Inauguration of the extension project of the Ridge Hospital in Accra

APO News from Africa:

Inauguration of the extension project of the Ridge Hospital in Accra:

The official commissioning of the first phase of Accra Ridge Hospital modernization project took place on Wednesday the 17th of May 2017 in the presence of the ambassador of France to Ghana, HE François Pujolas, his American counterpart HE Robert P. Jackson, the Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu and the traditional chiefs. This is a significant project for both Ghanaian healthcare and Bouygues, the French company in charge of the construction in collaboration with APHP (Public Assistance of Paris Hospitals). The “green” hospital is set to become the flagship of modern surgery in West Africa.

France expertise available in key sectors of Ghana’s development

Started in March 2014, the first phase of the development process of the Ridge Hospital in Accra has been completed. This project is symbolic for both the French company Bouygues, in charge of the construction works in cooperation with Public Assistance of Paris Hospitals, and for Ghanaian medical healthcare as well. This “green” hospital will become the flagship of modern surgery in West Africa.

France has a leading range of services in the healthcare sector ranging from the pharmaceutical industry to hospital management, construction, hospitalization of foreign patients in French hospitals and consulting. The inauguration which took place on Wednesday 17^th May, involved the first phase of the project with a capacity of 420 beds. The final phase of this modernization plan is scheduled to begin soon. In the end, the facility will have 620 beds, as well as 12 operating rooms and a state-of-the-art maternity center. The French Ambassador in his speech noted that “Projects of this nature enhance the attractiveness of Ghana, contributing in particular to increasing FDIs to the country”.

The Bouygues Company has also played an important role in this project. The French company, represented by its American and Ghanaian subsidiaries, has been responsible for designing, supplying equipment and training, covering the entire construction of this public hospital from architecture to maintenance. The project, funded mainly by the United States, is indicative of the development and modernization of medicine in Ghana.

A major contribution to sustainable development in Ghana

As the French Ambassador said; “This project is emblematic of the path towards sustainable development taken by Ghana”.  This new facility will enhance social justice, one of the three pillars of sustainable development, while “improving the health and well-being of the population” -the 3rd SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) on the list of 17 SDGs adopted by the United Nations two years ago. This facility will save more lives than before and will take better care of patients.

Economic development: Furthermore, this project will also bring important economic advantages. It enabled the creation of direct and indirect jobs during the implementation of the project and will continue to produce them within the hospital, well after this inauguration. Improving health also contributes to increase the productivity of the country.

Environmental protection: Finally, this facility has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, attesting to the success of a project in compliance with the best environmental standards (eco-design, waste management, resource efficiency…). This will be the first “green” hospital on the African continent.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Embassy of France to Ghana.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

Swaziland and FAO sign Country Programming Framework:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Kingdom of Swaziland have signed a five-year $ 19 million Country Programming Framework (CPF).

The document defines the following priorities for collaboration and the outcomes to be achieved between 2016 and 2020: food and nutrition security; market–led agricultural production and processing; and sustainable use of natural resources and climate change adaptation. 

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Mbabane on 17 May 2017, Moses Nsizwa Vilakati, theMinister of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Swaziland, said “the CPF represents the commitment of FAO to assisting the Government in its efforts to achieve national development objectives and to achieve food and nutrition security for the population”.

The CPF is aligned to the Kingdom of Swaziland’s national development objectives that are articulated in the National Development Strategy, the National Agricultural Investment Program (SNAIP), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme CAADP, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and FAO’s global, regional and subregional objectives.

It will be implemented by the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland and FAO with support from the wider spectrum of stakeholders within the private sector, semi government institutions and civil society.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of the Kingdom of Swaziland, and a major source of employment for more than 70 percent of the population. However, the sector has been impacted by the incidence of weather-induced crop failures, pests and diseases and limited access by especially smallholder farmers to financing instruments and technology. Over  640 000 people –  more than half the population who became food insecure as a result of the El Nino – induced drought in 2015/16 are yet to recover from the effects of the disaster.

Moses Vilakati said the implementation of CPF would lead to an increased productivity and food security as well as growth in employment creation for socio-economic development.

The Framework will promote the establishment of food and nutrition gardens, sustainable food production techniques as well as facilitate improved dietary standards and regulations. It will also focus on the development of agricultural value chains and programmes that are expected to attract smallholder farmers to adopt business approach towards agriculture.

Focus on building resilience

The Framework focuses on building resilience of rural-based smallholder farmers so that they are capitated to prepare for, respond to and recover from the effects of climate variability and other disasters. It will promote coping strategies to disasters, encourage the establishment of food reserves and the improvement of land productivity.

David Phiri, the FAO Representative for the Kingdom of Swaziland and Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa said “FAO is already implementing a Climate-Smart Agriculture programme in the country, with the aim of sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, adapting and building resilience to climate change and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible”.

$ 4 million out of USD19 million already mobilized

FAO has already sourced $ 4 million, out of $ 19 million that is required to implement the programmes and projects that are proposed in the Framework.

“We will continue working with the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland to mobilize the remaining $ 15.3 million though FAO’s Technical Corporation Programme (TCP), Trust Funds from development partners as well as from Government’s budgetary allocations”, said David Phiri.

South-South exchange

David Phiri and Moses Vilakati also signed an agreement that will pave way for the implementation of a South-South Cooperation project funded by the Government of Morocco to a tune of $ 234 000.

FAO facilitates the South-South Cooperation through which countries in the global south share and exchange of key development solutions – knowledge, experiences and good practices, policies, technology, know-how, and resources.

Vilakati welcomed the project, saying it will strengthen the capacity of Swaziland’s agricultural sector, with particular focus on livestock, irrigation and water management and horticulture.

“Swaziland will benefit from Morocco’s experience in water governance, modernization of irrigation systems, horticultural production, open field cultivation, the use of hybrid crop varieties and livestock production and marketing”, he said.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

ICD, the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group (“IDB”) cooperates with Coris Bank International to launch Islamic windows:

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (“ICD”) (www.ICD-PS.org), the private sector arm of IDB Group, and Coris Bank International have entered into a Joint Strategic Collaboration to establish Islamic window.

The CEO of ICD, Mr. Khaled Al Aboodi and Mr. Idrissa Nassa, CEO and Chairman of Coris Bank International signed the advisory agreement.

Through this collaboration, ICD is assisting Coris Bank International’s subsidiaries in launching 4 dedicated Islamic windows in Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Benin.

Mr. Khalid Al Aboodi, CEO of ICD stated “We are happy to assist our partner Coris BANK in launching new channels in our common member countries in Africa. ICD has a deep experience in the African market and despite the complexities of Islamic finance and the various regulatory and supervisory challenges involved in the matter; ICD will share its experience in the field and the joint collaboration with Coris will set in stone a new important achievement in the countries involved.”

Mr., Idrissa Nassa said, “Coris BANK, in its mission to bring innovative solutions; saw in the Islamic finance, an opportunity in the sense that it is an alternative to the conventional finance. So, after the successful implementation of the Islamic window of Burkina Faso, and in view of the undeniable potential of the Finance Islamic, with a 20 % expected growth, Coris Group decided to make the Islamic finance as a main growth driver. The vision of Coris group is to be the leading banking group providing sharia compliant products and services. The strategy of the group is to implement an Islamic Window in all its banking network with the assistance of ICD. The signature of this advisory agreement with ICD aims to achieve this objective. In midterm the group aspires to create sharia compliant subsidiaries.”

Distributed by APO on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

Media Inquiries:
Mr. Nabil El Alami
Email: NAlami@ISDB.org
Fax: +966 12 6444427
Tel: +966 12 6468192

Mrs Sylvie Sally Kinda
Email: scompaore@Coris-Bank.com
Fax: 0022625335237
Tel: 0022670216209

Coris Bank International Group:
Coris Bank International was founded in 2008 in Burkina Faso and is a leading banking group in West Africa, that operates in all market segments: retail, corporate, institutional and public sector with a focus on the SMEs. Coris Bank offers its customers a range of products and commercial banking services. The group is present in 6 countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal and Togo. The aim of Coris Bank International is to be the leading bank in support of economy growth in each of our country market.

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector:
ICD is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The mandate of ICD is to support economic development and promote the development of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments which are in accordance with the principles of Shari’ah. ICD also provides advice to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernization of private enterprises. ICD is rated AA/F1+ by Fitch and Aa3/P1 by Moody’s. For more information visit www.ICD-PS.org.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa