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Actress Gloria Sarfo Champions Sustainability as Ambassador for African Sustainability Concert
Government Urged to Address Levies and Taxes to Reduce Cement Prices
Shanghai Eases Property Buying Rules to Address Real Estate Crisis
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Renowned Ghanaian actress Gloria Sarfo is optimistic that the forthcoming African Sustainability Concert will significantly elevate awareness about sustainability across Africa.
In an exclusive interview with PETV in Accra, Ms. Sarfo expressed that Africa has been awaiting such an initiative, which has the potential to unite people and promote change and collaboration on sustainability issues.
She praised the Property Express Group for selecting her as the concert’s ambassador, scheduled for October in the UK.
The award winning actress emphasized the honor of being recognized globally and her passion for fostering a sustainable future for Africa.
As part of her role, she plans to choose acting projects that promote sustainability and leverage her social media presence to raise awareness.
Reflecting on her past efforts, such as raising public awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic, she noted the importance of actors in sustainability initiatives.
Ms. Sarfo aims to balance her acting career with her ambassadorial duties, working with sustainability professionals to drive change.
She advocates for engaging young leaders, integrating sustainability into education, and supporting youth-led initiatives. Sarfo believes storytelling is a powerful tool for promoting sustainability by creating emotional connections through impactful narratives.
She expressed excitement about the concert, viewing it as a platform not only for music but also for advancing sustainability in Africa. She called on potential partners to join the cause and take action for a sustainable future.
Away from that
Yusif Sulemana, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee, believes the government can do more to lower cement costs rather than making “illegal” demands on manufacturers.
Speaking on JoyNews’,, he pointed out that various levies, such as a fumigation levy on clinker, a key component in cement production), contribute to high cement prices.
He argued that this levy is unjustified since no fumigation service is provided.
Sulemana also highlighted excessive taxation on manufacturers as another factor driving up production costs and, consequently, cement prices.
He urged the government to address these issues to help reduce cement prices.
In news elsewhere
Traditional sustainable construction practices are crucial for Africa’s climate resilience and mitigation, as emphasized by UNEP’s Jonathan Duwyn.
With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050, mainly in cities, sustainable building practices are essential to manage urban growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Historical African building techniques and the continent’s rich renewable energy resources, especially solar and wind, provide significant potential for sustainable development.
Addressing future energy demands, particularly for cooling, is critical, and natural cooling systems should be prioritized.
Projects like the Lycee Schorge secondary school and Gando primary school in Burkina Faso exemplify the successful use of sustainable materials and designs. Utilizing natural materials, such as adobe and bamboo, is vital for improving housing in overcrowded, climate-vulnerable informal settlements, enhancing resilience against climate change.
Shanghai has eased property buying restrictions to combat a real estate crisis affecting China’s economy.
The city reduced the residency requirement for buyers from five years to three, lowered the minimum down payment for commercial housing mortgages to 20 percent, and allowed families with two or more children to purchase an additional home.
Other major cities have also made similar adjustments.
Nationally, the government has cut the minimum down payment for first-time buyers to a historic low and is considering purchasing unused commercial real estate to support the property and construction sectors.
Source : Joycelyn Marigold & Diana Okyerebea- Africa Home Building News
