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Ghana observes World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification
Ghana joined the rest of the world on Tuesday to observe the World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification (WDCDD).
The annual event, which is in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution, is to promote public awareness about the causes and effects of land degradation, desertification and drought as well as highlight efforts to combat these challenges.
On the theme “Food, Feed, Fibre,” this year’s event seeks to educate individuals on the links between consumption and land.
A statement signed and issued by Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng in Accra, said Ghana had 35 per cent of its land under threat of desertification due to human activities such as deforestation, unsustainable land use practices, wild fires, the use of agrochemicals and overgrazing.
However, it said, the implementation of the Ghana Environmental Management Project (GEMP), the Sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP) and the Adaptation Fund Project were supporting efforts to restore degraded landscapes.
It noted that these projects have provided dugouts as watering points for livestock and supported 39,000 farmers with farm inputs to practise various forms of sustainable land management technologies within 246 communities, covering 152, 578 hectares of land, to protect the ecology of the country’s northern sectors.
In addition, the statement said 1,060 hectares of land have been reforested within two forest reserves namely the Kulpawn and the Ambalara Forest Reserves.
“The Adaptation Fund Project has provided water and increased access to water supply by drilling 145 boreholes and constructing 10 dug-outs to serve more than 1,000,000 people mainly women and children in 50 communities in 10 districts in the northern sector of Ghana. The Project has also undertaken several livelihood interventions in the area of beekeeping, shea butter processing, groundnut oil extraction, dry season vegetable production and fish farming,” it stated.
The statement called on Ghanaians to protect the land by making changes in their lives to support community resilience, maintain the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services and contribute to reducing the COVID-19 crisis’ impact on global poverty and food insecurity.
Source: Ghanaian Times
News
NPP is so hurt by my nomination – Sam George
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, and Member of Parliament(MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, says opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) are hurt by his nomination.
The minister who was approved by the majority in Parliament yesterday in a Facebook post stated that “It is clear to me that the NPP is so hurt by my nomination as Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations and would stop at nothing to fight it.”
His post was in response to photos circulated on social media suggesting he was watching what appears to be nude content on his phone.
Mr. Sam George accused the NPP MPs of circulating fake photos with a false narration to tarnish his reputation, saying: “They have resorted to a smear campaign and cheap lies with fake photos.”
“After failing to mobilise their own Caucus in Parliament to vote against my nomination, they have resorted to smear campaign and cheap lies with fake photos,” he posted.
He concluded, “I can assure them that the days of misinformation and cheap fabricated lies are coming to an end. The Ministry would tighten regulations on such illegal conducts of misinformation and disinformation in the coming weeks and sanitise our media space.So help me God.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
New BoG governor can’t engage in official duties – Afenyo-Markin to Mahama
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin has raised concerns over the assumption of official duties by Dr. Johnson Asiamah as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The former Deputy Governor was recently nominated by President John Dramani, on January 31, 2025, to serve as Governor, pending approval by the Council of State.
This follows a formal request by the current Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, to proceed on leave ahead of his retirement on March 31, 2025.
However, in a letter to President Mahama dated February 4, Minority Leader raised serious concerns with Dr. Asiamah’s assumption of office in the absence of the Council of State.
“Your Excellency, it is my considered view that Dr. Johnson Asiamah should refrain from engaging in official duties at the Bank of Ghana until his nomination has been duly approved by the Council of State. While awaiting confirmation, he can seek any necessary briefings outside the formal assumption of office,” the letter noted.
He added, “I trust that due attention will be given to this matter to uphold the integrity of our institutional processes.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
