Government is to increase budgetary allocation for the Youth In Agriculture programme by 500% raising the amount from GH¢10 million to GH¢60 million next year.
The move is to encourage medium and large scale food production among the youth, especially in areas of comparative advantage, to triple food production within the next three years.
It is also meant to cut down on the country's use of foreign exchange on food imports and make the cedi much stronger.
According to Vice President John Mahama, Ghana currently imports food to the tune of one billion dollars annually, a trend that the government was determined to reverse.
To this end "government is mapping out a strategy to encourage the production of soyabean, maize and other cereals that form the core of staples enjoyed by the citizenry.”
He said the government was also designing an initiative on poultry production, which it planned to roll out soon, to ensure a reduction in the amount of poultry products the country imported.
"Our policy is to encourage import substitution by increasing the production of crops and livestock in areas of comparative advantage, to the country to cut down on foreign exchange rate," he said.
Mahama said government was implementing a farm mechanization concept by providing tractors at affordable rates, to groups and individuals to provide ploughing services to rural farmers at low costs to enhance their production.
He said the government was also carrying through with its interventions to subsidize farm implements, equipment, fertilizers and seedlings, among other things.
The vice president noted that government's interventions in the agricultural sector, coupled with the level of food production going on nationwide, indicated that the country was on course to reducing her food imports drastically within the next three years.
He observed that the youth had not embraced agriculture as a means to
earning a livelihood and urged them to take to farming because it could make them have meaningful living.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Glorious Satellites shock Brazil for gold
Ghana’s Black Satellites in one of the most difficult circumstances shocked Brazil to lift their first, and Africa’s first gold in the history of the U20 championships.
And it took 120 minutes of goalless nerve racking football, with ten men and a 4-3 penalty victory to exorcise the Brazilian ghost which has long haunted the Satellites.
Agyemang Badu, with equally a man of the match performance converted the last kick to glory but the exploits of goal keeper Daniel Agyei cannot be overemphasized.
The Brazilians were gunning for their fifth gold and it was all looking manifest in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Nearly a minute and half into the game, the Ghanaians had not kicked the ball.
The sweet playing South American side assaulted the goal area of the Satellites, and in the 3rd minute, Dalton, proved why he is a central defender, when he dug his head into a superb cross from Douglass in Ghana's final third. His efforts went flying high into the sky and to Ghana's relief.
the Satellites were left off the hook in the 9th minute after a delectable free kick missed Henrique's head and the goal post by inches.
The Brazilians knocked the ball around in no hurry at all for a goal, and kept the Satellites chasing their shadows.
The underdogs lifted up their game but the only opportunity to punish goal keeper Rafael was missed by serial goal scorer Dominic Adiyiah.
Just when their confidence was soaring after a scrappy opening, the bombshell came with a straight red card flashed in a rather controversial circumstances to defender Daniel Addo in the 38th minute.
Samuel Inkoom contributed to the woes of the defender, when he needlessly gave away the ball to the Brazilians and in a counter attack left Addo helpless, bringing his attacker down in the process and attracting a straight red card.
But truth be told the Belgian referee Frank DE BLEECKERE was harsh with his call.
Agyemang Badu was pulled back to assist Jonathan Mensah in the heart of defence and the two did a superb job albeit some desperate moments.
World Champions
The South Americans had their tactics spot on, clipping the flying wings of wing backs, Samuel Inkoom and David Addy whose rampaging runs up-field could not be crowned with their usual incisive cross.
From recess the strategy was unchanged. The Satellites defended as if their lives depended on it, whilst the Selacao poured in to unlock the tight defence.
Goal poacher Dominic Adiyiah was was usually overcrowded by Junior and Toloi after his strike partner Ransford Osei was pulled out for tactical reasons.
The Brazilians got edgy as the minutes wore on, displaying some erratic long range shots which forced second time saves from Agyei after he spilt it in the first attempt.
Teixeira proved a slippery customer for Addy on the left and in one of his superb runs picked an unmarked Souza whose final shot in the 67th minute went wide.
The resolute Ghanaian defence kept the South American attack at bay till the end of 90 minutes.
In extra time the game was even more nervy. The Satellites caught the Brazilians on the break on few occasions, but an instinctive and heroic save from Daniel Agyei in the 96th minute kept the Satellites dream alive.
Teixeira breached the Ghanaian defence set Maicon but the striker could not keep his nerve and shot into the path of Agyei.
It always looked like the tussle will be settled by firing squad and the Belgian referee rightly pointed to the spot after 120 minutes of barren exchange.
The South Americans again had the opportunity after Jonathan Mensah and Addae wasted their kicks, but a Teixeira and a Maicon miss turned the tables around.
Skipper Ayew, Adiyiah, Samuel Inkoom had earlier converted their kicks and needed the final kick of glory from Agyemang Badu to realize a long held ambition of winning Africa’s first U-20 trophy since 1970.
And it took 120 minutes of goalless nerve racking football, with ten men and a 4-3 penalty victory to exorcise the Brazilian ghost which has long haunted the Satellites.
Agyemang Badu, with equally a man of the match performance converted the last kick to glory but the exploits of goal keeper Daniel Agyei cannot be overemphasized.
The Brazilians were gunning for their fifth gold and it was all looking manifest in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Nearly a minute and half into the game, the Ghanaians had not kicked the ball.
The sweet playing South American side assaulted the goal area of the Satellites, and in the 3rd minute, Dalton, proved why he is a central defender, when he dug his head into a superb cross from Douglass in Ghana's final third. His efforts went flying high into the sky and to Ghana's relief.
the Satellites were left off the hook in the 9th minute after a delectable free kick missed Henrique's head and the goal post by inches.
The Brazilians knocked the ball around in no hurry at all for a goal, and kept the Satellites chasing their shadows.
The underdogs lifted up their game but the only opportunity to punish goal keeper Rafael was missed by serial goal scorer Dominic Adiyiah.
Just when their confidence was soaring after a scrappy opening, the bombshell came with a straight red card flashed in a rather controversial circumstances to defender Daniel Addo in the 38th minute.
Samuel Inkoom contributed to the woes of the defender, when he needlessly gave away the ball to the Brazilians and in a counter attack left Addo helpless, bringing his attacker down in the process and attracting a straight red card.
But truth be told the Belgian referee Frank DE BLEECKERE was harsh with his call.
Agyemang Badu was pulled back to assist Jonathan Mensah in the heart of defence and the two did a superb job albeit some desperate moments.
World Champions
The South Americans had their tactics spot on, clipping the flying wings of wing backs, Samuel Inkoom and David Addy whose rampaging runs up-field could not be crowned with their usual incisive cross.
From recess the strategy was unchanged. The Satellites defended as if their lives depended on it, whilst the Selacao poured in to unlock the tight defence.
Goal poacher Dominic Adiyiah was was usually overcrowded by Junior and Toloi after his strike partner Ransford Osei was pulled out for tactical reasons.
The Brazilians got edgy as the minutes wore on, displaying some erratic long range shots which forced second time saves from Agyei after he spilt it in the first attempt.
Teixeira proved a slippery customer for Addy on the left and in one of his superb runs picked an unmarked Souza whose final shot in the 67th minute went wide.
The resolute Ghanaian defence kept the South American attack at bay till the end of 90 minutes.
In extra time the game was even more nervy. The Satellites caught the Brazilians on the break on few occasions, but an instinctive and heroic save from Daniel Agyei in the 96th minute kept the Satellites dream alive.
Teixeira breached the Ghanaian defence set Maicon but the striker could not keep his nerve and shot into the path of Agyei.
It always looked like the tussle will be settled by firing squad and the Belgian referee rightly pointed to the spot after 120 minutes of barren exchange.
The South Americans again had the opportunity after Jonathan Mensah and Addae wasted their kicks, but a Teixeira and a Maicon miss turned the tables around.
Skipper Ayew, Adiyiah, Samuel Inkoom had earlier converted their kicks and needed the final kick of glory from Agyemang Badu to realize a long held ambition of winning Africa’s first U-20 trophy since 1970.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Gov't to Implement ?50m Youth in Agriculture Proj in 2010
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday announced a 50-million- cedi “youth- in-agriculture” project to be executed in 2010 as part of determined measures by government to arrest unemployment.
He said although the project started on a modest scale this year, funding for it would be dramatically increased next year to encourage more youth to venture into agriculture as a viable livelihood to reduce poverty.
The project, which will run alongside the proposed 225 million -cedi Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) initiative, is a targeted policy by the Mills administration to deliver a better Ghana for Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions and the contiguous Savannah
belts in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Na Abdulai Ziblim, Regent of Gulkpegu in Tamale as part of a four-day tour of the Northern Region, Vice President Mahama said the project would help to reverse the migration of the youth in the area to Accra and other urban centres for menial jobs.
To sustain the project, he said government, intends to establish agriculture centres which would provide farming inputs such as seedlings and fertilisers at subsidized rates to improve upon yield.
Mr Mahama asked the people to have faith in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), as it was poised to reverse the affliction of poverty and joblessness among the youth in the area.
Citing the SADA initiative, Vice President Mahama said it was meant to transform the region drastically and give it a face lift.
He said the legal processes for its implementation shall be followed through when Parliament resume sitting.
Vice President Mahama said SADA was being fashioned as a “development vehicle” for the area in line with the pledge of the manifesto of the NDC to the people.
He asked the people to exercise patience with the government as it works diligently to fulfil the mandate for which it was voted for.
Vice President Mahama said the NDC inherited a difficult financial situation but had worked to stabilize the situation, adding: “Everything is now on track. We have been fairly successful in stabilizing the cedi, which was falling like a piece of stone.”
He expressed support for communities which were recently inundated with floods owing to the opening of the Bagre dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Na Abdulai Ziblim asked government to expedite action on upgrading of the Tamale Teaching Hospital to meet its current status.
He also appealed to the government to expand educational facilities in basic as well as Senior High Schools to facilitate teaching and learning.
He said although the project started on a modest scale this year, funding for it would be dramatically increased next year to encourage more youth to venture into agriculture as a viable livelihood to reduce poverty.
The project, which will run alongside the proposed 225 million -cedi Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) initiative, is a targeted policy by the Mills administration to deliver a better Ghana for Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions and the contiguous Savannah
belts in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Na Abdulai Ziblim, Regent of Gulkpegu in Tamale as part of a four-day tour of the Northern Region, Vice President Mahama said the project would help to reverse the migration of the youth in the area to Accra and other urban centres for menial jobs.
To sustain the project, he said government, intends to establish agriculture centres which would provide farming inputs such as seedlings and fertilisers at subsidized rates to improve upon yield.
Mr Mahama asked the people to have faith in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), as it was poised to reverse the affliction of poverty and joblessness among the youth in the area.
Citing the SADA initiative, Vice President Mahama said it was meant to transform the region drastically and give it a face lift.
He said the legal processes for its implementation shall be followed through when Parliament resume sitting.
Vice President Mahama said SADA was being fashioned as a “development vehicle” for the area in line with the pledge of the manifesto of the NDC to the people.
He asked the people to exercise patience with the government as it works diligently to fulfil the mandate for which it was voted for.
Vice President Mahama said the NDC inherited a difficult financial situation but had worked to stabilize the situation, adding: “Everything is now on track. We have been fairly successful in stabilizing the cedi, which was falling like a piece of stone.”
He expressed support for communities which were recently inundated with floods owing to the opening of the Bagre dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Na Abdulai Ziblim asked government to expedite action on upgrading of the Tamale Teaching Hospital to meet its current status.
He also appealed to the government to expand educational facilities in basic as well as Senior High Schools to facilitate teaching and learning.
Author: GNA Date: 25/09/2009
Police Grab Ex-NUGS Officers
The Ministries police last Saturday arrested two former officers of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) for refusing to hand over the union’s properties in their possession.
Ahmed Benni, former Education and Democratisation Officer and out-gone Coordinating Secretary Patrick Ayitah were picked at different locations and put behind bars after a complaint was lodged to the police on the state of the union’s assets they were holding on to.
Ahmed Benni was said to have forcibly collected keys to the NUGS vehicle from the official driver and rove it to an unknown destination.
On the part of Patrick Ayitah, police said he was being trailed for locking the offices of the Union at the State Housing Corporation, thereby refusing the new executives access to the union’s official documents.
The duo spent close to three hours at the police station last Saturday before being granted bail through the help of some friends and relatives.
Police said on Saturday that the out-gone student officers were given up to 2pm Monday 28th September, 2008 to produce the union’s assets in their possession. They said that failure from the student leaders will result in their prosecution.
Patrick and Benni were alleged to be part of a faction that frustrated out-gone President Ishmael Tweneboah from successfully running the affairs of the union.
Ishmael, according to sources, was seen by the group as an NDC sympathizer who frustrated any kind of agenda to favour the NPP.
The group recently tried to prevent the holding of a handing-over ceremony at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) but did not succeed when the Tesano police were called in to keep it at bay.
After the handing-over, members of the dissident group were still bent on their activities as they tired to hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to overthrow Ishmael Tweneboah who had already handed over to a new administration under the leadership of Wonder Madilo.
This reporter gathered that the purported NEC meeting did not come off as most of the appropriate representatives under the union boycotted it. The group has been livid with anger following the defeat of some candidates it allegedly had preference for at the Kumasi congress.
NUGS President Wonder Madilo told newsmen via telephone that the development had frustrated new executives from undertaking their constitutional duties.
He disclosed that under normal circumstances, the NUGS official vehicle should be parked at the premises of the Ministry of Education since it was that government entity that provided the bus and the official driver.
As at the time of filing this report, scores of people including new executives had gathered at the Ministries Police Station waiting for the bailed student leaders to hand over the assets of the Union.
Ahmed Benni, former Education and Democratisation Officer and out-gone Coordinating Secretary Patrick Ayitah were picked at different locations and put behind bars after a complaint was lodged to the police on the state of the union’s assets they were holding on to.
Ahmed Benni was said to have forcibly collected keys to the NUGS vehicle from the official driver and rove it to an unknown destination.
On the part of Patrick Ayitah, police said he was being trailed for locking the offices of the Union at the State Housing Corporation, thereby refusing the new executives access to the union’s official documents.
The duo spent close to three hours at the police station last Saturday before being granted bail through the help of some friends and relatives.
Police said on Saturday that the out-gone student officers were given up to 2pm Monday 28th September, 2008 to produce the union’s assets in their possession. They said that failure from the student leaders will result in their prosecution.
Patrick and Benni were alleged to be part of a faction that frustrated out-gone President Ishmael Tweneboah from successfully running the affairs of the union.
Ishmael, according to sources, was seen by the group as an NDC sympathizer who frustrated any kind of agenda to favour the NPP.
The group recently tried to prevent the holding of a handing-over ceremony at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) but did not succeed when the Tesano police were called in to keep it at bay.
After the handing-over, members of the dissident group were still bent on their activities as they tired to hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to overthrow Ishmael Tweneboah who had already handed over to a new administration under the leadership of Wonder Madilo.
This reporter gathered that the purported NEC meeting did not come off as most of the appropriate representatives under the union boycotted it. The group has been livid with anger following the defeat of some candidates it allegedly had preference for at the Kumasi congress.
NUGS President Wonder Madilo told newsmen via telephone that the development had frustrated new executives from undertaking their constitutional duties.
He disclosed that under normal circumstances, the NUGS official vehicle should be parked at the premises of the Ministry of Education since it was that government entity that provided the bus and the official driver.
As at the time of filing this report, scores of people including new executives had gathered at the Ministries Police Station waiting for the bailed student leaders to hand over the assets of the Union.
Author: The Insight Date: 30/09/2009
Military training for National Service personnel
All national service persons from next year will undergo military training before being dispatched to work at their various stations.
The National Service Secretariat (NSS) said this will equip the personnel physically and mentally, as well as instil in them a sense of patriotism they are expected to acquire at the end of the service.
The Executive Secretary of the secretariat, Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu said this in an interview with the press in Accra.
He said his outfit is simply responding to calls to bring back a useful component of the scheme when it was started.
Mr Kuagbenu said the secretariat is currently working on the modalities to ensure a smooth take-off of the programme but hinted the budget for it is huge.
Meanwhile, the NSS has deployed 230 national service persons to assist Members of Parliament (MPs) in the performance of their duties.
The secretariat said the service personnel are expected to conduct researches to facilitate the job of the MPs they are assigned to.
Kuagbenu explained that the move is in fulfilment of a promise by President Mills to get graduates to assist the MPs.
“I don’t expect to see parliamentary research assistants sitting in Parliament, that is not the work of a research assistant,” he said.
He said MPs have for long been unable to scrutinise bills before they are passed into laws because the legislators have had no assistants to help them with their work.
The NSS has posted a total of 60,700 personnel to serve in various sectors including education, health and the private sector.
Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
The National Service Secretariat (NSS) said this will equip the personnel physically and mentally, as well as instil in them a sense of patriotism they are expected to acquire at the end of the service.
The Executive Secretary of the secretariat, Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu said this in an interview with the press in Accra.
He said his outfit is simply responding to calls to bring back a useful component of the scheme when it was started.
Mr Kuagbenu said the secretariat is currently working on the modalities to ensure a smooth take-off of the programme but hinted the budget for it is huge.
Meanwhile, the NSS has deployed 230 national service persons to assist Members of Parliament (MPs) in the performance of their duties.
The secretariat said the service personnel are expected to conduct researches to facilitate the job of the MPs they are assigned to.
Kuagbenu explained that the move is in fulfilment of a promise by President Mills to get graduates to assist the MPs.
“I don’t expect to see parliamentary research assistants sitting in Parliament, that is not the work of a research assistant,” he said.
He said MPs have for long been unable to scrutinise bills before they are passed into laws because the legislators have had no assistants to help them with their work.
The NSS has posted a total of 60,700 personnel to serve in various sectors including education, health and the private sector.
Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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