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PPRSD -NSTL Trained In Seed Purity Testing
The National Seed Testing Labo-
ratory (NSTL) of the Plant Pro-
tection and Regulatory Services
Directorate (PPRSD) of the Min-
istry of Food and Agriculture has
benefited from a two- week train-
ing programme.
Staff of the NSTL were trained in
seed purity testing and other
seed determination measures.
The training was part of the
laboratory’s preparation for
accreditation in compliance
with the requirements of the
International Seed Testing As-
sociation (ISTA) rules and
standards .
The TCB project engaged
International Seed Purity
Expert, James Kefa Oganda
from Kenya as the resource
person.
Cont’d on pg2
2016 Edition : Issue No.001 Biannual Newsletter ,Volume 003
Inside this issue:
TCB NEWS A biannual newsletter of the UNIDO/ MOTI -TCB Ghana Project
PPRSD –NSTL Seed Purity Training
1,2
Midterm Evaluation of the TCB Project
2,3
Pre—Accreditation Visit by DAkkS
4
International Expert Assists TIDD & Fisher-ies Commission with
4
PTB Calidena Project Team Visits UNIDO- TCB
5
ISO 17025 Auditors Trained at FORIG
6
Project Manager on Mission Visit
7
5th UNIDO -TCB SCM 8,9,
1 0
Conference Meet-
ings With Stake-
holders In The
Fruits and Wood
11,12
Facts About TCB
Project
13
UNIDO At 50 14
Speaking to TCB News , Mr Oganda said par-
ticipants of the two weeks training will now
be able to satisfy international requirements
in seed purity testing.
Veronica Nipaah Foster , a participant , ex-
pressed gratitude to the UNIDO-TCB team
for the two weeks intensive training.
―The UNIDO training programme has
helped change the entire set up of the labora-
tory,‖ she said.
National Technical Expert for the UNIDO -
TCB Programme, Abena Safoa Ofori encour-
aged participants of the training workshop to
keep practising with the new methods using
the standardised equipment supplied by
UNIDO to keep the expertise imparted to
them.
PPRSD - NSTL Trained In Seed Purity Testing Cont’d from pg1
Mid –Term Evaluation of UNIDO -TCB Project International Expert, Daniel
Keller of EvalCo Sàrl con-
ducted the evaluation exer-
cise from the 18th to 22nd of
January, 2016.
Beneficiary institutions like
the Ghana Standard Author-
ity (GSA) , The Food and
Drugs Authority (FDA) , The
Quality Control Company
(GCC) of COCOBOD ,
The Ghana Export promo-
tion Authority (GEPA) and
the Plant Protection and
Regulatory Services Direc-
torate (PPRSD) activities
were visited.
The UNIDO—TCB Project as
part of its periodic evaluations
undertook a mid term evalua-
tion exercise of the project ac-
tivities in Ghana.
The project was evaluated using
the Results Oriented Monitoring
( ROM) approach.
The one week exercise was to
make certain that the joint part-
nership project funded by the
Swiss Government through the
State Secretariat for Economic
Affairs (SECO) meet the needs
of the project beneficiaries.
The mid term evaluation exer-
cise was also to measure the
relevance and the degree of
value the project is supposed to
deliver including sustainability of
initiatives the UNIDO –TCB is
offering the direct beneficiaries
of the trade capacity building
programme for Ghana.
“The UNIDO
training
programme has
helped change the
entire set up of the
laboratory.” -
Veronica N. Foster
Page 2
Int. Expert ,James Kefa Oganda (2nd Right)
in a discussion with participants
Daniel Keller (Right), briefing Daniel Lauchenauer (2nd
Right) ,Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Swit-
zerland in Ghana
TCB NEWS
Evaluation Exercise in Pictures
“To catch the
reader's
attention, place
an interesting
sentence or
quote from the
Page 3
Biennial News ,Volume 003
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Management of GSA in a discussion with UNIDO team
on the impact of the project support
CEO of FDA ,Mr. Hudu Mogtari (1st Left) and managers of
the microbiology lab in a discussion with UNIDO team
Management of GEPA in a discussion with UNIDO team Daniel Keller ( 1st Right) interviewing Director of
PPRSD , Mrs Millicent Kyofa and her team in Pokuase
Some staff of the National Seed Testing lab with the
UNIDO team after a visit to the laboratory. Management of COCOBOD -QCC with UNIDO team af-
ter a meeting with Daniel Keller (2nd Right)
The Project is in the process of
assisting selected institutions to
obtain accreditation to ISO/IEC
17020 .
This will bring the inspection activi-
ties of these institutions in line with
international best practice.
Mr. Andre Sollwedel from one of
the selected accreditation body,
Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle
(DAkkS) was in the country for a
pre-assessment visit from 1st Feb-
ruary, 2016 to 3rd February, 2016.
DAkkS Representative Visits UNIDO Office
TIDD & Fisheries Commission Prepares for ISO 17020 Accreditation
Dr. Sohrab was in the
country from the 18th of
January, 2016 to the 5th of
February, 2016,
He also visited the Fisheries
Commission to assist them
enhance their fish inspection
system.
Dr. Peter Ziddah, Head of
the Fish Health Unit and a
Specialist in Aquatic Animal
Health of the Fisheries Com-
mission received the project
team on behalf of the Minister.
He noted that UNIDO Trade
Capacity Building Project
assistance is highly needed to
promote good aquaculture
practice and develop a system
towards ensuring that sanitary
measures and other inspection
conditions of the fisheries
sector are improved.
―Agrochemical
The Timber Industry Develop-
ment Division (TIDD) of the
Ghana Forestry Commission
and the Fisheries Commission
are preparing to be accredited
to ISO 17020 with support
from the project.
The project engaged Interna-
tional Expert Dr. Sohrab to
assist them to document and
implement their procedures
and processes relevant for the
accreditation process.
“ The TCB Programme’s
assistance is highly
needed to promote good
aquaculture practice
and develop a system
towards ensuring that
sanitary and other
inspection conditions of
the fisheries sector are
improved”.
- Dr. Ziddah
Page 4
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Caption describing picture or graphic.
DAkkS officer, Andre Sollwedel (Left) in a discus-
sion with Project Coordinator, Victor Mills (Right)
and Technical Expert, Abena Safoa (Middle)
Dr. Sohrab (Left) reviewing activities
outlined for TIDD and Fisheries Commis-
sion with project team .
Dr. Sohrab (Left) , Abena Safoa Ofori
( Middle) and Dr. Ziddah (Right) in a dis-
cussion on project intervention areas.
TCB NEWS
An evaluation team from the
PTB Calidena Project met
UNIDO- TCB team in Accra to
share ideas and discuss areas of
further interventions in metrol-
ogy and laboratory testing in the
country.
The focus of the meeting was to
assess the extent of interven-
tions to avoid duplication of
efforts.
Project Coordinator , Victor
Mills noted there is the need to
ensure that production con-
forms to relevant quality
standards for the domestic
market .
He encouraged the PTB team
to consider supporting the
country in that area too.
Madam Carola Heider, the
PTB Calidena Project Coor-
dinator for Sub-Saharan Af-
rica led the PTB team.
She said PTB is ending a first
phase of its programme
which focused on quality
assurance of agricultural
products through metro-
logical and testing services
in Ghana.
She was confident that
more of such interactions
with agencies like the
UNIDO -TCB project for
Ghana will be helpful in
promoting conformity
standards in Ghana.
― Collaboration and in-
teraction with agencies
like UNIDO is very im-
portant‖. She said.
PTB Calidena Project Team Visits
Page 5
Biennial News ,Volume 003
Carola Heider ( 3rd from Right) and other members of
her team in a discussion with project team
Carola Heider (Right) in a discussion with Victor Mills after the meeting
“ Collaboration and
Interaction with
agencies like the
UNIDO - TCB Project
is very important” -
Carola Heider
The Trade Capacity Building pro-
gramme (TCB) is working to estab-
lish an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited
wood testing laboratory at CSIR-
FORIG.
As part of the preparatory process,
a four-day workshop on Quality
Internal Auditor training pro-
gramme was organised to equip
staff of the FORIG to better imple-
ment the requirements of the stan-
dard.
The training was also help the staff
to be able to assess the Quality
Management System and continually
improve it.
In a brief interview with TCB News,
Dr. Emmanuel Appiah-Kubi, Head
of the FORIG Testing Centre (FTC)
said the internal audit training or-
ganised for them has been intensive
compared to other training the
team has had over the years.
―It has enlightened the team a lot. It
has helped the team members to
understand the concepts, documen-
tation and procedures towards ac-
creditation of the laboratory‖ he
said.
The training started on the
14th of March to the 17th of
March, 2016 at the Golden
bean Hotel in Kumasi
ISO 17025 Auditors Trained At FORIG
“ The training has
enlightened the team a
lot. It has helped the
team members to
understand the
concepts,
documentation and
procedures towards
accreditation of the
laboratory” - Dr. Appiah
-Kubi
Page 6
TCB NEWS
Trainer and Technical Expert , Abena Safoa Osei
( Middle) sharing training manuals to Participants
Dr. Emmanuel Appiah – Kubi , Head of the FTC
Participants of the ISO 17025 Auditors Training with Project Team
The project manager for
UNIDO/MOTI Trade Capac-
ity Building programme, Juan
Pablo Davila met with repre-
sentatives of the State Secre-
tariat for Economic Affairs
(SECO) as part of his regular
mission visit to Ghana this
year.
The meeting held at the prem-
ises of the Switzerland Em-
bassy in Accra with Matthias
Feldmann , Head of Coopera-
tion and Daniel Lauchenauer,
Deputy Head of Cooperation
of the Embassy of Switzerland
in Ghana, focused on outcome
of the phase II of the project
and its sustainability.
The Project Manager also met with the manage-
ment of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority
(GEPA) to discuss ongoing preparations for the
establishment of a national traceability and mar-
ket hub for Ghana.
The new Chief Executive Officer for GEPA,
James Z. Tiigah said the Trade Capacity Pro-
gramme for Ghana’s support to help establish a
valid standard market hub for Ghana ,is a step in
the right direction.
He noted also that the project’s support for a
national traceability development for the
fruits, wood, fish and cocoa sector will help
greatly improve the export sector.
He proposed that UNIDO supports an
upcoming event dubbed the ― Exporters
Forum‖ GEPA is putting together to help
support institutions operating in the ex-
port sector.
Mr. Davila was accompanied by Tania
Navarro, project assistant to the Trade
Capacity Programme and the team in Ghana.
Project Manager On Mission ...Visits SECO
Page 7
Biennial News ,Volume 003
Daniel Lauchenauer ( Left) welcoming Juan Pablo Davila (Right)
Daniel Lauchenauer ( Left), Matthias Feldman
( 2nd Left) in a discussion with the project team
James Z. Tiigah , CEO of GEPA (middle ) and other management members with Project team .
Matthias Feldmann, Head of Coop-
eration, Embassy of Switzerland
Juan Pablo Davila ,Project
Manager ,(UNIDO –TCB )
James Z. Tiigah , Chief Executive
Officer (GEPA)
… Visits GEPA
Members of the Steering Committee Meeting
Daniel Lauchenauer speaking at the SCM
Juan Pablo Davila speaking at the SCM
The project Steering Committee meeting held its fifth meeting
since the inception of the second phase of the project at the
Kundum Hall, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
The Deputy Executive Director (Operations) of the Ghana
Standards Authority (GSA), Eugene Adarkwa- Addae chaired
the fifth Steering Committee Meeting on May 18, 2016.
The Project Manager from UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna,
Juan Pablo Davila participated in the meeting to review pro-
gress, achievements and activities of the project implementa-
tion of the Phase II of the trade capacity building programme
for Ghana.
Mr. Davila commenting on the findings on the ROM evalua-
tion report said UNIDO will take into account recommen-
dations proposed to ensure sustainability measures towards
achieving long term goals of the project.
― Supporting beneficiaries prepare a business plan is the most
important part of the project and we will support institu-
tions to have one properly done‖ he said
Eight of the beneficiaries of the project shared success stories
of the milestones achieved with the TCB programme funded
by SECO.
Representatives from SRI Soil Testing Laboratory, FDA Food
Micro – Biology Laboratory, PPRSD – National Seed Labora-
tory, TIDD, CSIR - FORIG, COCOBOD -QCC, GEPA and the
Fisheries Commission took turns to present to the committee,
status reports on the phase two activities conducted over the
years and key challenges that needs to be addressed.
Daniel Lauchenauer who represented SECO said results of
the project outcome presented by the beneficiaries were im-
pressive.
He however noted that sustainability of the support being
received by beneficiary institutions after the second phase is
key.
All participating agencies expressed their full commitment to
meet intervention needs in response to ROM findings.
The meeting is the first Steering Committee Meeting for this
year.
The next meeting is scheduled for October, 2016.
5th Project Steering Committee Meeting
Victor Mills ( Left), Project Coordinator and Eugene Adarkwa- Addae (Right), Chairman Of Project SCM
Page 8
Project Steering Committee Meeting ...
Page 9
TCB NEWS
“ Supporting
beneficiaries prepare a
business plan is the most
important part of the
project and we will
support institutions to
have one properly done”
- Juan Pablo Davila
Director of Soil Research Institute , Dr. Joseph Opoku Fen-ing presenting a status report to the committee
Representative of Fisheries Commission , Samuel Manu presenting a status report to the committee
Representative of COCOBOD—QCC , Dr. W.A. Johnfia-Essien presenting a status report to the committee
Biennial Project Steering Committee Meeting in Pictures
Page 10
Dr. Daniel A. Ofori , Director of CSIR -
FORIG making a comment at the meeting
Representatives from GEPA ( From Left:
Maxwell Osei-Kusi and James Z. Tiigah )
Representative of FDA , Harriet Ofori Antwi ,
making a presentation on behalf of the FDA Abena Safoa Ofori (Left) ,Project Technical Expert
and Juan Pablo Davila (Right)
Cheetam Mingle of FDA ( Left) and Dr. Joseph
Opoku Fening of SRI ( Right) at the meeting Tania Navarro ,(Right) Project Assistant ,PTC/TII/STF ,
UNIDO HQ, and some of the members of the committee
Milly Kyofa Boamah , Director of PPRSD and Dr.W.A.
Johnfia-Essien at the meeting Juan Pablo Davila in a hearty chat with Daniel
Lauchenauer and Dr. Ofori after the meeting
The project as part of its efforts to improve the
export competitiveness and market access of
Ghanaian products under the second phase is
meeting relevant groups under the specified
sectors of the project .
These series of meetings which are ongoing is
to establish the areas of intervention for the
industries.
Two of the groups: the Fruits Juice Processors
and Marketers Association of Ghana (FPMAG)
and Wood and Furniture processors have al-
ready been met in Accra and Kumasi respec-
tively.
Some of the key discussions centred on the
needs of technical assistance, certification assis-
tance and sustainability measures of such sup-
port to the industries under these sectors.
At the conference meeting in Accra , President
of FPMAG, Madam Edna Kudolo said members
of the association appreciate this vital engage-
ment from UNIDO since some of its members
are already making preparations to get man-
agement certification in HACCP and ISO
22000.
She noted that the association have a well
structured team that assist members with local
certification issues and appreciates UNIDO’s
offer to extend support in the areas of capacity
building for companies who are members of
the association.
Project Manager, Juan Pablo Davila assured the
participants that the programme will continue
to support all institutions to achieve project
goals.
The meeting with FPMAG was held on May 17,
2016 at the Alisa Hotel.
Project Confers with Fruits & Wood Processors
Edna Kudolo , The
President of FPMAG
Edward Koranteng ,
Executive Member (FPMAG)
Victor Mills . Project Coor-
dinator, UNIDO- TCB
Members of the FPMAG in a discussion with the project team
Eric William Ampadu , Execu-
tive member of FPMAG
Page 11
...Conference Meeting in Kumasi
In Kumasi, participants of the wood and furniture
conference meeting commended UNIDO for
their consultative initiative and welcome techni-
cal support from the project to facilitate the
process of benchmarking the FLEGT Certifica-
tion issued by Ghana’s TIDD to the international
FSC Certification.
Participants also agreed on the need for building
experts capacity in GSC Certification processes,
Chain of Custody certification processes, Forest
Management Systems, Production planning, Plant
maintenance and safety measures.
They also proposed that UNIDO assists the
industry to get access to finance – in the form of
loans with lower Interests than the banks are
offering and help upgrade the Kumasi Wood
Village with equipment and training programmes.
Participants of the wood conference believed
the support to the wood village will help the
export competitiveness of the products
from the region.
Representatives from CSIR - FORIG, JUS-
SAK Company LTD, Evans Timbers
LTD ,Wiafe Furniture Co. LTD, ABTS LTD,
FAWAG , RADEBS Enterprise , Kabre
Brothers, Specialised Timber Products LTD,
F.L Woods LTD , Modern Wood Technol-
ogy Co. LTD, NAJA David Veneer & Ply-
wood LTD, Mofco Furniture Co. LTD, Wiafe
Furniture Co. LTD, GTMO , Otiyeboah
Co.LTD participated in the meeting.
The meeting in Kumasi was held on June 9,
2016 at the Golden Bean Hotel.
Dr. Kwame Asamoah Adam,
(GTMO )
Mr. A. A. Eshun (TIDD-FC)
Participants of the wood and furniture conference meeting in Kumasi
Abena Safoa Ofori ( UNIDO-
TCB)
Page 12
Facts About UNIDO/MOTI TCB Project
Background Compliance with international market requirements and access to
local conformity assessment processes is essential for a sustainable
export competitive value chain in Ghana.
The project is in its second phase. The first phase focused on up-
grading Ghana’s national Quality Infrastructure (NQI) between
2007 and 2011.
This second phase, which began in 2013 is built on the achieved
results in the first phase to ensure that upgraded and improved
services are used by the private sector to improve export com-
petitiveness.
A special focus is on building and strengthening capacities for SMEs
to understand and implement trade-related standards.
Project Parameters Donor: Swiss Government through SECO
Agency: UNIDO
Location: Ghana – West Africa
Duration: Four years
Goals And Objectives The primary objective of the project is to ensure that goods and
services emanating from or traded in Ghana are designed, manu-
factured and supplied in a sustainable manner that conform to mar-
ket requirements as well as those of the regulatory authorities in
the local and in the export markets.
The Project is focused on four main value chains – cocoa, fish,
fruits and wood.
For these Value Chains, two main outcomes are expected:
National Quality System to provide world class confor-
mity assessment services
Targeted Value-Chains to improve their export competi-
tiveness by complying with quality and quantity require-
ments.
The UNIDO/TCB Project has since March 2007 improved both
technical and human capacities in the conformity assessment insti-
tutions.
The support of this programme goes a long way to help develop-
ing economies like Ghana to penetrate the international markets
with certified goods from accredited testing laboratories.
“The Ghana Standards
Authority (GSA) has increased
its capacity in standards
development and using the
standard-related activities to
enhance and further
institutionalise consumer
protection‖
Impact of
Phase I
working with the United Nations through the
coordinating machinery of the United Nations
Economic and Social Council at the intergov-
ernmental level, and through the United Na-
tions Chief Executives Board for coordination
at the inter-secretariat level.
At the Organization’s fifteenth General Con-
ference in 2013, a second Lima Declara-
tion was adopted giving UNIDO a new mis-
sion: to promote and accelerate inclusive and
sustainable industrial development (ISID) in
developing countries and economies in transi-
tion. The theme for this year’s celebration is
― Together for a sustainable future”
The United Nations Industrial Develop-
ment Organization (UNIDO) will be 50
this year.
On 17 November 1966, UNIDO was
established as a special organ of the
United Nations General Assembly to
assist, promote and accelerate the indus-
trialization of developing countries, with
a particular emphasis on manufacturing.
At UNIDO's second General Confer-
ence, held in 1975 in Lima, Peru, a decla-
ration was adopted in which, for the first
time, industrial development objectives
were quantified internationally. In 1985,
the organization was converted into a
specialized agency of the United Nations,
Coming Up:
UNIDO Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Local Training in ISO 17025
Cocoa Processors Conference meeting
Fish Processors Conference meeting
Sensitization workshop for Board members and top management
of Forestry Commission
UNIDO /MOTI – TCB 50th Anniversary Public Forum
Contact
Victor Mills
National Project Coordinator
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Trade Capacity—Building for Ghana Programme: ...Improving Sustainable Chains of Exports from Ghana
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