News
Entrepreneur establishes livestock centre to train youth
Mr Koduah and Darnmark partners and others
A Ghanaian entrepreneur has established a livestock training centre known as Global Farming and Technology Institute to train the youth, particularly females, to contribute to livestock farming in the country.
The Institute will collaborate with the Animal Science Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Development Studies (UDS), Namkpala Campus, and Tech College in Denmark.
Located in the old Tafo community in the Abuakwa North District of the Eastern Region, it has a modern abattoir, laboratory, lecture halls, and farm demonstration sites.
It aims at improving the knowledge of every livestock farmer in the country, focusing on cattle (for beef), sheep, goats, pigs (hogs), and poultry enterprises as well as non-traditional livestock, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, grass cutters, and African giant snails.
In a chat with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Institute, Kwame B. Koduah, during a three-day training for 100 farmers and non-farmers, he indicated that the decision to establish the Institute “is to bridge the literacy skills gap in Ghana’s livestock industry.”
He said “this is an effort to advance and keep informal Ghanaian farmers abreast of emerging technologies in the livestock sector.”
He observed with grave concern the gradual decline in the livestock subsector’s contribution to Ghana’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has dropped from 12.60 per cent in 2014 to 8.31 per cent in 2020.
Due to this decline, he said “the Institute aims to incorporate modern technologies to augment traditional methods of rearing and breeding.”
Mr. Kodua disclosed that about 100 youth have already been trained and given 100 piglets and fowls each as startups of their businesses.
He mentioned that the beneficiaries were provided with the feeds for the animals and all “they do is to take good care of them for good production.”
“If the youth of this country will be serious with livestock farming, the country’s economy will thrive because technology is boosting the industry,” he stated.
The Denmark partners, Dennis Christensen, a butcher cum lecturer at the Tech College, and Morten Wagner, Sales and Development Director of AVS Agriculture, trained both farmers and non-farmers on producing various meat products, including hot burgers, sausages and meat bread.
They mentioned the importance of adding value to meat to create jobs for the youth and called on females, in particular, to take advantage of the training at the institute to better their lives.
News
‘Nipahiamoa’ residents cry for basic social amenities
Residents of a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region are living under conditions that directly reflect or connote the name of the township, Nipahiamoa.
The name of the town, Nipahiamoa, when translated directly means ‘humans need help.’
Despite the contribution in ensuring there is sufficient food in not only the region but the country at large, Nipahiamoa lacks basic social amenities to make life enjoyable after their farming activities.
water for the people of Nipahiamoa
According to some of the members of the community that The Spectator spoke to during a visit to the area, they lacked basic needs such as potable water, health post, among others.
This, they claimed, was impacting negatively on their general wellbeing and appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
The Unit Committee chairman of Nipahiamoa, Mr James Najohnbo, told this paper on Thursday that successive governments have neglected the town over the years.
“It is the reason we are where we are today in this era of development. Some people poke fun that our condition is a reflection of the name of the town but I don’t believe that. We have been neglected by governments over the years. There are no government initiatives here,” he explained.
The community, inhabited by over one thousand people, mostly settlers, is located on the Techiman-Kintampo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS highway which connect from Tema to Mali.
Mr Najohnbo, who conducted this reporter around, revealed that a borehole constructed for the community by the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro, had since broke down, compelling the people to turn to the Bono manso waterfalls which they trek several kilometres for their source of water.
Mr Najohnbo stated that their children are not left out in this challenges as they had to trek to either Manso or Dweneho, about two kilometres to access healthcare and education.
He added that a wooden structure constructed in 1994 currently serves as the only primary school for the community.
“Our kids had to trek several kilometres to Manso to attend school which come at cost to most parents.”
A 30-year old hairdresser, Rebecca Dibenpong, also appealed to authorities to come up with income generating activities to boost economic lives of the people.
She alleged that politicians often claimed they don’t have enough numbers to attract development, hence such initiatives were directed to bigger communities.
Like the name suggest, Nipahiamoa, the community needs urgent attention to make life meaningful for the people who contribute to the national economy by way of their farming activities.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Nipahiamoa
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
