Entertainment
Collaboration, capacity-building at core of Ghana’s coffee sector engagement
Mr Samuel Adimado
The collaborative efforts between The International Trade Center and the Robusta Coffee Agency of Africa and Madagascar (ACRAM) came to fruition as stakeholders from Ghana’s coffee sector gathered recently for a two-day engagement.
The event focused on fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building among key players in the industry.
With the objective of brainstorming on a pricing scheme that aligns with world market prices while ensuring fair remuneration for farmers based on quality, participants engaged in in-depth discussions and workshops to address the complexities of the coffee value chain.
Additionally, efforts were made to enhance the capacity of private sector member organizations in governance, constitution building and strategies that will drive the growth and development of Ghana’s coffee sector.
The engagement served as a platform for stakeholders to share insights, best practices, and establish partnerships that will contribute to the sustainable growth of the coffee industry in Ghana.
Speaking at the event, Vice President of the Coffee Federation of Ghana, Samuel Adimado, praised the International Trade Center (ITC) for the initiative saying “the pricing determination will be fixed in such a way that it makes the business of coffee more profitable and compensatory enough so that any investor who wants to go into coffee will be able to participate and earn from the coffee industry”.
The ITC is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries.
Alliances for Action (A4A) is an ITC initiative to establish a network that transforms food systems and advances the Sustainable Development Goals through producer and MSME partnerships that cultivate ethical, climate-smart, sustainable Agri-value chains.
By Spectator Reporter
Entertainment
Ghanaian screenwriter Osarfo Anthony appointed as a judge for US Presidential Service Center Film Festival
Renowned Ghanaian screenwriter and entertainment journalist, Osarfo Anthony, has been appointed as a judge for the 2024 US Presidential Service Center (USPSC) Film Festival.
Osarfo expressed his excitement at the appointment, emphasizing the rigorous process he went through to secure the position.
He stated that he applied a year ago. “I underwent a thorough background check, which included a review of my criminal records and an assessment of my professional image on social media, interactions, and my writings on art, media, and filmmaking. They monitored me for almost a year before giving me this appointment.”
Osarfo will be working alongside other judges from around the world, all of whom have extensive experience in screenwriting, filmmaking, and diverse cultures. Their responsibility is to assess and select the winners, finalists, and runners-up for the film festival, which will take place in the United States (Glover, North Carolina).
The USPSC International Film Festival is an all-inclusive festival that celebrates films and series about the first families and White House stories, with a focus on supporting aspiring filmmakers in securing funding and production opportunities.
In addition to his judging role, Osarfo’s recent supernatural horror screenplay has garnered recognition, including selection for the prestigious Nostos Screenwriters Retreats hosted in Italy (Arezzo, Tuscany). He was among 8 screenwriters selected across the globe for a two-week intensive training in an environment structured to foster collaboration and high-quality script development.
He has also achieved success in various genre-friendly competitions, placing and winning awards for:
WINNER, Best Original Screenplay – Hollywood Blood Horror Festival.
WINNER – Best Supernatural Horror Script – Hollywood Horrorfest.
WINNER – Best Horror Screenplay – Hollywood Just4shorts Film and Screenplay Contest.
FINALIST (twice) – 13Horror.com Film & Screenplay Contest.
FINALIST Horror/Thriller category – Creative World Awards (CWA).
SEMI-FINALIST – Los Angeles Crime and Horror Film Festival.
SEMI-FINALIST – Filmmatic Short Script Contest.
SEMI-FINALIST – Screenwriters Network (SWN) Script Competition.
Entertainment
I received confirmation from God before I divorced my husband – Ohemaa Mercy
Ghanaian gospel music diva, Ohemaa Mercy has surprisingly revealed that she received a confirmation from God before she divorced her husband.
Ohemaa Mercy and her husband Mr. Isaac Twum-Ampofo are currently divorced.
Over the years, Ohemaa Mercy, had been tight-lipped about her marriage challenges and subsequent divorce.
During an interview on TV3’s Today’s Woman with Cookie Tee, she revealed that the Holy Spirit guided her to seek for divorce.
This, according to her, was to aid her focus on her ministry and avoid any destruction.
In the interview she shared that during COVID-19, she spent time praying and seeking God’s direction, which led her to take the “bold step” of divorce.
“I remember when I was going through divorce. During COVID-19, I depended solely on God for direction, I had a strong covenant with him. I will go to the mountains to pray for three months and I really wanted to hear what the Lord will tell me about what is going on around me. So, when I heard it clearly, I took that bold step. I had the confirmation from God, If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have done it,” she revealed.
Ohemaa Mercy stated that her ex-husband agreed to the decision and they remain on good terms, prioritizing their children and supporting each other.
The gospel musician emphasised that her divorce has allowed her to experience God’s presence and guidance more strongly in her life than before.
“I give God the glory because I am divorced but this is the time I have seen the hand of God so strong on my life, even more than when I was married,” she said.
“When I spoke to my partner too, he understood that we needed to take a break and pray and see what the Lord will do. I told him, ‘I really want us to take a break and move the Ministry, which I know is your passion for me. Let me run with it, let’s take care of the kids and support each other. If I’m going through something, we talk about it. I don’t want to fail God because I feel I’m failing God”, she stated.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
