Accra, Oct. 29, GNA – The Israeli Development and Cooperation Agency (MASHAV) on Thursday presented grants totalling GH¢425,000 to five Ghanaian entrepreneurs and three health institutions.
The grants are expected to support ongoing grassroots development and capacity building projects operated by graduates of the MASHAV training programmes in Agriculture, Innovation and health.
They were selected for showing excellent works and sustainable projects out of 17 MASHAV alumni who submitted proposals under a new micro financial grant initiative announced by the agency in June 2020.
Madam Shani Cooper, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, who presented the grants to the beneficiaries at a short ceremony in Accra, said the grants were part of Israeli’s commitment to the development of Ghana.
She said the state of Israel had since 1958 contributed to Ghana’s development by training thousands of Ghanaians in agriculture, health, women empowerment, education and other sectors, while sharing their knowhow and sending aid when needed.
“The relations between Israel and Ghana are based on mutual understanding and joint values, on respect to tradition with a spirit of innovation and a spiritual connection between the people,” she said.
Madam Cooper said although 2020 had been a tough year for the world, a lot has been done in the framework of the relations between Israel and Ghana.
She stated that MASHAV through the Embassy of Israel have invested a lot in three main sectors in Ghana thus agriculture, innovation and health.
She said in the Agriculture sector, Israel had welcomed for the second year, a group of 70 agricultural students for practical training in an agro studies programme. They are all healthy and safe in Israel.
She said in the field of innovation, the Israeli government had since the beginning of the year, trained Ghanaian government officials in innovation policy through the sharing the Israeli experience.
“In health, we continue our ten years old support to the two Neo-natal units in Kumasi, by training, supporting and equipping them,” she added.
Madam Cooper congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged them to put the grants to good use to ensure the viability of their projects.
The beneficiaries of the financial grant include; Nada Danye Asare who received GH¢57,000 to facilitate the digitalization of Mem-Chemfre Village Savings and Loans Scheme, an agri-business which seeks to provide applications and websites to make farming information accessible to rural women farmers.
Mr Richard Kwame Karikari received a grant of GH¢48,000 to train new honey farmers and purchase 100 beehives at his Beekeeping Learning and Honey Centre at Twifo Praso in the Central Region.
Dr. Ernest Teye, University of Cape Coast, was granted GH¢57,000 to facilitate research and training on the novel reduction of postharvest losses of plantains in Ghana by the application of a special model.
Nii Nookwei Tackie received a sum of GH¢57,000 to boost the Production of fresh kitchen herbs and vegetables using shade houses in his farm.
Mr Kelechi Victor Ofoegbu also received a sum of GH¢57,000 to implement the Zero Plastic Maker-space room innovation project at Impact Hub in Accra.
Under the health projects, Gye Nyame mobile clinic, a Non-Governmental Organisation received GH¢72,375 to facilitate the setup of a psychiatric and paediatric surgery outreach in Kumasi. Two neo-natal units at Suntreso and Kumasi South hospitals jointly received a total of GH¢74,237 to improve neonatal care in their facilities.
GNA