Madagascar Newswire

The Ghana Publishers Association on the occasion of the commemoration of the World Book and Copyright Day has raised concerns on the structure of the school curriculum, saying it does not encourage reading outside the curriculum.

‘The structure of the school curriculum does not encourage the use of books outside the school. Children and students are not encouraged to read books.’

‘The children are not supplied with basic reading materials by the schools and parents are expecting the State to provide books for their children,’ the Association said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency.

It called for conscious efforts to improve the quality of life of the citizens by providing direct support for the development of creative and analytical skills through early childhood reading programmes.

The statement noted that books and reading had played key role in the promotion of literacy as a concept for economic, social, and scientific progress, adding that, early reading and quality education were the most
important tools that could alleviate the circumstance that contribute to inequality.

It, therefore, called for the formulation of policy initiatives that would anchor the country’s cultural, social, and economic growth on books and other literary activities.

The policy initiatives, it said, should facilitate the process of creating opportunities for literacy to be a measure of either reducing or eradicating inequalities that were threatening the stability of the country.

The statement said the country’s development could not be achieved without reducing the inequalities that existed among the citizens and communities.

The statement added that countries that had advanced in development had all anchored their enhancements on a literate population.

‘Investments in education, beginning with early childhood reading programmes could translate into viable economic mobility, contribute to increased productivity, and decrease inequality,’ the statement said.

The World Book and Copyright Day is marked on every Ap
ril 23. This year is the 29th year of the celebration of the World Book and Copyright Day.

The Day, set aside by UNESCO, is celebrated to promote the reading of books and other literatures, as well as pay tributes to books and authors and encourage everyone to access books.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Publishers Association on the occasion of the commemoration of the World Book and Copyright Day has raised concerns on the structure of the school curriculum, saying it does not encourage reading outside the curriculum.

‘The structure of the school curriculum does not encourage the use of books outside the school. Children and students are not encouraged to read books.’

‘The children are not supplied with basic reading materials by the schools and parents are expecting the State to provide books for their children,’ the Association said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency.

It called for conscious efforts to improve the quality of life of the citizens by providing direct support for the development of creative and analytical skills through early childhood reading programmes.

The statement noted that books and reading had played key role in the promotion of literacy as a concept for economic, social, and scientific progress, adding that, early reading and quality education were the most
important tools that could alleviate the circumstance that contribute to inequality.

It, therefore, called for the formulation of policy initiatives that would anchor the country’s cultural, social, and economic growth on books and other literary activities.

The policy initiatives, it said, should facilitate the process of creating opportunities for literacy to be a measure of either reducing or eradicating inequalities that were threatening the stability of the country.

The statement said the country’s development could not be achieved without reducing the inequalities that existed among the citizens and communities.

The statement added that countries that had advanced in development had all anchored their enhancements on a literate population.

‘Investments in education, beginning with early childhood reading programmes could translate into viable economic mobility, contribute to increased productivity, and decrease inequality,’ the statement said.

The World Book and Copyright Day is marked on every Ap
ril 23. This year is the 29th year of the celebration of the World Book and Copyright Day.

The Day, set aside by UNESCO, is celebrated to promote the reading of books and other literatures, as well as pay tributes to books and authors and encourage everyone to access books.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Internet penetration has been on the rise globally, with an estimated 4.9 billion people, 63.2 percent of the global population accessing it, the 2023 International Telecommunication Union Internet Report has revealed.

Kepios Analysis, producer of the world’s most widely read reports on digital trends, also established that internet users in Ghana increased by 454,000, 1.9 percent between January 2023, and January 2024 marking a significant increase over the past decade.

Dr Albert Antwi-Bosiako, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority who disclosed this, added however, that, disparities in internet access persisted, particularly in the global South and underserved communities, where access to affordable and reliable internet remained limited.

He was addressing the opening session of the 11th Digital Rights and Inclusive Forum 2024 (DRIF24), underway in Accra.

The Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan African organisation and other partners are organising the three-day conference on the theme ‘Fost
ering Rights and Inclusion in the Digital Space’, being attended by hundreds of delegates, civil society organisations and actors, NGOs and the academia drawn from 61 countries across the world.

Other partner organisations in Ghana include E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA), University of Media, Arts and Communication, Media Foundation for West Africa, Inclusive Tech Group, Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter, and Human Security Research Centre (HSRC)

Event sponsors include Wikimedia, African Digital Rights Network, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Google, Kingdom of The Netherlands, Mott Foundation, Open Technology Fund (OTF), Internews, Small Media, among others.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako indicated digital rights and inclusion were not merely abstract concepts, but essential pillars of democratic societies and development.

‘They underpin our ability to access information, engage in civic discourse, and participate in economic activities, however, it is imperative to acknowledge that
significant disparities persist globally, threatening to exacerbate existing inequalities’, he stated.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako said though the nation had progressed in internet penetration, it was imperative to remain vigilant in addressing the digital divide that persisted particularly in the un-served and underserved communities.

He said the governments around the world had roles to play in fostering digital inclusion among their citizens. As of February, this year, Dr Antwi-Bosiako said the government had made strides to expand digital infrastructure and connectivity by constructing over a 1,000 new rural telephony sites in rural areas across the country to expand network coverage and internet access.

This project was implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, he explained, saying although that represented considerable progress, it was also an indication that more needed to be done to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all Ghanaians had equal access to the opp
ortunities presented by the digital age.

‘As we strive to build a more inclusive digital society, it is essential that we address the barriers that hinder access to the internet and ensure they are adequately removed to uphold the digital rights of all citizens’.

In an emerging digitally driven economy, Dr Antwi-Bosiako said digital right had now firmly become a human right, stressing, a key pillar of digital inclusion was guaranteeing that internet access was affordable and accessible to all segments of society.

He said initiatives such as the National Broadband Infrastructure Project, Girls-in-ICT Programme, and the Free Wi-Fi for Senior High Schools Programme had helped to expand access to the internet in underserved communities and to bridge the digital divide.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako noted however that digital inclusion was not just about access to the internet but also about ensuring that all individuals had the skills and knowledge to fully participate in the digital economy.

That requires investing in d
igital literacy and education initiatives to empower citizens with the skills they need to navigate the digital landscape and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the internet.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako said access to digital services, such as e-government platforms, internet banking and online education, has expanded in the country with most of the population utilising such services.

The disparities in access however remain disproportionate, thus affecting marginalised groups and further worsening socio-economic inequalities, he stated, saying the government acknowledged the revolutionary potential of the digital space to propel socio-economic advancement and enhance the quality of life for Ghanaians.

It is for this reason that a massive digitalisation campaign dubbed ‘the Digital Ghana Agenda’, an initiative aimed at encouraging the usage of technology to empower people and promote inclusive progress, was launched in 2017.

Dr Aida Opoku-Mensah, the Vice Chairperson, PIN Board, said Ghana was privileg
ed to host the conference, and expressed appreciation to the partners, hoping that the participants would build networks.

The DRIF24, she added, remained an important platform where conversations on digital policy in Africa are shaped, policy directions debated, and partnerships forged for action.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Internet penetration has been on the rise globally, with an estimated 4.9 billion people, 63.2 percent of the global population accessing it, the 2023 International Telecommunication Union Internet Report has revealed.

Kepios Analysis, producer of the world’s most widely read reports on digital trends, also established that internet users in Ghana increased by 454,000, 1.9 percent between January 2023, and January 2024 marking a significant increase over the past decade.

Dr Albert Antwi-Bosiako, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority who disclosed this, added however, that, disparities in internet access persisted, particularly in the global South and underserved communities, where access to affordable and reliable internet remained limited.

He was addressing the opening session of the 11th Digital Rights and Inclusive Forum 2024 (DRIF24), underway in Accra.

The Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan African organisation and other partners are organising the three-day conference on the theme ‘Fost
ering Rights and Inclusion in the Digital Space’, being attended by hundreds of delegates, civil society organisations and actors, NGOs and the academia drawn from 61 countries across the world.

Other partner organisations in Ghana include E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA), University of Media, Arts and Communication, Media Foundation for West Africa, Inclusive Tech Group, Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter, and Human Security Research Centre (HSRC)

Event sponsors include Wikimedia, African Digital Rights Network, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Google, Kingdom of The Netherlands, Mott Foundation, Open Technology Fund (OTF), Internews, Small Media, among others.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako indicated digital rights and inclusion were not merely abstract concepts, but essential pillars of democratic societies and development.

‘They underpin our ability to access information, engage in civic discourse, and participate in economic activities, however, it is imperative to acknowledge that
significant disparities persist globally, threatening to exacerbate existing inequalities’, he stated.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako said though the nation had progressed in internet penetration, it was imperative to remain vigilant in addressing the digital divide that persisted particularly in the un-served and underserved communities.

He said the governments around the world had roles to play in fostering digital inclusion among their citizens. As of February, this year, Dr Antwi-Bosiako said the government had made strides to expand digital infrastructure and connectivity by constructing over a 1,000 new rural telephony sites in rural areas across the country to expand network coverage and internet access.

This project was implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, he explained, saying although that represented considerable progress, it was also an indication that more needed to be done to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all Ghanaians had equal access to the opp
ortunities presented by the digital age.

‘As we strive to build a more inclusive digital society, it is essential that we address the barriers that hinder access to the internet and ensure they are adequately removed to uphold the digital rights of all citizens’.

In an emerging digitally driven economy, Dr Antwi-Bosiako said digital right had now firmly become a human right, stressing, a key pillar of digital inclusion was guaranteeing that internet access was affordable and accessible to all segments of society.

He said initiatives such as the National Broadband Infrastructure Project, Girls-in-ICT Programme, and the Free Wi-Fi for Senior High Schools Programme had helped to expand access to the internet in underserved communities and to bridge the digital divide.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako noted however that digital inclusion was not just about access to the internet but also about ensuring that all individuals had the skills and knowledge to fully participate in the digital economy.

That requires investing in d
igital literacy and education initiatives to empower citizens with the skills they need to navigate the digital landscape and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the internet.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako said access to digital services, such as e-government platforms, internet banking and online education, has expanded in the country with most of the population utilising such services.

The disparities in access however remain disproportionate, thus affecting marginalised groups and further worsening socio-economic inequalities, he stated, saying the government acknowledged the revolutionary potential of the digital space to propel socio-economic advancement and enhance the quality of life for Ghanaians.

It is for this reason that a massive digitalisation campaign dubbed ‘the Digital Ghana Agenda’, an initiative aimed at encouraging the usage of technology to empower people and promote inclusive progress, was launched in 2017.

Dr Aida Opoku-Mensah, the Vice Chairperson, PIN Board, said Ghana was privileg
ed to host the conference, and expressed appreciation to the partners, hoping that the participants would build networks.

The DRIF24, she added, remained an important platform where conversations on digital policy in Africa are shaped, policy directions debated, and partnerships forged for action.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Alex Asanvo, the Executive Secretary for Cote d’Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CGCI), says Global Cocoa Marketing Companies have refused to pay realistic prices for farmers and producers.

He questioned why buyers of the commodity have over the years failed to truly live up to their billing by paying actual prevailing prices often quoted by global news cables.

The Executive Secretary was speaking at the ongoing World Cocoa Conference in Brussels in a panel discussion on the topic: ‘The quest for the living income of smallholder farmers: why are we stuck and how can we fix it.?’

He said the Global Cocoa buyers had always exploited the market to their benefit, a development he believed always left farmers and producing countries at the bottom of an inequitable trade regime.

He said amid the increasing prices of Cocoa on the Global Market, farmers, and civil society groups in producing countries are making a strong demand on buyers to apply the 10,000 dollars as the basis for payment to reflect current tr
ends.

The demand, in the view of Mr Asanvo, was putting pressure on governments in terms of domestic pricing, which is not reflected in the market.

‘Today, all the global news cables are quoting $10,000 dollars as price for Cocoa on the international markets; this has put pressure on governments of producing countries as farmers and civil society groups push for local prices to be set at prevailing figures on the international markets,’ he added.

Mr Asanvo said there were excessive demands from buyers on producing countries without commensurate actions from the market players themselves, stressing that there was a lack of trust, consistency, and stability in all facets of arrangements amongst the various key stakeholders in the Global Cocoa value chain.

He said this had over the years impinged effective implementation of policies and programmes, including the Living Income Differentials (LID) for the benefit of farmers.

The Executive Secretary said more needed to be done to actualize an ideal compensatio
n for the toil and sweat of farmers.

He emphasized the question of whether the LID had failed its intended purpose or not, saying despite the criticisms, the circumvention and the weaknesses encountered as a result of origin differential downsides, the policy had still survived and continues to target a floor price to enable farmers to get a living income.

According to Mr Asanvo, to engender trust, there was the need for accountability and transparency from all stakeholders, arguing that this was being done by producing countries through the constant publication of the average achieved forward sale price and building a traceability system where not only volumes but prices would be traced.

He contended that like producing countries, the companies also be more accountable and transparent.

The Executive Secretary advocated for consistency on issues of sustainability, stressing that living income should be mainstreamed across the sustainability regulations of exporting and importing countries.

According to h
im, sustainability voluntary programmes should reward farmers with a living income or living income price, since the issue of sustainable cocoa cannot be attained without paying farmers a living income.

Mr Asanvo advocated stable and predictable market forces to help shape expectations towards an ambitious plan that guarantees a living income for farmers.

He said, ‘producing need a predictable floor price, with a dedicated mechanism to deliver it irrespective of terminal market prices since history showed that commodity markets were prone to price falls as sudden as price rises and sadly for farmers, falls were way longer than rises.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Alex Asanvo, the Executive Secretary for Cote d’Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CGCI), says Global Cocoa Marketing Companies have refused to pay realistic prices for farmers and producers.

He questioned why buyers of the commodity have over the years failed to truly live up to their billing by paying actual prevailing prices often quoted by global news cables.

The Executive Secretary was speaking at the ongoing World Cocoa Conference in Brussels in a panel discussion on the topic: ‘The quest for the living income of smallholder farmers: why are we stuck and how can we fix it.?’

He said the Global Cocoa buyers had always exploited the market to their benefit, a development he believed always left farmers and producing countries at the bottom of an inequitable trade regime.

He said amid the increasing prices of Cocoa on the Global Market, farmers, and civil society groups in producing countries are making a strong demand on buyers to apply the 10,000 dollars as the basis for payment to reflect current tr
ends.

The demand, in the view of Mr Asanvo, was putting pressure on governments in terms of domestic pricing, which is not reflected in the market.

‘Today, all the global news cables are quoting $10,000 dollars as price for Cocoa on the international markets; this has put pressure on governments of producing countries as farmers and civil society groups push for local prices to be set at prevailing figures on the international markets,’ he added.

Mr Asanvo said there were excessive demands from buyers on producing countries without commensurate actions from the market players themselves, stressing that there was a lack of trust, consistency, and stability in all facets of arrangements amongst the various key stakeholders in the Global Cocoa value chain.

He said this had over the years impinged effective implementation of policies and programmes, including the Living Income Differentials (LID) for the benefit of farmers.

The Executive Secretary said more needed to be done to actualize an ideal compensatio
n for the toil and sweat of farmers.

He emphasized the question of whether the LID had failed its intended purpose or not, saying despite the criticisms, the circumvention and the weaknesses encountered as a result of origin differential downsides, the policy had still survived and continues to target a floor price to enable farmers to get a living income.

According to Mr Asanvo, to engender trust, there was the need for accountability and transparency from all stakeholders, arguing that this was being done by producing countries through the constant publication of the average achieved forward sale price and building a traceability system where not only volumes but prices would be traced.

He contended that like producing countries, the companies also be more accountable and transparent.

The Executive Secretary advocated for consistency on issues of sustainability, stressing that living income should be mainstreamed across the sustainability regulations of exporting and importing countries.

According to h
im, sustainability voluntary programmes should reward farmers with a living income or living income price, since the issue of sustainable cocoa cannot be attained without paying farmers a living income.

Mr Asanvo advocated stable and predictable market forces to help shape expectations towards an ambitious plan that guarantees a living income for farmers.

He said, ‘producing need a predictable floor price, with a dedicated mechanism to deliver it irrespective of terminal market prices since history showed that commodity markets were prone to price falls as sudden as price rises and sadly for farmers, falls were way longer than rises.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Savings Lives Entity (SALIENT), a project by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other agencies, is set to address the proliferation of small arms in Ghana.

The project, spearheaded by the UNDP with support from other agencies, including the National Commissions on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the United Nations, and civil society organizations (CSOs), will tackle the proliferation of small arms from the Sahel region to Ghana.

The UN Conflict and Related Development Analysis (CDA) on Ghana showed that despite Ghana’s peace and security infrastructure and historical resilience, there is recent evidence of increasing insecurity and pockets of violence.

The Northern Region, for instance, had experienced some level of insecurity as pockets of related ethnic violence had been reported.

According to the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, 1.2 million unregistered small firearms and light weapons are believed to be in circulation in Ghana.

Mr. Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, the D
eputy Resident Representative, UNDP Ghana Office, said in a speech that the SALIENT Project would focus on key interventions, including conducting a study, building capacity, supporting CSOs, and setting up a digital database.

‘We will be conducting a baseline study on detecting equipment at border posts.

The field mission recommended considering KAIPTC for this exercise.

Building the capacity of state institutions to support small arms tracing and record-keeping and supporting the national commission to deploy at border posts.

Supporting CSOs on small arms and light weapons in Ghana and coordinates non-state actors’ efforts to address small arms and ammunition proliferation for sustainable peace and development in Ghana and the ECOWAS region.

Finally, set up a digital database and consider advocacy around the enactment of the small arms bill, ‘he said.

Professor Paul Frimpong-Manso, the Board Chairperson for the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, said the SALIENT project aligned with
the Commission’s mission to prevent, eradicate, and combat the proliferation of small arms in Ghana.

The project, he noted, will provide catalytic support to address the multifaceted nature of armed violence in Ghana from a sustainable perspective.

Mr. Charles Abani, Resident Coordinator for the UN Ghana Office, said in an interview that the SALIENT project is an important path to improving the legislative framework on small arms in Ghana.

The project, he said, would also improve the capacity of state actors, particularly the Commission on Small Arms, to implement strategies on behalf of the Government to address the proliferation of arms.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The College of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has accused the government of non-compliance with the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) binding directive on compulsory arbitration awards.

The association made the claims during a press conference in Accra and addressed by its President, Dr. Prince Obeng-Himah.

According to the president, the orders of the NLC included the payment of a one-month salary based on the association’s salary grade, the conclusion of the ongoing staff audit, and paying CETAG members the same salaries as their counterparts in public universities.

‘The outstanding NLC Compulsory Arbitration awards for which our employer has deliberately refused to comply with their implementation are as follows: An order for the payment of a one-month salary based on the respondent’s (CETAG’s) proposed salary grade shall be paid to each of its entitled members as compensation for additional duty performed in the year 2022.

‘The complainant (FWSC) is directed as the chief negotiator f
or the employer to ensure that GTEC will expedite and conclude the ongoing staff audit for the respondent (CETAG) on or before July 31?, 2023. An order that the agreed rates payable to public universities shall be applied to deserving members of the respondent (CETAG). It is an order that the implementation of the completed staff audit exercise shall commence on January 1?, 2023,’ the President said.

These orders from the NLC, as the president of the association noted, have not been adhered to by the government.

He said the continuous disregard of the orders by the government will compel them to engage in labour actions, which could jeopardize teaching and learning activities in all teacher training colleges in the country.

‘Based on the foregoing developments, it is now very clear to CETAG members that our employer is deliberately denying us our legitimate compulsory status, very clearly without any reasonable justification. At this juncture, we would like to send a strong signal or message to our governm
ent that we shall take our destinies into our own hands if, by May 31 2024, all outstanding compulsory arbitration awards are fully implemented,’ he said.

He called on the appropriate authorities, including the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and the Ministry of Finance, to immediately comply with the NLC’s compulsory directive in the interest of industrial peace.

Source: Ghana News Agency