Day: June 8, 2024

The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC), with funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has organised a four-day intensive training at Koforidua for Community Health Nurses on implant insertion and removal.

Implant insertion and removal, also known as long-acting reversible contraceptive, is among the interventions of the UNFPA’s Eighth Country Programme that spans a period of five years; 2023 – 2027.

The programme focuses on zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning; and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices including child marriages and female genital mutilation.

The nurses were selected from the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds and health facilities in 11 districts and municipalities of the Eastern Region.

The districts were selected based on their vulnerability in maternal health, family planning, gender-based violence and harmful practices as well as health facilities accessibility.

Addressing the participant
s, Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, said the UNFPA was ensuring that ‘every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled, which I agree and share.’

However, he added; ‘If indeed every pregnancy is wanted and every childbirth is safe, then the 70 maternal deaths and 335 stillbirths recorded in the region last year was highly unacceptable.’

‘It is against this background, that I want to use the opportunity to urge you to take this training seriously, as well as your health care services at your various facilities, in order to reverse these unenviable statistics on maternal deaths.’

Implant is used to prevent pregnancy for up to three – five years and it is a thin rod about the size of a matchstick that is inserted under the skin (subdermal) on the inside of one’s arm.

It can be removed at anytime for any reason if the woman chooses.

The facilitators for the programme; Mrs Ellen Darkoa Asare, Eastern Regional Director of Public Health
Nurses, and Mesdames Peace Ametsitsi and Irene Yeboah at the Regional Health Directorate, took the participants through the introduction of anatomy and physiology of male and female reproductive system.

They were also updated on contraceptive methods, family planning, and implant insertion and removal.

They did a demonstration of insertion and removal on arm model, after which they had a practical training session at the Eastern Regional Hospital and Koforidua Polyclinic to boost their confidence and competencies in implant insertion and removal.

The participating districts/municipalities were Akuapem South, New Juaben North, Birim North, Atiwa West, Ayensuano, Yilo Krobo, Akyemansa, Fanteakwa North, Upper Manya Krobo, Okere and Asuogyaman.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The crew of the Norwegian Research Vessel, R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, has commemorated the 2024 World Oceans Day, which

catalyses collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate. 

The World Oceans Day was first declared on 8th June,1992 in Rio de Janeiro at the Global Forum, a parallel event at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

This provided an opportunity for non-government organizations and civil society to express their views on environmental issues.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) and other stakeholders were part of the commemoration of the 2024 World Oceans Day.

The research vessel has docked at the Tema part as part of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF-Nansen Programme), which is committed to improving fisheries management, strengthening the capacities of fisheries institutions, and generating scientific knowledge on marine resources and ecosystems.

It will dock in Ghana for 30
days to conduct marine ecosystem survey to determine the country’s fish stock levels and other related issues.

The Vessel, owned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), is equipped for operations in developing coastal countries across Africa and Asia, with the primary duties of ecosystem studies with a focus on fishery research operations.

Ghana has been a long-standing partner in the Nansen programme, with the first survey in the country taking place in 1981.

The country has benefited from over 18 surveys to strengthen and develop fisheries management systems and capacity development.

Mr David Phiri, the Special Adviser to the FAO Africa Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, said the collaboration of the FAO with Norway commenced in 1975 to enhance fisheries research to ensure sustainability.

There have been three Norwegian vessels to carry the name of Dr Fridtjof Nansen, an oceanographer, which are state-of-the-art floating laboratories for undertaking research in
the West Coast of Africa and Asia.

Mr Phiri said as the world celebrated the Ocean Day, there was the need to create awareness for sustainable fisheries globally, as the ocean provided a source of livelihood and food for many.

Mr Abdul-Aziz Ayaba Musah, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, said Ghana’s marine waters were rich with fisheries resources that must be exploited sustainably to benefit the people and promote the common good.

‘The sector significantly contributes to Ghana’s developmental agenda, provides employment, boosts gross domestic product, ensures food and nutritional security, and increases foreign exchange earnings,’ he said.

However, the fisheries sector faced challenges, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, climate change, marine habitat destruction, and pollution from plastics and industrial waste, Mr Mush said.

The practice had led to the overexploitation of fisheries resources, depletion of fish species, loss of habitat and biodiversi
ty, declining profitability for fishers and women fish processors, and increasing poverty in fishing communities.

He indicated that in response to those challenges, the Ministry and the Fisheries Commission, in collaboration with the various fisheries associations and agencies, were pursuing programmes to address them and prevent the collapse of Ghana’s fishing industry.

The absence of a dedicated research vessel has hindered the ministry’s ability to assess the impact of the measures implemented so far, he noted, thus welcoming the arrival of the Norwegian Vessel to determine the country’s fisheries resource levels and related issues.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Institute of Nature and Environmental Conservation (INEC) Ghana, has planted about 5,000 native tree species in the Mankrang Forest Reserve as part of activities to mark the Green Ghana Day.

The Mankrang Forest Reserve, located within the Offinso Forest District and shares boundary with Bono Region, has parts of the reserve going under considerable levels of degradation which needed urgent restoration attention.

The INEC-Ghana with support from its funders, Fondation Franklinia and TerraFund for AFR100 are restoring the reserve.

They are currently working on 240 hectares of land.

Mr. David Kwarteng, Executive Director, INEC-Ghana, speaking to the media after the tree planting exercise, said the native species planted to mark the Day included Mahogany, Rosewood, Ceiba pentandra (onyina), Mansonia, Pericopsis elata (African teak), Oframo among others.

Community members including school children as well as students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) participated in the e
xercise.

Mr. Kwarteng indicated that the overall survival rate of trees planted in the last two years to mark the Green Ghana Day had been amazing.

According to him, the Institute had recorded about 70 percent success rate of the more than 8,000 trees planted in the Asenanyo Forest Reserve and Afram Headwaters Reserve.

The success had been greatly hinged on the onsite management which ensured all the necessary silvicultural activities, including weeding, maintenance, pest management and control as well as survival rate monitoring assessment.

Mr. Kwarteng also indicated that INEC-Ghana had adapted drip irrigation, especially in the dry season to help the trees flourish, adding that most of the restoration sites were within the semi-deciduous forest ecozones.

Mr. Samuel Ofori, Project Manager, TerraFund for AFR100, encouraged the students to avail themselves of Ghana’s efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

He observed that, ‘if we do not make the impact as a people now, the climate change w
ill have dire consequences on our lives in the next 50 years’, and explained that these tree planting exercises if taken seriously would have positive environmental impacts.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The World Vision Ghana together with European Union, Forestry Commission, local authorities, chiefs, people and school children from the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly, planted 1, 100 trees in the Chipa Forest Reserve.

Led by officials of the Tema-Ada Forest District Forest Services Division, they planted species of bamboo, mahogany, cacia and acacia with distance of 3 metres by 3 metres on a hectare of the Reserve on the Green Ghana Day 2024.

The exercise which was financially supported by the Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) Project was to promote the Green Ghana Day 2024 initiative by individuals, organizations, and government agencies in protecting Ghana’s rich natural forest cover.

The Day aligns with World Vision Ghana’s national goal of promoting environmental sustainability and European Union’s (EU) Regreening Africa project, which aims at restoring degraded landscapes, enhancing biodiversity, and improving livelihoods across Africa.

Mr Edward Anaba Akunyagra, Project
Manager, World Vision Ghana, during the planting exercise called on Ghanaians to protect forests, promote sustainable land use, support eco-friendly practices and inspire others to join the Re-greening movement.

‘It’s about creating a greener and more resilient Ghana, where our youth and children can thrive. Together, we can make a difference, create a greater and better Ghana for tomorrow,’ he said.

Mr Akunyagra said through the Re-greening Africa project, the World Vision Ghana implemented programmes together with the Catholic Relief Services and with technical support from the World Agroforestry Centre, that saw over 200,000 seedlings planted cumulatively over the last 5 years in Bawku West, Mion and Garu-Tempane.

He said 11, 920 lead farmers and fire stewards had been trained in Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and bushfire management in the same districts, 44, 542 households took up promoted Regreening (tree planting, FMNR, Nursery management, tree care practices) and 50, 656 hectares of lan
d had been restored.

Mr Jonas Claes, Deputy Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana, in his remarks said, forests are essential to mitigate climate change and environmental degradation where they restore essential biodiversity, provide clean air and protect essential resources for local communities.

He said EU’s action on reforestation in Ghana had been comprehensive in nature, adding that under the EU-funded Re-greening Africa and Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) projects alone, more than 1.1 million tree seedlings had been planted across Ghana.

The project seeks to translate the sustainability commitments into workable solutions on the ground with the overall objective of conserving biodiversity, improving livelihoods, increasing climate change resilience and reducing emissions from land use changes in selected landscapes across the savannah, high forest and transitional ecological zones of Ghana.

Madam Winnifred Ohene-Wiafe, District Manager, Tema-Ada Forest District of t
he Forest Services Division, Forestry Commission, said this year’s target was to plant 340, 000 trees in the district meanwhile they would plant 12 hectares in the Reserve amounting to 13, 200 trees.

‘The rest of the seedlings will go out to schools, churches, mosque, NGOs, agencies and private organizations. We have species that give shades and others are ornamental trees like the flamboyance and visual palm. In 2023, we did a total of 22 hectares with about 23, 000 seedlings in the Reserve though our target was 240, 000,’ she said.

Mr Fred Offei, DCE for Shai-Osudoku Assembly, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said communities and institutions in the district had been committed by planting trees in their homes and environment, adding in 2021, they recorded about 75 per cent survival rate after planting 100, 000, but little drought disrupted those planted in 2022.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Felix Owusu Gyimah, the Municipal Chief Executive of Nkwanta South, has encouraged the residents of the Municipality to safeguard food security through tree planting.

He made the call during the commemoration of the 2024 Green Ghana Day in the Municipality at the Kyabobo Girls School, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the school.

Mr Gyimah said the initiative was to help preserve the forest reserve, which came with a lot of benefits, including potable water system, good climate condition, medicine and beautification.

The MCE also emphasised food security through the planting of trees, urging individuals to get involved for preserving the vegetation for future benefits.

He commended efforts by the Forestry Commission in seeing that the project was successful and also encouraged them to continue with the good works towards the survival of the planted trees.

Mr Isaac Boamah, the Nkwanta South Municipal Manager, Forestry Commission, noted that in order to bring forest degradation and deforestat
ion under control, the Commission had been embarking on tree growing activities over the years.

‘Therefore, it is heartwarming that the current government through Lands and Natural Resources Ministry instituted the Green Ghana Project and enjoined every individual and organisation to take part.’

He said four years of the project had been successful even though the Commission had faced a lot of challenges from nurturing to maturity, planting and survival of the plants .

Mr Boamah said the Commission was expected to plant about 50,000 tree seedlings this year and urged all to plant trees.

‘The Forestry Commission is tasked to account for seedlings distributed and is to continue educating and providing technical advice to all’.

The event was on the theme: ‘Growing for greener future.’

In attendance are the Oti Regional Manager of Forestry Commission, Mr Bernard Tarbil, Assistant Manager, Forestry Commission, Mr Henry Kudiabor, Municipal Director of Education, Mr Jonathan Korsinah, security services and oth
er heads of departments.

Source: Ghana News Agency