The Blue Oasis, a resource like no other.  Located in the centre of the Greater Accra district, the Blue Oasis was established in June 2021 as a community centre for urban refugees under the urban program of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It has an ICT centre, a library, training rooms, conference centre and board room. All of these have been set up to aid refugees in their work search and for their skills development, livelihood activities, information exchanges and recreation. The centre is only a year old and according to the Administrator, Ms. Araba Ghansah, it is providing great service to users. “The centre is like an event centre where refugees come to for programmes, leadership meetings, English and ICT proficiency programmes, capacity building and training programmes, such as hairdressing, sewing, catering and the likes. Deborah Lawson, a 21-year-old Togolese who has lived as a refugee in Ghana for the past 12 years, is a frequent client of the Blue Oasis.  She uses the centre’s remedial class services to improve upon her high school grades. “I find this centre very helpful because without it, I do not think I would have gotten any classes to attend. Thanks to the UNHCR, we have been given a second chance to further our education”. Another useful resource available at the centre is career counseling service. “As students, when we get to a stage in our education, we need someone to guide us to select our career or what we would do in the future. Some people do not get that chance but at this place, we have a career counsellor who guides us on career choice selection for the future” says Deborah, as she beams. World Refugee Day is observed annually on June 20 and is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the resilience and contributions of refugees around the globe. The day also requires for us to intensify our advocacy for the right of refugees everywhere. According to the UNHCR 2021 Global Trends report, the number of people forced to flee their homes has increased every year over the past decade and stands at the highest level since records began. By the end of 2021, those displaced by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses stood at 89.3 million, up 8 per cent on a year earlier and well over double the figure of 10 years ago. Presently, Ghana hosts refugees from over 30 countries with some 13,695, constituting population of concern according to the UNHCR Fact Sheet March/April 2022.  One of them is Abdulrahman Baoud, a 20-year-old Sudanese refugee in Ghana since 2016. Abdul arrived in Ghana with his sister. Although his sister left him in Ghana, Abdul remained. He said the support he received from the UNHCR and the Christian Council of Ghana (UNHCR’s Partner organization) sustained him. With the support he received, Abdul was able to further his education from the Junior High School to Senior High School, and currently in his second year. Talking about the Blue Oasis, he said, “I have come for classes which was organized by the centre. We are here for the core subjects which are Mathematics, Science and English.” In Abdul’s words, “if it had not been for the centre that organized classes for us, I would be at home by this time doing nothing.” Considering how beneficial the classes have been to him, Abdul expressed his wish for more electives and other core subjects to be added to the courses offered. “The centre also offers skills training such as driving, sewing, makeup artistry. Students also have the opportunity to exhibit their products when there are events here” Abdul added. In his concluding comments, Abdul said, “So many people were in the house doing nothing and relying on UNHCR to give them money because they did not have jobs to do. Through this Centre, many of these people have been trained and can now make a living without depending on the UNHCR financial support.” On World Refugee Day, as we focus on the global refugee crisis and the importance of refugees’ access to asylum, we are reminded of the right of refugees to seek safety – whoever, whenever, wherever. Nevertheless, the issue of refugees ought to be recognized from these three perspectives. First, it is a cardinal principle of international law that nobody should be forcefully returned to where their lives would be in danger – instead they should be given access to asylum procedures to ensure they are safe. Secondly, the consideration of non-discrimination in relation to refugees is important so as not to push people back to where their lives would be in jeopardy. Finally, the socio-economic integration of refugees involves their recognition as resourceful and skillful individuals who are capable of contributing to the local economy and not passive recipients of aid. UNHCR works closely with the government of Ghana, principally the Ghana Refugee Board, in ensuring that refugees are able to enjoy their rights and access assistance and services. The Blue Oasis Community Center is a deliberate initiative to reach out to urban-based refugees who are scattered across vast areas, to ensure they are also assisted and informed about their rights and responsibilities. “Often you think of refugees as people who may not have skills or may not have education but that’s not the case. We have some highly educated refugees here and some with good technical skills” says Andrew Ginsberg, UNHCR Ghana’s Senior Durable Solutions Officer. Andrew notes that “we need to help these refuges support themselves, integrate economically into the economy of Ghana. So, one thing we are trying to do is trying to help them get internships, get jobs and also in some cases, complementary pathways, which is a type of immigration to third countries where that country requires specific skills.” With the support received from its partners, UNHCR is keen to make the Oasis stand the test of time in the years to come. With only a year old, the Blue Oasis has become a household name amongst the refugee community and their hosts. The UNHCR Country Representative, Ms. Esther Kiragu says, “through the center, together with our urban implementing partner, the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), we will continue with the proactive outreach to as many partners as possible, both traditional and the private sector, to enhance the socio-economic integration of refugees in urban areas. It is important that they are meaningfully engaged so that they are not only able to cater for their own needs while in asylum, but that they can contribute to nation-building when they are able to return back to their home Countries in safety and dignity. This will ease their reintegration back home and make peace more durable.”.  

Solutions to today's global concerns, such as climate change and youth unemployment, require a multi-sectoral approach. Leveraging on scientific knowledge for its work in the areas of education, science, culture and communication, the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has become ever more important. “You will agree with me that the basis of everything we do, is science” says Mrs. Akosua Buckman, Head of the Museum of Science and Technology, located in Accra. “Science facilitates discovery, knowledge acquisition, and problem-solving.” She added, confirming the usefulness to properly collect, preserve and conserve scientific discoveries in museums for future references. The Museum in Accra is hosting an exhibition titled “Back to the Science Museum”. Sectioned into four themes, communication, wildlife, humans, and transportation, the exhibition consists of collections dating as far back as 1960s. This will offer the opportunity for visitors to learn about science and appreciate its value and worth in our daily lives. According to Mrs. Buckman, “science literacy is not evenly distributed throughout society, as a result, the Museum of Science and Technology is a place where anyone can come in and learn about science”. She expressed concern about the lack of scientific apparatus needed to teach science successfully in public schools. Consequently, results from analysis from the ongoing exhibition will inform the Museum’s approach to reach out to young people with the aim of bridging the gap between theory and practice. As the first female Director of the Museum of Science and Technology, Mrs. Buckman said a lot is expected of her, but she embraces every challenge and will work towards delivering effective and efficient service.  She expressed heartfelt congratulations to all women, both international and domestic, who have and continue to be trailblazers in various fields. She said the Museum is looking forward to collaborating with STEM groups, both foreign and local, to achieve a collective goal. Science and technology museums are places where science concepts are demonstrated, and people can see how science concepts are applied. This collective effort would give birth to the dream of evoking interest in science and technology among young people as well as teaching how to understand everyday life through science.

Small businesses are the engine that drives the global economy. They create jobs, drive innovation, and support socio-economic development. As the COVID-19 pandemic made the world’s economy shudder, small businesses remained the backbone for recovery and sustainability. With this realization, trade promotion organizations around the world are called upon to support these businesses to survive and be more sustainable, competitive and bold to meet the economic and development challenges of our time. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Trade Promotion Organization (WTPO) Conference in Accra, Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kyerematen stated that “the need for trade promotion organizations worldwide to effectively support MSMEs to address the challenges of a post-COVID economy is now a development imperative.” He added that “if the world is to benefit from its numerous advantages, trade must be placed at the centre of our development agenda.” The Minister advocated for an aggressive effort to pursue initiatives that mainstream trade in national development plans. The 13th WTPO Conference and Awards was hosted by Ghana, under the leadership of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. The event brought together leading trade professionals, experts and governments from 57 countries to celebrate the achievements of their peers, learn from the best practices of other nations, and support the next generation of leaders. This year, the conference was on the theme “Bold solutions for resilience and recovery.” The event featured insights into the current state of global trade. Managing risk, sustainable trade and business opportunities with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were the focus of three major plenary sessions. The second day focused on “humanizing work” and sharing tools and best practices for trade promotion leaders to take action in their organizations. Side events included a workshop on national export strategy before the conference, and the annual meeting of the Economic Community of West African States just after the conference. The event was also an occasion to recognize best practices and exemplary performance of trade promotion organizations with global awards. As the previous winners – Procomer of Costa Rica, Enterprise Georgia and Business Sweden – could not receive their trophies due to the pandemic, they received them in Accra. The 2022 winners were unveiled in an evening ceremony. Zimtrade (Zimbabwe) received the award for sustainable and inclusive development; Matrade (Malaysia) won for information technology; and Jampro (Jamaica) won for partnerships. The conference also served to highlight support to businesses through two Memoranda of Understanding, one for African countries and one for Ghana. In the first, ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton signed an MOU with Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. This partnership brings ITC expertise to the service of the AfCFTA, as part of its strategy for the private sector to access market opportunities across the continent. The second MOU launched the Netherlands Trust Fund V Ghana project to boost Ghana’s tech and agribusiness sectors, with an accent on small business. The project launch was signed by the ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton; CEO of GEPA, Afua Asabea Asare; and the Director of International Programmes of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Tjerk Opmeer. This project will support young farmers to increase their output using innovative solutions and the integration of technology. The world economy continues to face numerous global and local challenges. As the world is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the geo-political conflict between Russia and Ukraine are further evidently putting a strain on economies around the world. “The global response to adversities between Russia and Ukraine has brought about profound uncertainties in an already uncertain world”, said Dr. Asabea Asare, Chief Executive Officer of GEPA. To ensure that businesses and economies can thrive and grow, governments and businesses need to find new and innovative ways to connect, communicate, and collaborate. “Trade promotion organizations can make all the difference,” said Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC Executive Director. “They must help businesses to mitigate risks and embrace opportunities of a green transition. They must help women, youth and vulnerable groups join global value chains, and overcome systemic barriers that keep them from developing their businesses for export.”    

“Water related issues remain at the forefront of inequality, poverty and health challenges globally. The implications of unequal access to water and sanitation resources have also strongly manifested themselves during the pandemic. It exposed the vulnerabilities of communities living in more distressed areas, further exacerbating existing gaps and hardships. It is symbolic that the conference is taking place in Sub-Saharan Africa where the needs are dire.”- Niklas Hedman, Acting Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) made these remarks at the 5TH International Conference on the use of Space Technology for Water Resource Management (ISTA-WRM) taking place in Accra. Space technology is playing a growing role in water resource management. From monitoring floods to assessing drought risks, satellite data has become an indispensable tool for meteorologists, hydrologists, and water managers. The 5TH ISTA-WRM is co-jointly organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the Government of Ghana, and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW).  The 4-day conference is to promote the use of space technology in water management to the benefit of developing countries. It is being hosted by the University of Energy and Natural Resources UENR) on behalf of the Government of Ghana. In his welcome remarks at the high-level opening of the conference, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice Chancellor at the UENR, cautioned that the degeneration of our water bodies through human activities such as illegal mining is detrimental to our livelihoods and the lives of our industries.  He expressed the urgency to sustainably manage our water resources. H.E. Ramses Joseph Cleland, Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration noted, “with less than a decade to achieve the SDGs, Ghana is pleased to contribute to ambitious global efforts such as hosting this conference, where governments, civil societies, and businesses convene to deliberate and determine how best to forge partnerships and blueprints towards the implementation of these goals.” Stating further, he said, “today, I can confidently say that great progress has been made in the pursuit of our goals, particularly, SDGs 6 and 17 through the use of space science and technology.” The Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum said there is the need to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education to encourage more youth to be involved in science and technology. This, he believes, would encourage more African youth to contribute actively to the promotion of space technology, stating that “the time for Africans to be observers is over.” The 5th ISTA-WRM aims to promote the application of space technology in water management to help developing countries, in particular those in Sub-Saharan Africa, to harness space-based solutions to address their water-related needs. Experts and practitioners from academia, government, and industry will share cutting-edge space-based solutions for water resources management.