Akasanoma

Akasanoma
0
A Quarterly Publication
Vol. 02
Inflation Rate
Continues to Drop
Ghana’s Ambassador at BFA Fundraiser
Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S. His Excellency Daniel Ohene Agyekum
delivered the keynote address at the annual Books For Africa (BFA)
Fundraising Luncheon at Minnesota in April 2010.
In his speech the Ambassador expressed the Ghana government’s
appreciation for books it receives from BFA and noted that it had assisted
in raising the literacy bar in Ghana.
He also urged friends of BFA to continue with their material and financial
support to the organization.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed at an official ceremony
involving His Excellency Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Robert Bruininks,
President of University of Minnesota and Mr. Tom Gitta Board President
of BFA to formalize the relationship.
The Ambassador held meetings with executives of Thompson Rueter, a
partner of Books for Africa.
Since its inception in 1988, it is estimated that BFA has shipped over 22
million books to Children in Africa.
Ghana’s Statistical Service has
announced that the Country’s
inflation rate dropped further to
9.46% in July 2010.
The recent drop is the 13th
consecutive drop since June of
2009 when it peaked at 20.74%.
Speaking at a recent Press
Conference in Accra, Dr. Grace
Bediako, a Government
Statistician announced the new
figures.
She attributed the drop in
inflation rate to the trend of
declining food prices and
prudent financial management
of the economy.
Ambassador Ohene Agyekum used the occasion to meet with Ghanaian
nationals while in Minnesota.
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
August 2010
Delta Airline Launches
Nonstop Service Between
Accra And Atlanta
`
His Excellency Daniel Ohene Agyekum At Francis W. Parker
School In Chicago
In an effort to strengthen the sister city relationship between Ghana and
Chicago, Ambassador Ohene Agyekum paid a working visit to the Francis
Ambassador
Visits Francis W. Parker School In Chicago
W.Mr.
Parker
School in Chicago.
He was welcomed on arrival by pupils from 1st grade holding placards that
read “Akwaaba” meaning welcome.
The Francis W. Parker School of Chicago and Tuskegee International
Schools in Ghana have been part of Chicago Sister Cities Program since
2006. The aim of the program is to encourage students to correspond with
each other through letters, drawings and various projects to learn about
their different cultures.
The Ambassador had a rare opportunity to answer various questions posed
by 4th and 7th graders on women’s rights, Ghana’s culture and Ghana’s
evolving democracy.
His Excellency and his team toured the classrooms and interacted with the
students.
The Ambassador also had a roundtable discussion with representatives
from the Parker School at the Council for Global Affairs.
The First Marriot International Cultural Appreciation Day Held
The first Marriot International Cultural Appreciation Day was held on May 18th
2010, at the Marriot International Corporation in Bethesda, Maryland to provide
its numerous employees the opportunity to experience the diverse cultures
represented in the Washington DC Metropolis.
A ribbon cutting ceremony
was held in Atlanta, Georgia,
to launch Delta Airlines
nonstop service between
Accra’s Kotoka International
Airport and Atlanta’s
Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport.
The flight will operate four
times per week
complementing the airline’s
existing five weekly nonstop
services from Accra to New
York.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the
U.S, Ambassador Ohene
Agyekum expressed
appreciation to Delta Airlines
for working in collaboration
with Ghana on such a major
initiative adding that as the
leading U.S. airline to Africa,
Delta should continue its
expansion into the fast
growing African markets.
The event, held by Marriot International Corporation attracted participation from
almost all the Embassies in Washington DC Metropolis including the Embassy of
Ghana. The Embassy also hosted a booth to promote Ghana’s tourism sector and
to showcase the rich and authentic culture of the country.
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
August 2010
Chief Of The Defense Staff Visits North Dakota
In an endeavor to further a State
Partnership Program (SPP), the Chief of
Defense Staff of Ghana’s Armed Forces, Lt.
Gen. Peter Blay led a Ghanaian delegation
on a reciprocal visit to the North Dakota
National Guard (NDNG) in April of this
year.
NDNG has since 2004, developed a
professional relationship with Ghana as
part of the Department of Defense’s State
Partnership Program (SPP). The program
pairs States with partner countries to
encourage the development of economic,
political and military ties.
In 2009, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk,
adjutant general of the North Dakota
National Guard (NDNG) traveled to Ghana
along with other NDNG leadership as part
of the State Partnership Program, where
he learned about training and military
programs.
Lt. General Blay and the Ghanaian
delegation toured several military facilities
including an emergency management
center, a military family service building
and the Joint Operation Center used as a
central location for disaster management
and hoped to take some of those ideas
back to Ghana. "In the future perhaps we
can learn from this and have some
equipment and expand our
establishment," Lt. Gen. Blay said.
On his part Maj. Gen. Sprynczynatyk
praised Ghana’s Peace Keeping efforts
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
stating that they had also learned a lot
from their Ghanaian counterparts. “As
we talked to them we learned some of
the things they do as their soldiers
deploy around the world to make sure
they take care of their family members
at home” the Major Gen. expressed.
The SPP is also involved in humanitarian
programs and have been instrumental in
building schools and hospitals in Ghana.
Since the Program began in 2004, there
have been about 75 exchanges between
Ghana and the NDNG.
Both parties were eager to see the
benefits to the partnership, expand from
a military to military partnership to one
of civilians to civilians.
Washington Mission Opened
Doors To The Public
The Ghana Mission in Washington DC
on Saturday May 1, 2010 opened its
doors to the general public when it
participated in this year’s Passport DCAround the World Embassy Tour to
provide a range of cultural and
educational activities, programs, talks
and exhibitions to showcase the rich
cultural legacy of the country.
Ghana Embassy
Participates In 2010
African Conference &
Trade Fair
The 2010 Business and Trade
Fair was organized under the
auspices of the Diversity
Restoration Solution
Incorporation from July 23-25,
2010 at Baltimore, Maryland.
The Conference which brought
together the Business
Community, Embassies,
Financial Institutions as well as
some representatives from the
State Department was under
the theme “The Doors of Africa
is Open will you come?”
Mrs. Edith Hazel, the Deputy
Head of Mission gave the
keynote address about
Investment Opportunities and
Prospects in Ghana. Mr. Job
Tiimob, Senior Executive
Officer of the Trade
Department gave a Power
Point Presentation on Trade
and Investment Opportunities
in Ghana.
An exhibition was mounted at
the Fair to showcase Ghanaian
products, investment
brochures and other
giveaways to participants.
August 2010
Embassy of Ghana
3512 International Drive, NWashington DC 20008
Tel.: (202)686-4520
Fax(202)686-4527
Website: [email protected]
www.ghanaembassy.org
Women’s Shipping Club
Formed In Ghana
Ghana Embassy Participates In The International Children’s Festival In
Washington DC
On May 15, 2010 over five hundred (500) children and their parents from the
Washington D.C Metropolis, joined in the celebration of the 4th International
Children’s Festival at Meridian International Center in Washington DC.
The International Children’s festival is a yearly activity organized by the
Meridian International Center as an educational fun-fair with the aim of
bringing together the DC community and the Diplomatic Corps, as embassies
host booths, representing their country and culture. The day also featured
music and dance performances from around the world.
The Embassy of Ghana in Washington D.C hosted a booth with Ghanaian
artifacts, interactive displays and various educational materials on Ghana while
the staff engaged the children in games, face painting and the tasting
of Ghanaian indigenous products like cocoa drink among others.
The guest of honor for the occasion was Michelle Fenty, wife of DC Mayor
Adrian Fenty who welcomed more than 20 embassies including Argentina,
Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Brazil, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, France and
Ghana, just to mention a few to the event. The festival climaxed with music
performances from various artists around the world including a renowned
Ghanaian artist, Kofi Dennis and the Three Dennis Sisters.
United Airlines Launches Flights To Accra
On June 21t of this year United Airlines launched its inaugural flight from
Washington Dulles to Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the first
service to Africa.
In a brief speech, Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S. His Excellency Daniel Ohene
Agyekum said, the new relationship with United Airlines is an indication of the
growing US business in Ghana, a trend, which he said will in no doubt enhance
trade and investment promotions as well as tourism and other cultural links
between the two countries.
The Ambassador and the Trade Attaché, Mr. Francis Addo, were on board the
maiden flight to Ghana compliments of United Airlines.
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
Women of International Shipping
and Trading Association (WISTA), an
international organization for
women in management positions
involved in Maritime and related
trade worldwide has launched its
Ghana branch in Tema.
The aim of the Ghana group is to
promote growth through education,
networking and mentoring among
women.
Speaking at the inauguration of
WISTA- Ghana, the Minister of
Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs.
Juliana Azumah said the government
would work with women groups in
an effort to ensure active
involvement in the shipping
industry. She commended Ghanaian
women for their bravery in
venturing into male–dominated
territory and succeeding in the field.
She expressed her joy at the fact
that Ghanaian women were involved
in global strides to improve women
growth and empowerment.
The Minister of Women and
Children’s Affairs also called for the
participation of women in the
shipping industry and urged
Ghanaians to alter attitudes towards
employment of women in the
sector.
She encouraged women to work
hard at improving their levels of
competence to enable them tackle
challenges associated with the
advancement of women in socioeconomic development.
August 2010
Ghanaian Community Holds 2010 Ghana Festival In
Chicago
Revised Consular Fees
.
“Ghanafest 2010”, a Ghanaian cultural festival was held in Chicago on
July 31, 2010.
The annual festival which began 22 years ago has evolved into a great
cultural exposition of African origin.
Speaking at the event, Ghana’s Ambassador, His Excellency Daniel
Ohene Agyekum, urged parents to make Ghanaian cultural education
an integral part of their parental responsibilities stressing that the
identity of a people is imbedded in its culture. “Your language, the
food you eat, the way you dance and the clothing you wear depict
your culture” the Ambassador said. He also expressed his
disappointment at the fact that some children born to Ghanaian
parents in America can barely understand or speak any Ghanaian
dialect.
Special guest, Illinois’ Governor Pat Quinn, and his 80 years old mother
attended the event. The Governor commended highly the efforts of
the organizers in putting together a great and successful cultural
festival and declared July 31st as Ghana day in the State of Illinois.
Impressive Rise In Ghana’s Non Traditional Exports
For First Quarter Of 2010
For the first quarter of this year, Non Traditional Exports (NTEs) increased by
29.86%. NTEs have risen steadily over the last decade.
NTEs rose from $400,659 in 2007 to $1.3 billion in 2008 experiencing a slight
dip to $1.2 in 2009 as a result of the global economic crisis.
A. REVISED PASSPORTS
FEES
FORMS $30.00
PROCESSING [NEW/RENEWAL]
$100.00
MISSING/DAMAGED/MUTILATED
$200.00
B. VISAS
SINGLE $60.00
SINGLE [RUSH] $100.00
MULTIPLE-$100.00
MULTIPLE [RUSH] $200.00
TRANSIT [SINGLE] $50.00
TRANSIT [MULTIPLE] $100.00
C. OTHER DOCUMENTS
TRAVEL CERTIFICATE $50.00
ATTESTATION $30.00
DUAL CITIZENSHIP $200.00
ENDORSEMENT $50.00
NO OBJECTION LETTER $30.00
ABOVE FEES ALSO APPLY
TO THE NEW YORK
CONSULATE GENERAL IN
NEWYORK
The broad sectors credited for the recent rise in growth are semi processed
products which accounted for 47%, Agriculture sector 11.40% and the
handicraft sector 0.13%.
The government has projected a growth of $5 billion dollars Non Traditional
Exports target for the next five years.
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
August 2010
A FOCUS ON GHANA’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
The Vision
The national vision for the development of the food and
agriculture sector is a structurally transformed Ghanaian
economy where modernized agriculture has culminated in
improved food security, employment opportunities and
significantly reduced poverty, particularly in rural areas.
The Mission
MOFA's Mission is to promote sustainable agriculture and
thriving agribusiness through research and technology
development, effective extension and other support services to
farmers, processors and traders along the value chain for
improved livelihood.
The modernized agriculture is designed and expected to provide
critical linkage between agriculture and industry, application of
science and technology based on demand driven research and
utilisation of research results and sustainable land management
and sustainable environmental practices. The Agriculture sector
is planned to grow at 6-8 percent per annum to support the
attainment of our middle income status by 2020.
Highlights of Achievements


In the last 18 months the government has stabilized
food supply by registering 30% and 10% increases in
rice and maize production respectively in 2009 as a
result of a fertilizer subsidy program and targeted
technical extension assistance to farmers, ensuring
good agricultural practices. Ghana has been self
sufficient in the production of staples.
For the first time the World Food program has procured
and exported 5000mt of maize from Ghana to famine
stricken Niger and is in the process of sourcing an
additional 5000mt. This has not impacted negatively on
Ghana’s cereal stock or on prices.

Ghanaians are beginning to appreciate the need to
patronize and develop the taste for rice grown in
Ghana, seeing as the quality is competitive, price is
affordable and the demand creates jobs for Ghana’s
teeming unemployed youth.

The establishment of 80 out of 170 District
Mechanization Centers in addition to individual
agricultural machinery and equipment supply and
purchase is introducing scientific mechanized
agriculture into Ghana’s farming practices aimed at
productivity and output enhancement to sustain food
security in the country.

The establishment of a National Food Buffer Stock
Company (NAFCO) offers farmers a minimum
guaranteed price for their produce and assures them of
sustainable incomes to alleviate poverty.
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
NAFCO has so far bought over 12,000mt of local paddy
rice that it is milling currently in the rehabilitated Nasia
Rice Mills in Tamale that has not worked for years.

The Youth in Agriculture Program created 47,000 jobs in
2009 on the Block Farms and is projected to create
197,000 jobs in 2010 as we expand the acreage under
cultivation of the target crops. Additional jobs are to be
created under the Youth in Aquaculture and Youth in
Livestock Projects.

The food basket has contributed significantly to the
downward trend in inflation in the country that has
dropped consistently from 16% in December 2009 to
9.5% in June 2010. The food inflation dropped from
15.4% in June 2009 to 6.1 % in June this year, the lowest
in the last 16 years. Food prices have remained relatively
stable.
Cause for Concern
Since taking over the Food and Agriculture portfolio, the Minister
of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi has observed a
continuous decline in the numbers and the performance of
students who take Agriculture Science at the Senior High School
as was reported by the Annual Conference of Agriculture Science
Teachers in 2009.
In a recent Speech at the University of Cape Coast, the Minister
expressed his concerns stating “If agriculture is the pivot of
Ghana’s developmental agenda, as proclaimed by the President
Mills Administration, then how can we marginalize or should I say
trivialize the development of the sector’s human resource
capacity? Is it not odd that even at the tertiary level like UCC we
have been training agricultural students without a well-equipped
research laboratory for some years now?”
He articulated a serious objection to this misfit and said he had
consequently brought the matter to the attention of his
colleague, the Minister for Education for urgent and
comprehensive redress to encompass the locus of agriculture in
the educational curriculum, subject relevancies and curriculum
review along the educational value chain from Junior High School
to the tertiary level. An inter-agency ad hoc committee has since
been set up and is working to rectify the issue.
Focus
In terms of focus, the Minister in an interview with Akasanomaa
affirmed that while enhancing and sustaining the gains made in
the grains production, the livestock sector, with emphasis on the
poultry industry is to engage the serious attention of the Ministry
from the third quarter of this year, having ensured availability of
maize and sorghum on the market. This focus is aimed at raising
the protein intake of Ghanaians currently ranked among the
lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Minister expressed optimism with the country’s strategy for
food security judging from the zeal with which farmers, and the
unemployed youth have embraced the government’s agricultural
modernization program.
August 2010
NEWS IN PICTURES
Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn and Ambassador Daniel
Ohene Agyekum at Ghanafest in Chicago
The crowd at Ghanafest 2010
Vendors display Ghanaian beauty products
and at Ghanafest
Ambassador at the Francis W. Parker
School in Chicago, Illinois
Ambassador Speaking to Students, School Staff and
Parents
Ambassador, Wife and School Officials
“Question and Answer” time with
Mr. Ambassador
Ghana’s CDS, Lt. Gen. Peter Blay’s U.S
Visit
Ambassador and the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS)
during a recent US visit
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
Lt. Gen. Peter Blay (CDS) and
Maj. Gen. Sprynczynatyk
CDS and delegation visiting the North Dakota
National Guard
August 2010
“Snapshots” Of Official Visits to
Washington DC
Minister for Local Government and Rural
Development, Hon. Joseph Yieleh Chireh led an
eight member delegation to Washington from
th
th
April 5 to 10 for negotiations on Ghana Social
Opportunities Project with the World Bank.
Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister for Agriculture was
in Washington, DC from April 10-15 to attend
World Bank Roundtable meetings on
Responsible Agriculture Investments.
Minister for Communication, Hon. Haruna
Iddrisu and delegation attended the World Bank
Ministerial Meeting themed “Transformational
st
rd
Power for ICI for Africa” on April 21 -23 , 2010.
Hon. Alban S.K. Bagnin, Minister for Water
Resources, Works and Housing and Hon. Joseph
Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government
and Rural Development attended UNICEF
sponsored first high level meeting of Sanitation
th
and Water and the 4 US-Africa Infrastructure
Conference.
Hon. Kwabena Duffour, Minister for Finance and
Economic Planning and Mr. K.B. Amissah-Arthur,
Governor of the Bank of Ghana led a delegation
of officials from the Finance Ministry and the
Bank to attend the 2010 IMF/World Bank Spring
st
th
Meetings from April 21 -26 .
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
Hon. Betty Mould-Iddrisu and a five
member delegation were in Washington to
meet with Mr. Eric Holder, AttorneyGeneral of the U.S. While in Washington
the Attorney-General also held meetings
with the U.S Sentencing Commission and
Corporate Council on Africa and the
American Society of International Law.
Hon. .Joe Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy
and three officials were in Washington
th
th
from May 8 -11 to attend the 2010,
Energy Efficiency Global Forum and
Exposition organized by the Alliance to
Save Energy. The Minister was honored for
his efforts at ensuring energy efficiency in
Ghana received “Visionaries” award
alongside Sweden, Chile and India.
A six member Government delegation led
by Hon. Seth Terkper, Deputy Minister of
Finance and Economic Planning was in
th
Washington from May 12 to 13, 2010 to
attend the e-ghana Additional Financing
Negotiations, at the World Bank.
Minister for Employment and Social
rd
Welfare was in Washington from May 3 –
th
7 , 2010 to hold meetings on the issue of
the Elimination of Child Labour with
representative of World Cocoa Foundation,
US Department of Labour and US
Department of State.
Embassy of Ghana
3512 International Drive, NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel: (202) 686-4520 Fax: (202) 686-4527
www.ghanaembassy.org
Working Hours: Monday – Friday
8:30am – 3:30pm
Consular Hours:
9:30am – 3:00pm
Email: [email protected]
A Publication of Ghana Embassy –Washington DC
August 2010