News Desk || It will cost $140m to make Saglemi Housing Project habitable - Asenso Boakye
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NewsTranscript
00:00 From our studios here in Kokumlimle, I welcome you to Newsdesk. I am Bernice Abubay Dulansa.
00:05 In this package, JoNews learns it will cost an additional $200 million to make Saglemihausen
00:14 Project habitable. And Colleges of Education, Teachers Association and Physician Assistance
00:23 Association of Ghana are still on strike despite meeting with the National Labour Commission
00:28 who hear from the parties involved. And the Ghana Union of Traders Association unhappy
00:33 with new port charges. We've got details of these and more plus business news. Please
00:40 stay with us.
00:41 Thank you so much for your company here on Newsdesk. We are live on DSTV channel 421
01:08 and on your digital television, also online on myjoyonline.com. Details now, the Public
01:14 Procurement Authority has given approval for a transaction advisor to be Gauteng to lead
01:20 the process of identifying a suitable private sector entity with a requisite technical and
01:26 financial capability to help dispose the Saglemihausen Project which cost the state $200 million.
01:33 Now this follows cabinet's directive to the Minister of Works and Housing. It is to be
01:38 disposed of at the current value to a private sector entity to complete for onward sale
01:45 to the public at no further cost to government. But JoNews is learning the new cost at almost
01:51 $200 million after some assessment was done. Sector Minister Francis Asensu-Buache tells
01:58 us more.
01:59 A thorough feasibility study was done. It was a requirement before the finance ministry
02:07 would commit funds to it. And after the feasibility studies, it went before a panel of experts
02:13 who sat on it and approved it before the Ministry of Finance committed funds to it. Of course,
02:20 I did mention the use of local materials. That is one of the strategies we want to adopt
02:25 to address the housing deficit, housing issues in the country. Because one of the reasons
02:31 why it costs so much is because all our building materials, raw materials are imported. And
02:38 it's become even difficult lately because of the current global crisis.
02:45 So what kind of indigenous raw materials are we talking about?
02:48 I'm talking about for now the burnt bricks, which we have huge deposits in many parts
02:57 of the country, in the Ashanti region, in the Central region, in the Bonafore region.
03:02 But unfortunately, they are so expensive. It's because the industry is not developed.
03:08 We want to use this project as a catalyst for people to realise that, hey, these burnt
03:18 bricks can be used. People develop interest in it, develop the taste for it. Because many
03:22 people don't want to use the burnt bricks. If we are able to create demand for it, it
03:29 will also create supply for it. And we can have mass production and we can enjoy economies
03:34 of scale. And in that case, the prices of these raw materials, burnt bricks, will come
03:39 down. Then we develop the local building materials industry so that the average cost will come
03:47 down and it will help in our local housing industry.
03:53 State Housing Corporation is one of the contractors or one of the developers that have taken advantage
03:59 of this and is working on it. Apart from the state housing, we understand that the others
04:03 are from the private sector.
04:04 They are all from the private sector. State housing is owned by the state, but it's in
04:12 the market to make profit.
04:15 And the 60% that you are targeting, that you want to address their housing needs. Now let's
04:20 look at the cost. Studio, around 20,000.
04:24 One bedroom, 20,000.
04:25 One bedroom, 20,000. Two bedrooms, 30,000.
04:27 34,000.
04:28 And then three bedrooms. So what is the financing arrangement? Is it a case that it's going
04:34 to be a one-off payment or they'll have to pay it within a certain period of time?
04:39 So the Ministry of Finance has a program called Home Ownership Fund. That one is a blended
04:48 financing arrangement between the government and some selected banks that government subsidizes
04:56 the banks to provide mortgage arrangements, mortgage facilities to workers or any person
05:04 who has a dedicated source of income.
05:08 That fund is going to help finance 10% of this housing unit. Originally, the idea was
05:17 to do more, but we are all aware of our current financial situation. So government is not
05:22 going to be able to provide a lot more subsidies as we had envisaged. But for now, 10%.
05:30 We have worked with the unions. Many of them have decided to provide offtake for these
05:38 housing units for their members, teachers, nurses.
05:44 GUTA, Traders Union.
05:46 So it's only for the public sector?
05:48 No, no, no. Not only for the public sector. Yesterday, GUTA came there with a vast load
05:53 of its members, very excited and ready to offtake. And the developers and the banks
06:01 also have their own arrangement for certain payment arrangements so that as many people
06:12 as possible can access these homes.
06:15 So in this case, how do you protect those who are really deserving of it? So that it
06:22 doesn't go into the situation where somebody probably may have so much resources.
06:26 No, no, no. It's very important. And it's one of the things that we have put in place
06:31 mechanism to avoid. Because you don't want a situation where rich people like Elton John
06:36 go and buy five states. But we put in mechanism. First of all, we have an income-based eligibility
06:45 criteria so that if you earn a certain amount, you'll be disqualified. Secondly, we have
06:51 a no-resale policy. Once you sell, once you buy it, you cannot sell.
06:58 But if you want to?
06:59 If you want to.
07:00 You sell it back to the developer?
07:01 Well, you cannot. Because the idea is that we want to avoid a situation where someone
07:08 will just come and buy 10 and resell it to you. So once you buy it, you cannot sell.
07:15 Third, nobody will be allowed to buy more than one. So this, it happened in many countries.
07:23 When I went to South Africa, and this one was not just affordable housing. It was actually
07:28 free housing for people who were living in slum areas. That government, the government,
07:34 they had provided some basic housing you need for them. Yet people wanted to sell them.
07:43 So they had put in place this mechanism to make sure that you cannot resell and all that.
07:49 So we learn from what has happened, best practices happening in other parts of the world, and
07:57 we are replicating that.
08:00 And that was the interaction between my colleague Elton Brobey and the Minister for Housing.
08:05 To some other stories now. Physician assistants are still on strike. They are asking for changes
08:10 to be made to the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 857. They want freedom to operate
08:17 independently. We also know that CTAC has been on strike for some time. Yesterday we
08:22 were told by the Executive Secretary for NLC that there was supposed to be a meeting, and
08:28 we will be getting details on that. But let's first speak to the National President of CTAC,
08:33 Mr. Obengima, and also Mr. Ofusua Samwa, who heads the National Labour Commission. Good
08:40 morning to you, Mr. Ofusua Samwa. So first off, let's start on that meeting that was
08:46 supposed to happen between the NLC and the physician assistants yesterday. Did it happen?
08:53 What were the conclusions?
08:54 Yes, it did. And let me correct you that the physician assistants are not on strike. The
09:00 strike has been called off. Currently they are at foot.
09:05 Right. Thanks for the update. And you heard it here first on the Jonese Channel. So tell
09:10 us what agreements were arrived at, or what conclusions were arrived at, for which reason
09:15 the physician assistants decided to back down on the strike?
09:20 Yes, they appeared before the Commission, and after preliminary hearing, they have decided
09:28 to go and consult on their areas of disagreement, and report to the Commission in a month's
09:36 time, on the 16th of next month. So they've been given one month to go and consult, try
09:44 to iron the difference, and report to the Commission.
09:48 Right. And this meeting was supposed to be between the NLC, the physician assistants,
09:54 and the Medical and Dental Council, or the Ministry of Health, were the other parties
09:59 present?
10:00 Yes, the Medical and Dental Council were here. You know, the Ministry of Health is a mother
10:07 ministry, and it has several agencies under it, with each of them having an area, a defined
10:13 area of operation, and they fought within the Medical and Dental Council, so they were
10:18 here to deal with the matter. So there was not much need of the Ministry of Health, because
10:23 the manpower were going to be here, not doing anything in the office, just to come and see
10:29 us. So it's in the office by the parties, that is the Medical and Dental Council, and
10:34 the physicians. If it's set, then the Ministry will come in.
10:39 Right. And I know that the physician assistants have been very forceful with their demands,
10:44 and very vocal about it. I'm just wondering the manner this meeting took. Was it quite
10:51 an aggressive meeting? How exactly did the physician assistants...
10:55 The aggression is just a hype in the media. I mean, when issues come up, they are settled
11:03 by human beings. We negotiate, and we give and take. As we sit at the table, we don't
11:09 fight the petrol issues. So the hype and the supposed tension are just one of the media
11:16 in the public. But it was a cool meeting. Right. So after a month, are they supposed
11:23 to present a single document of what the two parties have agreed, or you need to have a
11:31 meeting again to discuss the decisions that the two parties have arrived at?
11:38 Yes, they will present whatever they have arrived at, and then the Commission will look
11:42 at it, and either adopt it as it's ruling, or if there is a need to go further.
11:51 About the SeaTac situation, and yesterday I spoke to you about it, and you said that
11:55 everything had been done. All that SeaTac had to do was to escalate the issue in the
12:02 court on their own. I just want to know if you have had any interaction with SeaTac since
12:08 we spoke yesterday. We invited SeaTac to appear before the Commission
12:13 yesterday because they had made an earlier complaint that the government side has not
12:19 honored this part of the award that was given to them by the National Labour Commission.
12:25 So we wrote a number of letters to the government side on the 11th of July, on the 12th of July,
12:34 and on the 31st of July, since their strike was scheduled to start on the 1st of August.
12:39 So having now received a response to our earlier two letters of 11th and 12th, we have to follow
12:46 up again on the 31st, which was virtually the last day.
12:51 Fortunately on the 31st, they responded to do very little with an attachment from the
12:59 Ministry of Finance, where they have been given the warrants to pay off all that is
13:07 due to SeaTac on the 17th of July. This came at a time when competition of salaries
13:15 for the month of July had been done already. So they did not pay them in July as earlier
13:22 on as they did, so that they don't go on the strike on the 1st of August.
13:27 And that the only time that they could pay was to add to the August salary.
13:31 So it was one of the three who very belatedly told SeaTac that yes, we were supposed to
13:39 pay you or do a part, we haven't done it. And these are reasons we did not get the warrants
13:44 to pay you early enough. Unfortunately, it came to a list that SeaTac
13:48 had called the strike already. So the committee invited them for yesterday.
13:54 And I said the letter went to the list as well, to the route that they were unable to
13:59 attend. And further contended that they thought that
14:03 the warrants were needed for discussion of settlement, and that all that was needed at
14:09 the time was for the government to comply with the award that was given them.
14:15 So they thought that it was for the commission to impress upon the government to perform.
14:23 And I think that is exactly what we were doing by writing those three letters and summoning
14:28 them for the commission. And they came before the commission and brought
14:33 evidence to show that steps were being taken to make good the award.
14:39 So the commission has directed SeaTac to come before it on Wednesday coming.
14:46 Because it is not for them to determine whether their issues are fixed or not.
14:52 These are indications directed from the commission that appear.
14:55 So it is the commission that will determine if issues are there to settle.
15:01 So that is where we stand now. So yesterday, and again, Wednesday for SeaTac
15:07 and the ministry to appear. Wednesday next week?
15:12 That is all. Right. I appreciate your time here.
15:15 That's Executive Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Ofusu, and sharing details with us.
15:21 And just for purposes of clarity, SeaTac is still on strike, but the physician assistants
15:26 called off their strike after that meeting with the NLC and the Medical and Dental Council.
15:33 Sorry for the earlier mishap there. But let's do some other stories now.
15:36 The devastating imprint of illegal mining on farmlands is taking a toll on Ghana's
15:41 agric sector, food security, and biodiversity. It's been estimated the country may in the
15:47 coming years struggle to feed indigents if measures are not instituted to fight this.
15:53 Fortunately, 50 acres of land in six districts within Obwasi and the Adansi areas degraded
16:00 by illegal mining are being reclaimed through an oil palm plantation.
16:06 Emmanuel Wright Kweku has more in the following report.
16:09 Several open shallow pits dotted across an abandoned illegal mining site at Adansi on
16:17 the outskirts of the Obwasi municipality, like other communities and agricultural plantations
16:23 ravaged by artisanal mining, the impact of the illegal activities are glaring.
16:28 Director of Agric for Obwasi East Yao Osei says the illegal miners have overtaken lowlands
16:36 purposed for horticultural produce, threatening food security in the district.
16:41 Most of the lowland areas which were used to cultivate vegetables and rice have been
16:51 taken over by these activities of GALAMSES. And if care is not taken,
16:58 it will go a long way to affect the food production in the district, which will also go a long way to
17:07 affect the food security situation in the country in general.
17:12 Formation of sinkholes, contamination of soil, and loss of biodiversity are a few of the
17:19 deleterious impacts of illegal mining on farmlands. There have been urgent calls on the government to
17:25 find pragmatic solutions to the menace. In its bid to salvage the worsening situation,
17:31 Anglego the shanty Obwasi mine through its 10-year socio-economic development plan
17:37 is converting about 50 acre degraded lands in the Obwasi municipality and five adjoining
17:42 districts into agroforestry block farms. Launched two years ago, the climate resilient oil palm
17:49 project is expected to contribute to Ghana's deforestation mitigation targets by the end of
17:56 2026. Daniel Atabentum is sustainability superintendent at AGA Obwasi mine.
18:04 As part of our socio-economic development plan, 10-year plan, agric intervention is one of the
18:09 key areas that we are looking at. So if you look at the plan, we've made several support towards
18:15 agriculture. One of the key or highlight areas is the climate resilient oil palm project, which is
18:21 affecting about six districts within the Adansi enclave. And this is to try and then see how we're
18:28 able to use oil palm to reclaim lots of the land that have been degraded or that has been used for
18:34 mining purposes. The study with Solidario shows that the Adansi enclave is climate vulnerable.
18:42 Nearly 30,000 oil palm seedlings of two variants have been distributed to over 2,500 farmers in
18:51 the Obwasi municipal, Obwasi East, Adansi North, Adansi South, Adansi Asoka and Adansi Akofum
18:58 districts. So right here in the seedling yard, we have about two varieties. That is the palm
19:05 millet and then also the one we got from Ghana Sumatra. Each of these seedlings have their
19:12 strengths and we would want to sort of put it across the Adansi enclave and learn from it.
19:18 One is good and resistant to drought. The other also comes in abundance when it's seasonal.
19:24 And these are the balances that we want the farmers to have, such that in their farm you see
19:28 different varieties and withstanding different conditions that we face within the Adansi enclave.
19:34 The project will not only help restore these lands and reduce climate change impact caused by illegal
19:41 mining, but also expand livelihood opportunities to beneficiary communities. Nana Apiakubi has
19:49 been farming for over three decades now. He's positive the project will be another source of
19:55 income to support his family and attract the youth to agriculture. It's going to support me a whole
20:02 lot because when it started producing, even if I'm weak, if I can't go, the factory, XF will come and
20:11 buy it for me to get money. So it will help me a lot. How long have you been doing this farming?
20:18 Produce from the farms are expected to feed oil mills in the Obuasi enclave.
20:23 When you come to Obuasi East District, there are a lot of oil palm industries,
20:31 processing industries in the district. So they thought it wise that going into this oil palm
20:38 production will go a long way to help the farmers and also the industries so that they can be in
20:44 business. For Joy News, my name is Emmanuel Bright-Kweku.
20:48 This is Newsdesk. The Ghana Union of Traders Association is asking the Ghana Ports and
21:05 Harbours Authority to suspend the implementation of new port tariffs and engage stakeholders.
21:12 Now the association says these charges would further compound the high cost of doing business.
21:17 GUTA says the announcement comes as a surprise to its members who continue to suffer the effects
21:24 of many taxes and levies that have been introduced in recent times. This morning, GUTA President,
21:29 Dr. Joseph Obeng joins me for some further analysis and discussion on this. Thank you so much for your
21:35 time, Mr. Obeng. So I mean, I find it quite interesting that you say that this happened
21:40 on your blind side. You were not aware at all that these new import charges were going to be introduced?
21:46 Yeah, that's surprising because we are having engagement with the Ghana Ports Authority
21:55 and it is not conclusive. We haven't built any consensus and then they brought this on the
22:02 blind side of the secretive. It doesn't show respect to it. We are not going to allow this
22:09 because it's not just coming in the way that we allow them to make an increase.
22:14 Only barely a year now. So they cannot continue to increase the tariffs,
22:22 especially at this time that we are all complaining that the cost of doing business in
22:29 this country is extremely high and that is collapsing businesses. Even, it's not good
22:36 even for the port authorities themselves because barely four months ago they called us and
22:43 complained that the port is not having the needed traffic that it used to be and that we should find
22:50 a solution to it. And we said that the problem has been the cost of doing business at that port.
22:55 If that is not taking, most of us are going to do our business through the lobby port because the
23:02 cost here is too much. And when that happens, is it going to help the country? It's not going to
23:09 happen. And so they should be careful and mindful of the charges that they keep. And when this
23:16 happens, you know what also follows? Then the shipping lines is also influenced to also increase
23:22 their charges and it compounds the problem for us all the time.
23:27 Doc, so if I get to you, you were not entirely surprised about the introduction of new port
23:35 charges, but you were aware because you were having a meeting. Your concern is the fact that
23:42 that meeting was not concluded and then the GPHA went ahead to implement these.
23:50 What justification did the Port and Harbour Authority give for this new increment?
23:57 And they were using the excel rates and all that. Even now, if that is still the reason,
24:05 the excel rate is stabilized for now. So what else do they have to say? And they were talking about
24:11 utilities and all that. But you see, one thing that even worries us the most is the fact that
24:19 during the last increment, they introduced a new port charges. That's the Port Infrastructure
24:27 Development Fund. That one, it was a new charge. And then they tried to convince us that they have
24:35 to renovate all the roads in Thama and that they have become more trouble. And it's true. And so
24:45 we allow that. But since a year now, go to Thama Port and see the roads, especially from the
24:53 Vakodan about to Thama itself. It's more trouble and we don't know how the fund is being used. And
25:02 it's very unfortunate. And we demand even accountability of that. Before even we can go...
25:06 Did this come up during the meeting? Did this come up during the meeting, the issue of
25:11 the levies that were taken for maintaining the roads and the fact that that hasn't happened?
25:17 Did you raise those concerns during the meeting? What response did you get?
25:21 We demanded some sort of accountability and that we want to see the progress of this route.
25:27 And we have seen nothing. And especially when we've paid almost a year. At least that stretch,
25:35 that last stretch from that one about to port, we should have seen some work in progress.
25:41 And if that happens, it means that we are just being taken for granted and being the mother cow
25:47 that we are just milking. It is not fair. Businesses cannot contain these extortive
25:55 charges any longer. And we are not going to allow that until we have been able to build some
26:01 consensus. And if we have to accept it, then we see the appropriate time to bring. For now,
26:07 businesses are overburdened with these taxes and high costs of doing business. It's unacceptable.
26:13 It's completely unacceptable. You say that this will likely translate into
26:19 the shipping lines also increasing their costs. What about the consumer?
26:26 Well, for those of us who purchase items from business people like you who have to import them
26:34 into the country, what happens to the cost of products?
26:37 That's the most unfortunate thing because we keep on piling these costs on these
26:43 customers. And when that happens and the prices are high, it goes back to destroy our businesses
26:53 because it means that the consumers are unable to purchase the volume that they used to buy.
26:59 And then it destroys our turnover. Businesses are on turnover. And so when goods and services
27:06 are high in the market, most people think it goes in our favor. No, it doesn't go in our favor. It
27:12 rather controls the turnover. And that we are unable to service our debts and all that at the
27:20 bank. So it is not in our interest that prices go up and that we keep on piling some of these costs
27:28 on the consuming public. It is not fair. They also need to have a red fight. You understand?
27:34 So now that the JPHA has gone ahead to implement these new port tariffs, as you suggest,
27:45 even before a meeting could end conclusively between all the parties, beyond this call,
27:52 what are you or how are you hoping to engage with the port authorities to listen to your
27:59 side of the story as well? I've called the CEO and then we are also sending a letter,
28:07 official letter to them, calling them to stop the implementation. And I believe
28:15 that they will adhere to that because they have good rapport with the secretaries. And that's why
28:22 we say we are surprised that they should go behind us and then introduce this, implement this
28:28 extra tariffs on this. Thank you for making time to speak to us this morning. That's Dr. Joseph
28:37 Obeng, he's GUTA president. And this morning we've been speaking to him on the new import
28:43 charges that have been introduced by the Ghana Port and Harbors Authority. He talked about the
28:47 impact of this on the cost of doing business and even the cost of the items that will eventually
28:54 be on the market. Moving on to some other stories now, in the emergence of COVID-19,
29:01 so the introduction of several orthodox remedies to suppress the activities of the virus in the
29:07 human system. But to find a safe and efficient treatment for the disease, research institutes
29:14 in 13 African countries, including Ghana, joined forces to embark on an anti-COV clinical trial,
29:21 almost two years after the global health researchers at the Comassus Center for
29:27 Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, KCCR, have concluded studies in Ghana, which
29:33 contributed the highest recruits for the study on the continent. More details in the following report.
29:40 The anti-COV is an open-label, randomized, comparative, adaptive platform trial
29:45 that tests the efficacy and safety of treatments in 2,000 to 3,000 mild to moderate COVID-19
29:53 patients in 13 African countries, including Ghana. The study identified early treatments
29:59 that can prevent the progression of COVID-19 to severe disease with potentials of limiting
30:05 transmission. Dr. John Amwesi is the leader for the Global Health and Infectious Diseases
30:11 Research Group at KCCR. In our country, in many parts of Africa, the majority of COVID cases
30:16 were mild to moderate. So it was very important to find treatments that would prevent these people
30:22 from progressing to severe COVID. So this is a study that was run in a couple of African
30:27 countries, including Ghana. And Ghana was one of the main countries where this study was conducted.
30:31 The study is over, and we have begun the analysis of the findings. It's yet to come out.
30:36 In Ghana, the clinical study was largely conducted at a Konfarnochi teaching hospital.
30:42 Emergency medicine specialist and the research lead at CAF, Dr. Joseph Boni, indicated that a
30:48 total of 214 were recruited for master study, the highest on the continent. The clinical research
30:56 investigated the factors affecting the transmission and impact of COVID-19 treatment on the type,
31:02 strength, and duration of antibody and cellular immune response in sub-Saharan Africa. The
31:08 analysis of the results are currently underway to establish the effectiveness of the various treatments.
31:13 Well, the good thing about this kind of study is that it tells you what works and what doesn't
31:19 work. So through this study, we were able to contribute information to know what doesn't work.
31:23 Already, you know that chloroquine was dropped, and studies like this contributed to the knowledge
31:28 that chloroquine is not necessary or does not really work. There are several other treatments
31:33 that came through which we realized did not really work, and others that happened to contribute a bit.
31:38 But I must point out that the actual findings of this trial are yet to be released. It's still
31:44 under analysis, and it's not only Ghana, but the information that was collected across all the
31:48 countries where this was done. So in the next couple of months, we hope that we should be able
31:51 to announce the findings from this trial. Multiple training sessions related to establishing
31:56 clinical trial, including site initiation, amendment visits, review training, and protocol
32:02 training were conducted. Medical Director at CAF, Dr. Kuju Sabeng, noted the exercise builds the
32:09 capacity of medical staff at a hospital. It's also advantageous when we have these
32:16 interventional studies because it helps to build capacity of staff, because anybody who takes part
32:24 in the study has to be trained. Any research assistant, any doctor, any nurse who is part of
32:33 the study, you go through training. So it's something that you gain being part of the research team.
32:42 The research group after the clinical studies also donated two ventilators valued at $15,000
32:48 and other medical consumables to the hospital. So the emergency unit is really
32:54 an area where we need to have a lot of ventilators, because I mean people who come in
33:03 and have breathing difficulties, before they are stabilized, are supposed to be on these ventilators.
33:11 That is why a donation to the emergency unit is really in order.
33:15 Now illegal mining activities have rendered many water bodies in Gharan suitable for domestic and
33:28 industrial activities. The affected communities that are mostly rural are unable to afford water
33:34 filters. Fortunately, mechanical engineering students of the Sunyane Technical University
33:40 have come up with a pedal-powered water filter to solve this problem.
33:44 Now the firm's VC Deborah traveled to Sunyane to meet the developers
33:49 Leah Nueva Onchaga and Linda Tuya for Tech Thursday.
33:53 The machine comprises a filter attached to a bicycle mounted on a metal platform.
34:03 As a bicycle is pedaled, the movement of the wheel draws water into the filter.
34:08 The filtered water is then collected in a container.
34:10 Right there we have a reverse osmosis machine. It has been purposely created for rural areas
34:21 where we cannot have access to clean water. So what the machine does is it purifies the water from
34:30 particles. So you can use this machine which is powered by manpower. So you can just place it
34:39 at your borehole or your riverside and you pedal it. After this stage you get clean water.
34:48 What the semi-permeable element will do is like it will remove all the particles from the water.
34:55 So you can maintain this semi-permeable element by opening it, you clean it. Maybe after one
35:06 month you can clean it and you fix it back onto the machine. As a bonus the machine can be your
35:13 go-to fitness training equipment. Reporting for JOYNEWS, Kwesti Deborah.
35:22 Now the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, has indicated that Ghana's
35:27 fish stock has witnessed an improvement following the introduction of the closed season.
35:32 The USAID's Ghana Mission Director, Kimberly Rosen says a biological assessment
35:36 conducted showed that harvests improved after the 2022 closed season. She was speaking at a
35:42 ceremony in Adenato to officially announce the end of the 2023 closed season.
35:49 It's the last day of the one-month long closed season for canoe and inshore fishers in Ghana.
35:55 The closed season directive was introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture
36:00 Development and Fisheries Commission in partnership with the United States Agency
36:05 for International Development to conserve the country's marine environment. Fisher folks here
36:11 in Adena are preparing their fishing gears in anticipation of the beginning of the new season.
36:16 While some paint their boats, others are fixing nets among other activities. Isaac and his
36:22 colleagues are hoping to have bumper harvest after the closed season as experienced in the previous
36:28 years.
36:43 As the fisher folks prepare to go back to sea, stakeholders have warned against engaging in
36:49 illegal fishing activities in their expedition. The Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture
36:54 Development, Moses Enim, made this known at a ceremony in Adena to announce the end of this
37:00 year's closed season for canoe and inshore fishers. I take this opportunity to entreat fishers to
37:07 desist from all forms of illegal fishing activities so that together we shall rip the gates from the
37:15 implementation of the closed season. In the light of the above, I call on the chairman of the ministry
37:23 in collaboration with enforcement agencies that the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Marine Police would
37:31 intensify monitoring and surveillance activities on our marine waters. The implementation of the
37:39 ministerial directive on drug gear selectivity will be continued to help reduce the catch of
37:47 juvenile fish and address the issue of excessive bycatch and dumping. The Ghana Mission Director
37:55 of the United States Agency for International Development, Ms. Kimberly Rosen, acknowledged
38:01 the difficulty fisher folks go through during the closed season but stressed its benefits to
38:07 conserving the marine environment. Given the number of communities that rely on the sea for
38:12 livelihoods, this annual sacrifice is really an annual investment. We conducted an assessment
38:22 conducted after the 2022 closed season. We found that both the number of fish being caught
38:29 and the average size of these fish increased the month after the closed season. So I think
38:36 these findings confirm that the closed season is indeed improving fish stocks. The closed season
38:44 spans between 1st July and 31st July for canoe and inshore fishers while that of industrial trawlers
38:50 spans from 1st July to 31st August every year. Fred Kwame Asai, JOY News, Adina.
38:58 This is Newsdesk with me Bernice Abubaye-Dolansa. Up next we've got business new Darrell Carl.
39:08 Here's the details.
39:09 Finance Minister Kenneth Riyota is asking state-owned institutions to complement the
39:18 effort of government in ensuring macroeconomic stability. According to him, government is
39:23 determined in ensuring a robust economy amidst the current economic downturn, hence institutions
39:29 should not relent in their efforts to support the government. He was speaking at the 70th
39:34 anniversary launch of GCB Bank PLC. The finance minister's anniversary launch reiterated government
39:42 commitment in supporting banks to bounce back. He however commended the efforts of GCB Bank PLC
39:49 in contributing to the national development agenda. I reaffirm our government's commitment
39:56 to creating an enabler environment for the financial sector to thrive will continue to
40:01 implement policies that foster economic growth, financial stability and inclusivity. It has been
40:11 a challenging year and I described it in the media review as a period in which we all have been
40:19 bruised, we have been battered and we have been broken. However we stood firm, resilient and
40:27 resilient and this is what GCB should continue to be. So clearly it has been a very challenging
40:35 year. What matters most however is that our respective institutions and we as government
40:42 and GCB were not deterred by our circumstances. Managing Director for GCB Bank PLC Kofi
40:50 Adumaku maintained that the bank will continue to improve our net customer experience. We have
40:55 also strategically increased our investment in the retail business in tandem with the growth
41:02 in disposable incomes of individuals. Through our innovative digital channels
41:09 we successfully cater for our descending retail customers and will continue to do so.
41:15 So for the second time today I welcome you all to our 70th anniversary and back
41:26 to the promised bank. The anniversary is under the theme 70 years of providing
41:32 unravelled financial solutions towards the socio-economic development of Ghana.
41:36 Also in the news this morning players within the real estate sector are optimistic the real estate
41:45 act as well as a proper regulatory framework will support the operations of the sector to expand.
41:51 According to lawyer and engineer Theofilo Jemega the move will aid in the fight against
41:56 money laundering within the industry and sanitize operations. He spoke to Joy
42:01 Business at the official opening of Sudan Land Bank Limited. The introduction of the real estate
42:09 act is to streamline the operations of real estate agents and brokers for better organization and
42:15 accountability. According to engineer Theofilo Jemega players should desist from activities
42:20 that will affect the growth of the sector. The real estate act is a game changer. I see it to be
42:27 something that will make it that people who use real estate at money laundry conduits
42:33 will be aware that the law now prohibits something like that they will be caught.
42:38 Now it also makes it that you don't just go to anybody for the person to say I'm an agency,
42:43 I sell. No you need the license before you do that and when you don't do that there is a penalty for
42:48 that for it. It's up to jail term up to five years or a fine that is it. So that will be a real
42:54 changer in terms of the real estate agency. Managing director of Sudan Land Bank Limited
43:00 Agnes Jan AJ called for more partnerships within the space. The best investment anybody can do in
43:08 this world today is to invest in land. So I'm going to talk a bit about land this afternoon.
43:16 I know you all believe that land ownership over the years has been very challenging and very
43:22 stressful with a lot of uncertainties and heartbreaks and I believe that we at Sudan Land
43:31 Bank have taken all your concerns into consideration and brought closure to all your concerns regarding
43:40 security and litigation in acquiring land in Ghana and across Africa. The company says
43:48 land bank is necessary since land acquisition is a major factor contributing to Ghana's housing
43:54 challenges. And that's it for business the news continues after this break.
44:09 And before I take leave of you former students of the University of Ghana in the UK have launched
44:14 an alumni fund to support local initiatives in the school. This is as a result of a global campaign
44:20 by the university to reconnect with former students and deepening their contribution to
44:26 the school. For the school turning 75 this year it says it's strategically repositioning itself
44:33 to receive support from alumni and other stakeholders. There's more in the following report.
44:39 [Music]
45:04 What is the final answer? Common law of war. That's what they said.
45:13 [Music]
45:15 In fact we think that the alumni fund is a bigger thing than actually just focusing on one project
45:42 because it's a fund that is going to be ongoing and managed properly it can become quicker than
45:48 just focusing on one project. So we're hoping that a lot of projects will come out of it
45:54 and it's not going to be a one-off thing and a fund that will grow just like an endowment fund
46:01 but obviously this is specifically our place of supporting the universe.
46:27 A global campaign to deepen its relationship with former students across the world and the gesture
46:34 by the UK alumni community is only a testament of what is to come. Professor Kwesi Dateban
46:42 is director of the office of institutional advancement at the school. This issue of
46:48 reaching out to our students also you know is in line with celebrating our 75th anniversary
46:55 and we think that this is an opportune time for us to reach out to our students
46:59 and to build up more alumni groups globally.
47:01 And that's how we end this edition of Newsdesk. Really grateful that you could make time to
47:09 join me. That's more news when you log on to myjoyonline.com. There's also news on our Facebook
47:15 page Joy News on TV. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram Joy News on TV. I am Bernice
47:21 Abu-Badilansa. Please stay with us. We are your most credible news source. Good morning.
47:27 [Music]