December 2012 Newsletter - BUSAC

BUSAC Fund News Nurturing the Growth of Business Advocacy in Ghana BUSAC Fund News Nurturing the Growth of Business Advocacy in Ghana10 11technology, safe mining practices and appropriate land reclamation methods. The Chamber also intends toinstitute a recognition and award scheme by June 2013 to honour small scale miners who comply with theregulations governing the mining industry.The representative of NDPC assured the Chamber that once the National Policy on Mining is promulgated, theNDPC will ensure that the relevant district assemblies will incorporate its contents into their long term plansto ensure its effective implementation.Story: Ebenezer H. Kpentey, the BUSAC Fund.BUSAC FUND ASSISTS LIME GROWERS IN CENTRAL REGIONThe Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund has made available GH¢65,996.70 to theCentral Region Lime Growers and Marketers Association (LGMA) for advocacy and training programmes.in place a policy framework for the establishment of an institution which would be responsible for the development,promotion and sale of lime to stem the extinction of the industry.He said due to the lack of a vibrant market and a body to manage the sector most lime growers have either cutdown their trees or have deserted farming for other means of livelihood.Mr. Ainoo said currently it is only Pinora, a lime buying company that purchases the huge tonnes of lime producedin the region and expressed worry that most lime growers could be out of business.He appealed to the government and stakeholders in the industry for the creation of a Board to streamline allcitrus farming activities.Mr. Ainoo said the proposed board could improve upon the negotiation power of the lime and citrus farmersand have positive impact on the living standards of farmers.Mr. Samuel Abraham, Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of Food and Agriculture said the next farmer’s daycelebration in the area would include an award for the best lime grower.Mr. Ato Van-Ess, an accredited BUSAC Fund Trainer who announced this in Cape Coast on 6th November,2012 said out of the amount, LGMA contributed GH¢ 5,999.70 as their contribution towards the programmewhich would last for nine months. Mr.Van-Ess was speaking at a sensitisation workshop on “Advocacy for theImmediate Intervention by Government to Prevent the Extinction of Lime in Ghana”.The workshop, attended by more than 70 lime growers, was sponsored by the BUSAC Fund and was gearedtowards the creation of awareness on the importance of the citrus and lime industry to the Ghanaianeconomy.The workshop highlighted the plight of lime farmers, stimulated stakeholder interest in the citrus and limesub sectors as well as pushed for a policy framework for the establishment of a citrus board.Source: GNA – 7th November, 2012HUMOURMr. Van-Ess said theBUSAC Fund would continueto give citrus and limefarmers the requisite advocacytraining to enable themaddress the challenges thatcitrus farmers face.Lime has many domestic and industrial uses. Its Producers and Marketers are calling forgovernment policies to enhance the production of the fruit.He called for the establishmentof a processingplant, upgrading of farmingpractices and the needfor farmers to deal directlywith final users of the producein order to eliminatemiddle men and marketqueens who exploit them.Mr. Paul Ainoo, Chairmanof the Cape Coast LGMAappealed to the Ministry ofFood and Agriculture to putLack of basic infrastructure is one of the numerous challenges faced by private sector investors in GhanaDECEMBER, 2012 DECEMBER, 2012