Speaking on Eyewitness News, Dr. Aning said there are enough documents on how to address the matter, including work done by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, which is available to the ECOWAS.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wxwR9gMaSdURU3akaYFRSszMJ2kvcmlQ”]“It is a waste of the public purse. At the Kofi Annan Center, we led a sub region-wide study on the farmer-herders across West Africa, it has been presented to the mediation and security committee of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last year; are they telling me that Ghana’s representatives have not shared the document with them, this is unnecessary and is a waste,” he said.

Dr. Aning suggested that, among other options, the Committee can obtain the needed information without leaving the country, suggesting that it conducts the work at the Geography Department at the University of Ghana, Legon.

“If they go to the Geography Department at Legon, they will be able to tell them that, part of the clashes relates to climatic change,” he said.

He noted that the clashes that are happening in some of the West African sub-region are much more dangerous and frightening than what has occurred in Ghana.

He suggested that the country conducts a study into why its previous ways of addressing the long-standing conflict had failed before looking out for how other countries have tried to address it.

The cause of tensions between local farmers and nomadic herdsmen are seen to be essentially the same across the sub-region.

Many lives have been lost, and several persons have been displaced as a result of the long-standing conflict between the two groups.

Over 100 people were recently been displaced in some parts of the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region, following separate reprisal attacks between herdsmen and some inhabitants of Dwibease and Wheewhee communities.

In Nigeria for instance, casualties are significantly higher, where more than 1, 200 people were killed in 2014 by different groups of Fulani herders, according to the Global Terrorism Index.

A mass burial for over 70 people was held in Nigeria’s central Benue State in January 2018.

Since the New Year,  more than 100 deaths have been reported in Benue and Taraba states, according to reports in Nigeria.

Fighting has been particularly heavy in Benue state, where 80 people have been killed and 80,000 displaced.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This document will among others come up with the best ways to end incessant clashes between peasant farmers and herdsmen.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nVZwWkAGiQHUbc5UlvHQV8m3oUKxMzic”]Speaking to Citi News, the Minister said if the document is generated and passed into law, the sporadic clashes would be curbed.

“The government has tasked about four ministries to produce a national cattle Ranching document that will be sent to parliament to be approved or pushed into a law such that whoever rears cattle in Ghana, would have to abide by that document, but that has not come out yet” he said.

The conflict between herdsmen and peasant farmers in some parts of the country in the past, has led to the loss of lives, property and farm produce.

In recent times, nine persons have died from such clashes at Dwerebeafe, Aboyan and Mpeamu in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region.

Eric Kwakye Darfour has asked local authorities in the region to come out with by-laws for the time being that will help minimize clashes between crop farmers and herdsmen.

“In the meantime, I have asked my MMDCEs to also come out with bylaws, bring it to the state attorney, they will look into it, if it doesn’t infringe on our national constitution, they will send it back to the assembly members who will adopt them and they will become a working document that will be used to regulate cattle rearing in various jurisdictions, otherwise we do not have specific laws which will readily come into place to regulate” he said

He said cattle rearing has become a crucial part of Ghana’s agriculture economy hence the need to regulate and sanitize the sector.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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World AIDS Day is marked annually to raise awareness on the AIDS epidemic, its impact on persons infected and affected and also remember those who have died from the epidemic.

The global theme for the WAD 2017: “My Health, My Right” focuses on the right to health and explores the challenges people around the world face in exercising their rights.

Launching the WAD 2017, the Executive Director of UNAIDS. Michel Sidibé, noted that: “All people, regardless of their age, gender, where they live or who they love have the right to health,” adding that no matter what the health needs are, everyone requires health solutions that are available and accessible, free from discrimination and of good quality.”

Globally, this year’s commemoration seeks to stress and remind the world that if a person’s right to health is compromised, they are often unable to effectively prevent disease and ill health, including HIV, or to gain access to treatment and care. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), believes that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, will depend heavily on ensuring the right to health for all.

For Ghana, this year’s WAD is unique, as it comes off simultaneously with  National Farmers Day, a day dedicated to celebrate  farmers and fisher folks, who contribute to about half of the total labour force in Ghana. The joint commemoration fits into the national commitment to reach all populations in every sector of society with HIV and AIDS information and services.

The day would be marked with a joint grand durbar in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, where HIV prevalence is estimated to be 2.6 per cent, per the 2016 HIV sentinel survey report.

“This collaboration is necessitated by the drive to ensure that no one is left behind in the global effort to end AIDS by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. National Farmers Day presents a special opportunity to reach out to farmers and other agribusiness men with the knowledge and tools necessary to live an informed life,” says the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

The durbar will have the President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairman of GAC, Nana Akufo-Addo, as the keynote speaker. The newly appointed Country Director of UNAIDS to Ghana, Ms. Angela Trenton-Mbonde, will also deliver the 2017 Global WAD speech on behalf of the UNAIDS Executive Director.

GAC and UNAIDS, as part of the event, will in collaboration with partners, mount an exhibition of assorted Information Education and Communication materials, freely distribute condoms and offer HIV testing services.

Technical personnel from GAC and partners shall be available to offer free counselling and psychosocial support on all matters relating to HIV and AIDS. This collaboration is expected to be replicated across the country in all the ten regions of Ghana.

HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal clinics is currently 2.4 % which represents the second consecutive upsurge from the 2015 prevalence of 1.8% and the 2014 prevalence of 1.6 per cent. HIV prevalence is higher in urban areas (2.5 per cent) than rural (1.9 per cent).

The commemoration of WAD 2017 is even more crucial as Ghana and the rest of West and Central Africa seek to meet the global 90-90-90 Fast-track targets of ensuring that by 2020, at least 90 percent of people living with HIV know their status; 90 percent of persons living with HIV who know their status are enrolled in treatment and sustained in care; and 90 percent of people on sustained HIV treatment attain viral suppression.

This World AIDS Day also comes of at a time when UNAIDS has noted that countries in West and  Central Africa are lagging  behind in the global pursuit to end AIDS as a public health threat.

Though the global response to HIV is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, with a 48% decline in deaths from AIDS-related causes, from 1.9 million  in 2005 to 1.0 million in 2016, available data suggests that  less than half of persons living with HIV in West and Central Africa are aware of their status.

“The Global efforts to reach the 90–90–90 targets are leaving millions behind in Western and Central Africa. A relatively high burden of HIV in the region, combined with HIV testing and treatment coverage far below the global average, paints an alarming picture: while it contains 7% of the world’s population, the region is home to 17% of the world’s people living with HIV and accounts for 30% of the world’s AIDS-related deaths,” says UNAIDS in its special analysis report.

According to UNAIDS, the comparatively slow expansion of HIV treatment services, has held back the reduction of AIDS-related deaths in Western and Central Africa. The epidemic has claimed the lives of an estimated 310 000 adults and children in 2016 in the region alone. Figures also point to the fact that while the world witnessed significant progress in responding to HIV, with 57% of all people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 46% of all people living with HIV accessing treatment and 38% of all people living with HIV virally suppressed in 2015, the Western and Central Africa region  achieved only 36%, 28% and 12%, respectively. This meant a considerable 4.7 million people living with HIV were not receiving treatment.

Insufficient access to antiretroviral treatment, under-resourced health systems and logistical weaknesses have made the region hardest hit by AIDS-related deaths in the world, pushing UNAIDS to come up with a catch-up plan to supplement national strategies and existing plans, with the aim of increasing antiretroviral treatment uptake and saving lives in the region.  The catch-up plan is intended to supplement national strategies and existing plans.

The West and Central Africa Catch-Up Plan  which was endorsed by African heads of states, during the 29th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is expected to dramatically accelerate the scale-up of HIV testing, prevention and treatment programmes, with the goal of putting the region on the Fast-Track to meet the 90–90–90 targets by December 2020.   According to the  Regional Director of UNAIDS for Western and Central Africa, Dr. Djibrill Diallo, the successful implementation of the plan across the region, will see at least 850 000 people, including 60 000 children, diagnosed as living with HIV but not yet enrolled in care will receive sustained high-quality antiretroviral therapy by mid-2018. This is an estimated 65% of the number of previously tested but untreated people living with HIV.

Ten  countries in West and Central Africa have already developed and implemented their catch-up plans, with some already seeing results.  They are Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Ghana is expected to develop a catch up plan, led by the UNAIDS Country Director and the Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission.

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By: Attah-Effah Badu

The writer is a media practitioner with interest in HIV and AIDS related issues. He can be reached on 0248264353 or via Email: [email protected]

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The 85 personnel, who were dispatched from the Police Headquarters last week to calm tensions and protect lives and properties at Dwerebease and Hweehwee after reprisal attacks between nomadic herdsmen and some farmers, which led to the death of some 8 people, are struggling to access water which they say is affecting their work.

This was revealed by the Commanding Officer of the troops, Chief Inspector Albert Abalem, when members of the Regional Security Council visited the affected communities to have a fair idea about the situation on the ground after the reprisal attacks.

Chief Inspector Albert Abalem pleaded with the Eastern Regional Minister and the members of the Regional Security Council to as a matter of urgency provide them with a bore hole.

“The problem we have here is with water. We do not have water and it is a challenge for us. As you can see, it is ‘kufuor gallons’ we are using here. We travel with our car to a far away community from here to fetch water into the gallons on a daily basis to cook, drink and bath before we go to work, and this is not helping us.”

Chief Inspector Albert Abalem again requested for a pick up to help with their operations.

“Another problem we have is with our car, we have only one pick-up and it is not helping our work because when the pick up leaves for patrols we do not have a back up for emergencies so we are pleading with the assembly to help us with a pick up to enhance our operations.”

The Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Samuel Afeku, on his part promised to work on the issues raised by the police personnel.

“I assure you that your concerns have been well noted and they will be channeled to the appropriate authorities to be addressed immediately for you to get whatever you require and to be able to work effectively and carry out your mandate here.”

The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, also gave the personnel an assurance that the Kwahu East District Assembly will take pragmatic steps to address their water problem in the shortest possible time.

These problems and concerns raised by the police personnel on duty paints exactly the gloomy picture of the kind of problems teachers, and health workers who are posted to work at these deprived villages face on a daily basis.

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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At a press conference in the Western Region, the Minority accused the Akufo-Addo government of poorly managing the cocoa sector.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IbsuU974rpPKZcEPxFA1IIYmhyDMmU3C”]It further claimed that government has sidelined suspected NDC sympathizers in the distribution of the subsidized fertilizer.

According to them, government’s decision to sell the fertilizer at a subsidized price instead of giving them out for free, amounts to robbing the farmers.

But speaking to Citi News, Dr. Afriyie described such claims as misleading.

According to Dr. Afriyie, the cocoa sector is doing well under the Akufo-Addo government, such that there is reverse smuggling of cocoa beans from Cote D’ivoire to Ghana.

“What the Minority said is very pathetic and very disingenuous. We have maintained the price at GHC 475…As I speak to you now, there is reverse smuggling from Cote D’lvoire to Ghana. If the prices were so good why are Ghanaian farmers not sending their cocoa to Cote D’lvoire as was sometime in the past?”

Gov’t has neglected cocoa farmers – Minority

The Minority Spokesperson on Agric, Eric Opoku, had accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of neglecting cocoa farmers in the country.

He indicated that, this is evident in the cancellation of some road projects, challenges with cocoa mass spraying exercise, and replacement of free fertilizers with subsidized ones.

“Our dear farmers, it is sad to note that no provision was made for cocoa roads in the COCOBOD budget for 2017/18. This means that the cocoa roads which are deteriorating faster than anticipated due to the neglect of the NPP government, is going to get worse, making users (mostly farmers) wretchedly despondent and low-spirited to continue to labour for our dear nation,” Mr. Opoku said.

Mr. Opoku also accused the NPP government of sidelining perceived sympathizers of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the distribution of fertilizers, claiming that farmers are now in difficulties.

“The programme is overly politicized, and perceived NDC sympathizers are left out in the distribution of chemicals.”

He further challenged government to come clean on how much government has realized so far in the cocoa stabilization fund.

“You may recall that in the last press conference, we made specific demands in respect of the Cocoa Stabilization Fund established in 2014 by the Mahama government. Even though attempts were made to respond to the issues raised, specific questions were not addressed. We are still interested in knowing how much is accumulated in the Cocoa Stabilization Fund and its impact on cocoa farmers in this critical period.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Chairman of the Northern Regional Farmers Association (NorFA), Mohammed Adam Nashiru at a news conference in Tamale said the fall armyworms menace nearly affected the planting for food and jobs programme.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nhq9Mrfp1FebeIuc5WjWQL5PGytlAEM6″]“We commend government for effectively fighting the fall armyworms invasion of our farmlands which nearly dashed our hopes as beneficiaries of the planting for food and jobs programme.”

As a former national President of Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Nashiru Adam implied that government has so far demonstrated its commitment to boost the Agric sector.

“We appreciate government’s foresight and commitment to the development of the nation’s agriculture sector.”

He advised the nation’s farmers to take advantage of the planting for food and jobs programme and increase their yields.

“We need to collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in the districts for more education and sensitisation on the fight against the fall armyworms menace.”

“We should always contact experts in our quest to fight the fall armyworms. The introduction and supply of insecticides such as K optimal, sumpifos and adepa by MoFA is yielding results.”

“The executives and members of the association are all beneficiaries of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative. Farmers in the region have increased utilisation of fertilisers and seed in three folds due to this initiative. This shows that farmers’ yield in this season will equally increase hence the reduction of poverty among farmers in the region”, he intimated.

Mohammed Adam Nashiru assured government of the association members’ determination to produce enough foodstuff for domestic consumption and export.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Northern farmers laud gov’t response to Armyworm attack appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Three hundred and twenty – four (324) farmers in the area have been affected and a total of 522 hectors of farmlands have been infested representing 31.70 per cent of destruction.

The affected communities include Suromani, Agyemankrom, Nsuhia, Amasu, Asenso Number One, Koradaso, Asikasu, Kofiasua, Kwameasua, Dormaa Ahenkro and Antwirifo.

Mr Akaare Damian, the Deputy Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) told the media that the invasion was as a result of the wrong application of insecticides – farmers did not use the right dosage of chemical when the insects attacked the farms.

“The farmers delayed more than one week before reporting the incident. They resorted to using their own means to control the insects. When the chemical proved ineffective in dealing with the insects, they later rushed to our office”, he said.

The Deputy Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture said his outfit has taken delivery of some insecticides and distribution is being made to farmers of the affected communities.

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Source: GNA

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The fertilizer watchdog committees will monitor the movement of subsidized fertilizers across neighboring countries and report such perpetrators to the security agencies for arrest and prosecution.

Speaking at the National launch of the project  “2017 PFAG fertilizer Watch Dogs” on Friday(28th April,2017) at the Paga border in the Upper East Region, Regional Coordinator of PFAG, Mrs. Victoria Adongo, said the move was to help protect the tax payer’s money and compliment government’s efforts of making subsidized fertilizer accessible to farmers.

“The PFAG envisions fertilizer smuggling this year as has been the case when fertilizer prices in Ghana are lower than that of neighboring countries coupled with price differences between open market and subsidized fertilizer.”

It is in this regard that the PFAG has identified volunteers in all border towns in the three regions of the North where fertilizer smuggling is pervasive to support the security agencies with relevant information to effect the arrest of smugglers” Mrs. Adongo added.

She indicated that, the various watch dog committees will receive comprehensive orientation by the security agencies  to effectively discharge their duties.

Mrs. Adongo said Ghanaian farmers resident in neighboring countries will be issued special kits by their district fertilizer desk officers for easy movement of fertilizer across the borders.

The Navrongo Crime officer, ASP Issahaku Adjei, and the Paga CEPS Commander Emmanuel Lawson, pledged their support and commitment to the fight against fertilizer smuggling in the area, and impressed on committee members to provide accurate and timely information.

Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Frank Fuseini Adongo, reiterated government commitment in making agric viable to all farmers with the 50 percent fertilizer subsidy and other inputs under the planting for food and Jobs project.

He urged the farmers to police the movement of the fertilizers to their benefit, and called on farmers to take advantage of the initiative to make Ghana a food sufficient country and a net exporter of many food stuff.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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“Lack of access to quality fertilizer result to post harvest loses making it difficult for the farmers to produce the required crop and compelled the government to spend much money to import to feed the nation.”

Mr Williams Boakye-Akyeapong, the Northern Regional Director of food and Agriculture gave the advice during a field day in Botanga in the Kumbungu District, which was organised by the Agricultural Manufacturing Group (AMG) and Iddisal Company Limited.

It was aimed at demonstrating the efficacy of a new NPK fertilizer product (NPK 25-10-10), which was introduced a year ago on cereals such as maize and rice to ensure a higher level of nitrogen to compliment the savannah soil to ensure optimum yields.

The new improved 25-10-10, which also comes with a polymer coating has the ability to sustain the slow release of the nutrients over a period of two to three months thereby providing a consistent availability of nutrients throughout the vegetative and reproductive stages of the plant.

Mr Boakye-Acheampong said the existing fertilizers on the market for farmers had lost their efficiency on the crops due to the continuous practice of bad farming methods on the field causing decline of nutrient in the soil.

This, he said had resulted in poor growth in plants leading to low crop yield and subsequently increasing food insecurity in the country.

He therefore emphasised the need for stakeholders in the fertilizer value chain to devise an innovative approach to address issues of poor soil fertility through the use of a more improved fertilizer.

Mr Henry Otoo-Mensah the General Manager of the Agricultural Manufacturing Group noted that, the introduction of the new improved 25-10-10 fertilizer was in response to concerns of farmers with regard to some previous fertilizers that affected their crop yield.

He reiterated his organisation’s commitment to engage with the research institutions to provide quality fertilizer that will boost the production levels of farmers.

Mr Otoo-Mensah hinted that Agricultural Manufacturing Group and Iddisal would soon release a new fertilizer product for top dressing known as Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate (ASN) with 26 per cent Nitrogen and 17 per cent Sulphur to enhance cereal production.

Dr. James Kombiok, tThe General Manager of Direct Farm Services, advised farmers not to apply the fertilizer on a dry field or immediately after a rainfall.

He said it was necessary for farmers to adopt the dipping method during the fertilizer application to avoid the loss of nutrient for plant growth.

Some farmers who spoke to the GNA expressed satisfaction about the outcome of the fertilizer on the maize crop and expressed hope that the new fertilizer would yield good results.

The demonstration would be carried out in six other selected communities in the three Regions of the North including; Tumu in the Upper West Region, Tono and Vea in the Upper East region, and Botanga and Gollinga in the Northern Region as well as other unofficial sites.

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Source: GNA

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The farmers in a congratulatory message to President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo said the incoming government must consult various stakeholders to formulate policies that will regulate the activities of the nomadic herdsmen.

“The conflict between “Fulani” Herdsmen and peasant farmers across many parts of the country in the past has led to loss of lives, property, farms and pollution of water bodies. We call on your government to consult widely and formulate policies that will regulate the activities of nomadic herdsmen to ensure there is peaceful co-existence between crop farmers and livestock farmers specifically the “Fulani” herdsmen.”

The farmers added that the NPP’s victory came at a time when the country required a serious political commitment to agriculture to salvage its declining growth.

“The local agriculture sector is experiencing a decline in growth partly due to inadequate investment in the sector, changes in weather as result of climate change and corresponding low incomes for producers. It is the hope of PFAG that you will address these challenges and bring agriculture to the next level and beyond as envisioned in your 2016 Manifesto.”

They said Akufo-Addo’s “one village one dam” policy especially in Northern Ghana and his quest to establish factories in every district in the country are based on available raw materials were laudable.

They added that “we are constrained to remind you that the declining number of agricultural extension officers in the country is worrying as it is affecting farmers’ access to, and use of, technology in support of agricultural modernization.”

“The promise in your manifesto to work to achieve the UN-recommended ratio of one extension officer to 500 farmers, with emphasis on recruiting female extension officers is particularly exciting news for us as it will go a long way to increase technology dissemination and uptake.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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