USAID/NGGA advocate for increased opportunities for women farmers

USAID Ghana Mission Director, Mr Andrew Karas 

Women are central to all aspects of agriculture and off-farm activities in their communities, yet their right of access to agricultural information and opportunities are not met.

In parts of the country where farming has remained a male dominated occupation, it is culturally and practically unacceptable for women to have direct access farm lands not to talk of modern inputs and other productive services.

This act of gender inequality coupled with unfavourable policy formulation has over age remained a stumbling block impeding the progress of women farmers in their quest to the growth of agriculture and food security.

To this background, Care International with the support of USAID Ghana and the Northern Ghana Governance Activity, NGGA, have engaged women farmers in selected district of the Upper East on Gender and Agricultural Development Strategy II, GADS II.

GAD II which is a continuation of GADS I is targeted at enhancing women’s participation in local governance and increase access to agricultural information and opportunities.

Background

‘When women are empowered and can claim their rights and access to land, leadership , opportunities and choices, economies grow, food security is enhanced and prospects are improved for current and future generations. These are the words of Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women.

Indeed, women constitute the largest percentage of the workforce in the agricultural sector. Their contribution in mainstream agriculture cannot be glossed over considering the predominant role they play in the sector.

In Ghana women especially those in the Northern part of the country are mostly involved in the production of crops and animals.

As efficient as their men folks, they are practically engaged in the production of crops right from the preparation of land to planting and harvesting.

Interestingly, rural women in agriculture are discriminated against as they are culturally denied access to information, land, farm inputs and other productive services including access to financial assistance.

They have little or no control over land and are hardly acknowledged for their contribution to agricultural growth and food security.

This gender inequality has undoubtedly hindered their socio-economic well-being despite their exposure to new agricultural strategies and policies by government.

It was for this and other reasons why Care International had implemented the Gender and Agricultural Development Strategy, GADS II, a continuation of the first phase which sought to address the injustices meted out to vulnerable groups in agriculture to the development process.

Supported by USAID Ghana and a consortium of NGOs in Agric, the second phase of GADS, is being implemented in anticipation of governments resolve to finalize the affirmation action bill into law.

The project is hopeful that with the coming into force of the law, gender imbalances in all sectors including agriculture will be removed to pave for equity.

The days training workshop was therefore an avenue for educate and raise awareness on GADS II, the general agricultural policy environment and available opportunities for women.

Apart from deepening their knowledge on the GADS II, the forum further sought to raise understanding of the mandate of Women in Agricultural Development, WIAD and how they could take advantage of the available opportunities and activities to improve their agricultural production.

The focus therefore is on women. One may ask, why women aside all the thematic areas of Care International.

Mr Andrew Karas is the USAID Ghana Mission Director. He tells our reporter that his organisation is keen on advancing the cause of women not only in agriculture but also their participation in local governance.

In all 38 participants involving CSOs, MOFA staff and women agricultural leaders attended the forum. They gained knowledge on the implementation arrangement of strategic objectives of GADS II and how they could implement the relevant aspects of the said strategies.

They were taken through presentations on the significance of gender and women empowerment in global and national development with emphasis on agricultural development.

The interactive session brought to fore actions that affects women in agriculture and the way forward.

The Northern Ghana Governance Activity, NGGA, is very instrumental in the implementation of GADS II.

NGGA is a 12 million dollar project supported by the US government to improve the quality of district agricultural service delivery through strong citizen engagement.

The overall objective of the 5-year project is to increase production in agriculture for improved nutrition and increased incomes.

Care international is leading the implementation in consortium with Action Aid Ghana, SEND Ghana, and the West Africa Network for Peace building, WANEP.

So far the project has reached out to 28 districts of Northern Ghana of which seven are from the Upper East Region. They include Bolgatanga, Bongo, Bawku West, Bawku Municipal, Talensi, Nabdam and Kassena-Nankana Municipal.

GBC

Confirmation of MMDCEs: Two Assemblies Reject President's Nominee in UE

Members of the Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly yesterday failed to confirm, Clement Dandori, the President’s nominee for the position of District Chief Executive. 

At a special Assembly Meeting held at Paga involving 62 elected and appointed assembly members, confirmation of the nominee was done through sacred ballot supervised by officials of the EC. 

At the end of voting, Mr Dandori failed in his bid to get two thirds of the total votes cast.

He polled 34 votes whiles 28 voted against his candidature. Re-election has been scheduled within the next ten days as required by law. 

In a brief remark, the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari who represented as the guest speaker said though he was disappointed by the outcome of the poll, members still have the chance to honour the president by giving him an overwhelming endorsement at the next meeting.

 He then asked them to put aside all differences and consider giving him the nod to enable the district move towards the path of speedy development. 

Mr Rockson said there is no pride in declaring the district and the region poor,  therefore what was important was for the people to remain united and channel their energies to fighting the common enemy which is poverty, hunger, deprivation and diseases.

Earlier, the assembly also failed its bid to elect a Presiding Member, PM, for the house.

 Per the amendment of model standing orders for MMDAs, the election of a PM  becomes highly necessary where an assembly is unable to elect one by simple majority of the members present and voting to preside over the assembly for the duration of the sitting only. 

This is enshrined under article 244 (2) of the constitution, and section 17 (3) of the Local Government Act, Act 462 OF 1993. 

The contest was between Abagaali Solomon and Sulemana Kokugujei.

At the end of voting, Hon Sulemana had 33 votes as against 29 to beat his opponent but failed to attain the required two third votes. 

At the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Assembly, Mr Joseph Adongo, Assembly member for Naaga Electoral Area, was elected PM after clinching 36 votes in a second round of voting. 

He stood against Hon Simon Akansom who had 14 votes.

 The election, however paved way for the confirmation of William Aduum, President’s nominee for the DCE position.  

  The voting characterized by some agitations in protest of electoral malpractice saw the nominee failing to attain the required two thirds of the total number of votes cast. 

He had 33 out of 50 members voting in his favour and 17 against. He was short by a single vote.  

 This brings to 3, the number of districts in the region have so far failed to confirm their nominees for the position of MDCEs. Talensi District was the first to reject their nominee, who also fell short of a single vote. 

 

GBC.            

May Day in Upper East: Regional Minister entreat workers to employ positive attitudes towards work

The Bolgatanga Jubilee Park was chosen as the venue for this year's edition of the May Day celebration for the Upper East. Correspondent Isaac Asare reports that, as at 7.am, various unionize workers had already converged on the said venue before proceeding on a route march through the principal streets of Bolgatanga. 

 

Clad in their various union T-shirts, some workers managed to articulate their concerns to government through banners and placards with various inscriptions. 

 

 The possession which was done amidst brass band by jubilant workers ended at the park around 8:35 am where they were addressed by the various speakers for the day with the regional minister being the special guest of honour. 

 

For the first time, the Foods and Drugs Authority, FDA together with other agencies joined in the celebration. 

 

In a speech read for him, the General Secretary of the TUC, Dr Yaw Baa commended workers both public and private for their invaluable contribution to the development of the trades union movement and protection of worker's right.  

 

He said organised labour attaches much importance to the day and will at all times fight for the cause of workers. 

 

Touching on the theme: Ghana @ 60: Mobilizing for Ghana's Future through the Creation of Decent Jobs.", Mr Baah observed that majority of Ghanaian workers have lost hope for the future but all is not lost.  

 

According to him, organised labour will continue to throw its weight behind government to achieve economic prosperity, faster growth and the creation of decent jobs. 

 

The Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari in an address declared government's determination in ensuring better working condition for workers. 

 

He charged workers to do a thorough retrospection on attitudes towards work and resolve to change such habits for the betterment of the economy.  

 

Mr Bukari as well charged workers to strictly adhere to professional ethics and work diligently to attract better remuneration to be able to cater for themselves and their families. 

 

 Deserving workers who distinguished themselves in the course of their official duties were awarded. 

 

The ultimate award went to the Talensi District Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Sulemana. 

 

GBC