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President Akufo-Addo Launches ‘Aquaculture For Food And Jobs’ Programme: A new dawn for Ghana’s agricultural sector

In a groundbreaking event held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at Nsuaem in the Central Region, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo unveiled the Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme.

Acknowledging the efforts of the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, President Akufo-Addo praised her dedication and hands-on approach.

Her leadership has been instrumental in developing this project and implementing decisive initiatives such as the annual close season for fishing, which has restored fish stocks and promoted aquaculture as a viable economic sector.

President Akufo-Addo extended his gratitude to all partners, stakeholders, and dedicated teams working to make this project a reality, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in revolutionizing aquaculture in Ghana.

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President Akufo-Addo emphasized the immense potential of aquaculture, stating that the sector is a critical component of the global food system.

As the programme was officially launched, President Akufo-Addo called on all Ghanaians to support this initiative, which promises to build a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous nation. “May God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong,” he concluded, marking the beginning of a new era in Ghana’s agricultural sector.

This initiative is a testament to the government’s commitment to sustainable development, food security, and job creation.

It marks a significant milestone in the nation’s agricultural sector, aiming to harness Ghana’s abundant water resources to provide sustainable livelihoods and enhance nutritional standards.

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Aquaculture currently provides nearly half of the world’s fish supply, a figure that continues to grow as wild fish stocks diminish due to overfishing and environmental changes.

In Ghana, fish is a dietary staple, significantly contributing to the nation’s nutritional intake. However, the domestic supply falls short of the demand, resulting in substantial imports that strain the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

In 2022, Ghana’s fish requirement stood at 1.31 million metric tonnes, while domestic production was only 657,000 tonnes.

This shortfall necessitated the importation of 650,000 tonnes of fish, costing $311 million.

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The Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme aims to bridge this gap by boosting local fish production, thereby reducing dependence on imports, conserving foreign exchange, and ensuring the availability of fresh, domestically-produced fish.

The programme’s impact extends beyond increasing fish production. It is poised to transform lives by creating thousands of jobs, particularly for the youth and women.

The initiative will provide training and support to aspiring fish farmers, equipping them with the skills and resources necessary for success.

It will also foster a network of fish farms across the country, enhancing Ghana’s capacity to meet the growing demand for fish and stimulating the development of related industries such as fish feed production, processing, and marketing.

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By making fish more accessible and affordable, the programme will combat malnutrition and improve public health. Fish is a rich source of essential nutrients, and increasing its availability will significantly contribute to the nation’s nutritional standards.

This initiative is not only an economic driver but also a vital component in the fight against malnutrition.

The programme is being launched in partnership with R&B Farms Ltd., the largest inland fish farm in Ghana, operating on 26 hectares of land in Gomoa Central. Under this project, the government aims to train 10,000 youth in small-scale fish farming.

The ripple effect of this initiative is expected to generate an additional 50,000 jobs along the aquaculture value chain, encompassing fish feed production, equipment supply, fish processing, marketing, and distribution.

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President Akufo-Addo called on private investors to seize the opportunities presented by this programme, highlighting the substantial market for fish and fish products.

With the right investments, the aquaculture sector can be transformed into a major economic driver.

Research institutions and universities will play a crucial role in providing the knowledge and technological innovations needed to enhance productivity and sustainability.

Under this programme, the government will provide youth with training and skills development in fish farming.

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They will receive tarpaulin cages, fingerlings, and fish feed as seed capital, enabling them to start profitable fish farming businesses within six months.

The launch of the Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme signifies a bold step towards a brighter future for Ghanaian youth and women.

It aims to meet fish consumption needs, reduce import dependency, and provide meaningful employment.

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 GFP founder Akua Donkor passes on

• Akua Donkor

Akua Donkor

 The founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor, has passed away.

She died at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on Monday, October 28 at 72.

Reports gathered by The Spectator indicat­ed that she was diagnosed with respiratory issues at the Nsawam Government Hospital and was referred to the Greater Accra Re­gional Hospital where she died.

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Known for her spirited presence in Ghana­ian politics, Akua Donkor was a staunch advo­cate for the rights of farmers and women.

Her bold and outspoken demeanour en­abled her to capture public attention and significantly impact the grassroots communi­ties she aimed to represent.

Throughout her political journey, she distinguished herself by running for the presidency multiple ti mes, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite financial chal­lenges.

Akua Donkor was listed as the third can­didate on the ballot for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Her political career began with her elec­tion as the Assemblywoman for Herman in the Ashanti region, and she made her first bid for the presidency in 2012 as an independent candidate.

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She was, however, disqualified by the Electoral Commis­sion in 2012 and 2016 for the reason that she did not meet the eligibility require­ments.

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 Stop using breast enhancing creams …they expose females to breast cancer

Mrs Enyonam Abiti making a presentation

Mrs Enyonam Abiti making a presentation

 Women have been cautioned to stop using of breast enhancing creams which is said to contain estrogen, predis­posing them to the breast cancer disease.

Using such creams over time in­creases estrogen levels in patrons of such products thereby exposing them to the disease.

Estrogen is a type of sex hor­mone responsible for development and regulation of female repro­ductive system and secondary sex chart.

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Mrs Enyonam Abiti, a medical of­ficer at Madina Pentecost Hospital, said this at a day’s seminar and breast cancer awareness creation day at Sunyani in the Bono Region.

The programme, organised by the Bono Regional office of CO­COBOD, forms part of activities to mark this year’s World Breast Cancer Day celebrations held every year in October.

Some staff of COCOBOD and women in cocoa farming used the opportunity to have their breast screened.

Mrs Abiti during a presentation revealed that one in every eight women was diagnosed of breast cancer while 1 from 1,000 men contract the disease.

She noted that early detection and regular screening was the sur­est way to salvage the situation.

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She mentioned that habits such as excessive smoking and alco­hol intake predisposes women to breast cancer.

Moreover, she added that peo­ple advanced in age, past history, past ovarian cancer case as well as young girls that menstruate early, among others stands the risk of contracting the disease.

The Bono Regional Administrator of COCOBOD, Michael Paddy Kwesi Asumanu, stated that the decision to organise the breast screening was to ensure that women in cocoa farming were healthy at all times to go about their farming activities in order to increase productivity.

“We don’t want a situation where our women in cocoa farming are infected with breast cancer disease to jeopardise the cocoa sector,” he said.

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According him, the Regional Office of COCOBOD in partnership with the Bono Regional Teaching hospital would organised screening for about 4,000 women on Octo­ber 31, 2024 at Goaso in the Ahafo Region.

The move, he said, was part of their corporate social responsibil­ity towards women as the world mark breast cancer awareness creation this month.

Some of the women who spoke to The Spectator commended CO­COBOD for the gesture and called on other institutions of state to emulate the example.

The organisers later held a float on the principal streets of Sunyani to create awareness on the breast cancer disease.

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 From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani

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