PRELIMINARY TEST CONFIRMS GOLD IN ELMINA

by Caleigh McLelland & Benjamin Price (Projects Abroad)

Some Gold that was extracted from the soil at the beach

Before its independence, Ghana was called the Gold Coast by its British colonisers; and rightly so. Ghana has been a world leader in the export of gold for centuries, but until recent weeks, most people were unaware that gold existed in Elmina.

Rumours spread that the indigenous peoples of Elmina had been mining gold in the area. Since this discovery was made, the government has sent a Geological Survey Team to Elmina to confirm these findings so they can decide whether the gold quantities have potential commercial value.

 “The government wants to know if the gold is of commercial quantity,” said Edmund Houphouet, Public Relations Officer of the KEEA Municipal Assembly. “Once they know this, they will discuss the pros and cons.”

Some Volunteers of the Geological Survey Department

The Geological Survey Team will report to the government by Friday, and an official report will be published by the end of the month.

“What we intend to do now is to fast-track the process of ensuring that we investigate and find exactly what is in the deposits,” stated Minister of Land and Mineral Resources Mike Hammah. “Once the deposits are in, we will be sure to come out and let the people know exactly what the situation is.”

Despite the uncertainty as to how much gold there is at Elmina, an official from the Geological Survey Team said he has seen some promising results from the tests that have been carried out so far.

“We have dug eight pits, and four seem encouraging,” he said.

Some of the fisherfolk fishing for Gold

Yet even with such encouraging results, it is believed that there will not be enough gold for commercial use. This is not only due to the quantities that have been discovered so far, but also due to the narrow area between the homes of locals that line the beach and the sea, which would make it difficult for serious mining of the extremely valuable mineral.

Furthermore, as it is not feasible at the moment to consider mining for gold at sea, there is a possibility that tests will be carried out later on at sites further inland in order to establish where exactly the gold deposits at Elmina beach have come from.

Patronise made in Ghana Goods

by Benjamin Price (Projects Abroad)

Osagyef Amanfo Edu VI

Osagyef Amanfo Edu VI, Omahene of Mankessim Traditional Area, has called for the patronisation and buying of goods produced by the people of the Republic of Ghana at the launch of the Rural Enterprise Programme (REP).

The programme was first piloted back in 1995 in 13 districts in the Ashanti and BrongAhafo Regions. Based on the success and lessons of this pilot scheme, a second phase of the project was launched in 2002 covering 66 districts nation-wide. The main aim of the Rural Enterprise Programme is to combat rural poverty and help raise the living standards of the participants living in the rural areas of the country. It is believed that this will be achieved mainly through the promotion of micro and small enterprise activities.

However in order for this project to truly succeed, Osagyef Amanfo Edu, said:

“We as people have to make their businesses grow by participating or buying the goods that they produce. We have to be the markets for their products.”

The Vice President inspects the manufacturing equipment

The launch of this development programme in December was attended by many high profile figures including the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. John Dramani Mahamah. The Vice Presoident described the Rural Technology Services Centres (RTSCs), that was developed under the REP, as something remarkable due to the facilities and equipment they provide for the local districts. The RTSCs were established at district level to provide sustainable services such as skills and technology promotion and transfer to local communities.

Addressing the crowd gathered at the Project’s launch, the Vice President said:

“One of the unique features of this project is that it is fully decentralised and integrated into the local government system.

This development project has the highest rate of investment than any other development scheme the government and their partners are currently managing. Following his praise for the success of the scheme thus far, the Vice President turned his focus to the unemployed young people of Ghana and urged them to get involved in the Rural Enterprise Programme.

“This programme, among others, would be useless if our young people don’t take interest in them and don’t take advantage of the opportunities that they present.”

As part of the activities to mark the launch of the REP, some of the projects’ clients held an exhibition and trade show to depict some of the product and skills introduced to the rural poor. The annual trade shows are organised by the Project to provide a platform to explore new market opportunities and also learn useful lessons from other colleagues and districts.

PPP INAUGURATED IN C/R

by Benjamin Price (Projects Abroad)

Youth holding the PPP flag.

The newly formed Progressive People’s Party (PPP), which has yet to be certified by the Electoral Commission, has held its inauguration ceremony.

After resigning from his position as a member of the Conventional People’s Party (CPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the founder of the Progessive People’s Party, and executives from all the 19 constituencies of the region were inaugurated into the PPP with the regional executives.

Supporters pledge allegiance to the party.

A large crowd of enthusiastic Ghanaians attended the inauguration ceremony at Cape Coast’s Town Hall on Saturday (January 7^th) to show their support for Dr. Nduom and his party, which includes a 450 member-strong executive at present. These executives are responsible for the running of the party’s activities at the regional and constituency level in Central Region.

Back in December, the leader of the CCP’s women’s wing, Mary Ankomah, was recorded saying that it is a great loss for the CCP to lose a member like Dr. Ndoum. However, at the time she also highlighted that it would seem as though many women members would also defect from the CCP to join the Progressives.

Dr. Nduom told his supporters who gathered at Cape Coast Town Hall that the PPP, Ghana’s newest political party, would improve the livelihood of the citizens of Central Region.

Inaugurating the 20-member Central Regional Executive, Dr. Nduom said:

“Ours is a broad-based national movement with people who have been crying for the change we need after experiencing NDC and NPP administrations that have not delivered to their expectations.”

Dr Nduom (left centre) and PPP interim executives.

According to the party’s leader, an important principle of the PPP is inclusiveness. He stated that this progressive political organisation supports opportunity for all Ghanaians irrespective of ethnicity, religious affiliation or political affiliation.

Many other executives of the PPP also spoke at the inauguration ceremony, including the Interim Chairman of the progressive movement, Mr Nii Brew Hammond. Mr Hammond emphasised the need for unity across the new party and to ensure complete organisation at the polling station level.

RURAL TECHNOLOGY FACILITY COMMISSIONED AT MANKESSIM



Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI ( Paramount Chief of Mankessim)

By: Kwamina Bamfo-Agyei

The paramount chief of Mankessim traditional area Osagyefo  Amanfo Edu IV has appealed to Ghanaians to patronise made in Ghana products to support local producers to produce more of the goods.

He said this at the commissioning of the Rural Technology facility in mankessim by the Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

The Rural Enterprises with support provided the facility from the Government of Ghana, International Fund for Agricultural Development and African Development Bank.

Osagyefo Amanfo Edu IV appealed to the government to rehabilitate the irrigation system for the cultivation of vegetables for the feeding of the oil workers in Western region. He said this would assist in generating employment for the youths in the area to improve their living condition. 

Vice President  of Ghana John Dramani Mahama

The Vice President John Dramani Mahama appealed to the youths to take advantage of the rural enterprises programme for them to acquire skills in which they can create their jobs. He called on the district assemblies to collaborate with the Rural Enterprises programme to create jobs for the youths.

The National Director of the Rural Enterprises programme, Kwasi Attah-Antwi noted that the programme was started on a piloted basis with two districts in 1995 and the programme now covers sixty-six districts. He said the third phase of the programme will cover one hundred and sixty districts.

Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade

The Country Representative of African Development Bank Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade disclosed that the bank would approve seventy million dollars for the third phase of the programme. She said the bank is satisfied on the prudent usage of the fund provided for the programme.

The Minister of Trade and Industry Hannah Tetteh noted that the technology facility would enhance the operations of artisans in mankssim and said students in and around mankessim would benefit from the facility. She said  that over 99% of the fund provided was used in the execution of the programme. She appealed to the district assemblies to provide offices for the Business Advisory Centre for them to be qualified for the rural technology village.

Cape Coast Polytechnic gets new Council members

President John Evans Atta Mills has appointed new Council members for the Cape Coast Polytechnic which would be would be chaired by Professor B. A. Osei of the University of Cape Coast.

Other Members of the new council include Mrs Gloria Baiden-Koomson, as Government appointee, Mr Charles Emmanuel Oppong, representative of the Convocation of the Cape Coast Polytechnic, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah-Boahin, Polytechnic Student’s Council and Mr Samuel Kwame Ansah, Polytechnic Alumni Association.

The rest are Mr Ato Panford, Representative of the Association of Ghana Industries, Mr John Alateng Ayarik of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union, Miss Evelyn Sarpong, Representative of the Ghana Employer’s Association, Mrs Marie-Acquiline Bafour-Oduro, Mrs Emilia Aning, representative of the Ministry of Education, Mr U. S. Tettey, representative of the Polytechnic Teachers association of Ghana and Mr K. A. Simpson, Acting Rector of the cape Coast polytechnic.

A statement signed by Mr Paul Kofi Krampa, Director of the Public Relations unit of the Ministry of Education on Saturday, said the new council which replaces the earlier one which was dissolved by the President, would be formally sworn in by Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister of Education on Monday December 5 at the Cape Coast Polytechnic.

CENTRAL REGION TAKES BEST FARMERS' AWARD

Vice President Presenting the Prize to the Best farmer

Farmers from Central region took the overall best farmer award and a farmer in the region took the second place. The best fisherman also went to the region.

This year’s Best farmer award went to Central Region and the winners were from the region of excellence.

56-year-old Ignatius Agbo, from the Upper Denkyira East District in the Central Region is the overall best farmer for 2011 at the 27th National best Farmers day.

He takes home a fully furnished three-bedroom house to be built at a location of his choice plus a generator, laptop and a fully loaded modem and a trip to India.

Ignatius Agbo beat 66 other contestant with a farm size of four hundred and eighty (480) acres with 200 acres currently under cultivation.

His scale of operation includes Cocoa 160 acres, Oil Palm 12 acres, Citrus 15 acres, Plantain 15 acres, cow pea 2 acres, sweet potatoes 1acre Cassava 5 acres, Coconut 2 acre, vegetables together with his livestock occupying about 50 acres.

The one time Assembly man currently employs 35 permanent workers and an additional 62 casual workers on his five farmers scatted in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality.

He was the Regional Best Farmer for the Central Region in 2002 and 2005 respectively.

Receiving his award, Ignatius Agbo thanked former President Jerry Rawlings for instituting the National Best Farmer Award and also former President J.A Kufuor and President J.E.A Mills for ensuring the day is observed.

He however regretted of the non- availability of motorable roads to transport their crops which has increased post harvest loses over the years.

Ignatius Abgo called on government to walk the talk and provide farmers with the needed resources for accelerated growth.

This year’s celebration which is under the theme: “Grow more food; research for sustainable Agricultural development” is to stress the importance of Science and Technology in Agriculture.

The Vice President John Dramani Mahama in his speech commended farmers for their invaluable role in assuaging the impact of the global food crisis on the country.

He said an investment in Agriculture which now contributes about 30% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the sure way to eradicating poverty.

Vice President Mahama reiterated the government's commitment to make Agriculture a key component in the economy in spite of the oil discovery.

He also urged the farmers to venture into mechanized farming and move away from the indigenous one which largely depends on the vagaries of the weather.


The second national best farmer is 39-year-old Assemblyman, Daniel Ankoma Mends from the Assin South District of the Central region. He took home a tractor with implements and an insurance cover for a year.

44-year-old Philip Kwaku Agyemang from the Brong Ahafo region came third and was rewarded with a double cabin pick-up truck and a year's insurance cover.

The National Best Fisherman went to 39-year-old Agya Kwesi and National Best Livestock farmer went to 70-year-old Joseph Boney.

The annual event, held at Agona Nsaba in the Central Region, is to salute the tireless efforts and sacrifices of Ghanaian farmers who even in the face of the challenges continue to feed the nation.

In all, sixty-six distinguished farmers and fishermen in the country received national honours and took home various prizes including bicycles, fridges, Wellington Boots, sewing machines, agro products among other at the colourful ceremony at the Agona Nsaba Presbyterian School Park.

Chirano Gold supports farmers day

By: George Naykene

The Management of Chirano Gold Mines Limited on Wednesday presented eight bicycles, two LCD television and two DVD to the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai district and the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal assembly towards this year’s farmers day celebration.

Presenting the items, Mr. Koduah Dapaah, Health Safety Environment and Corporate Responsibility Manager of CGML said the presentation formed part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of the company.

 He said farmers form a critical section of society whose contribution to the survival of the individual and the society as a whole cannot be ignored and commended the winners of this year’s event.

Receiving the items Mr. SeiduMahama, Finance officer of BABDA and Mr. BukariLaahAlhassan, Ministry of Food and Agriculture Sefwi Wiawso, expressed their appreciation to management for the presentation and pledged that it would be fairly distributed to the beneficiaries.