Ghanaian Experts and Scientist got it wrong on solar power

Wisdom wasn’t born with me and it will most certainly not die with me, but I dare say that our energy experts and scientist are WRONG about solar power.

We would recall that in the 80’s, top experts were cynical about cell phones. The cliché was that the batteries didn’t last long, the cost per minute was expensive, the phones were bulky and heavy, and coverage was sporadic etc. The experts even projected that in 20 - 30 years the total market size would be about 900,000 units which made big players to withdraw their investments. Today there are billions of mobile phones and costs have fallen that school children, ice water sellers and kayayes are all able to afford a mobile phone or even two.

Likewise, the experts are preaching same sermon about solar energy today. They refuse to accept that after the several decades of research and development which has improved the technology, solar is able to supply a significant percent of the world’s energy needs. Again, their chorus is that it is too expensive to build, solar is inefficient, and it is an unreliable. Some even postulate that it is bound to fail without government subsidies.

To all these and others, I dare say that the experts and scientist are very wrong and perhaps totally oblivious of “Ghana’s Solar Potential” as I expounded in my previous writings on solar. Solar will be pervasive as cell phones are. It is worth noting that solar power has been doubling every two years for the past 30 years as costs have been dropping and as our energy consumption keeps increasing this becomes a moving target.

LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) is simply the per kilowatt-hour cost of a particular energy technology in U.S. dollars. The calculation, which factors in capital expenditures, dispatchability, fuel costs, operations and maintenance costs, and financing costs, is a widely used metric for comparing different energy resources. LCOE provides a helpful guide for where clean energy is heading.

According to the latest calculations (LCOE metric) from the financial advisory firm Lazard, as seen in the chart above, it is clear that solar and other renewables are actually starting to rival fossil fuels and nuclear on an unsubsidized basis.

The solar-storage combination is not analyzed in this study, even though the unsubsidized cost of battery storage is one of the second-most expensive technologies behind diesel generators, according to Lazard’s analysis. One could make a similar argument about the long-term environmental and societal costs of fossil fuels, but Lazard calls these “difficult to measure” due to widely varying estimates.

The cost profiles of renewables and fossil fuels are very different. Coal and natural gas plants have lower upfront capital costs, but are sensitive to fuel prices; technologies like wind, solar and geothermal have no fuel costs, but are far more capital-intensive to build upfront, making them sensitive to financing costs.

Lazard’s analysis further states that “Rooftop solar has benefited from the rapid decline in price of both panels and key balance-of-system components (e.g., inverters, racking, etc.); while the small-scale nature and added complexity of rooftop installation limit cost reduction levels (vs. levels observed in utility-scale applications), more efficient installation techniques, lower costs of capital and improved supply chains will contribute to a lower rooftop solar LCOE over time.”

The upfront equipment, financing and labor costs for solar technology continues to improve. The Lazard analysis shows how this has influenced solar PV, which has seen a 78 percent decrease in LCOE over the last five years, averaged across the utility-scale, commercial/industrial and distributed rooftop sectors in the U.S.

Apart from the initial investment in solar panels, there is no other cost involved in the generation of solar power. The savings made from going off-grid can easily be invested in other projects as a country. Again, the ever increasing cost of fuel and power due to our deregulation policy has become a big issue in Ghana and many under-developed and developing countries.

The socio-economic condition of people living in these areas is not as per the normal standard. Hence, it becomes imperative to provide these people with cheap power and energy. Some governments in these region have started looking for options, like solar energy, to initiate a better and proper distribution of power. This has also helped these people to grow and develop themselves so that they can erase the economic inequality in the country. However, it is rather sad that we have only 0.1% of solar in our energy mix as a country.

Let us not be oblivious of the fact that the control of energy is still in the hands of the capitalists, which increases the exploitation of the masses. As we watched in the famous Prison Break, the biggest weapon in the hands of the capitalists is energy and power. Solar energy breaks the backbone of this mischief as nobody controls the sun as we have for oil and gas.

The good news is that, it is not just solar production that is evolving at a rapid rate; there are also technologies to harness the power of wind, biomass and tidal. We have already seen Ahenkorah’s TC Energy at Ada Foah already piloting 14MW. I believe with all my heart that soon, there will be revolutions in many different technologies, and these will quicken our overall progress.

Notwithstanding the several cynicism of experts and the denigration by some pessimist scientist, there is little doubt that we are heading into an era of unlimited and almost free clean energy. The revolution is silent and clearly has profound implications.

Smart utility companies are embracing solar power and other promising renewable as wind power. If Saudi Arabia have started adopting solar on a commercial scale then it is startling that others are indefatigably pushing to either hold back or stop the progress of solar power at all costs.

Certainly, we are surely heading into the era of abundance, the era when the basic needs of humanity are met through advancing technologies. The challenge for mankind will be to share this abundance, ensuring that these technologies make the world a better place.

As a nation we need to be always mindful of the Complementarity between Human Warming and Global Warming, but whether it is politically acceptable, is also a question of Egocentrism versus Compassion.

Do we want to live in a caring country or do we want to live in a country of vested interest?

Doctors live on GH₵2 a day - the over-told story of 91 unpaid doctors

By the end of July 2015, 91 junior doctors would have worked for eleven months without pay, a period during which some may have been forced to live on GH₵2 a day.

Prisoners in Ghana live on GH₵1.50. The huge difference of course, is that these doctors have committed no crime.

According to a spokesperson for the “mentally fatigued” doctors, Nana Kissi Atefah who works with the Cape Coast government hospital, their crime could be that, they love the nation.

 “What is more patriotic than House Officers who have paid exorbitant fees through medical schools, who have sat and  burnt the midnight oil on several occasions, come out and for 11 months work without a single penny in our accounts?” his frustration was self-evident during the entire interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday.

Nana Kissi Atefah agonized about their misplaced confidence in public officials at the Controller and Accountant -General's Department, Ministries of Health and Finance who told them to wait as far back as July 2014.

“They kept playing the waiting, waiting game and we kept falling for it,” he said.

Not anymore, he said and stated that come the end of July, the 91 doctors scattered across the country will be descending on the capital, Accra, where, in the offices of the Controller and Accountant-General's Department, each doctor will present every document or certificate required for their salaries to be processed.

“We are gathering every single document we have from our birth certificate, BECE certificate, the only thing we cannot provide yet is our death certificate”, Nana Atefah indicated.

The doctor gave the breakdown of the 91 unpaid trainees as follows: 30 House Officers are stationed with the 37 Military Hospital, 23 are with the Cape Coast government hospital, 7 more at Tema Government hospital, 11 with the  Brong Ahafo government hospital, 4 each with the Volta regional hospital and Police Hospital and one each with LEKMA and Holy Family Hospitals.

He believes one of the reasons they have not been paid is that they have not put sufficient pressure on the authorities partly because they are scattered across the country.

Nana Kissi Atefah explained that 94 House Officers stationed at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in the Ashanti region were paid because by their sheer numbers, the net effect of laying down their tools was huge.

But for his colleagues, a hospital may not suffer greatly if some 7 doctors embark on a strike, he argued.



File Photo: Doctors in Africa have often been battling governments for their conditions of service

He explained how they have been surviving these past months. Using the Cape Coast Government Hospital as an example, Nana Kissi Atefah revealed that management of the hospital give the doctors an allowance of GH₵350 if the trainee lives in accommodation provided by the hospital and enjoys free utilities.

Otherwise, you are paid GH₵500 to pay for accommodation, utilities, feeding and accommodation, the CEO of the hospital Dr. Asare confirmed.

Dr Asare said these allowances will not be deducted from the doctors' salaries when they are eventually paid.

Dr. Asare told a story of how systemic the problem has been, revealing that in 1990, he worked 10 months without pay.

He said the details of would-be doctors are collected for processing by government agencies two months before graduation.



File Photo: Some 107 doctors graduate from KNUST

But it could take as much as a year to finally get paid, he explained, adding he was on his way to Accra to make a case for the payment of the junior doctors. This is his second trip in two years since his hospital began receiving house officers posted by the Medical and Dental Council, he indicated.

According to Nana Kissi Atefah, his colleagues appreciate the sacrifices the Cape Coast Hospital put in. He said they are aware that at the heart of the challenge is the broken promises given them by government.

Nonetheless, they have requested for an increase in the allowance because it is “meagre”.

Nana Kissi noted that averagely, his colleagues living on GHC₵500 are left with GH₵ 200 after deducting accommodation and utilities and transport.

With GH₵200, ”even if we buy Hausa Koko in the morning and Hausa Koko in the evening can we survive?”, he questioned.

His colleagues at 37 Military Hospital are even worse off, he noted. They are paid GH₵150 and fed twice a day by the management of the hospital.

“We have passed our elastic limit. There is no point of return. We have to be paid by the end of this month as promised”, Dr. Nana Kissi Atefah stressed the resolution of 91 unpaid doctors.

Daring to be president from the streets; the captivating story of Xavier-Sosu

You never know how priceless your freedom is until it is taken away from you!

And when that freedom is taken unjustifiably the word justice becomes like a heap of garbage left uncollected at the Kaneshie market. It stinks.

For years, one man has shown an unassailable commitment in championing the cause of restoring justice in an unjust society.

The poorest of the poor now have justice smiling at them all because of him; the innocent man who had 14 years of his life wasted in  remand for a crime he never committed has gained his freedom thanks to him; the young boy whose anal region was tortured, fractured and ripped apart by none other than a senior medical doctor in the infamous Dr Ali Gabass sodomy scandal now has justice all because of him; the journalist who was accused of defiling a minor, humiliated and condemned into a dungeon for three years has also gained his freedom.

Thanks to him, many men, women thrown into prison on remand, without trial, crammed in jails like animals, fed with crumbs of food are getting their freedom under a Justice For All programme. Justice is no longer a priceless commodity for the highest bidder, it is for all.



Justice now has a new meaning; a new name- Francis Xavier Sosu- the man who never saw justice in the beginning; the man who came from nothing more than the armpits of society  has  shown that when society is just, care for its own, love its own and provide education and the most basic of needs for its own; that investment turns out to be a mighty big ocean of blessing back to the same society.

Sosu is now an apostle of justice, an author, a proud father, a preacher man, a gospel musician, a philanthropist, a ray of light to the many dark depressing stories of life, and a man daring to be president. You might be tempted to think he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but there was even no spoon at the time he was born.

Xavier-Sosu was never expected to be a household name  known to the Bar like the Akufo-Addos, the Tsikatas, the Ala Adjeteys or Kulendis. It could never have been.

For a profession heavily and jealously guarded by powerful elements, who you are and your family background counts just as much as your competencies if you are to join the league of the learned society.

But Francis had no exalted ancestry; he had no roots in the Bar. His family name was insignificant and quite popular on the streets of Kotobabi, because young Francis became a street kid.

Born to an alcoholic  father at the time and a mother who was a slave to a trokosi shrine nothing much was expected from Francis Xavier,  much less to become a lawyer.

Poverty and suffering were synonymous to the Sosus.

The first born lost her sight and dropped out of school. The second also dropped out. Francis who was the third could not drop out because he was not in school in the first place. His place was on the streets after he refused to join his grandfather in a little village in Togo notoriously known for worshipping idols at the time. His three other siblings and an adopted child had their future just as bleak.

The streets offered refuge for young Francis. He fed on anything, including leftovers on rubbish dumps. And for neighbouring communities like Accra Newton, Mamobi and Nima leftovers on rubbish dumps were even hard to come by.

It was demeaning to sleep on the streets when others slept in mansions; it was dehumanizing to scavenge on rubbish dumps for daily bread when others had tables of honey and bread laid before them; It was unfair to deny a person access to education when others had a dozen schools to select from.

And while young Francis suffered the pain and the indignities of an unjust society; he was also unconsciously learning the art of justice, albeit in the most unorthodox way.

Society never gave him a chance but God did. He used a teacher, Ruby Arhin, who saw in Sosu a dream to fight on and a potential to succeed despite the overwhelming odds.

She enrolled him to school. At age eight, Francis Xavier for the first time stepped foot in a classroom and began his nursery education. That was where it all began. A seed of success was sown and about to germinate but the suffering continued nonetheless.

To every great stride made, came greater challenges that had to be surmounted.

Sosu graduated to the Accra Newtown Primary and JHS, a public school, popularly called 'syto'.

The school was running a morning and afternoon shifts. When it was afternoon shift Sosu had to be selling from ice water to kerosene in the morning to raise some capital before going to school. When he was on the morning shift, selling had to be done in the afternoon. It was a daily struggle.

But Sosu never gave up. He perfected the arts of reading, writing and singing in the church. Those were the brightest spots in the dark life of pain, misery and struggle.

He passed his BECE and got admitted to ST John's Grammar SHS in Achimota Accra.



He was not completely out of the woods yet. He was still sleeping in a kiosk just opposite the Kotobabi police station and had to walk several miles before he went to school every morning.  He could not pay his school fees but was committed to school's activities. His fees had piled up and occasionally taunted and mocked at until the headmistress came to his rescue. She excused him from paying his school fees until his mother had raised some money for it.

Sosu badly needed help but being on the streets alone was not enough guarantee to receive help. He had to show that he was worth any help. God and his academic credentials again spoke for him.

The Village of Hope, an orphanage, having witnessed a little gem struggling to shine on the streets came to his rescue with a promise to fund his education. He did not disappoint them. Young Francis did not only exhibit great academic prowess but honed a great leadership skill by becoming the head prefect of the St John's Grammar School.

He combined as many tasks and pain as possible but did not compromise on his education. It was his life. He lived it. He wrote his exams passed and got admission into the University of Ghana.

Francis Xavier was offered Archaeology, Russian Language, Dance and Sociology, a combination most students scorned and lampooned. He grabbed it with an open mind hoping and working towards the best. He graduated successfully with a BA (Hons).

Far from being an ingrate, Sosu offered to do his National Service with the Village of Hope. The village that gave him hope, a better life and a successful education.

Like an impulse of thought, the choice of Law was tossed into his mind by the Barnett family who were linked to the Village of Hope. He obliged. For one who has witnessed a life of injustice, a career call to fight injustice was a national call to duty, one he could not turn his back to. He accepted the challenge despite a competitive, frustrating and rigorous entry procedures. He was admitted and with the same hard work, Sosu passed his LLB and enrolled at the Ghana School of Law. He was called to the Bar in 2010.



Today Xavier-Sosu struts up and down Ghana's court rooms with his cute tiny body drowned in a gown with his head up high playing counsel, not in the big political landmark cases, or the multi-billion cases involving business moguls and conglomerates but in the smallest of cases involving the most insignificant members of society who are without a voice, hope and whose lives are most often at the mercy of a state that cares so little for the have-nots and in fact contributes to violating the rights of the people it swore to protect.

If the legal maxim that says it is better for 10 criminals to escape justice than have one innocent man wrongfully convicted makes any sense, then the selfless gallantry of Xavier  in fighting to save the innocent from the jaw-dropping miscarriage of justice can only be commendable. He does not only save the innocent from wrongful convictions, he gets the criminals who manipulate and attempt to bribe and run away from justice to face the tune of their misdeeds.

Society is better today with Francis Xavier Sosu; the Bar is richer today with him.



"I believe the call to be a lawyer is a divine call. It is a moral call. It is a call to stand by justice; for justice" he told Myjoyonline.com

"My motivation is to give up back to society what society gave to me," he added.

Through Francis, the family which was an object of mockery in society, a slave to poverty; strangers to education can now afford a smile because life has been made a lot more meaningful, exciting.

Francis Sosu is happily married to Felicia with whom he has two beautiful kids. But his service to mankind is not over.



Having helped many families; touched many lives, the acclaimed lawyer is counting on the same zeal, determination and God's grace which shot him to fame from the streets to catapult him to the presidency.

"Unlike others I am not shy to declare my intention to want to be Ghana's president someday," he said.

And he is working at it, just like he did when he nurtured that dream of becoming a lawyer.

His dreams are ambitious but he never fails to try. We wait to see but until then Myjoyonline.com celebrates the story of persistence, the extension of grace; the exhibition of love and selflessness, the story of Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu (ESQ).

ECOWAS Bank to fund ultramodern shopping mall in Kumasi

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has agreed to give a $ 20 million credit facility towards the construction of an ultra-modern shopping mall that would serve as a one-stop shop in Kumasi.

The signing of the loan agreement preceded the official launch of the project which will be executed in two phases.

Phase one of the project sited on a 13.8- acre land will involve the construction of a shopping mall, cinema and water park and is expected to be ready by December, next year.

EBID President, Bashir Ifo, said everything will be done to lift the people in the sub-region out of poverty and transform their economic situation.

Evidence of this, he said could be seen from the bank’s assistance in areas of infrastructure, agriculture and private sector development.

EBID has also promised to grow the economies and create jobs in the sub-region.

Since it began operation in 2004, it has made available a total of $1.77 billion towards the implementation of 177 projects in the member states, a fact-sheet detailing the operations of the bank revealed.

Mr Ifo indicated that the bank will fund development projects and programmes capable of fostering socio-economic development and regional integration is making progress.

He added that the bank is committed to taking bold action to strengthen its internal administrative and financial management to sustain it on the path of growth and stronger performance, he said.

He expressed satisfaction with the cost controls, efficient organisation of work and the increasing volume of the bank’s activities.

The Lome based ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID),  is the financial institution established by the 15 Member States of the  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  comprising Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire,  The  Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo,.

The Bank is an international financial institution with two funding windows to promote private sector activities and fund the development of the public sector.

Government gets GH¢18.11 million dividend from GCB

GCB Bank Limited has presented a dividend of GH¢18,114,756.16 to the Government of Ghana as dividend for 2014.

This represents an astronomical increase from 2011, 2012 and 2013 when the Bank paid dividend of GH¢3.65 million, GH¢7.2 9 million and GH¢13.97 million respectively.

Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, a Deputy Minister for Finance who received the cheque from the Acting Managing Director of GCB Bank, Mr Samuel Sarpong, described the growth in GCB’s dividend payment to government as “quiet great.”



The Deputy Minister congratulated GCB and urged other joint venture companies with government equity to emulate the GCB example.

He advised the Management of the Bank to consider the possibility of paying interim dividend to the state instead of the current practice of paying final dividend.

Mr. Samuel Sarpong said in addition to dividend payment GCB is a large payer of tax and in 2014 paid over GH¢112 million in taxes.

The acting Managing Director disclosed that the Bank has given out GH¢1.3 billion as loans to salaried workers and other customers in the past three years.

Present at the cheque presentation were Mr George Fuachie, Head of Corporate Banking Department and Mr Kwasi Osei Bobie, Financial Controller of GCB.

Stanchart shines at Global Finance awards

Standard Chartered Bank dominated Global Finance Magazine’s 2015 Best Consumer Digital Bank Awards in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, winning 17 country awards and 6 regional awards.

Global Finance selected winning banks based on the following criteria: strength of strategy for attracting and servicing digital customers, success in getting clients to use digital offerings, growth of digital customers, breadth of product offerings, evidence of tangible benefits gained from digital initiatives, and web/mobile site design and functionality.

CEO of Retail Banking at Standard Chartered, Karen Fawcett, expressed delight at the recognition of the bank's industry-leading digital banking capabilities.

"What is central to our efforts is creating convenience for our clients, so that they have access to banking anytime, anywhere and using whatever channels they prefer", he said.

“We have invested heavily in technology and have been infusing a strong digital service culture among our staff. By being digital by design, our digital processes are end-to-end, so that clients have access to the same, seamless experience and high quality of service, whether they engage with us through mobile, online, phone banking, at the branches, or ATMs,” he adds.

Standard Chartered was awarded Best Consumer Digital Bank awards in the following countries:

Asia Pacific

Africa & Middle East

Europe

Brunei

Botswana

Jersey

China

Ghana



Hong Kong

Kenya



Malaysia

Nigeria



Nepal

Tanzania



Pakistan

Uganda



Singapore

Zambia



South Korea

Zimbabwe



Regional awards – Africa & the Middle East

Best Web Site Design

Best Information Security Initiatives

Regional awards – Asia Pacific

Best Online Deposit, Credit and Investment Product Offerings

Best Bill Payment & Presentment

Best in Mobile Banking

Best Mobile Banking App

Standard Chartered’s retail banking business serves the banking needs of over 9 million individual and business clients across more than 30 markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, through almost 1,200 branches and 5,000 ATMS, as well as digital channels.

Gov’t urged to invest in technical institutions

Former Rector of the Koforidua Polytechnic, Prof. Reynolds Okai, has urged government to consider investment in technical institutions as a way of reducing economic challenges facing the country.

According to him, the country cannot reach its full development potential if its technical schools lack basic logistics to train students, adding that the work of technical and vocational professionals play a key role in economic development of any society.

He decried the current situation where between 30, 000 and 50, 000 graduates are churned out from the various tertiary schools but do not get employment, and hence called on the government to focus on technical schools to make it attractive for high school leavers.

 “Well developed countries in the world depend on their technical base so vocational and technical schools and students skills in the country is very important in every society that wishes to develop as expected” Prof. Reynolds Okai said.

Prof. Reynolds Okai, who currently heads the College of Technology Education, Kumasi (COLTEK) was speaking Monday evening on Adom FM and Asempa FM’s flagship programme “Burning Issues” with Afia Pokua.

Prof. Reynolds Okai also called on the graduate and tertiary students to establish businesses in groups as a way of creating jobs for themselves and their colleagues.

He also urged graduates and students in tertiary schools to acquire vocational skills while still in school.

He stated that vocational and technical skills such as catering, tailoring, welding, carpentry, head dressing, auto mechanic, fish farming, masonry, plumbing among others can be learned by graduates as an added skill.

Executive Director of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, Charles Aheto-Tsegah, who also spoke on the programme, urged parents to respect and appreciate technical and vocational students in the country.

Aheto-Tsegah stated that parents must also encourage their children to study at vocational and technical schools to enable the country develop economically through the technical and vocational professionals.

He also added that parents must desist and remove the perception that students who are academically poor are those admitted in the various technical institutes, adding that students must be allowed to go to vocational and technical institutes to learn more skills.

Growing role for Africa in the “Golden Age of Gas” – Report

With open access and attractive leasing terms, Africa’s oil and natural gas resources continue to attract a broad spectrum of investors, according to a new report from Ernst & Young () Natural gas in Africa – The frontiers of the Golden Age launched at Africa Oil & Gas Week.

Elias Pungong, Ernst & Young’s Oil & Gas Leader for Africa says, “Natural gas development holds tremendous opportunity for Africa. It can be a primary driver of economic growth and broader social development, as well as a major spur for local employment growth and infrastructure development.”
The big future for African gas lies in the East of Africa
The report spotlights Africa’s rapidly evolving natural gas sector, and while Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt and Libya are identified as holding significant reserves, the production of gas is considerably lower in these countries. More recently, the sector’s growth has been concentrated in West Africa, with the huge associated gas resources that accompanied the deepwater oil boom, led by Nigeria and Angola. While the West African gas growth will continue as flaring is reduced and local gas infrastructure is developed, the big future for African gas lies in the East of Africa with the massive offshore gas discoveries in East Africa, particularly in Mozambique and Tanzania.
Pungong comments: “While the risk rankings overall in Africa are quite high, for many countries the “risk trend” is improving, Most importantly though, the opportunities for Africa in this sector are enormous and the challenges and risks can be addressed and mitigated.”
Africa’s gas reserves will be more than just headline opportunities for the national oil companies (NOCs), the deep-pocketed oil and gas majors, their big international exploration and production (E&P) counterparts as well as well-known African oil and gas specialists.

Opportunities for local supplies abound
The ramp-up in E&P activity brings opportunity for the oilfield services (OFS) segment, but again, not just for the big international OFS players, but also for local and regional companies that can contribute to the supply chains and to the associated upstream support infrastructure. The broader infrastructure build-out could also include massive export facilities, as in the case of liquefied natural gas (LNG), but also smaller projects such as pipelines and gas distribution networks to support local/regional domestic gas demand.
The associated development or expansion of a domestic gas demand sector could also bring substantial commercial opportunities in the power generation, industrial and even transportation sectors. Indeed, many of the gas flaring reduction efforts are tied to domestic gas use projects.
Pungong concludes, “African governments and regional NGOs will of course have critical roles to play – first and foremost, developing a meaningful and practical master gas development plan, one that addresses the upstream tax and licensing models, as well as the necessary infrastructure issues and investments, and local training and job creation issues. Collaboration and partnerships with the IOCs, both big and small, will likewise be critical.”
Download the full report here.

MOWAC Launches Action Plan to Implement Security Council Resolution

Ghana on Wednesday launched a National Action Plan for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (GHANAP 1325).
The 60-page document, which was developed by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) in collaboration with stakeholders, fulfills national as well as international obligations with regard to the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), which was adopted in October 2000.

The Resolution was however based on the UN’s recognition of the international needs, rights, experiences and roles of women in areas of armed conflict, peacemaking and peace keeping.
It also provides for the active participation of women in all aspects of peace negotiations, peace building and post conflict reconstruction.
Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister, MOWAC, who launched the document, said by the event, Ghana is now included in the directory of African countries that have national action plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
She said the document is expected to serve as the country’s specific action plan for the implementation UNSCR 1325, which requires an increased representation of women in all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions.
It also seeks to put in place mechanisms for the involvement of women in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.
“More importantly, UN Member States were called upon by the Security Council to adopt a gender perspective when negotiating and implementing peace agreements and to ensure that the rights and protection of women and girls enshrined in international law are duly respected,” she said.
Mrs Azumah Mensah explained that Ghana’s Action plan focuses on the three pillars of Participation, Protection and Prevention.
Its objective is to ensure the full responsibility and active participation of women in conflict prevention, resolution, peace negotiation, mediation, crisis and security management at all levels of the Ghanaian society.
The document would ensure that the rights, interests and special needs of women and girls are integrated in policy formulation and implementation, contributing to reduce conflict and the eradication of violence against women and girls in both private and public spheres.
She said effective implementation of GHANAP 1325 would lead to an increase in the number of women in leadership positions in security sector institutions, their participation in the promotion of peace and resolution of conflicts, particularly, by supporting local peace initiatives of women.
It would in addition prevent gender-based violence and protect the needs and rights of women and girls within the scope of peace missions, humanitarian operations and positions in the international UN and African Regional and Sub-Regional organisations.
GHANAP 1325 will therefore ensure a coherent approach to the implementation of UNSCR1325 and the promotion of a gender perspective in Peace and Security.
The National Action Plan consolidates all efforts to enhance women’s position and role as decision-making in conflict prevention, crisis management and peace building activities.
The Minister called for active collaboration between MOWAC and other key Ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior.
She said mechanisms such as monitoring and evaluation, reporting and communication strategies has also been developed and would be employed as cross-cutting issue for each of the three pillars.
She emphasised that the successful implementation of GHANAP 1325 would largely depend on the security sector institutions and Ghanaians.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr William K. Aboah, Minister of the Interior, noted that although Ghana has not experienced any armed conflicts on a large scale, there has been some violent and deadly inter-ethnic conflicts in the country, which have adversely affected many people especially women, children and the vulnerable.
He said Ghana has however played very significant roles in the maintenance of international peace and security both under the auspices of the UN and the African Union, adding that “our action plan should therefore be informed by our local as well as international experiences”.
He cited the establishment of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the increase in the proportion of women in regards to recruitment, retention and career advancement of women in the security services as some major steps to ensure women’s participation in peace making and conflict resolution.
Mr Aboah commended MOWAC and all who worked hard towards the development of the document and gave the assurance that the Ministry is ready to partner MOWAC and others to ensure peace in the country especially, before during and after election 2012.
Source: GNA

Ghana Discovers More Oil

US-based explorer, Hess, has announced that it has found oil at Pecan-1 exploration well located in the Deepwater Tano/Cape Three Points license offshore Ghana.
The company said the well encountered “245 net feet of oil pay in two separate Turonian intervals”.
A statement issued by the company yesterday, said the Pecan-1 well was drilled to a total depth of 15,420 feet in a water depth of 8,245 feet.
It said the well has been sidetracked to obtain bypass cores and is now being suspended.

The statement said Pecan-1 is Hess’ fifth discovery on the block and follows the previously announced discoveries at Almond (53 net feet oil pay), Beech (146 net feet oil pay), Hickory North (98 net feet gas condensate pay) and Paradise (120 net feet oil pay and 295 net feet gas condensate pay).
Hess currently has a 90 per cent interest in the block while the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) holds the remaining 10 per cent.
The company said it would next drill the Cob prospect, located approximately 15 miles northeast of the Pecan-1 discovery and that pre-development and further exploration activities are planned in 2013.
Meanwhile share of Hess rose on the New York Exchange 2.9 per cent following the announcement of Ghana’s discovery.

Westminster International Scholarships

University of Westminster
Masters (MS) Degree

Deadline: 16 Oct 2015 (annual)
Study in:  UK
Next course starts January 2016


Brief description:

Westminster International Scholarships are fully funded awards aimed at students from developing countries who wish to study a full-time Masters degree at the University.

Host Institution(s):

University of Westminster, United Kingdom

Field of study:

Any full-time Master’s Programme offered at University of Westminster.

Number of Awards:

1+

Target group:

Citizens of developing and middle income countries

Scholarship value/inclusions:

Full tuition fee waivers, accommodation, living expenses and flights to and from London.

Eligibility:

You must be an international student from a developing country and hold an offer for a full-time Masters degree at University of Westminster.  The main criteria are First Class Honours degree, financial need and development potential.

Application instructions:

You should only apply for a scholarship once you have applied for admission and successfully been offered a place (either conditional or unconditional) on the course you wish to study.  To apply for a scholarship, you will need to complete the relevant scholarship application form and send it by POST to the Scholarship Office.  The deadline for applications for entry in January 2016 is 16 October 2015.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: http://www.westminster.ac.uk/study/prospective-students/fees-and-funding/scholarships/january/westminster-international-scholarships

La Trobe Academic Excellence Scholarships for International Students

La Trobe University
Bachelors/Masters Degree

Deadline: 11 Sep/13 Nov 2015
Study in: Australia
Next course starts Semester 1, 2016

Brief description:

La Trobe’s Academic Excellence Scholarships (AES) are targeted towards high achieving international students from all countries across all of La Trobe’s undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs.

Host Institution(s):

La Trobe University, Australia

Field(s) of study:

Any full-time undergraduate or postgraduate coursework offered by the University

Number of Scholarships:

Not specified

Target group:

International student from any country except New Zealand

Scholarship value/inclusions:

The scholarship is worth between $10,000 and $20,000 and goes towards tuition fees. The scholarships are paid across a maximum of two semesters (or 12 months).

Eligibility:

You must be a citizen of a country other than Australia or New Zealand and be applying to start an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program. You must also have scored 85% or equivalent in your previous degree/award, and meet our English language and academic entry requirements. You are not eligible if you are starting a Higher Degree by Research, exchange program, Study Abroad program, ELICOS and Foundation Studies program, or Diploma course.

Application instructions:

You can only apply for this scholarship if you have an offer to study in an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program program at La Trobe University.  After you receive your offer, you must complete the scholarship application form and submit it to La Trobe International by the application deadline.

The deadline for Semester 2, 2015 was on 8 March 2015. There are three closing dates for Semester 1, 2016 – 11 September 2015, 13 November  2015 and 8 January 2016.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) to access the application form and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website:  http://www.latrobe.edu.au/international/fees/scholarships/coursework

Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (FIPRS)

Flinders University
Masters/PhD Degree

Deadline: 14 Aug 2015 (annual)
Study in: Australia
Course starts 2016


Brief description:

Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (FIPRS) are awarded to  suitably qualified applicants to pursue a full-time research higher degree at Flinders University – up to two years for a Research Masters degree and up to three years for a Research Doctorate degree.

Host Institution(s):

Flinders University, Australia

Field(s) of study:

Eligible fields of research offered at Flinders University

Target group:

Citizens of any overseas country except New Zealand

Scholarship value/inclusions:

The FIPRS pays the international student tuition fees charged by Flinders University for a research higher degree.  In addition, Flinders University provides the recipient with a generous living allowance paid at the rate of $25,849 (2015 full rate)

An FIPRS student who moves to Adelaide from overseas is eligible for an establishment allowance (after arrival at Flinders) of up to $1,485 to assist with relocation costs and airfares, provided receipts can be produced by the student.

Eligibility:

•  Applicants must satisfy the University’s academic entry requirements for a Masters degree by research or Doctorate by research.

• Applicants are required to have successfully completed at least the equivalent of an Australian First Class Hons degree (this is a four year degree with a major research project in the final year)

• Applicants must meet the English proficiency levels set by Flinders University for international students at the time of application. Students for whom English is a foreign language will need to provide evidence of their English language competence.

• Applicants must not hold an equivalent research higher degree qualification. Applications are only open to students commencing a research higher degree in Australia for the first time.

• Applicants must not  not hold Australian citizenship, Australian permanent resident status or New Zealand citizenship.

Please see the conditions of award for full eligibility criteria.

Application instructions:

The closing date for applications is 14 August 2015. It is important to read the Application Guidelines and visit the official website (link found below) to access the application form and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: http://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships-system/index.cfm/scholarships/display/a731e2

Westminster Full Fee Scholarships for International Students

University of Westminster
Masters Degree

Deadline: 1 May/16 Oct 2015  (annual)
Study in:  UK
Course starts Sept 2015/Jan 2016


Brief description:

The Westminster University offers a number of full tuition fee scholarships if you are an exceptionally well-qualified student from either inside the UK/EU or an international country.

Host Institution(s):

University of Westminster, United Kingdom

Field of study:

Any full-time Master’s Degree Programme at University of Westminster.

Number of Awards:

2

Target group:

All nationalities

Scholarship value/inclusions:

Full tuition fee award only

Eligibility:

You must be from either inside the UK/EU or an international country and hold an offer for a full-time Masters degree at University of Westminster.  The main scholarship criteria are: Equivalent to a UK First Class Honours degree and financial need.

Application instructions:

You should only apply for a scholarship once you have applied for admission and successfully been offered a place (either conditional or unconditional) on the course you wish to study.  To apply for a scholarship you will need to complete the relevant scholarship application form. The deadline for September 2015 entry was 1 May 2015. The next deadline for January 2016 entry is 16 October 2015.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website:  http://www.westminster.ac.uk/study/prospective-students/fees-and-funding/scholarships/january/full-fee-waiver-scholarships

Emerging African Generational Thinkers

Emerging African Generational Thinkers

Yeah, last month we launched this series to highlight young people in our various communities who are Generational Thinkers. We got talking about Tonye Rex Idaminabo who has been ranked by Forbes and is the founder of the African Achievers Awards and the Young CEOs Business Forum; Sara Nana Yeboah, the Florence Nightingale of our time and CEO of the Sangy Group and Sangy Foundation; Tom Osborn the CEO of GreenChar, a social enterprise creating charcoal briquettes and cook stoves to replace our traditional cooking style and Aya Chebbi, the multiple award winning pan African Tunisian Blogger, Women’s Advocate and Peace Activist who works as an activist.

These are the young people we are anticipating to lead great changes and initiatives across the continent and will see the test of time as generations will get the opportunity to read about and see the initiatives they have planted for them.

This should also serve as a great motivation for us also to purse greatness in life as we take steps to walk in the shoes of these fellows.

1.      Ebenezer Wikina, Ebenezer is one fellow that has a great social media presence and uses it for a great work to inspire his followers and friends. The curator of TedxYouth in Nigeria, Ebenezer is a great contributor to Huffington Post and Global voices, UN Online volunteer and a blogger. His interview program, The Stroll has featured Gyan Acharya, UN Under-Secretary General; Richard Wurman, founder of TED, Owen Benneth Jones, Ndaba Mandela and host of other influential personalities across the globe. A global shaper and deputy curator of the Port Harcourt hub, he was also recently selected to participate in the 2015 World Economic Forum in Africa. He was ranked among 20 under 35 Young African Change Makers of 2014 by the Africa Youth Awards. You can follow Ebenezer’s works on www.writeparagraphs.blogspot.com

2.      

     Saran Kaba Jones stands tall among people we have come to revere as a great and formidable generational thinker.

      The Founder and Executive Director of Face of Africa, she has been involved in various projects that seek to create a future for Africa that many would come to appreciate. The World Economic Forum recognised her as Young Global Leader and was also made a River Cess County Goodwill Ambassador. She is a publicly known clean water advocate and social entrepreneur. She is also among the 20 under 35 Young African Change Makers of 2014 by the Africa Youth Awards.  www.faceafrica.org

3.      Kanyisa Booi is the Chief Administrator of Young Generation Thinkers in South Africa. Her organisation creates generational strategists by getting young people actively involved in policy making. The organisation has roped in 150 young people for its Adopt a River initiative. She is also part of the Democracy Development Programmes Youth Network in SA. She also runs Redlipsza which stands against abuse of women and Edubank which helps underprivileged primary school children with books and uniforms. 

4.      Rainatou Sow is the founder and Executive Director of Make Every Woman Count; UNICEF, WHO and International Organisation for Migration. At 12, she set up an evening school where she taught ten girls how to read and write. She also joined the Guinean Children’s Parliament as the Minister of Children and Women Affairs. She worked with the UNICEF. Recognised by Forbes among youngest power women in Africa she is also among the 20 under 35 Young African Change Makers of 2014 by the Africa Youth Awards.

Are you emerging as a Generational Thinker, write me for a feature in the next edition of this piece.

Thank You

Akpah Prince

akpahprince@ymail.com