#ghana cocoa tour package

[thxnews]

UK Pledges £40 Million for Ghanaian Businesses

  £40 Million Boost Promised for Ghana's Small Businesses

Monday, July 31 - Today, the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, sets off on a momentous four-day journey through Africa, commencing his tour in Ghana, one of the UK's significant export markets in sub-Saharan Africa. The focus of his visit is to announce a substantial investment for small businesses in Ghana, highlighting the UK's commitment to fostering economic growth and cooperation in the region.  

UK Pledges £40 Million Funding through Growth Investment Partners for Ghanaian SMEs

Up to 150 Businesses to Benefit within the Next 15 Years Growth Investment Partners (GIP) Ghana, a company established by British International Investment (BII), will deliver the £40 million package of funding for Ghana's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This initiative is projected to support up to 150 Ghanaian SMEs over the next 15 years, providing long-term flexible capital and essential business support services to nurture growth.  

UK-African Investment Summit Set to Strengthen Partnerships

Ghana Among the Countries Represented, Aiming to Boost Trade and Investment This support for Ghana comes ahead of the 2024 UK-African Investment Summit, which the Prime Minister will host in London next April. The Summit will bring together Heads of State and Government from African countries, including Ghana, along with British and African business leaders. Its aim is to strengthen UK-African partnerships, fostering job creation, economic growth, and increased trade and investment in the region. In 2022, Ghana exported goods worth $17.3 billion, with $1.7 billion going to the UK. The nation's export portfolio is diversified, comprising 80% of oil, cocoa, and gold. Additionally, the UK plays a crucial role as a trading partner for the remaining 20% of non-traditional goods, including bananas, tuna, and fresh-cut fruit.  

British International Investment's Long-standing Commitment to Ghana

Over Six Decades of Investment Across Key Sectors British International Investment (BII) has actively invested in Ghana's private sector since 1959, strengthening economic ties between the two nations. In 2022, BII's investment portfolio in Ghana surpassed $129 million, covering critical sectors such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, forestry, and financial services. Through these investments, BII supported over 15,800 direct jobs and paid $3.3 million in taxes, contributing to Ghana's economic development.  

A Continuation of Foreign Secretary's African Engagements

Previous Visits to Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone This marks the Foreign Secretary's third visit to Africa since his appointment. In 2022, he visited Kenya and Ethiopia, announcing new trade and investment funding while witnessing the impacts of climate change and conflict. In March 2023, he launched the Women and Girls Strategy in Sierra Leone, showcasing the UK's commitment to promoting gender equality and empowerment in the region. As the Foreign Secretary continues his journey, the FCDO will release further updates throughout the week, covering the later legs of his trip. This signifies the UK's ongoing dedication to fostering strong relationships with African nations, building transformative partnerships, and driving economic growth and development across the continent. The investment in Ghana's small businesses not only signals a promising start to this tour but also lays the groundwork for a prosperous future for both Ghana and the UK.   Sources: THX News, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office & The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP. Read the full article

[candolandtours-blog]

Ghana Cocoa Tour Package - Can Do Land Tours

Can Do Land Tours offers Ghana Cocoa Tours at an affordable price. We are one of the best tour operators in the region. Call us at +1 619 758 4181 for more information.

[adventuroustiming-blog]

Why You Should Choose Blacstartours To Travel To Ghana And Tanzania?

If there is something that you are looking for experiencing cultural adventure and want to visit a country then, Africa is the best destination for that or West Africa which is an English Speaking country because language communication is the main thing that needs to be thought of while you are on the travelling expedition. Ghana is located in the West coast of Africa and Tanzania the East Coast of Africa. Ghana is a destination spot due to the English language. But also is rich in Natural resources like Gold, diamonds, Is also the leading producer of cocoa in the world, the raw materials for chocolate. It boasts of the biggest man made lake in the world. Ghana portrays enormous display of royalties in all ethnic groups. The country is not only having a wonder monuments like Pyramids in Egypt or a high density of wildlife in Eastern African region but have many various cultures which gives you a numerous range of experiences once you are in Ghana and Tanzania.

But all this experience could be achieved if you have a best Tours and Travel Company by your side and such is the Blacstartours, Blacstartours will take you from The West to East Africa and provide the best travelling packages to Ghana and Tanzania at very affordable prices. The company deals with easy and hassle free flights and visa application services so that you won’t have to worry about your trip. There are many reasons to visit Ghana and Tanzania.  With Blacstartours you will get to see many tourist attractions. So let us have a look over this

Friendly people around- Ghana welcomes each and every individual with full respect. Ghana is considered one of the friendliest nations in the world. The country is so welcoming with all hospitable services also.

Scenic Attraction- Beautiful seashores, creeks, streams, lagoons, waterfalls, mountains, forests untouched by humans, The Rocky Mountains and Sahelian bush and desert which will give you an enthralling experience once you visit the place.

Experiences that are Cultural- Travelling to Ghana and Tanzania will give you an experience for interacting with the people who like to participate in many cultural experiences. You will also get the feeling of Jungle Safari.

Wildlife Experiences- There is diversity in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in and around Ghana and Tanzania which gives you amazing and wonderful experience of exotic species of flora and fauna. A Jungle Jeep Safari is the most amazing experience among many tourists. Elephants, Hippos and Lions can be seen in and around every National Parks that gives you some unique experiences once you will found yourself within this natural beauty.

Zanzibar Islands- Zanzibar island is located on the off coast of Tanzania which makes blissful tourist destinations with idealistic beaches, warm and balmy weather and tropical waters. Zanzibar islands consist of old mansions and palaces that make it unique with vibrant culture. It is also known as Spice Island because it offers wide range of spice varieties.

Maasai Group- Another main tourist attraction is the Maasai Tribe which is home to northern Tanzania. It is an ethnic group consisting of northern, central and southern Kenya. Many tourists are attracted towards this tribe group because of its cultural traditional music and dance. Melodious songs are sung in harmony among the tribe members to celebrate any occasion. The social organization of the tribe is very strong but is now influenced by modern world which has moved many nomadic community towards modern world.

Safety Policies- Ghana is the safe country to venture in the place of Africa.Tourist hardly faces any problems regarding travelling anywhere. They are free to move over the place during night time too and Blacstartours ensures complete safety once you land up to the place.

Tourism Policies- Blacstartours keeps in mind all the tourism policies of the destination at the backend. The company makes all the arrangements such as visa, travelling cost, accommodation and tourist attraction expedition within policies so that you do not have trod face any difficulty in the country.

[ayittey1]

The Golden Age of African  Peasant Prosperity

 The period 1880-1950 may be characterized as the golden age of peasant Prosperity in Africa. Though colonialism was invidious, one of its little-known and acknowledged "benefits" was the peace it brought Africa. The slave trade and competition over resources had fueled many of the tribal wars in precolonial Africa – just as competition over mineral resources, in particular diamonds, fueled wars in Angola, Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in the twenty-first century. The slave trade generates intense emotional reaction among blacks. Unfortunately, however, there is much confusion and mythology about African participation in that abominable trade, which I have tried to clarify in an addendum at the end of this chapter.

The abolition of the slave trade in the 1840s eliminated a cause bellum and made apparent the need to provide an alternative to the trade in human cargo. Toward this end, cash‑crops were introduced into Africa. About this time, the industrial revolution was gathering momentum in Europe. Factories needed raw materials and markets for manufactured products. Colonies could provide both: raw materials and markets. Tribal wars and rivalries virtually came to halt, although they flared up occasionally. Their amelioration gave Africa a much-needed atmosphere of peace for productive economic activity. In addition, skeletal forms of infrastructure (roads, railways, bridges, schools, post office, etc.) were laid down during this period, which greatly facilitated the movement of goods and people. This infrastructural development really gave production and economic expansion a tremendous boost. The secret to economic prosperity in Africa is not hard to find. A mere three words unveil this secret: peace and infrastructure and economic freedom.

It is instructive to note that the economic system used by the natives of Africa to engineer their economic prosperity in the 1880-1950 period was their own indigenous system. Except for a few places in Africa, notably in the Portuguese colonies, plantation agriculture was unknown. Cash crops were grown by peasant farmers on their own individual plots, using traditional farming methods and practices. In other words, the natives prospered using their own existing indigenous system with only minor modifications and improvements. For example, the cultivation of cocoa was not mechanized; it was a highly labor-intensive undertaking. Transportation of cocoa in the early twentieth century was by human porterage, which gave rise to the pricing of cocoa by the "head load@. The building of roads and the introduction of motor vehicles tremendously improved the transportation of cocoa and boosted exports and there were other improvements as well: insecticides, spraying machines, and so on. But the basic system of land tenure and the peasants' discretion over what crops to grow etc. were unchanged. African peasants were generally not forced to cultivate any cash crops. Forced labor in the French, Belgian, and Portuguese colonies was mainly for construction purposes.

The fundamental point is that African natives had the economic freedom to decide for themselves what crops they could cultivate C cash crops or food crops C and what to do with the proceeds. This economic freedom was a notable feature of their indigenous economic system. Indeed, Kendall and Louw (1986) - two white South Africans - noted: "The freedom that characterized tribal society in part explains why black South Africans responded so positively to the challenges of a free market that, by the 1870s, they were out-competing whites, especially as farmers" (p.4).

Though this freedom was circumscribed under colonialism in central and southern Africa, the peasants prospered during the colonial era. Why, then, were they unable to continue prospering after independence? The answer is obvious: Their economic freedom was somehow snatched from them. According to the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom (2004) only 9 African countries can be classified as AMostly Free@ in 2004: Botswana, Uganda, South Africa, Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia, Namibia, and Mauritius. No African country received a “Free” rating.

 The move away from economic freedom came first in South Africa, where according to Kendall and Louw (1986):

Black success had tragic consequences. White colonists feared black competition and this fear, combined with the whites' desire for cheap labor, resulted in a series of laws that systematically denied blacks access to the marketplace and stripped them of any meaningful form of land ownership (p.4).

 The truth is that white farmers felt threatened by blacks. Not only were blacks better farmers but they were also competing with white farmers for land. Moreover, they were self-sufficient and hence not available to work on white farms or in industry, particularly in the Transvaal gold mines where their labor was badly needed. As a result a series of laws was passed that robbed blacks of almost all economic freedom. The purpose of these laws was to prevent blacks from competing with whites and to drive them into the work force. (p.12)

In 1869, 1876, and 1884 the Cape Assembly passed a series of Location Acts (the first set of apartheid laws) that sought to protect white farmers from black competition and to force blacks to become wage laborers by working for white farmers. Then came the Native Land Act of 1913; the rest is history. Even during the apartheid era, South African officials grudgingly acknowledged the industriousness of black farmers. For example, in 1985, the Development Bank, a quasigovernment agency, began financing small agricultural credit programs, which involved dispensing a package of aid (seed, fertilizer, a few implements, and basic advice) to black subsistence farmers at a cost of $150 per farmer. According to the Bank's general manager, Johan Kruger, these programs were “quite remarkably successful”. The farmers significantly upgraded the production of about 25,000 of these smallholdings and greatly improved their ability to feed their families. “The perception that blacks can't farm and that people can't make a living on small pieces of land in South Africa is a fallacy”, Kruger said. “Provided they have the necessary support services and infrastructure, black farmers have shown that they can farm as well as whites” (The Washington Post, Dec 29, 1990; p.A14).

In the rest of Africa, the turn toward statism and the attendant restrictions on economic freedom came after independence. Support services and infrastructure were not provided by new elites. Traditional Africa was castigated by the elites as Abackward and primitive@. Peasant agriculture was neglected in favor of industry. Chiefs and Africa=s traditional rulers were stripped of their power and authority. Foreign ideologies were imposed on the Atingas, and their economic freedom was wrenched from them by "Swiss-bank socialists@, while their economic prosperity was taxed and squandered by vampire elites through a series of edicts, state controls, and decrees, as we saw in chapter 6.

 After independence, many African governments not only nationalized European companies, ostensibly to prevent "foreign exploitation", but also debarred the natives from many economic fields. For example, after Ghana gained its independence, mining operations were monopolized by the state, and indigenous gold‑mining was declared illegal. In fact, "Anyone caught indulging in illegal gold prospecting, popularly known as `galamsey' (gather them and sell), will be shot, a PNDC representative announced to a workers' rally in the Western Region" (West Africa, March 1, 1982; p.618).

In many other African countries, the natives were squeezed out of industry, trade, and commerce, and the state emerged as the domineering, if not the only, player. Indigenous operators were not tolerated. Indeed, there was a time when the director of the Club du Sahel, Anne de Lattre, would begin her meetings with the frightening remark, "Well, there is one thing we all agree on: that private traders should be shot" (West Africa, Jan 26, 1987; p.154). Under Sekou Toure of Guinea's nonsensical program of "Marxism in African Clothes@, unauthorized trading became a crime. The prices the Atingas received for their produce were dictated by governments, not determined by market forces in accordance with African traditions.

 Resources extracted from the Atingas were spent to develop the urban areas for the neglected, becoming more crowded and filthy. Recall how important the indigenous markets were in traditional Africa but post colonial African governments seldom cleaned, let alone even build, markets for the Atingas. Finally, after 30 years,

“Workers at Kenya's main market killed 6,000 rats, trucked away 750 tons of garbage and sucked 70 tons of human waste out of latrines in three days of the first major cleanup of the market in 30 years, a government minister said. The Wakulima Market, which supplies fresh food to most of Nairobi's three million residents, was a public health hazard, with rubbish piling up seven feet deep in some places, said Local Government Minister Musikari Kombo, who ordered the closing of the market for cleaning last week. "We were lucky to be spared a major outbreak of disease," he said. City workers used more than 42,000 gallons of water in the cleanup operation, he said” (The New York Times, Jan 5, 2005; p.A6).

 Botswana was the only black African country in the postcolonial period that did not persecute its Atingas but rather went back and built upon their indigenous roots. It paid off handsomely. In elegant brevity, Newsweek (July 23, 1990) put the issue poignantly: ABotswana built a working democracy on an aboriginal tradition of local gatherings called kgotlas that resemble New England town meetings; it has a record $2.7 billion in foreign exchange reserves (p.28).

 Excerpted is from my book, Africa Unchained

 Reference

 Louw, Leon and Frances Kendall (1987). After Apartheid: The Solution. Los Angeles: Institute for Contemporary Studies.

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[nanananski]

[Cerita] Cokelat: Pipiltin, jagoan cokelat dan milenial (3)

Masih ingat cerita cokelat bagian pertama? Di sana, ada seorang pengusaha cokelat yang berani berpolemik dan berpolitik dalam industri cokelat Nusantara. Nah, saya akan membahas tentangnya dan usaha miliknya. Let’s start!

Tissa Aunilla. Adalah pemilik cafe dan pabrik cokelat di Jakarta. Jika familier dengan Pipiltin Cocoa, itulah cafe miliknya! She’s a sister of the Anomali Coffee owner. Di Pipiltin, kita nggak cuma bisa pesan iced or hot chocolate loh. Tapi ada deretan chocolate bar plus tester, cookies, cake, praline, truffle, maccaron, jam, dan masih banyak lagi. Jadi sebelum beli, kita bisa mencicipi cokelatnya. 

Saya pernah menikmati segelas iced chocolate. Enak bin nikmat. Cokelatnya tak terlalu pekat dan creamy --karena ditambah susu-- dan ada aroma kayu manis. Kalau nggak ingin manis, bisa minta less sugar atau no sugar. Pokoknya barista bisa diajak kompromi deh. 

Nggak lengkap rasanya, kalau ke Pipiltin nggak beli chocolate bar. Buat pencinta cokelat ber-budget rendah --macem saya ini--, Anda pasti bakal bingung mau beli yang mana dulu nih... Soalnya, mereka punya 12 varian chocolate bar! 12 varian loh, sis. Kalau nggak salah hitung. Harganya pun nggak murah, 50 gram dibanderol Rp 60 ribu. Mayan pricey kan buat proletar kayak saya ini? Tapi saya akui, Pipiltin jago bin mahir meracik cokelat alias chocolatier Indonesia itu ya Pipiltin.

Saya beli chocolate bar Tabanan Bali 60%, Seasalt & Almond 60%, dan Nibs. Di TKP, saya sempat mencicipi macadamia, cashew, almond, Aceh Pidie, Flores (NTT), Glenmore (Banyuwangi, Jawa Timur), dan potato chips. Kalau chocolate bar yang bersanding dengan kacang-kacangan nggak usah ditulis lagi lah ya. Udah pasti enak, gurih, klop! Kalau Aceh Pidie, rasanya pahit, sepahit-pahitnya politik kantor deh. Sama sekali nggak ada jejak fruity-nya. By the way, jangan tanya rasa cokelat Flores dan Glenmore. Soalnya rasanya itu bernuansa berry, pekat, nikmat, lezat! Tapi yang paling aneh adalah potato chips. Semacam makan remahan Lay’s + pasta cokelat, terus ngganjel di tenggorokan. Buat saya, paling favorit itu chocolate bar Tabanan, olahan kokoa pekat, nge-blend dengan cacao butter, gula, dan ada lintasan fruity. Nibs juga enak, mirip chocolate bar plus potongan raw cocoa beans. Katanya nibs ini superfood loh, gaes. 

Soal packaging, Pipiltin mengarah pada contemporary design, away from Indonesian touch. Tapi lebih artsy, playful, dengan sentuhan alam. Jadi warna yang digunakan mengarah ke pastel, nggak segonjreng packaging Pod (ada di bagian kedua). Lambang jenama ini mirip ukiran suku Asmat. Cocok buat konsumen milenial ibukota.

Menurut Tissa, nasib cokelat sama seperti teh. Nasib mereka ditentukan tengkulak. Kualitas bagus pasti untuk komoditas ekspor. Pada akhirnya, kebanyakan industri cokelat Indonesia cuma menggunakan cokelat kualitas nomor dua bahkan nomor tiga atau empat. Dengan semangat menggebu ala milenial, Tissa menyakinkan petani agar memberikan cokelat kualitas Pertamax --kualitas Premium udah lewat-- ke pihaknya. Meski mereka terhitung startup --berdiri pada Maret 2013-- skala kecil-menengah, mereka ingin memiliki dan memberikan hasil se-maksimal kepada pecinta cokelat. Hasil terbaik dalam negeri harus dinikmati orang kita dong, ya.

Setelah mendapatkan biji kokoa pilihan, Pipiltin akan mem-fermentasi dalam kurun waktu tertentu. Alasannya, biji kokoa yang difermentasi menghasilkan rasa unik, salah satunya fruity. Rasanya bakal “keluar”, yang pasti lebih kaya rasa. Setelah ubek-ubek situs pertanian, bisa ditarik kesimpulan bahwa proses fermentasi untuk mengenyahkan lendir yang nempel di biji kokoa, menghasilkan aroma dan rasa fruity/nutty, dan mengubah warna biji.

Pipiltin juga menyediakan factory tour, baking class, dan cocoa cooking class. Find more info at Pipiltin. Oiya, setelah ada tiga cerita cokelat, Anda masih bilang cokelat terbaik dari Swiss dan Belgia? Kalo ada yang bilang, cokelat terbaik ada di Ghana atau Pantai Gading sih masih masuk akal. 

Pipiltin Cocoa Jl. Barito 2 No.5 021-72800011

Jl. M. H. Thamrin No.11 Ground Floor 0821 14048617

[candolandtours-blog]

Ghana Cocoa Tour Package - Can Do Land Tours

Explore cocoa tour in Ghana with Can Do Land Tours. We are committed to make your Ghana Cocoa Tour outstanding and unforgettable. This tour is designed in a way to deliver a mind-blowing experience.

Read more… Fulfill Your Dream To Explore the Origin Of Cocoa – Ghana Cocoa Tour Package…!!