SARPONG'S BLOG

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong@gmail.com The African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), an energy think-tank has warned the government not to consider reviewing the AMERI power deal, because it may end up causing financial lost to the state. Mr. Benjamin Boakye, the Deputy Executive Director at ACEP said government decision to renegotiate the AMERI deal is dangerous and it can put the government in a big trouble. Speaking to the Daily Express he pointed out that revisiting the AMERI contract will not favour Ghana.  “AMERI was just doing business so they can’t be held responsible for anything,” he added. He mentioned that “some portion of the Philip Addison’s report doesn’t match on what the final part put out, especially concerning the contract termination.” “Ghanaians should bear in mind that AMERI used government’s own security to get the money to address Ghana’s energy challenge. AMERI will have to agree to the negotiation. We cannot compel them,” he stated. Mr. Boakye...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com The economic and financial data from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) shows that Ghana’s Gross Foreign Assets for the month of February, 2017 was US$6,455.3 billion. This represents increased to an equivalent of 3.7 months of import cover, as compared with 3.3 months in the same period in 2016, which had US$5,531.3 billion of import cover. Total export was US$2,489.5 billion recorded in February, 2017 compared with US$1,582.0 billion recorded in 2016. Gold export for the period was US$1,176.4 billion in 2017 as against US$532.0 million in 2016. Meanwhile, cocoa export fetched Ghana US$619.0 million in February, 2017 compared with US$688.5 million realized in February 2016. Ghana’s oil export receipt in February 2017 was US$378.8 million as against US$212.3 million the country had in February, 2016. The date indicated that the country’s total import declined in February 2017. The figure was US$1,916.5 billion, compared with US$2,...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com Mr. Makhtar Diop, the World Bank Africa Vice President for Africa paid a two-day visit to Ghana from Tuesday 4 April, 2017. He is also expected to visit Benin and Togo after his visit to Ghana. While in Ghana, Mr. Diop is expected to pay a courtesy call on President Nana Akufo-Addo to discuss development challenges and opportunities in Education, Energy, Agriculture, and other sectors of the economy. The World Bank Africa Vice President will also have discussions with the head of Ghana’s economic team, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The two Vice Presidents discussions will strengthen the relationship between Ghana and World Bank Africa. They are expected to deliberate on macroeconomic issues and explore ways to work together to support Ghana's development agenda. This will be the third time Mr. Diop is visiting Ghana, since he became Vice President in 2012. The World Bank has been in Ghana since 1957. The ...

By Evans Boah-Mensah-USAID Ghanaians consumed more than two million locally-produced chickens last year, a new USAID survey of the sector has revealed. This suggests a vibrant market for live birds, amid concerns over the viability and competitiveness of the broiler industry in the country. In a survey that is expected to provide clarity and hope for the performance of the country’s poultry industry, broiler producers generated an estimated GHC53.6 million from the birds sold, which represents 0.7 percent of the total GDP of the agriculture sector in 2015 and 7.9 percent of the GDP of the livestock sub-sector. According to the results of the survey, each bird cost GHC35 on average. When put into context, the number of birds sold, which excludes imported chicken products, is equivalent to the size of 51 football fields. Ghanaian consumers are now eating more and more chicken fueled by a rise in incomes. The country’s  per capita income increased from GH¢400 report...

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the first-ever Ghana District Profile Series report in Accra. The report is part of USAID’s work to support evidence-based decision making, and to bridge the data and information gap at the sub-national level in the implementation of Ghana’s local government decentralization policy. The Ghana District Profile Series, arguably the most comprehensive report ever to be developed in Ghana, is designed to help stakeholders better  understand the development progress and challenges being made in the districts where USAID works. The 486-page report, which covers all 59 districts in the three northern regions and part of Brong Ahafo bounding the Northern region, was launched at this year’s Feed the Future Implementing Partners Meeting in Accra. It details each district’s demographic information, agricultural activities, women’s empowerment, education and nutrition, water, sanitation and health issues. The ...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com The Global Action on Cybercrime extended (GLACY+) has advocated for a shared Reporting System to combat the menace of cybercrime in Ghana. Mr. Joe Anokye, Ghana’s GLACY+ National Coordinator and the Director General of National Communications Authority (NCA) said with Ghana’s total mobile data subscriptions at 20,064,110 and with a penetration rate of 70.90% at the end of January, 2017, Cybercrime cases are expected to escalate. According to him, as new technologies and strategies are being developed daily to advance network security, these programmes sometimes have the effect of preventing Law Enforcement and Justice Agencies from securing the much needed electronic evidence. Mr. Anokye called for the development of a shared system which would enable all relevant institutions upload cases and share information to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure data and statistics integrity. The NCA Director General said this when he addr...