Ghana
Statement by Ghana
CSD-14 High-level Segment
12 May 2006
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
In Ghana, through the Ministries responsible for the Environment, Energy, Trade
and Industry, we are pursuing policies, programmes, plans and projects aimed at creating
employment, reducing poverty and improving the lot of the rural people, particularly
women. Among these are the promotion of rural micro-, small-, and medium scale
enterprises.
To extend the shelf- life of agricultural produce and to add value to them, agroprocessing
is being vigorously pursued. Capacities are built and start-off capital provided
as credit to enable beneficiaries purchase equipment and other inputs.
Successes have been chalked with the assistance of our development partners,
especially the GTZ, the African Development Bank and the International Fund for
Agricultural Development.
In most cases energy services are either lacking or are grossly inadequate. These
rural entrepreneurs, especially women have had to fall on traditional sources of energy,
notably, the use of biomass with its environmental and health hazards.
To enable these rural communities, particularly the women increase their
productivity and add value to their products, the way forward is to involve them in
producing, managing and marketing new energy services within micro and small-scale
enterprises.
2
Individual poor women who have the capabilities should be provided with
technical training, information and skills to operate energy technologies and businesses.
In this direction, Ghana is appealing to her development partners for support.
One strategic project which is under implementation and owned by four countries
in our sub-region, namely, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana, is the West African Gas
Pipeline. If the outputs of this project are properly harnessed, they could go a long way
in meeting the energy needs of the rural poor along the West African Coast. Fish
processing among other enterprises, which is a major means of livelihood for our women
along the coast will greatly benefit from the project.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, the drift of the Sahel southwards, estimated at about 25
km per annum, is being halted through measures which include tree planting, soil
conservation and the use of efficient stoves. One programme that needs to be pursued
vigorously is the use of other sources of energy other than biomass. LPG is being used
but its cost is prohibitive for many of the rural poor. Other affordable and
environmentally friendly sources must be explored.
Mr. Chairman, these are the concerns that Ghana would wish to have addressed at
next year?s Inter-Governmental Preparatory Meeting and CSD 15.
Thank you.
CSD-14 High-level Segment
12 May 2006
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
In Ghana, through the Ministries responsible for the Environment, Energy, Trade
and Industry, we are pursuing policies, programmes, plans and projects aimed at creating
employment, reducing poverty and improving the lot of the rural people, particularly
women. Among these are the promotion of rural micro-, small-, and medium scale
enterprises.
To extend the shelf- life of agricultural produce and to add value to them, agroprocessing
is being vigorously pursued. Capacities are built and start-off capital provided
as credit to enable beneficiaries purchase equipment and other inputs.
Successes have been chalked with the assistance of our development partners,
especially the GTZ, the African Development Bank and the International Fund for
Agricultural Development.
In most cases energy services are either lacking or are grossly inadequate. These
rural entrepreneurs, especially women have had to fall on traditional sources of energy,
notably, the use of biomass with its environmental and health hazards.
To enable these rural communities, particularly the women increase their
productivity and add value to their products, the way forward is to involve them in
producing, managing and marketing new energy services within micro and small-scale
enterprises.
2
Individual poor women who have the capabilities should be provided with
technical training, information and skills to operate energy technologies and businesses.
In this direction, Ghana is appealing to her development partners for support.
One strategic project which is under implementation and owned by four countries
in our sub-region, namely, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana, is the West African Gas
Pipeline. If the outputs of this project are properly harnessed, they could go a long way
in meeting the energy needs of the rural poor along the West African Coast. Fish
processing among other enterprises, which is a major means of livelihood for our women
along the coast will greatly benefit from the project.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, the drift of the Sahel southwards, estimated at about 25
km per annum, is being halted through measures which include tree planting, soil
conservation and the use of efficient stoves. One programme that needs to be pursued
vigorously is the use of other sources of energy other than biomass. LPG is being used
but its cost is prohibitive for many of the rural poor. Other affordable and
environmentally friendly sources must be explored.
Mr. Chairman, these are the concerns that Ghana would wish to have addressed at
next year?s Inter-Governmental Preparatory Meeting and CSD 15.
Thank you.
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