Dwight as a young man next to Dwight at 90, when he took his flight into space
By The Associated Press
VAN HORN, Texas — Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate, finally rocketed into space 60 years later, flying with Jeff Bezos’ rocket company on Sunday. Dwight was an Air Force pilot when President John F. Kennedy championed him as a candidate for NASA’s early astronaut corps. But he wasn’t picked for the 1963 class. Dwight, now 90, went through a few minutes of weightlessness with five other passengers aboard the Blue Origin capsule as it skimmed space on a roughly 10-minute flight. He called it “a life-changing experience.” “I thought I really didn’t need this in my life,” Dwight said shortly after exiting the capsule. ”But, now, I need it in my life …. I am ecstatic.” The brief flight from West Texas made Dwight the new record-holder for oldest person in space — nearly two months older than “Star Trek” actor William Shatner was when he went up in 2021. It was Blue Origin’s first crew launch in nearly two years. The company was grounded following a 2022 accident in which the booster came crashing down but the capsule full of experiments safely parachuted to the ground. Flights resumed last December, but with no one aboard. This was Blue Origin’s seventh time flying space tourists. Dwight, a sculptor from Denver, was joined by four business entrepreneurs from the U.S. and France and a retired accountant. Their ticket prices were not disclosed; Dwight’s seat was sponsored in part by the nonprofit Space for Humanity. Dwight was among the potential astronauts the Air Force recommended to NASA. But he wasn’t chosen for the 1963 class, which included eventual Gemini and Apollo astronauts, including Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. NASA didn’t select Black astronauts until 1978, and Guion Bluford became the first African American in space in 1983. Three years earlier, the Soviets launched the first Black astronaut, Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, a Cuban of African descent. After leaving the military in 1966, Dwight joined IBM and started a construction company before earning a master’s degree in sculpture in the late 1970s. He’s since dedicated himself to art. His sculptures focus on Black history and include memorials and monuments across the country. Several of his sculptures have flown into space.
Descendants of families involved in historic Supreme Court decision, along with NAACP President, Derrick Johnson, address school desegregation
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
On the 70th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, President Joe Biden emphasized his administration’s commitment to educational equity by announcing new funding and resources aimed at enhancing school diversity and tackling racial segregation. The landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling declared racially segregated schools unconstitutional, but recent data reveals persistent inequities in U.S. education.
“Every student deserves access to a high-quality education that prepares them to be the next generation of leaders,” President Biden stated. To further this goal, the Biden-Harris Administration introduced several initiatives, including a $20 million investment through the Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP). This funding will support magnet programs in states such as Arkansas, Colorado, and Florida, designed to attract students from diverse backgrounds.
Additionally, the administration’s 2025 budget proposal seeks $139 million for MSAP and $10 million for the Fostering Diverse Schools program. Moreover, a new Technical Assistance Center on Fiscal Equity will assist states and districts in developing fair resource allocation strategies. The initiative aims to address the stark resource disparities that exist between racially and economically segregated schools.
Stephen Benjamin, senior adviser to Biden and former mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, acknowledged the ongoing challenges. “There’s an acknowledgment every day with our president that we’re not where we ought to be, but we’re certainly not where we used to be. Still a lot of work to be done,” Benjamin declared.
The research underscores the strong correlation between school segregation and racial achievement gaps. The desegregation following Brown significantly boosted graduation rates for Black and Latino students. However, recent decades have seen a reversal, with segregation between white and Black students increasing by 64% since 1988, and economic segregation rising by 50% since 1991. According to the Department of Education’s State of School Diversity Report, racially isolated schools often lack the critical resources necessary for student success.
To combat these trends, the Department of Education announced the release of new data on access to math and science courses, highlighting ongoing racial disparities. The administration said it also plans to launch an interagency effort to preserve African American history, ensuring that students and the public have access to essential historical and cultural resources.
Officials noted that the American Rescue Plan has directed $130 billion to the nation’s schools, with a focus on underserved institutions. This includes nearly $2 billion in additional Title I funding, and a five-fold increase in funding for Full-Service Community Schools, which provide essential services to students and families in need.
Recognizing the importance of teacher diversity, the administration has prioritized efforts to increase the number of educators of color. Competitive grant programs have awarded $450 million to support teacher recruitment and retention, with a particular focus on diversity. Additionally, the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Grant program has provided over $23 million to HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs for teacher preparation.
The president met with family members of the plaintiffs from the Brown v. Board case. Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of lead plaintiff Oliver Brown, expressed the ongoing struggle for educational equity. “We’re still fighting the battle over whose children do we invest in. Any time we can talk about failing underfunded public schools, there is a problem,” Henderson said. NAACP President Derrick Johnson, also in attendance, affirmed, “We must continue to fight on all fronts.”
As the nation reflects on seven decades since Brown v. Board of Education, the White House said that the Biden Administration’s initiatives signal a renewed effort to fulfill the promise of equitable education for all. Schools “remain divided along racial, ethnic, and economic lines,” according to a 2022 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. “With around 18.5 million children attending schools where 75 percent or more of students were of a single race or ethnicity.”
President Joe Biden speaks at Morehouse College Commencement
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Before President Joe Biden’s commencement address at Morehouse College, an official told the Black Press that the White House was “very nervous,” primarily due to the ongoing protests Israel’s war in Palestine that have swept campuses around the country.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that a group of alumni from Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, and Spelman had objected to the president’s appearance. Despite these objections, the school confirmed its invitation for Biden to address the 2024 graduating class and to bestow upon him an honorary degree, leading the White House and the president to agree to proceed with the address.
This decision was particularly important as the Biden-Harris campaign continued to court Black voters. “It’s one of those things,” the official stated, noting that Stephen Benjamin, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, traveled ahead of Biden to Morehouse to help smooth the path for the president and broker peace. During the ceremony, Mel Foster, Associate Provost of Student Success, addressed the audience. “We also ask that you respect the dignity and reputation of excellence at Morehouse College,” Foster asserted. “Although we respect everyone’s right to free speech, Morehouse has provided guidelines to ensure we are in full compliance with the law.”
The event featured several references to the global conflict, with some students and at least one faculty member wearing Palestinian scarves. In his opening prayer, Rev. Claybon Lea Jr., a pastor from California, alluded to the plight of Palestinians. Valedictorian DeAngelo Fletcher also addressed the issue, calling for a cease-fire in the Middle East. “It is important to recognize that both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the wake of October 7,” he said. “It is my sense as a Morehouse man, nay, as a human being, to call for an immediate and a permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.”
Biden’s speech highlighted historic investments in historically Black colleges and universities like Morehouse and underscored the diversity he has implemented at the highest levels of government. He cited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Morehouse graduate whose bust sits in the Oval Office, as a key inspiration for his political career.
Biden also sought to contrast himself with the twice-impeached and four-times indicted former president Donald Trump, his likely opponent. in November’s election, asserting that Trump and other Republicans would dismantle the progress Black Americans have made in the past three years.
During Biden’s keynote speech, a handful of students and faculty members turned their backs on him, silently protesting his support of Israel’s war in Gaza during a spring that saw protests sweep across the country’s college campuses. At one point, as many as six students were seen seated with their backs to Biden, fists raised in the air, with at least one faculty member joining the demonstration.
Biden acknowledged the protests, stating, “Let me be clear: I support peaceful, nonviolent protest. Your voices should be heard, and I promise I hear them.” He also addressed the Middle East conflict, calling it a humanitarian crisis. “What’s happening in Gaza and Israel is heartbreaking,” he said. “It’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That’s why I’ve called for an immediate cease-fire to stop the fighting. Bring the hostages home.”
Biden subtly hinted at his hopes for the political future of his vice president and running mate, saying he was ”proud to put in the first Black woman on the United States Supreme Court,” and added, “I have no doubt one day a Morehouse man will be on that court as well., just after an AKA from Howard,” referencing Vice President Kamala Harris’s membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha, a historically Black sorority, during her time at Howard University.
Biden is the third U.S. President to receive an honorary degree from Morehouse, following Barack Obama in 2013 and Jimmy Carter in 1975 before he became president.
UAW President, Sean Fain, surrounded by Mercedes workers at union headquarters discusses election
By Chance Phillips, Alabama Political Reporter
The final count in the week-long union election at the Mercedes factory in Vance was 2,642 against unionizing versus 2,045 in favor. 51 ballots were challenged and not counted and 5 ballots were void. The election still has to be certified by the National Labor Relations Board, but it is very unlikely that this process will not change the results. Speaking at the UAW Local 112 headquarters in Coaling, UAW President Shawn Fain said “these courageous workers reached out to us because they wanted justice. They led this fight.” Fain remained optimistic about the union’s prospects and its momentum as it tries to organize workers in the South. “We’ll be back in Vance,” he said. “I assured the company of that before I walked out the door and shook their hands.” Today’s loss for the UAW follows what Mercedes employee Brett Garrand described as “a constant brow beating of anti-union campaigns” by Mercedes, the Business Council of Alabama, and Alabama politicians. Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair promised in January that “led by Governor Kay Ivey and backed by the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) and other key players in Alabama’s business community, we’re going to fight the United Auto Workers.” Gov. Ivey and several other prominent state politicians released anti-union statements regularly during the four-month campaign. During a speech about signing SB231, which heavily penalizes the voluntary recognition of labor unions, Ivey said she wants “to ensure that Alabama values, not Detroit values, continue to define the future of this great state.” The Business Council of Alabama conducted the Alabama Strong campaign, which ran anti-union advertisements online and on local television channels. Mercedes itself also engaged in many practices union supporters have called oppressive. Workers were required to sit through daily mandatory meetings and watch anti-union videos. Flyers posted around the plants read “if you don’t want a union, vote no,” or simply “vote no.” The National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating six unfair labor practice charges filed by the UAW against Mercedes. On May 16, Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control announced that it is also investigating Mercedes for anti-union behavior that may have broken German law. In a statement, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler called the anti-union behavior by Mercedes and Gov. Ivey “part of a long oppressive history in the South, from slavery to Jim Crow ‘right to work’ laws to prison labor.” One of the major contributors to today’s loss is likely Mercedes’ replacement of its unpopular plant CEO, Michael Göbel, with then-vice president of operations Federico Kochlowski. In the lead up to and during the election week, Mercedes employees were implored to give Kochlowski a chance by voting no. While the loss for the UAW today is a major setback for the union, it is not necessarily a death knell for Mercedes workers’ hopes of unionizing. On Thursday, Garrard pointed to “Volkswagen winning their union after three tries.” In 2014, the vote at the Chattanooga plant was 712 against, 626 for, and in 2019, the vote was 833 against, 776 for. But in April, Volkswagen workers overwhelmingly voted to join the UAW with 2,628 in favor and only 985 opposed. One pro-union Mercedes worker, Robert Lett, optimistically proclaimed on Wednesday that “Mercedes is going to be unionized, it doesn’t matter if it’s Friday or in the future.” Before the results began to come in, Rick Webster, who works doing final fit and finish for Mercedes, confidently stated that he “would definitely try again” if needed.
With an ongoing two year, $40 million campaign by the United Auto Workers to organize Southern workers, pro-union workers at Mercedes and other Southern auto plants will likely continue to try to organize and build support for unionization in the coming months and years. The next UAW union election target is the Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Alabama, In a press release responding to the election results, Mercedes stated that “we look forward to continuing to work directly with our Team Members to ensure MBUSI is not only their employer of choice, but a place they would recommend to friends and family.”
What UAW needed at Mercedes and must have in Hyundai
News Analysis by: Pat Bryant
Rev. James Orange, the late powerful civil rights and labor leader often said labor unions need to make a real investment in Black people in the South to win. The UAW win at VW in Chattanooga, Tn and the UAW loss at Mercedes near Tuscaloosa clearly point to the need for upsized investments of money and other resources in the UAW fight to represent auto workers at Hyundai Montgomery and other southern auto factories. Rev. Orange’s words speak loudly from the grave. While the UAW did not win the election, the union is likely to raise wages somewhat, and make a few concessions they promised if workers rejected the union. Rev. Orange was a dynamo who would coral leaders in churches, civil rights groups and organizations in communities to support union organizing. Communities trusted Rev. Orange who began as young leader in Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Where are the trusted UAW leaders now who can influence workers and communities. The UAW overwhelming victory at the VW factory in Tennessee was due largely to UAW success in the Big Three strike (Ford, General Motors, Stellantis [formerly Chyrsler]}. Striking workers got a whopping 25 percent wage increase plus benefits. That win created a desire bynon-union workers at foreign auto makers to get more. Tennessee was the first vote, an enthusiastic victory. But then came Alabama. The anti-union challenge of six southern governors to renewed southern UAW organizing, didn’t work in Tennessee, but was powerful with Governor Kay Ivey giving the signal for Mercedes to stop the union drive the old southern way. Fear, intimidation, and firing, the capital punishment for workers were all used, and were effective. Pro-worker literature in non-work areas was seized. The whole array of Chamber of Commerce, religious and social leaders weighed in against the union drive. Mercedes held captive audience employee meetings where they blasted the UAW with misrepresentations and inuendo. Across the region there was chorus of “don’t vote union. The company will leave and you will loose this good job.” Right to work and the southern labor discount is still effective. Mercedes Benz spokespersons denied violating workers rights. The vote was 2045 or 44 percent of workers for the UAW and 2,642 or 56 percent against. That was not unusual. But what was unusual was the absence of a more visible campaign from Alabama’s justice communities, labor, civil rights, youth, religious and progressive community groups. The UAW is very sensitive to efforts that might turn off white and conservative Black voters. Rev. Orange and former White labor leader C.P. Ellis, a former Klansman, were experts at speaking clearly to white and black workers while not turning off the other. Workers facing the union challenge need the support of community and family. Church rallies, not used in the Tuscaloosa area, would be very effective in influencing Montgomery workers. The Hyundai plant is located in Montgomery County and draws its workforce from surrounding Black Belt Counties. House calls, visits to workers’ homes are a must for union wins. Accounts of these fights in Black media is a must. Black Belt counties in the South face the worst repression by politicians and business leaders. Don’t be fooled, the Hyundai Company cracks the whip but denies wrongdoing. There are allegations and complaints of Black workers being required to say “Master” when referring to a White supervisor. The firing of the highest ranked Black person, Yvette Gilkey-Shuford, and calling the firing a restructuring. Allegations are that the most dangerous jobs on the assembly lines are populated by Blacks. That is the Hyundai story. Important to the Hyundai story is how the UAW is able to assemble an array of community based fighters including Alabama labor unions, progressive churches, civil rights groups, women’s organizations. And important is the amount of dollars the United Auto Workers will invest in their fight.
*Pat Bryant is a retired urban planner, community organizer, singer, poet, journalist who has been active in southern justice fights for sixty plus years.
Governor Ivey, with Demopolis legislative delegation looking on signs bill to create Healthcare High School
By Kirsten J. Barnes, Communications Director for the Alabama Senate Minority
Alabama is embarking on an innovative journey as it embraces training high school students to focus on the healthcare industry.
By the fall of 2026, the Alabama School of Healthcare Science will open to high school students from 9th and 10th grade who are interested in focusing on a broad range of healthcare fields.
“I am honored that the state of Alabama chose my district to house this new school, said Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro). “This school will give communities throughout the state, along with hospitals and doctors’ offices a steady stream of trained medical professionals and staff.
Governor Kay Ivey came to the Demopolis Civic Center yesterday to sign the legislation. She was accompanied by State Senator Bobby Singleton and State Representative A. J. McCampbell and others to sign House Bill 163 creating the new high school. ” The high school will be open to students from throughout the state and will be a residential school like the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering in Huntsville, Alabama School of Math & Science in Mobile, and Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham. “I want to thank Gov. Kay Ivey and all the legislators who supported this effort. Demopolis is ready to make you proud,” Singleton said.
This school will be located next to Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital, allowing students to have classroom and practical experience daily. The students will graduate with certificates in various programs related to science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine that will address the chronic healthcare workforce shortage in Alabama. Graduates will have the ability to immediately enter the workforce, while others will build a strong foundation for advanced studies at both two-and-four-year colleges and technical schools.
The initial legislative appropriation will be $15 million and will allow the school to open in the fall of 2026 with approximately 400 ninth and 10th graders in the first year and then add an additional grade each year.
“While the school is under construction, we will partner with the University of West Alabama to house students,” Singleton said. “We have matching dollars that will come from private foundations to help with the costs and construction. ” The school will be in Marengo County, a growing community that is poised to support the needs of the school. There is also a partnership in place with The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Additionally, the school may also offer short courses, workshops, seminars, weekend instructional programs, and other innovative programs to students not enrolled as full-time. students in the school.
For more information, contact: kirsten.Barnes@alsenate.gov. or phone: 334-261-0331.
The above scholars completed the requirements for the Structural Welding Certificate from Wallace Community College in Selma on Friday, May 10, 2024. Pictured left from right: Janice Jeames Askew, Scholar : Jeremiah Bullock, Nicholas Henley, Michael Gibson, Jr. Kalvin Jones, Jakaylon Bridgemon, Curtis Jordan, Zacary Rutledge, Welding Instructor, Dr, Corey Jones, Superintendent, Scholar John Cockrell, Jaylon Mitchell and LaTravis Jones. Also in attendance was Teresa Atkins, Greene County Career Center Director.
The Greene County Board of Education held a special call meeting, Thursday, May 9, 2024 with a focus on school personnel. All board members were present as well as Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones, Board Attorney Hank Sanders, GCHS Principal Ms. Andrea Perry, Robert Brown Middle School Principal Ms. Tammy Anderson, Eutaw Primary Principal Dr. Brittany Harris and CSFO Ms. Marquita Lennon.
Shortly after the official opening of the meeting, following roll call and approval of the agenda, Attorney Sanders certified an executive session for the board. President Leo Branch explained that the session was called to discuss personnel issues that may involve good name and character, legal matters that may involve strategy and safety. The Principals and CSFO were asked to remain in the session with the Board, Superintendent and Attorney. The executive session lasted approximately two hours.
When the board resumed its open meeting, President Branch announced that no decisions were made and no actions taken in executive session.
In previous board meetings Superintendent Jones did caution the board that budget cuts would be necessary for the next school year, especially in personnel. The ESSER funds which provided support for additional Academic Coaches would end this fiscal year.
In the open session, the board acted on the following personnel items.
* Approved resignation of Mr. James Gaines, Transportation Supervisor for the Greene County School System, effective June 30, 2024.
* Approved supplemental contract for Janice Jeames-Askew to serve as Athletic Director for GCHS for 2023-2024.
* Approved supplemental funding agreement for in school personnel.
The Greene County Commission held it regular monthly meeting, Monday, May 13, 2024 with all commissioners present. A carryover from the Commission’s work session the prior week was a discussion of the property taxes due on the Greenetrack property, which is co-owned by the Greene County government. To avoid allowing that property to be listed for public auction, the commission voted unanimously, in this meeting, to remit the taxes due, totaling $33,365.48. The general concern was that someone would outbid the county at public auction.
Another carryover item from the work session related to consideration of the commission establishing a Greene County Cemetery Rehabilitation Authority. The Authority members would serve as volunteers surveying and recording unkempt and dilapidated cemeteries throughout the county. It was unclear what steps would follow or what the commission could do with this information, since many long-dated cemeteries are on private properties. Commissioner Allen turner offered the motion to establish the Authority, but it failed for lack of a second.
In other business, the Commission acted on the following:
* Approved an Intergovernmental Equipment and Service Agreement.
* Approved contract with Yellowhammer Network, LLC – right-of-way for fiberoptic network.
* Approved using a portion of the $100,000 ARPA funds for some Courthouse and Activity Center upgrades.
* Approved establishing the Greene County Recognition and Appreciation Program.
* Approved request of the Society of Folk Arts & Culture for use of courthouse restrooms during 2024 festival activities.
* Approved purchasing full page graduation ad in special edition of the Democrat newspaper.
* Approved change orders for courthouse renovations.
* Approved travel for engineer and assistant engineer.
* Tabled Solid Waste Collection proposal until a public hearing is held. The commission noted that there will be no change in fees and no employee layoff.
Cancelled the executive session listed on the agenda.
CFO Macaroy Underwood’s financial reports for April 2024 included the following bank balances: Citizen Trust, unrestricted $3,118,166.45; restricted, $4,537,889.86. Merchant & Farmers, unrestricted $6,159,028.49; restricted, $6,287,315.88; Investment Funds totaled $896,515.53. Accounts Payable totaled $1,169,916.23. Payroll transfers totaled $291,807.98 and Fiduciary was $50,283.29. Electronic Claims paid for March 2024 were $70,102.67.
Members of Daisy Bates family at unveiling of her statue
Daisy Lee Gatson Bates, an Arkansaw civil rights icon was honored last week, in a bi-partisan ceremony, by placing her statue in the Nation Statutory Hall in the Rotunda of the U. S. Capitol in Washington D. C. Each of the 50 states has two statutes of people representing their state in this prestigious location.
Her statute and a statue of country music singer, Johnny Cash, to be added in the Fall, replace two statutes of Arkansas 19th century leaders, with a segregationist past, who are not well known today.
Daisy Bates was an influential civil rights activist, journalist, and educator who played a pivotal role in the fight against racial segregation in Arkansas.
In 1954, the Supreme Court, in Brown vs The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ruled segregated schools unconstitutional. According to her bio, Bates began gathering African American students to enroll at all-white schools after the ruling. Often, the white schools refused to let black students attend. Bates used her newspaper to publicize the schools that did follow the federal mandate. Despite the continuous rejection from many Arkansas public schools, she pushed forward. When the National NAACP office started to focus on Arkansas’ schools, they looked to Bates to plan the strategy, her bio noted. She took the reins and organized the Little Rock Nine. She selected nine students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock in 1957, whom she regularly drove to school and worked tirelessly to protect them from violent crowds. Bates also advised the group and even joined the school’s parent organization. She was also instrumental in convincing President Dwight Eisenhower, to send Federal troops to Little Rock to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision. Daisy Bates’ unwavering commitment to equality and justice led her to work closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent leader in the civil rights movement, in advocating for desegregation and equal rights for all. She worked closely with DR. King and the NAACP to non-violently integrate the schools in the face of white sometimes violent resistance. Ben Victor, the statue’s sculptor, also shared his perspective on Bates. “Her courage really stands out to me,” Victor said. “I’ve depicted her in motion because she was a woman with a cause. She is smiling, showing her optimism in the face of great adversity.” Bates, who died in 1999 at age 84, played a crucial role in desegregating Arkansas public schools in the 1950s. Along with her husband, she published an Arkansas newspaper dedicated to the civil rights cause and served as the president of the state’s NAACP chapter. “Every high school, every middle school, every elementary school, every college in this country is the pattern of America today because of Daisy Gaston Bates,” remarked Charles King, President of the Daisy Bates House Museum Foundation, during the unveiling ceremony. Some of Daisy Bates, close relatives have worked with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in Arkansas on the Black Farmer lawsuits and recent Discrimination Farmers Assistance Program to get justice for Black farmers in Arkansas and across the South.
Ghana cocoa harvester at work May 13, 2024 (GIN) – Everyone or almost everyone loves chocolate, making it imperative to follow Ghana’s production shortfall and similar problems in Ivory Coast.
These shortfalls have been fueling historic surges in cocoa prices, forcing customers to shell out more for familiar chocolate bars and other tasty sweets. Samuel Adimado, president of Ghana’s cocoa buyers’ group, estimates that current crop figures were “shattering” and member firms were struggling to remain in business.
Ghana is the second-largest exporter of cocoa beans in the world, after Ivory Coast. Normally, investment in agriculture is seen as humanity’s best hope of achieving at least two UN global goals: Ending Poverty and Zero Hunger.
For Ghana in particular, agriculture is an overwhelming priority as it employs around 45 percent of the labor force (more than any other sector) and contributes some 15 percent of GDP. As many as 800,000 people work directly in the plantation of cocoa, but nowadays many more are involved in the commercial, industrial and service sectors.
Cocoa is iconic for Ghana, not just in terms of economics but also for its national identity, social history – even its climate future. As the saying goes: “Ghana is cocoa, cocoa is Ghana”.
Under normal conditions, cocoa production in Ghana is considered environmentally friendly, as beans grow without watering and need little additional pesticides or herbicides.
However, more frequent droughts and rising temperatures are already affecting West Africa and may even turn large swathes of the region to savanna by 2050, according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Michael Ekow Amoah, deputy director of research at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), noted: “The challenge that we cannot run away from is climate change. For Ghana, this means that farmers have great difficulty in planning their activities: some plant too early before the rains, some plant too late.”
“Today in Ghana the average age of a cocoa farmer is 55 which is not too good for the future,” says Amoah. COCOBOD has launched a “Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme” as a means of attracting the youth.
Last but not least, a final critical issue is land tenure. Most cocoa farmers do not own the land they work on since they are migrant farmers. This does not ensure proper land use practices and adequate benefit sharing among stakeholders.
As the surge in prices filters down to retail shelves, chocolate makers like Hershey expect to see a further slow down in demand for their products from cash conscious customers.
“We haven’t seen this kind of reduction in recent times,” said the president of Ghana’s cocoa buyers group. “Rising global cocoa prices have incentivized smuggling, meaning losses could be higher this season. “
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
A housing crisis is gripping tens of millions of families nationwide, cutting across political lines and sparking bipartisan action in state legislatures. The root cause of the crisis is a chronic housing shortage, which has driven home prices up by approximately 60 percent after adjusting for inflation over the past decade. The staggering increase has left many families struggling to afford rent or homeownership, and, according to recent data, around a quarter of renters, equivalent to roughly 12 million households, are spending more than half of their income on housing costs, far exceeding the recommended one-third threshold for financial health. On Tuesday, May 7, Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a significant funding boost to address the pressing issues of affordable housing and homelessness across the United States. The White House said the announcement through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) marks a crucial step in Harris and President Joe Biden’s efforts to tackle the housing crisis inherited from previous administrations. Harris announced that $5.5 billion in grants would be distributed to 1,200 communities through more than 2,400 grants to states, cities, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and local organizations nationwide. “Homeownership is an essential part of the American Dream that represents so much more than a roof over our heads,” Harris stated. “That is why President Biden and I are expanding on our historic investments in housing by announcing $5.5 billion that will increase access to affordable housing, invest in economic growth, and address homelessness in communities throughout America.” The funding, part of the White House Housing Supply Action Plan and the Blueprint for a Renter’s Bill of Rights, aims to boost the housing supply, lower housing costs, expand rental assistance, enhance renter protections, and invest in more robust, more resilient communities. “A coordinated whole-of-community approach is crucial to build strong and resilient communities, invest in decent housing, create healthy environments, expand economic opportunities accessible to low-income households, and support aspiring homebuyers and those experiencing homelessness,” Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized in a statement. The White House said the allocation of the $5.5 billion in grants would go through various HUD programs, including: $1.3 billion to 668 grantees to build affordable housing through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). $214 million to every state to increase affordable housing supply via the Housing Trust Fund (HTF). $3.3 billion to 1,254 grantees to build stronger communities through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). $455 million to 130 grantees to connect people with HIV/AIDS to housing and support through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program. $290 million to 357 grantees to address homelessness through Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG). $30 million to 23 States and the District of Columbia to support recovery from substance use disorder via the Recovery Housing Program (RHP). The announcement follows Harris’s recent stops on her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour, where she has been highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to support communities and improve access to housing while making it more affordable. Administration officials pointed out that Harris has been a vocal advocate for homeownership and housing affordability. As Attorney General of California, she helped pass the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, and as a U.S. Senator, she introduced several bills aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing and lowering renters’ costs. The White House said the latest funding underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis and creating opportunities for all Americans to access safe and affordable housing. “The funding made available today serves as building blocks to empower communities to take ownership of community development investments and put the needs of residents first,” Todman asserted.
