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

vmills@procuregh.com

www.youtube.com/

TCBProjectGhana

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Twitter: @TCBProjectGhana

Trade Capacity—Building for Ghana Programme: ...Improving Sustainable Chains of Exports from Ghana

www.unido.org

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