For food items, depending on the brand, a 5-litre bottle of cooking oil sells at GH¢40 upwards, 2 litres for GH¢22 and one litre at GH¢8.
A large-sized canned mackerel goes from GH¢4 upwards depending on the brand; corned beef is also selling at GH¢8 at the least.
Rice is a common staple during festive seasons and this is the period when traders in this common staple make money. On the average, a 5-kg bag of rice is selling at GH¢27, 25kg at GH¢140, 50kg from GH¢200 upwards depending on the brand (local or imported rice).
A 5kg live broiler goes from GH¢45 upwards, while the layer is selling at GH¢40 upwards. For food stuffs, about five medium-sized tubers of cassava go for GH¢5. A tuber of yam is selling at GH¢5, a bunch of plantain at GH¢15 upwards.
A medium-sized basket full of tomatoes sells at GH¢65, pepper at GH¢20, onions at GH¢30 while garden eggs is going for GH¢12.
A quantity of fresh vegetables such as sweet pepper, carrots, spring onions, cabbage, lettuce, green beans are also selling from GH¢5.
A carton of non-alcoholic beverage sells at GH¢20 while the alcoholic beverages are from GH¢70.
Christmas promotions
Many companies have also taken advantage of the season and are currently running promotions on various items ranging from kids’ clothes, hair extensions, ladies accessories and other items on online platforms, as well as in the market places where they have their outlets.
Also heavily advertised are electrical appliances such as fridges, cookers, washing machines, blenders, television sets and mobile phones among many others. These are also displayed in different brands with traders pricing to outdo each other.
What the traders say
Interactions with traders, however, revealed that they were divided in their expectations of how sales would turn, due to the apparent slow start in business.
While some are hopeful of increasing sales, others have given up on any anticipated boom in sales, explaining that sales would have picked up by now if they were indeed in for a bumper harvest during this festive season.
Although the traders are fully ready for business, it appears patrons are yet to catch up with the euphoria that would translate in more cash for the traders.
While some have gone as far as reducing their wares by 50 per cent, others have varied theirs between 10 and 30 per cent all in a bid to boost sales.
Hair extensions that originally cost GH¢900 have been slashed to GH¢450. Prices of mobile phones have also been discounted with companies running various adverts in both the traditional and social media ahead of the festive season.
Good sales
For Madam Ophelia Nyantakyi who trades in men’s shirts, children’s clothing and ladies handbags, business was good. She expressed optimism that sales would pick up during the Christmas break.
She said no matter how slow sales turned out, she was able to at least sell some of her wares before going home.
“Business is good because this year is better than last year. Since school reopened, people have been buying so I have been able to continue trading without going for a loan to buy goods this Christmas.”
“At least we have some capital to trade with this Christmas. I know sales will pick up so there is no cause for worry,” she said in an interview.
Another trader, Mr Charles Kumi, who deals in men’s footwear, told the team that although sales hadn’t been stable, it was likely to pick up in a few days to Christmas.
“Yesterday, for instance, I made GH¢600 but three days earlier it was about GH¢1,200. It is not stable but I believe that sales would pick up starting from next week,” he said.
For some traders who interjected intermittently during the interviews, the fact that they were alive and could even come to the market to trade was enough motivation that sales would be good.
" At least we have some capital to trade with this Christmas. I know sales will pick up so there is no cause for worry."
Slow sales
For a section of the traders, last year’s Christmas was more lucrative for them compared to this year as they were yet to fully come to terms with how sales would turn out in the next few days.
During an interaction with Madam Grace Quansah who sells ladies accessories, she said, sales had been very slow and she was yet to see the excitement heralding the festive season.
Although she was expecting sales to pick up, she wasn’t so excited about the slow nature of business in the build-up to Christmas.
“Let me be honest with you, this year’s sales have been very slow. Last year was far better,” she said.
KEYNOTE
The Christmas season is a time where traders expect to record bumper sales. Although this is yet to materialise for many of them, there is still hope that they would rake in some few cedis before the New Year.
With just a few days to the celebration of Christmas, traders have positioned themselves in the markets in anticipation of a sales boom this season.
They have displayed a wide variety of goods which are mostly patronised by shoppers during the Yuletide. In shops, big or small, on table tops on the pavements of every street in the business district of Accra, for instance, traders are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to attract the most of shoppers during the period.
Price trends
On a visit to the various market centres in Accra, it was revealed that unlike some other years, the prices of goods meant for the celebration of Christmas have remained fairly stable, perhaps, as a result of the fierce competition among the traders.
At the CBD area, which is the hub of trading in clothing and other personal accessories, brand new kids clothing are going for GH¢35 upwards, just around the same price last year. Similarly, shoes for kids are ranging between GH¢25 and GH¢40 depending on the type and quality preferred by customers. Also, Christmas hats, sunglasses, hairbands and watches for kids are also selling for between GH¢2 and GH¢10.
Women and men apparel, sewn with different materials and in assorted colours and designs are also from GH¢40 upwards, while prices of shoes also start at the same price.
For those who desire to sew their own clothes, there is also on display, a wide array of lace, flowered and plain materials both locally made and imported, on display. Some of the cloths are going for between GH¢8 and GH¢15 per yard depending on the quality. Valuable, authentic Ghanaian prints such as Printex, ATL and GTP are going for a minimum of GH¢85 for six yards.
Also on display are decorative Christmas items from GH¢10 upwards. For instance, a 4-feet green Christmas tree is going for GH¢32 on the average.
For food items, depending on the brand, a 5-litre bottle of cooking oil sells at GH¢40 upwards, 2 litres for GH¢22 and one litre at GH¢8.
A large-sized canned mackerel goes from GH¢4 upwards depending on the brand; corned beef is also selling at GH¢8 at the least.
Rice is a common staple during festive seasons and this is the period when traders in this common staple make money. On the average, a 5-kg bag of rice is selling at GH¢27, 25kg at GH¢140, 50kg from GH¢200 upwards depending on the brand (local or imported rice).
A 5kg live broiler goes from GH¢45 upwards, while the layer is selling at GH¢40 upwards. For food stuffs, about five medium-sized tubers of cassava go for GH¢5. A tuber of yam is selling at GH¢5, a bunch of plantain at GH¢15 upwards.
A medium-sized basket full of tomatoes sells at GH¢65, pepper at GH¢20, onions at GH¢30 while garden eggs is going for GH¢12.
A quantity of fresh vegetables such as sweet pepper, carrots, spring onions, cabbage, lettuce, green beans are also selling from GH¢5.
A carton of non-alcoholic beverage sells at GH¢20 while the alcoholic beverages are from GH¢70.
Christmas promotions
Many companies have also taken advantage of the season and are currently running promotions on various items ranging from kids’ clothes, hair extensions, ladies accessories and other items on online platforms, as well as in the market places where they have their outlets.
Also heavily advertised are electrical appliances such as fridges, cookers, washing machines, blenders, television sets and mobile phones among many others. These are also displayed in different brands with traders pricing to outdo each other.
What the traders say
Interactions with traders, however, revealed that they were divided in their expectations of how sales would turn, due to the apparent slow start in business.
While some are hopeful of increasing sales, others have given up on any anticipated boom in sales, explaining that sales would have picked up by now if they were indeed in for a bumper harvest during this festive season.
Although the traders are fully ready for business, it appears patrons are yet to catch up with the euphoria that would translate in more cash for the traders.
While some have gone as far as reducing their wares by 50 per cent, others have varied theirs between 10 and 30 per cent all in a bid to boost sales.
Hair extensions that originally cost GH¢900 have been slashed to GH¢450. Prices of mobile phones have also been discounted with companies running various adverts in both the traditional and social media ahead of the festive season.
Good sales
For Madam Ophelia Nyantakyi who trades in men’s shirts, children’s clothing and ladies handbags, business was good. She expressed optimism that sales would pick up during the Christmas break.
She said no matter how slow sales turned out, she was able to at least sell some of her wares before going home.
“Business is good because this year is better than last year. Since school reopened, people have been buying so I have been able to continue trading without going for a loan to buy goods this Christmas.”
“At least we have some capital to trade with this Christmas. I know sales will pick up so there is no cause for worry,” she said in an interview.
Another trader, Mr Charles Kumi, who deals in men’s footwear, told the team that although sales hadn’t been stable, it was likely to pick up in a few days to Christmas.
“Yesterday, for instance, I made GH¢600 but three days earlier it was about GH¢1,200. It is not stable but I believe that sales would pick up starting from next week,” he said.
For some traders who interjected intermittently during the interviews, the fact that they were alive and could even come to the market to trade was enough motivation that sales would be good.
" At least we have some capital to trade with this Christmas. I know sales will pick up so there is no cause for worry."
Slow sales
For a section of the traders, last year’s Christmas was more lucrative for them compared to this year as they were yet to fully come to terms with how sales would turn out in the next few days.
During an interaction with Madam Grace Quansah who sells ladies accessories, she said, sales had been very slow and she was yet to see the excitement heralding the festive season.
Although she was expecting sales to pick up, she wasn’t so excited about the slow nature of business in the build-up to Christmas.
“Let me be honest with you, this year’s sales have been very slow. Last year was far better,” she said.
KEYNOTE
The Christmas season is a time where traders expect to record bumper sales. Although this is yet to materialise for many of them, there is still hope that they would rake in some few cedis before the New Year.
Labour Commission needs support
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises has urged the Ministry of Finance to consider the role of the National Labour Commission (NLC) in fostering national peace on the labour front as an important national priority and timeously release funds to facilitate its operations.
It also recommended that adequate funds be made available to enable the NLC to build the capacity of its human resource, most of whom, it said, lacked the requisite knowledge and expertise in labour and industrial dispute resolution issues.
The recommendations were made by the committee in its report on the 2018 annual budget estimates for the NLC.
Challenges
The Select Committee has also recommended a review of the Labour Act, Act 651, 2003 to make the NLC more responsive to current issues in the labour market.
The committee observed that the NLC had operated with various challenges since the passage of the Labour Act; and that currently, the commissioners work part-time and sit once a week, and it was not allowed to generate funds internally to support its operations.
It has no offices in the other regions and districts, apart from a small office in Takoradi manned by one staff.
Consequently, all cases from the various parts of the country have to be settled in Accra, which puts a lot of pressure on the commission and also creates difficulties for many complainants in other parts of the country.
“The NLC plays an important role in promoting national security and peaceful industrial environment. It is imperative for the commission to be given all the necessary support and the requisite resources to enable it to effectively pursue its mandate to the benefit of the country,” the report by the committee said.
Budget allocation
The committee further recommended that Parliament approves the allocation of GH¢6,277,229 million to the NLC for the 2018 fiscal year.
The commission was allocated a sum of GH¢2,863,532 million for the implementation of its programmes and activities in 2017.
The 2018 amount, which shows an increase of 119 per cent over that of 2017, saw compensation accounting for GH¢2,490.529 (39.7 per cent), compared to GH¢1,450,516 in 2017; goods and services GH¢2,786,700, against GH¢1,313,016 in 2017 and capital expenditure GH¢1,000,000, compared to ¢in 2017.
Following the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2018 financial year to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the annual budget estimates of the NLC were referred to the Committee on Employment by the Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders (140(4) and 184) of Parliament.
Subsequently, the committee held a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the NLC, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, and his technical team on December 12, 2017 and considered the referral.
The NLC explained that the increase in compensation was to cater for the payment of salaries and related allowances of 41 personnel at post.
It is also meant for the replacement of three resigned staff and the recruitment of four personnel for the head office and six personnel for new offices to be established.
"It is significant to note that 87 per cent of industrial disputes on issues that could have triggered industrial strikes were resolved by the commission. Furthermore, it received and paid a total amount of GH¢562,479.75 as compensation to beneficiaries following settlement of their cases"
2017 performance
The report by the committee said as of October last year, the NLC had a little over 50 per cent of its total allocation released, with no release made for capital expenditure, which is said to have affected the NLC’s ability to expand infrastructure and procure critical office equipment.
This notwithstanding, the commission, on the average, was able to resolve 56 per cent of the cases it received.
“It is significant to note that 87 per cent of industrial disputes on issues that could have triggered industrial strikes were resolved by the commission. Furthermore, it received and paid a total amount of GH¢562,479.75 as compensation to beneficiaries following settlement of their cases,” the report said.
The committee recommended the effort of the NLC, particularly in areas of dispute resolution and industrial harmony, given the resource constraints within which it operated in 2017.
Outlook
The NLC will, in 2018, open three regional offices in Kumasi, Tamale and Sunyani and also revamp its Takoradi office; organise enterprise-based training on labour issues for identified sectors; and undertake sensitisation programmes for labour market players for effective labour/management cooperation.
It will also organise training programmes for its staff and strengthen the institutional capacity of the commission to enable it to effectively to manage industrial disputes.
Key Note
The National Labour Commission is mandated to develop and sustain peaceful and harmonious industrial relations using effective dispute resolution practices within the context of the law, promotion of cooperation among the labour market players and mutual respect for their rights and responsibilities.
It also recommended that adequate funds be made available to enable the NLC to build the capacity of its human resource, most of whom, it said, lacked the requisite knowledge and expertise in labour and industrial dispute resolution issues.
The recommendations were made by the committee in its report on the 2018 annual budget estimates for the NLC.
Challenges
The Select Committee has also recommended a review of the Labour Act, Act 651, 2003 to make the NLC more responsive to current issues in the labour market.
The committee observed that the NLC had operated with various challenges since the passage of the Labour Act; and that currently, the commissioners work part-time and sit once a week, and it was not allowed to generate funds internally to support its operations.
It has no offices in the other regions and districts, apart from a small office in Takoradi manned by one staff.
Consequently, all cases from the various parts of the country have to be settled in Accra, which puts a lot of pressure on the commission and also creates difficulties for many complainants in other parts of the country.
“The NLC plays an important role in promoting national security and peaceful industrial environment. It is imperative for the commission to be given all the necessary support and the requisite resources to enable it to effectively pursue its mandate to the benefit of the country,” the report by the committee said.
Budget allocation
The committee further recommended that Parliament approves the allocation of GH¢6,277,229 million to the NLC for the 2018 fiscal year.
The commission was allocated a sum of GH¢2,863,532 million for the implementation of its programmes and activities in 2017.
The 2018 amount, which shows an increase of 119 per cent over that of 2017, saw compensation accounting for GH¢2,490.529 (39.7 per cent), compared to GH¢1,450,516 in 2017; goods and services GH¢2,786,700, against GH¢1,313,016 in 2017 and capital expenditure GH¢1,000,000, compared to ¢in 2017.
Following the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2018 financial year to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the annual budget estimates of the NLC were referred to the Committee on Employment by the Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders (140(4) and 184) of Parliament.
Subsequently, the committee held a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the NLC, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, and his technical team on December 12, 2017 and considered the referral.
The NLC explained that the increase in compensation was to cater for the payment of salaries and related allowances of 41 personnel at post.
It is also meant for the replacement of three resigned staff and the recruitment of four personnel for the head office and six personnel for new offices to be established.
"It is significant to note that 87 per cent of industrial disputes on issues that could have triggered industrial strikes were resolved by the commission. Furthermore, it received and paid a total amount of GH¢562,479.75 as compensation to beneficiaries following settlement of their cases"
2017 performance
The report by the committee said as of October last year, the NLC had a little over 50 per cent of its total allocation released, with no release made for capital expenditure, which is said to have affected the NLC’s ability to expand infrastructure and procure critical office equipment.
This notwithstanding, the commission, on the average, was able to resolve 56 per cent of the cases it received.
“It is significant to note that 87 per cent of industrial disputes on issues that could have triggered industrial strikes were resolved by the commission. Furthermore, it received and paid a total amount of GH¢562,479.75 as compensation to beneficiaries following settlement of their cases,” the report said.
The committee recommended the effort of the NLC, particularly in areas of dispute resolution and industrial harmony, given the resource constraints within which it operated in 2017.
Outlook
The NLC will, in 2018, open three regional offices in Kumasi, Tamale and Sunyani and also revamp its Takoradi office; organise enterprise-based training on labour issues for identified sectors; and undertake sensitisation programmes for labour market players for effective labour/management cooperation.
It will also organise training programmes for its staff and strengthen the institutional capacity of the commission to enable it to effectively to manage industrial disputes.
Key Note
The National Labour Commission is mandated to develop and sustain peaceful and harmonious industrial relations using effective dispute resolution practices within the context of the law, promotion of cooperation among the labour market players and mutual respect for their rights and responsibilities.
Business support programmes must be institutionalised
A business management consultant, Ms Aba Quainoo, has called for the institutionalisation of government’s support to businesses through the various programmes designed to encourage and assist businesses to thrive.
She said apart from lack of knowledge on how to access such support, there was a perception of politicisation of the support which had led to most entrepreneurs declining from accessing some of the packages.
The government has introduced several initiatives, including tax rebates for young entrepreneurs, opportunities in the Planting for Food and Jobs programme and increased to US$50 million the amount allocated to the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan to provide an integrated national support for start-ups and small businesses.
She, therefore, suggested that such support programmes should be formalised such that changes in political power would not affect lending to businesses.
Ms Quainoo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mels Consulting Limited, said it was important to find a way to erase the perception which was not discussed.
She spoke in an interview with the GRAPHIC BUSINESS during the Women in Agribusiness Development Summit organised by the USAID –Financing Agriculture Project (USAID-FinGAP) in Accra.
She explained that although the support from government through the various programmes were laudable, some entrepreneurs were reluctant and scared to take advantage of them for fear of being tagged as affiliates of the government in power and that their businesses would go down when the government was out of power.
“Due to the history and what people have seen to be happening to other businesses that signed on to some government initiatives they are shying away from some of these supports. We must find a way of making the criteria work regardless of one’s political affiliation,” she said.
“Let us institutionalise it, let the criteria work. People will relax, and it will come to stay when people realise that you can get it on merit. Governments should be able to build on it when they come,” she said.
The agribusiness summit
It was on the theme, ‘Women at the Frontier of Agribusiness Development; Financing and Business Support for Enhanced Food Security,’ and brought together women-led agribusinesses, farmers, processors, business service providers, financial institutions, government and development partners.
It promoted investment opportunities and linked women-led agribusinesses to business advisory service (BAS) providers and financial institutions.
A panel discussion saw female agribusiness experts and operators sharing their knowledge with the women-led agribusinesses on how to secure their chosen ventures.
Challenges
The panellists said farming, unlike other professions, faced a lot of problems. They mentioned lack of data, capital, insufficient managerial and operational skills, and lack of ready market for agric produce.
The CEO of Samba Foods, Ms Leticia Osafo-Addo, said women-owned agribusinesses must be singled out and given structured and targeted support to grow.
"Due to the history and what people have seen to be happening to other businesses that signed on to some government initiatives, they are shying away from some of these initiatives. We must find a way of making the criteria work regardless of one’s political affiliation."
Empowering women
The Head of Agricultural Services, Nestle Central and West Africa region, Mr Faith Ermis, said women were key contributors to development and so empowering them to have reliable livelihoods helped to ensure long-term sustainable development that transformed communities.
He added that Nestle had provided 600 women cooperatives with high-yield disease-resistant cocoa seedlings and the technical assistance necessary to set up a nursery.
“Empowering women, particularly women farmers, to participate fully in society and the economy across the value chain is how Nestle is committed to addressing the issue,” he said.
Key Note
-
She said apart from lack of knowledge on how to access such support, there was a perception of politicisation of the support which had led to most entrepreneurs declining from accessing some of the packages.
The government has introduced several initiatives, including tax rebates for young entrepreneurs, opportunities in the Planting for Food and Jobs programme and increased to US$50 million the amount allocated to the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan to provide an integrated national support for start-ups and small businesses.
She, therefore, suggested that such support programmes should be formalised such that changes in political power would not affect lending to businesses.
Ms Quainoo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mels Consulting Limited, said it was important to find a way to erase the perception which was not discussed.
She spoke in an interview with the GRAPHIC BUSINESS during the Women in Agribusiness Development Summit organised by the USAID –Financing Agriculture Project (USAID-FinGAP) in Accra.
She explained that although the support from government through the various programmes were laudable, some entrepreneurs were reluctant and scared to take advantage of them for fear of being tagged as affiliates of the government in power and that their businesses would go down when the government was out of power.
“Due to the history and what people have seen to be happening to other businesses that signed on to some government initiatives they are shying away from some of these supports. We must find a way of making the criteria work regardless of one’s political affiliation,” she said.
“Let us institutionalise it, let the criteria work. People will relax, and it will come to stay when people realise that you can get it on merit. Governments should be able to build on it when they come,” she said.
The agribusiness summit
It was on the theme, ‘Women at the Frontier of Agribusiness Development; Financing and Business Support for Enhanced Food Security,’ and brought together women-led agribusinesses, farmers, processors, business service providers, financial institutions, government and development partners.
It promoted investment opportunities and linked women-led agribusinesses to business advisory service (BAS) providers and financial institutions.
A panel discussion saw female agribusiness experts and operators sharing their knowledge with the women-led agribusinesses on how to secure their chosen ventures.
Challenges
The panellists said farming, unlike other professions, faced a lot of problems. They mentioned lack of data, capital, insufficient managerial and operational skills, and lack of ready market for agric produce.
The CEO of Samba Foods, Ms Leticia Osafo-Addo, said women-owned agribusinesses must be singled out and given structured and targeted support to grow.
"Due to the history and what people have seen to be happening to other businesses that signed on to some government initiatives, they are shying away from some of these initiatives. We must find a way of making the criteria work regardless of one’s political affiliation."
Empowering women
The Head of Agricultural Services, Nestle Central and West Africa region, Mr Faith Ermis, said women were key contributors to development and so empowering them to have reliable livelihoods helped to ensure long-term sustainable development that transformed communities.
He added that Nestle had provided 600 women cooperatives with high-yield disease-resistant cocoa seedlings and the technical assistance necessary to set up a nursery.
“Empowering women, particularly women farmers, to participate fully in society and the economy across the value chain is how Nestle is committed to addressing the issue,” he said.
Key Note
-
- The USAID–Financing Agriculture Project, is a
five-year project (2013-2018) with the goal of goal to facilitate finance and investment in the
maize, rice and soy supply value chains in the northern part of Ghana has to date facilitated
a financing gap of about US$150 million to 2,500 small, medium in facilitating
finance and investment in the maize, rice and soy supply and value chains in
Northern Ghana large enterprises (SMiLEs) out of which 1000 are
female-led.
USAID-FinGAP awards women-led agribusinesses
By Lucy Mensah
The USAID –Financing Agriculture Project (USAID-FinGAP), aimed at addressing the key constraint of lack of access to finance in the agriculture sector, has awarded some deserving women in agribusiness development and institutions for their immense contributions to the growth of the agriculture sector in the country.
The USAID-FinGAP said the activities of these individuals and institutions had helped the agric sector to see a new light ,particularly those in the rural areas.
The award winners included the Shinkaafa Buni Rice Farmers Association, Agricare Ghana Limited, Vester Oil Mills, Builsa Community Bank (Bucobank), Ms Margaret Awenyogu of Adabi Women’s Group and JCS Investments Ltd.
The rest are Success for People Microfinance Limited, Tumu Cooperative Credit Union, Victoria Norgbey, President of the Ghana Women in Poultry Value Chain and Mabel Ann Akoto-Kwudzo, CEO of Okata Farms and Food Processing ltd.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba, said the agriculture sector was one of the key sectors that drove the economy of the country.
She said the sector contributed revenue to socio-economic development, provided employment for the citizens’ produced food to feed the nation and raw materials for industrial use and export.
“It is very important to always remember those who work in this sector and honour them. I wish to congratulate and urge all of you to work hard so that the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative of the government can contribute to the existing agric sector,” she said.
It is very important to always remember those who work in this sector and honour them. I wish to congratulate and urge all of you to work hard so that the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative of the government can contribute to the existing agric sector.
Background
USAID-FinGAP supports USAID / Ghana’s activities in the United States government’s Feed the Future strategy, which aims to establish commercially driven agricultural development services critical to sustainably reduce food insecurity and poverty.
Although Ghanaian farmers can produce to meet the country’s need, they need proper investment support in improved seed and fertiliser, mechanisation services and irrigation systems to do so.
Therefore, USAID-FinGAP facilitates financing in the maize, rice and soy value chains from financial institutions to agribusinesses through its business advisory service providers, who package applications, business plans and records of agribusinesses and present them to the financial institutions.
The USAID –Financing Agriculture Project (USAID-FinGAP), aimed at addressing the key constraint of lack of access to finance in the agriculture sector, has awarded some deserving women in agribusiness development and institutions for their immense contributions to the growth of the agriculture sector in the country.
The USAID-FinGAP said the activities of these individuals and institutions had helped the agric sector to see a new light ,particularly those in the rural areas.
The award winners included the Shinkaafa Buni Rice Farmers Association, Agricare Ghana Limited, Vester Oil Mills, Builsa Community Bank (Bucobank), Ms Margaret Awenyogu of Adabi Women’s Group and JCS Investments Ltd.
The rest are Success for People Microfinance Limited, Tumu Cooperative Credit Union, Victoria Norgbey, President of the Ghana Women in Poultry Value Chain and Mabel Ann Akoto-Kwudzo, CEO of Okata Farms and Food Processing ltd.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba, said the agriculture sector was one of the key sectors that drove the economy of the country.
She said the sector contributed revenue to socio-economic development, provided employment for the citizens’ produced food to feed the nation and raw materials for industrial use and export.
“It is very important to always remember those who work in this sector and honour them. I wish to congratulate and urge all of you to work hard so that the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative of the government can contribute to the existing agric sector,” she said.
It is very important to always remember those who work in this sector and honour them. I wish to congratulate and urge all of you to work hard so that the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative of the government can contribute to the existing agric sector.
Background
USAID-FinGAP supports USAID / Ghana’s activities in the United States government’s Feed the Future strategy, which aims to establish commercially driven agricultural development services critical to sustainably reduce food insecurity and poverty.
Although Ghanaian farmers can produce to meet the country’s need, they need proper investment support in improved seed and fertiliser, mechanisation services and irrigation systems to do so.
Therefore, USAID-FinGAP facilitates financing in the maize, rice and soy value chains from financial institutions to agribusinesses through its business advisory service providers, who package applications, business plans and records of agribusinesses and present them to the financial institutions.
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