Recent Events
Review of Australian-funded Farmer-Based Organisation Capacity Building Project
The review in September of the Australian aid program’s flagship food security initiative in Ghana has identified key successes and further ways to improve the program. The Farmer-Based Organisation (FBO) capacity building development project seeks to improve agriculture extension service delivery and increase access to services and markets along the agriculture value chain.
The Ghana-FBO initiative has helped to train over 500 extension officers nationwide. These trainings have placed extension officers in positions to equip farmers with more productive approaches to farming. In this photo members of the AusAID review team visit a household near Tamale in Ghana where paddy rice is parboiled before they are sent to the mill.
A visit to a women-led FBO (Ngo bu Yoona) in Tamale showcased how successive activities have supported women to promote an out-grower scheme that processes nearly 100 bags of paddy rice daily during peak seasons. Representatives of the agriculture ministry in Tamale reiterated Ghana’s interest in using FBOs as a mechanism for expanding agriculture extension services to local farmers.
The Australian aid program supports the Ghana’s FBO initiative with AUD 1.4 million (approximately GHS2.9 million) under the Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility. Read more about the Australian aid program here.
Australia supports Ghana's Public Sector Reform Program
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) in conjunction with the Public Services Commission (PSC) of Ghana organised a four-day training workshop for Chief Directors and Chief Executives of the Ghana Public Service in Ghana.
The Workshop; “Leadership for the Future, Influencing and Achieving Outcomes” was designed to improve leadership skills of high-level executive staff of Ghana’s Public service. Speaking at the opening of the training program, Her Excellency Ms Joanna Adamson the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana noted that Australian Government’s support to public sector reform activities in Ghana forms part of the Australian’s engagement with Africa across enhanced trade and commercial investments, strengthened diplomatic links and development assistance.
The picture shows Her Excellency Ms Joanna Adamson (front role in yellow jacket) the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana in a Group picture with the Chief Directors and Chief Executives of Ghana’s Public Service.
Australia Supports Mining for Development in Africa
The Australian Aid Program through the International Mining for Development Centre (IM4DC) is supporting African governments to improve policies and practices in governance and management of extractive industries.
Picture shows Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Minerals Resources Alhaji Inusah Fuseini (Centre) at the launch of the Geoscience Information in Africa (GIRAF) Conference, co-sponsored by the Australian Aid Program and the German Government. The launch also coincided with the Centenary Anniversary of Ghana’s Geological Survey Department in Accra.
Australian aid promoting police accountability in Ghana
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has supported the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) to produce a book on police accountability. The book, “101 Things You Wanted to Know about The Police but Were Too Afraid to Ask”, forms part of measures to strengthen practical realisation of human rights in Ghana. The book confronts common perceptions that make many Ghanaians vulnerable to police abuse, often because citizens lack capacity to insist on their basic rights.
The launch took place on 8 August 2013 in Accra with Mr Sam Okudzeto, a distinguished lawyer and human rights advocate in Ghana, as chair and HE Joanna Adamson, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, keynote speaker. Mr Okudzeto recounted personal experiences during a military regime, when he was repeatedly detained without charge. He welcomed the Australian Government's support of the CHRI to improve education about human rights in Ghana.
High Commissioner Adamson mentioned that Commonwealth values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, shared by Ghana and Australia, have clear links to sustainable and equitable growth. These values ‘benefit everyone, including those living in extreme poverty,' the High Commissioner said, expressing confidence that the guardians of human rights in Ghana will continue to work collaboratively to ensure citizens’ access to human rights in the country.
CHRI’s work on this project was funded by the Australian aid program through the Human Rights Grant Scheme. The project sought to increase local advocacy for police accountability and reforms by enhancing public awareness on the rights of arrested persons. With AusAID’s support, the CHRI successfully organised workshops on human rights in four regional capitals in Ghana and highlighted the issue of police abuse at various public forums, including talkback radio programs. Over 170 organisations have benefited from this project, including schools and media houses, and have received over 1000 posters and over 2,000 copies of the newly launched book. Find out more about the Australian aid program here.
High Commissioner launches aid projects in Ghana’s Ashanti and Western regions
Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ms Joanna Adamson, launched two development projects during a visit to Ghana’s Ashanti and Western Regions from 4-6 July .
In Kumasi, Ms Adamson joined Professor William Ellis, Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in announcing Australian government support of 704,244 Cedis for a two-year research program on “Improved Yam Storage for Food Security and Income”.
At Bibiani, in the Western Region, Ms Adamson launched a 41,300 Cedi computer laboratory at the Noble Gold Bibiani Primary and Junior High school.
Ms Adamson also paid courtesy calls on the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Opoku, and government officials in the two regions and toured the operations of two Australian mining companies, Signature’s Owere Mines and Noble Gold Bibiani Limited. For more, read the attached press release.
Australian involvement in the third meeting of the Global Network of National R2P Focal Points
Senior Australian Diplomat, Richard Rowe, in his capacity as Australia’s Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Focal Point, acted as a facilitator the third meeting of the Global Network of National R2P Focal Points. The meeting was held in Accra from 11 – 12 June 2013 at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
R2P refers to the responsibility - shared by all - to protect vulnerable populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Australia (with Ghana, Denmark and Costa Rica) is a co-facilitator of the R2P National Focal Point Initiative, and has promoted the R2P concept at regional, global and civil society levels. This was the first meeting of R2P Focal Points to be held outside New York.
Australia Supports Skills Transfer to Ghana
The Australian Government is making positive contributions to Ghana’s social and economic development efforts through transfer of skills. Under its Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program, the Australian Government has been deploying highly skilled volunteers to work with Ghanian organisations including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the World Food Program, and other local organisations.So far, Ghana has received over 40 Australian volunteers placed in over 30 organisations.
The AVID program has fast expanded to constitute an important way of strengthening mutual understanding between Australia and Ghana. In May 2013, a morning tea reception was held by the High Commissioner. to welcome seven new Australians who had arrived to begin assignments in various professional capacities. Ghana stands to benenit from a rich mix of skill transfer in fields such as program management, agricultural research, curriculum development, human resource management, resource mobilisation and advocacy.
Australia has a proud history of volunteering. In 2012–13 the Australian Government will support more than 1,800 volunteers in 36 developing countries, including Ghana. The volunteer program in Ghana is supported by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and implemented by Austraining International. Read more here.
An Australian Volunteer's bright idea to promote access to solar lighting in Ghana
A volunteering holiday to Ghana inspired recent Australian graduate Boyd Whalan to help devise a simple, cheap form of solar lighting to improve lives. With fellow student Dan Wilson, Boyd came up with an simple yet ingenious solution to promote access to solar lighting - an affordable pay-as-you-go system.
The pair's 'social start-up' is winning awards and a four-month pilot scheme is set to start in May. Read More