THE Head of Operations of Donewell Life Company Limited, Mr Edmund Diamond Addo, has advised Ghanaians to take life insurance policy as a way of securing their future, should the unexpected happens.
He said most Ghanaians do not take life insurance as compared to motor insurance, a situation he said could be attributed to lack of education.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic during the company’s annual agents conference in Accra, Mr Addo called on Ghanaians to take life insurance in order to secure their lives in tragic moments.
Mr Addo said the company has targeted GH¢ 7.1 million as its annual income for the year 2010, and encouraged sales executives to work harder to achieve the target.
He also stated that the company had put in place a new motivational packages to encourage its workers to come out with the best.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Samuel Oduro, called on the staff to exhibit professionalism in the administration of their duties to project the company’s image.
He said members of staff should ensure that efforts were made to demonstrate quality services, marketing skills and product knowledge at their various work places and urged them to strive harder in bringing on board more business for the company.
He asked members of staff to desist from embezzling contributors funds, adding that the company would not hesitate to prosecute anybody found in the act.
As part of the conference, awards were given to outstanding sales agents of the company.
Mr Ebenezer Adjei, from the Kumasi branch, emerged as the most outstanding sales agent bringing on board 139 individual new businesses for the company. For his price, he received an all paid three days trip to Kenya.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Accra Institue of Technology Introduces New Programmes(Page 11, Jan 22)
THE Accra Institute of Technology has introduced eleven post graduate and under-graduate degree programmes in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The programmes include computer science, information technology, business administration, engineering, education and management.
The initiative forms part of a collaboration with the Open University of Malaysia (OUM).
The President of OUM, Prof Anuwar Ali, made this known when he led an eight-member delegation of the AIT and OUM to pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu in Accra on Thursday.
He said the programmes would help address the current crisis of shortage of lecturers with the requisite post- graduate degrees within public and private universities in the West African sub-region.
Prof. Ali said the OUM was the way to go if Ghana was to improve university enrolment and broaden access to tertiary education through the exploitation of the emerging educational delivery technologies and learning resources.
He stated that the open university would provide opportunities for Ghanaians and other West African countries to have access to university education and also study on-line.
Mr Iddrisu stated that the relationship between Ghana and Malaysia had existed since independence, saying that “this makes the collaboration a laudable one”.
He said the ministry was facilitating the development of broadband connectivity to support the private sector and other individuals to motivate learning on- line.
The minister said it was the agenda of government to develop the capacity of the citizenry in the area of ICT and commended the efforts of the two institutions.
He appealed to the AIT and OUM to make the cost of studies affordable in order to make it accessible to all Ghanaians.
Mr Iddrisu urged civil servants and the public to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in ICT, adding that the world was becoming a global village and that every body needed to have some knowledge in ICT.
The programmes include computer science, information technology, business administration, engineering, education and management.
The initiative forms part of a collaboration with the Open University of Malaysia (OUM).
The President of OUM, Prof Anuwar Ali, made this known when he led an eight-member delegation of the AIT and OUM to pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu in Accra on Thursday.
He said the programmes would help address the current crisis of shortage of lecturers with the requisite post- graduate degrees within public and private universities in the West African sub-region.
Prof. Ali said the OUM was the way to go if Ghana was to improve university enrolment and broaden access to tertiary education through the exploitation of the emerging educational delivery technologies and learning resources.
He stated that the open university would provide opportunities for Ghanaians and other West African countries to have access to university education and also study on-line.
Mr Iddrisu stated that the relationship between Ghana and Malaysia had existed since independence, saying that “this makes the collaboration a laudable one”.
He said the ministry was facilitating the development of broadband connectivity to support the private sector and other individuals to motivate learning on- line.
The minister said it was the agenda of government to develop the capacity of the citizenry in the area of ICT and commended the efforts of the two institutions.
He appealed to the AIT and OUM to make the cost of studies affordable in order to make it accessible to all Ghanaians.
Mr Iddrisu urged civil servants and the public to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in ICT, adding that the world was becoming a global village and that every body needed to have some knowledge in ICT.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Trade Ministry Gets Advisory Board (Page 30, Jan 20)
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has inaugurated a nine-member Ministerial Advisory Board to help in the formulation and implementation of the ministry’s policies.
Members of the board were drawn from the ministry’s stakeholders, including the Export Development and Investment Fund, the Association of Ghana Industries, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (Ceps) and the ministry itself.
The sector Minister, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said it was important for such a board to be inaugurated to steer the affairs of the ministry.
She said the board would help improve the relationship between the ministry and its stakeholders, especially the private sector, in order to boost the country’s exports.
Ms Tetteh said the ministry had outlined some initiatives on manufacturing policies and private sector development which, when completed, would improve the ministry’s key beneficiaries.
She said at the moment the ministry had challenges with the Economic Partnership Agreement and, therefore, it would be important for the board to advise it on that issue.
She appealed to the members of the board to bring on board quality information to help in the implementation of policies.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr George Aboagye, who is also a member of the board, said it was the responsibility of the board to advise the ministry on policies, analyse issues and monitor the implementation of policies for the sector.
He said the board would need support from the ministry and its staff in its administrative work.
He urged all to work together, support one another and listen to its beneficiaries to ensure the success of the board.
Other members of the board are Mr John Gyetuah, Mr William Kofi Larbi, Mr Wilson Attah Krofa, Mr Agyaben Antwi Agyei and Ms Veronica Sadah.
Members of the board were drawn from the ministry’s stakeholders, including the Export Development and Investment Fund, the Association of Ghana Industries, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (Ceps) and the ministry itself.
The sector Minister, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said it was important for such a board to be inaugurated to steer the affairs of the ministry.
She said the board would help improve the relationship between the ministry and its stakeholders, especially the private sector, in order to boost the country’s exports.
Ms Tetteh said the ministry had outlined some initiatives on manufacturing policies and private sector development which, when completed, would improve the ministry’s key beneficiaries.
She said at the moment the ministry had challenges with the Economic Partnership Agreement and, therefore, it would be important for the board to advise it on that issue.
She appealed to the members of the board to bring on board quality information to help in the implementation of policies.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr George Aboagye, who is also a member of the board, said it was the responsibility of the board to advise the ministry on policies, analyse issues and monitor the implementation of policies for the sector.
He said the board would need support from the ministry and its staff in its administrative work.
He urged all to work together, support one another and listen to its beneficiaries to ensure the success of the board.
Other members of the board are Mr John Gyetuah, Mr William Kofi Larbi, Mr Wilson Attah Krofa, Mr Agyaben Antwi Agyei and Ms Veronica Sadah.
Minister Calls For Review Of Classification Of Road Contractors (Page 15, Jan 16)
THE Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, has called for the review of conditions for classification of road contractors of government projects.
He said the current classification had contributed to the selection of road contractors who had failed to deliver to the expectation of the sector.
Speaking at the Fourth Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) in Accra yesterday, Mr Mettle-Nunoo said the classification centred more on the equipment of a company instead of its effectiveness and the total human resource.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo appealed to the union members to collaborate with other stakeholders in the road sector to bring about efficiency in the dispensation of their work.
He said most of the projects that were being undertaken in the country were at a slow pace and urged the contractors to collectively speed them up.
He appealed to the directors of the GHA to ensure that Internal Payment Certificates (IPC) were justified before they signed them.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo deplored the tendency where some of them demanded money before endorsing IPCs and advised those involved in such practices to put a stop to it.
He advised the union to institute an award scheme to reward hardworking members as a source of motivation at the end of every year.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo hinted that a labour-based training programme would be organised for unionised staff in all the regions to help them upgrade their skills.
He appealed to the members to report encroachment on land earmarked for roads as early warning signal systems to avoid compensation being paid to such encroachers by the government when it wanted to construct or expand on such roads.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo called on the union to devise plans which were attainable at the end of the year for government support.
The acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Mr Kwadjo Nyapong Aboagye, called on the government to help in the prompt payment of monies meant for the transfer of personnel of the authority to ease their burden when they reported to their new post.
The General Secretary of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union, Mr Pius Quainoo, appealed to the government to allow the union of the building and construction workers of the GHA to fully participate in the negotiations on the end-of-service benefits for their workers.
He said those of them in the building and construction sector of the GHA had been denied all social regulations and labour rights.
He deplored the undue interference from public authorities in the daily administration of the GHA in all the regions and added that it was a violation of trade union rights of the workers and amounted to undermining the labour contracts existing between the authority and its staff.
Mr Quainoo appealed to the government to appoint a substantive Board Chairman for the GHA to enable the authority to carry out its functions effectively.
He said the current classification had contributed to the selection of road contractors who had failed to deliver to the expectation of the sector.
Speaking at the Fourth Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) in Accra yesterday, Mr Mettle-Nunoo said the classification centred more on the equipment of a company instead of its effectiveness and the total human resource.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo appealed to the union members to collaborate with other stakeholders in the road sector to bring about efficiency in the dispensation of their work.
He said most of the projects that were being undertaken in the country were at a slow pace and urged the contractors to collectively speed them up.
He appealed to the directors of the GHA to ensure that Internal Payment Certificates (IPC) were justified before they signed them.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo deplored the tendency where some of them demanded money before endorsing IPCs and advised those involved in such practices to put a stop to it.
He advised the union to institute an award scheme to reward hardworking members as a source of motivation at the end of every year.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo hinted that a labour-based training programme would be organised for unionised staff in all the regions to help them upgrade their skills.
He appealed to the members to report encroachment on land earmarked for roads as early warning signal systems to avoid compensation being paid to such encroachers by the government when it wanted to construct or expand on such roads.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo called on the union to devise plans which were attainable at the end of the year for government support.
The acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Mr Kwadjo Nyapong Aboagye, called on the government to help in the prompt payment of monies meant for the transfer of personnel of the authority to ease their burden when they reported to their new post.
The General Secretary of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union, Mr Pius Quainoo, appealed to the government to allow the union of the building and construction workers of the GHA to fully participate in the negotiations on the end-of-service benefits for their workers.
He said those of them in the building and construction sector of the GHA had been denied all social regulations and labour rights.
He deplored the undue interference from public authorities in the daily administration of the GHA in all the regions and added that it was a violation of trade union rights of the workers and amounted to undermining the labour contracts existing between the authority and its staff.
Mr Quainoo appealed to the government to appoint a substantive Board Chairman for the GHA to enable the authority to carry out its functions effectively.
Constitution Review Exercise Very Necessary — Adei (Page 13, Jan 16)
THE immediate past Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof Stephen Adei, has described the proposed constitutional review as highly necessary in view of some shortcomings in the 1992 Constitution.
He said the framework (Constitution) of the nation, which was the reference point of the country’s laws, had to be put in the right shape to meet current challenges.
“Reviewing the Constitution is not rewriting the whole Constitution. It is only identifying some areas that need to be changed,” he said in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.
Prof Adei said although it was not good to be changing the Constitution every now and then, there was the need “to calibrate it in areas that had shortfalls to make it more efficient”.
He said, for instance, that elections should not be held every four years and that there should be a one presidential term of seven years to provide an uninterrupted period for a President to prosecute his agenda.
“I believe that things like the appointment of Council of State members where so much proportion is given to the President alone is wrong,” he said, noting that there was the need to improve the current system.
Prof. Adei suggested an independent Council of State into which members would be elected, while there would be representatives from bodies like the Ghana Bar Association, the Ghana Academic of Arts and Sciences, among others, to advise the President.
He said probably the Council of State should have little teeth like the House of Lords in Britain.
He disagreed with Prof. Kofi Kumado that the $3 million to be used for the exercise be used on rural development.
Prof Kumado had said in the face of the massive problems and deprivations the majority of Ghanaians suffered on a daily basis, the money to be spent would constitute a gross misuse of public funds on an exercise “which can only be self-indulgence by the literate”.
In a letter to the Editor of the Daily Graphic in reaction to the government’s intention to carry out a review of the 1992 Constitution, Professor Kumado questioned the basis for a referendum just about a year before parliamentary and presidential elections.
“What sort of prioritisation is this?” he questioned.
He said the framework (Constitution) of the nation, which was the reference point of the country’s laws, had to be put in the right shape to meet current challenges.
“Reviewing the Constitution is not rewriting the whole Constitution. It is only identifying some areas that need to be changed,” he said in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.
Prof Adei said although it was not good to be changing the Constitution every now and then, there was the need “to calibrate it in areas that had shortfalls to make it more efficient”.
He said, for instance, that elections should not be held every four years and that there should be a one presidential term of seven years to provide an uninterrupted period for a President to prosecute his agenda.
“I believe that things like the appointment of Council of State members where so much proportion is given to the President alone is wrong,” he said, noting that there was the need to improve the current system.
Prof. Adei suggested an independent Council of State into which members would be elected, while there would be representatives from bodies like the Ghana Bar Association, the Ghana Academic of Arts and Sciences, among others, to advise the President.
He said probably the Council of State should have little teeth like the House of Lords in Britain.
He disagreed with Prof. Kofi Kumado that the $3 million to be used for the exercise be used on rural development.
Prof Kumado had said in the face of the massive problems and deprivations the majority of Ghanaians suffered on a daily basis, the money to be spent would constitute a gross misuse of public funds on an exercise “which can only be self-indulgence by the literate”.
In a letter to the Editor of the Daily Graphic in reaction to the government’s intention to carry out a review of the 1992 Constitution, Professor Kumado questioned the basis for a referendum just about a year before parliamentary and presidential elections.
“What sort of prioritisation is this?” he questioned.
Amuana Praso Citizens Raise Funds For Dev Projects (Page 31, Jan 19)
CITIZENS of Amuana Praso in the Eastern Region resident in Accra last Sunday organised a get-together to discuss development issues concerning their home town.
The meeting was also used to raise funds to support development activities in the town.
Specific development agenda which the residents deliberated on and raised funds to take care of were the rehabilitation of an old post office building to be converted into a police station, the road leading to the town and electricity supply.
The residents realised GH¢9,200 through the fund-raising with the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Abirem, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, contributing GH¢4,000.
Addressing the gathering, Mrs Dapaah said the community deserved its share of the nation’s resources in terms of infrastructure, since the people contributed to the economy of the country by way of producing cash and food crops.
She said she had already communicated the plight of the community on the floor of Parliament and promised to do her best to get things done for the people.
Mrs Dapaah promised to support the community in every way she could and appealed to the citizens to be caretakers of any facility they would be provided with.
For his part, the chief of Amuana Praso, Nana Opoku Agyemang II, said the citizen of the area had always helped in the development of their area for the past years, especially through communal labour, and urged them to continue to do so.
He said he was forced to call on the citizens in Accra to raise funds after he received a message that the police station would be transferred to another area if the community was not able to provide the service with an office accommodation.
Nana Opoku Agyemang also reminded the people of the upcoming Amantuo festival scheduled for the Easter period, and called on all citizens of the town to attend and contribute their quota.
The chief, who was enstooled about three years ago, said he also used the opportunity to visit his people in Accra to find out how they were faring.
The Chairman of the Amuana Praso Citizens Association in Accra, Mr Ofori Owusu, urged the members and all others to contribute their quota to the development of the town and gave them the assurance that their contribution would be used for the intended purpose.
The Vice-Chairman of the association who was also the chairman for the function, Mr Ofori Kusi, encouraged the youth to work hard and also look up to people who had made it in life as their role models but not be discouraged. He also called on other citizens who were not members of the association to join, since together they could achieve a lot.
The meeting was also used to raise funds to support development activities in the town.
Specific development agenda which the residents deliberated on and raised funds to take care of were the rehabilitation of an old post office building to be converted into a police station, the road leading to the town and electricity supply.
The residents realised GH¢9,200 through the fund-raising with the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Abirem, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, contributing GH¢4,000.
Addressing the gathering, Mrs Dapaah said the community deserved its share of the nation’s resources in terms of infrastructure, since the people contributed to the economy of the country by way of producing cash and food crops.
She said she had already communicated the plight of the community on the floor of Parliament and promised to do her best to get things done for the people.
Mrs Dapaah promised to support the community in every way she could and appealed to the citizens to be caretakers of any facility they would be provided with.
For his part, the chief of Amuana Praso, Nana Opoku Agyemang II, said the citizen of the area had always helped in the development of their area for the past years, especially through communal labour, and urged them to continue to do so.
He said he was forced to call on the citizens in Accra to raise funds after he received a message that the police station would be transferred to another area if the community was not able to provide the service with an office accommodation.
Nana Opoku Agyemang also reminded the people of the upcoming Amantuo festival scheduled for the Easter period, and called on all citizens of the town to attend and contribute their quota.
The chief, who was enstooled about three years ago, said he also used the opportunity to visit his people in Accra to find out how they were faring.
The Chairman of the Amuana Praso Citizens Association in Accra, Mr Ofori Owusu, urged the members and all others to contribute their quota to the development of the town and gave them the assurance that their contribution would be used for the intended purpose.
The Vice-Chairman of the association who was also the chairman for the function, Mr Ofori Kusi, encouraged the youth to work hard and also look up to people who had made it in life as their role models but not be discouraged. He also called on other citizens who were not members of the association to join, since together they could achieve a lot.
FAO Committed To Food Security (Page 6, Jan 19)
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative to Ghana, Mr Musa Saihou Mbenga, has stated that the FAO is committed to assisting Ghana in implementing policies to improve food security in the country and also enhance the living standards of poor and vulnerable people, most of who are women.
Making the statement in an address read on his behalf at the 10th anniversary of the Development Action Association (DAA) in Accra, he urged the government to step up efforts to boost marketing of agricultural products by linking small-scale farmers, especially women, to regional, national and global trade systems.
The DAA emerged out of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign and Action for Development programme of the FAO, in the Greater Accra Region, to empower rural women in the area of agriculture.
Mr Mbenga said it was important for the government to modernise agriculture to increase access to support services such as research findings, credit and input supply to add value to crops, fish and animal products.
He said the FAO in collaboration with the DAA introduced modern fish smoking, and also trained women in entrepreneurial skills to help them manage their businesses efficiently.
He said over the years agriculture had played a major role in the development of the country, adding that the sector was the country’s main source of food security.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, congratulated the association on its contribution to food security in the country.
She said the association over the years had grown into a viable organisation that had empowered women.
She encouraged women to work selflessly to improve on their living conditions, and to make impacts in their various communities and promised the ministry’s support to the operations of the organisation.
The Executive Director of DAA, Mrs Lydia Sasu, said the organisation was operating in 46 communities in the country with 98 per cent of the beneficiaries being rural women.
She said its main areas of operation included fish processing, cassava production, vegetable production, food crops production and small animals rearing, as well as the provision of micro-credit.
Mrs Sasu said the objectives of the organisation was to initiate a process of development which was based on the transfer of skills and competencies, to provide support and services for its members and to implement sustainable development programmes in the country.
She appealed to the government to support them build a permanent office and improve the road network in the rural areas to help them transport their farm produce.
Making the statement in an address read on his behalf at the 10th anniversary of the Development Action Association (DAA) in Accra, he urged the government to step up efforts to boost marketing of agricultural products by linking small-scale farmers, especially women, to regional, national and global trade systems.
The DAA emerged out of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign and Action for Development programme of the FAO, in the Greater Accra Region, to empower rural women in the area of agriculture.
Mr Mbenga said it was important for the government to modernise agriculture to increase access to support services such as research findings, credit and input supply to add value to crops, fish and animal products.
He said the FAO in collaboration with the DAA introduced modern fish smoking, and also trained women in entrepreneurial skills to help them manage their businesses efficiently.
He said over the years agriculture had played a major role in the development of the country, adding that the sector was the country’s main source of food security.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, congratulated the association on its contribution to food security in the country.
She said the association over the years had grown into a viable organisation that had empowered women.
She encouraged women to work selflessly to improve on their living conditions, and to make impacts in their various communities and promised the ministry’s support to the operations of the organisation.
The Executive Director of DAA, Mrs Lydia Sasu, said the organisation was operating in 46 communities in the country with 98 per cent of the beneficiaries being rural women.
She said its main areas of operation included fish processing, cassava production, vegetable production, food crops production and small animals rearing, as well as the provision of micro-credit.
Mrs Sasu said the objectives of the organisation was to initiate a process of development which was based on the transfer of skills and competencies, to provide support and services for its members and to implement sustainable development programmes in the country.
She appealed to the government to support them build a permanent office and improve the road network in the rural areas to help them transport their farm produce.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Lets Resuscitate Collapsed Industries (Page 33, Jan 15)
THE immediate past Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof Stephen Adei, has appealed to the government to help resuscitate collapsed business in the country.
He said for the fear of supporting their opponents governments have tended to run down businesses suspected to be owned by members of the opposition, adding that the practice had lasted for the past 50 years.
Prof Adei said this when he launched the Opportunities 2010 Conference, which provides the platform for the cross fertilisation of business ideas.
The conference which is slated for February 24-25, 2010 is on the theme “identifying Ghana’s Business Opportunities for Sustainable Wealth Creation”.
The conference will bring together high profile businessmen and women, entrepreneurs and professionals to share ideas on how to improve on the business environment in the country.
The speakers are expected to make knowledge based projections and to fully explore all the business opportunities in the various sectors of the economy for 2010.
Prof Adei said Ghana could generate a 15 per cent of growth rate per annum which would intend double the income rate per head in five years.
He urged the government to make a deliberate attempt to create worth in the country in order to increase opportunities for the unemployed youth in the country.
He said there was the need to also create a better environment for personal and business security in the country to help the growth of Ghanaian business in t he country.
A Director at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Francis Kusi, said the conference would serve as a platform to share ideas in the business sector to enhance the growth of businesses in Ghana.
He said government would continue to encourage and help the business sector to grow.
A representative of Zain Telecommunication, Ransford Mills, said in the era of the global financial crisis there was a need for brainstorming to find solutions to problems in the economy.
Speakers for the conference include, Prof Stephen Adei, formerly of GIMPA; Mr Patrick Awuah, Ashesi University; Mr Kwame Pianim, Economist; Ms Jean Mensa, IEA; Ms Joyce Aryee, Ghana Chamber of Mines; Mr Philip Sowah, Zain Ghana and Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Group.
He said for the fear of supporting their opponents governments have tended to run down businesses suspected to be owned by members of the opposition, adding that the practice had lasted for the past 50 years.
Prof Adei said this when he launched the Opportunities 2010 Conference, which provides the platform for the cross fertilisation of business ideas.
The conference which is slated for February 24-25, 2010 is on the theme “identifying Ghana’s Business Opportunities for Sustainable Wealth Creation”.
The conference will bring together high profile businessmen and women, entrepreneurs and professionals to share ideas on how to improve on the business environment in the country.
The speakers are expected to make knowledge based projections and to fully explore all the business opportunities in the various sectors of the economy for 2010.
Prof Adei said Ghana could generate a 15 per cent of growth rate per annum which would intend double the income rate per head in five years.
He urged the government to make a deliberate attempt to create worth in the country in order to increase opportunities for the unemployed youth in the country.
He said there was the need to also create a better environment for personal and business security in the country to help the growth of Ghanaian business in t he country.
A Director at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Francis Kusi, said the conference would serve as a platform to share ideas in the business sector to enhance the growth of businesses in Ghana.
He said government would continue to encourage and help the business sector to grow.
A representative of Zain Telecommunication, Ransford Mills, said in the era of the global financial crisis there was a need for brainstorming to find solutions to problems in the economy.
Speakers for the conference include, Prof Stephen Adei, formerly of GIMPA; Mr Patrick Awuah, Ashesi University; Mr Kwame Pianim, Economist; Ms Jean Mensa, IEA; Ms Joyce Aryee, Ghana Chamber of Mines; Mr Philip Sowah, Zain Ghana and Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Group.
Abeka Youth Organise Clean-up (Page 30, Jan 15)
The Rural Urban Partnership of Africa (RUPFA), in collaboration with the Abeka Youth Club and the Okaikoi North Sub-Metro have organised a clean-up exercise at Abeka to improve on their sanitation conditions.
The exercise dubbed “The youth and environment sanitation, the way forward”, was aimed at creating and maintaining awareness among the youth and the general public on the need to make environmental care a responsibility.
RUPFA is a non-governmental organisation aimed at minimising the rural-urban drift and poverty in the country, thereby reducing the pressure on urban landscape.
The Executive Director of RUPFA, Mr Richard Ashaley, said the organisation chose the Abeka community as a pilot base to implement its policies since most of the members come from the community.
He pointed out that the gesture was to broaden the mindset of the youth and encourage them to go beyond keeping their environment clean.
“The exercise will create a platform to motivate waste management companies in the cleaning of the environment and change negative perceptions of people about such organisations”, he stated.
He urged all youth clubs in the country to organise clean-up exercises as part of their annual activities.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Chairman of the Okaikoi North Sub-metro, Mr Stephen Afutu Neequaye, indicated that it was the duty of the assembly to clean its environment to improve the health of people in the sub-metro.
He said there was the need to educate the society on how to dispose of waste materials to reduce the sanitation problem in the country.
Mr Afutu advised the youth to make it a responsibility to clean their environment often.
He urged the government to put in place measures to help recycle rubber products in the country.
The President of the Abeka Youth Club, Mr Richard Nii Amoo, encouraged members to ensure unity in all their activities.
The exercise dubbed “The youth and environment sanitation, the way forward”, was aimed at creating and maintaining awareness among the youth and the general public on the need to make environmental care a responsibility.
RUPFA is a non-governmental organisation aimed at minimising the rural-urban drift and poverty in the country, thereby reducing the pressure on urban landscape.
The Executive Director of RUPFA, Mr Richard Ashaley, said the organisation chose the Abeka community as a pilot base to implement its policies since most of the members come from the community.
He pointed out that the gesture was to broaden the mindset of the youth and encourage them to go beyond keeping their environment clean.
“The exercise will create a platform to motivate waste management companies in the cleaning of the environment and change negative perceptions of people about such organisations”, he stated.
He urged all youth clubs in the country to organise clean-up exercises as part of their annual activities.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Chairman of the Okaikoi North Sub-metro, Mr Stephen Afutu Neequaye, indicated that it was the duty of the assembly to clean its environment to improve the health of people in the sub-metro.
He said there was the need to educate the society on how to dispose of waste materials to reduce the sanitation problem in the country.
Mr Afutu advised the youth to make it a responsibility to clean their environment often.
He urged the government to put in place measures to help recycle rubber products in the country.
The President of the Abeka Youth Club, Mr Richard Nii Amoo, encouraged members to ensure unity in all their activities.
Ban On Harmful Gadgets Start End Of Year (PAGE 31, JAN 12)
A ban on the importation of electrical gadgets which contain ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs) will become effective by the end of 2010, an official of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.
The measure is in accordance with the Montreal Protocol, which enjoins countries to stop the manufacture and importation of such gadgets.
When the ban comes into effect, goods such as second-hand refrigerators, computers and vehicular tyres containing those substances will not be allowed into the country.
The Public Relations Officer of the EPA, Mr William Abaidoo, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra that the Montreal Protocol placed trade sanctions on substances that depleted the ozone layer, as well as a limitation on the importation of such goods, particularly into Third World countries.
Mr Abaidoo said most of those gadgets imported into the country had almost reached the end their life span and, therefore, their continued importation would make the country a dumping site for such goods.
He said most of those electrical gadgets had been abandoned elsewhere, adding that worn-out tyres and scraps from the computers were burnt for various activities.
Experts believe that the substances or the compounds, such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs), which are emitted into the atmosphere could significantly deplete the ozone layer that shields the planet from harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun.
Mr Abaidoo said most people were ignorant of the toxic substances that were found in such gadgets, adding that young men who were engaged in removing copper wires from scraps were highly at risk, since they were exposed to those toxic substances.
He advised government agencies to work in concert with the EPA to enforce the ban to check the inflow of such goods in order to prevent the country from being a dumping site for such goods.
The measure is in accordance with the Montreal Protocol, which enjoins countries to stop the manufacture and importation of such gadgets.
When the ban comes into effect, goods such as second-hand refrigerators, computers and vehicular tyres containing those substances will not be allowed into the country.
The Public Relations Officer of the EPA, Mr William Abaidoo, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra that the Montreal Protocol placed trade sanctions on substances that depleted the ozone layer, as well as a limitation on the importation of such goods, particularly into Third World countries.
Mr Abaidoo said most of those gadgets imported into the country had almost reached the end their life span and, therefore, their continued importation would make the country a dumping site for such goods.
He said most of those electrical gadgets had been abandoned elsewhere, adding that worn-out tyres and scraps from the computers were burnt for various activities.
Experts believe that the substances or the compounds, such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs), which are emitted into the atmosphere could significantly deplete the ozone layer that shields the planet from harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun.
Mr Abaidoo said most people were ignorant of the toxic substances that were found in such gadgets, adding that young men who were engaged in removing copper wires from scraps were highly at risk, since they were exposed to those toxic substances.
He advised government agencies to work in concert with the EPA to enforce the ban to check the inflow of such goods in order to prevent the country from being a dumping site for such goods.
Call For Renewal Of Licences For Pastors (page 23, Jan 6)
The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has been urged to put measures in place to ensure the renewal of licences of pastors after two years of operations.
This is said to help check charlatans who are misconducting themselves.
The call was made by the General Overseer of the Great Solution Centre, Rev Seth Nana Opoku, who was speaking at the ordination ceremony of 15 pastors last Saturday.
He attributed the cause of pastors fighting each other to lack of mentoring by the council and the love of money.
He advised the pastors to desist from using big titles, since they meant nothing in the work of God. He appealed to them to lead simple lives to attract the blessing of God upon their lives.
Rev Opoku urged the pastors to advertise God but not to commercialise him for their own selfish desires.
The ordination was done by a former CCG General Secretary, Rev Dr Samuel Asore, who advised the ministers to walk their talks and to depend on God at all times.
He appealed to them to desist from living lives that would bring disgrace to the church and upon themselves in the future.
•A group photograph of the ordained pastors. Second from right on the last row is Pastor Michael Larbi of the Graphic Communications Group Limited.
This is said to help check charlatans who are misconducting themselves.
The call was made by the General Overseer of the Great Solution Centre, Rev Seth Nana Opoku, who was speaking at the ordination ceremony of 15 pastors last Saturday.
He attributed the cause of pastors fighting each other to lack of mentoring by the council and the love of money.
He advised the pastors to desist from using big titles, since they meant nothing in the work of God. He appealed to them to lead simple lives to attract the blessing of God upon their lives.
Rev Opoku urged the pastors to advertise God but not to commercialise him for their own selfish desires.
The ordination was done by a former CCG General Secretary, Rev Dr Samuel Asore, who advised the ministers to walk their talks and to depend on God at all times.
He appealed to them to desist from living lives that would bring disgrace to the church and upon themselves in the future.
•A group photograph of the ordained pastors. Second from right on the last row is Pastor Michael Larbi of the Graphic Communications Group Limited.
Moves To Have Local Rice Patronised (page 31, Jan 7)
THE Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PAG) has urged the government to make it obligatory for security agencies and government-assisted schools to patronise locally produced rice.
The measure, if implemented, would create ready market for local rice in the country.
The President of the PAG, Mr Mohammed Adam Nashiru, made the appeal at a rice bazaar in Accra yesterday.
Jointly organised by the PAG and the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition, the bazaar saw participants, including the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Mr Amadu Sorogo, and a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance, Dr Akoto Osei, and officials of the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Prisons Service and other officials enjoy varieties of local rice dishes.
Mr Nashiru argued that locally produced rice was healthier and cheaper than imported rice.
He said patronage of local rice would motivate rice farmers to produce more rice and ensure food security in the country.
Mr Nashiru noted that the government was making effort to expand rice production in the country.
He mentioned the Expanded Rice Production Project, the revamping of the Aveyime Rice Project and the Rice Sector Support Project as examples.
Besides, he said, rice producers had received new farm machinery and equipment, such as new tractors, combined harvesters, rice processing machines with distoners and colour sorters and fertilisers at subsidised prices.
Therefore, Mr Nashiru said, Ghanaians should show patriotism by buying local rice to give meaning to the government’s support for rice production and keep the local rice farmers in business.
He said local rice farmers had the capacity to produce enough rice to satisfy all Ghanaian consumers if the government supported them with more machines and equipment and more Ghanaians began to buy local rice.
Mr Sorogo gave the assurance that the government would pass the necessary legislation to support local rice farmers.
He said the government would encourage rice consumption in institutions.
Dr Osei stressed the need for the government to support local rice farmers with loans to enable them to produce more rice to satisfy the Ghanaian consumer.
The measure, if implemented, would create ready market for local rice in the country.
The President of the PAG, Mr Mohammed Adam Nashiru, made the appeal at a rice bazaar in Accra yesterday.
Jointly organised by the PAG and the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition, the bazaar saw participants, including the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Mr Amadu Sorogo, and a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance, Dr Akoto Osei, and officials of the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Prisons Service and other officials enjoy varieties of local rice dishes.
Mr Nashiru argued that locally produced rice was healthier and cheaper than imported rice.
He said patronage of local rice would motivate rice farmers to produce more rice and ensure food security in the country.
Mr Nashiru noted that the government was making effort to expand rice production in the country.
He mentioned the Expanded Rice Production Project, the revamping of the Aveyime Rice Project and the Rice Sector Support Project as examples.
Besides, he said, rice producers had received new farm machinery and equipment, such as new tractors, combined harvesters, rice processing machines with distoners and colour sorters and fertilisers at subsidised prices.
Therefore, Mr Nashiru said, Ghanaians should show patriotism by buying local rice to give meaning to the government’s support for rice production and keep the local rice farmers in business.
He said local rice farmers had the capacity to produce enough rice to satisfy all Ghanaian consumers if the government supported them with more machines and equipment and more Ghanaians began to buy local rice.
Mr Sorogo gave the assurance that the government would pass the necessary legislation to support local rice farmers.
He said the government would encourage rice consumption in institutions.
Dr Osei stressed the need for the government to support local rice farmers with loans to enable them to produce more rice to satisfy the Ghanaian consumer.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Take Micro-insurance Seriously-Kyiamah (page 29, Dec 30)
THE Commissioner of Insurance, Mrs Nyamikeh Kyiamah, has appealed to members of the Planning Committee for the 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Educational Conference of the West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) to consider micro-insurance in the next international meeting.
That, she said, would help in the provision of insurance for the poor and low income earners who constituted majority of the population in the sub-region in order to improve the very low insurance penetration, which stands at 1.157 per cent, in the sub-region.
The commissioner was speaking at the inauguration of the 14-member Planning Committee to steer the affairs of the AGM and Educational Conference to be held in Accra from March 21 to 24, 2010 on the theme, “The oil discovery in West Africa; its impact on the socio-political and economic development of the sub-region and the vital role of the insurance industry in the management this natural resource”.
She said the West African sub-region needed to make a reinsurance arrangement that would help in retaining what it could and reinsure what it could not at fair rates on the international market.
Mrs Kyiamah implored the planning committee to consider liaising with the West Africa Insurance Supervisors (WAIS) (the association of the sub-region’s insurance regulators) to ensure a more co-ordinated approach to implement decisions and resolutions that would be passed at the end of the international conference.
She said since the establishment of WAICA in Accra in 1973, Ghana had hosted majority of the AGMs. She, therefore, encouraged the planning committee to explore ways to get WAIS involved in discussions on integration for Ghana not to miss out on the expected benefits.
The Vice-Chairman of the planning committee, Mr George Otoo, accepted the responsibility of the committee on behalf of his colleges, fully aware of the task ahead.
He appealed to the members of the committee to be mindful of the work at hand and consider it as a collective responsibility and not an individual one.
He reminded his colleagues that the time frame was short and advised all to attend committee meetings to ensure the success of the programme.
Other members of the committee are Mr Larry Jaime, Mr William Coker, Mr George Robertson, Mrs Mary Ohene-Adu, Mr William Pyne, Mr Gabriel Glover, Nii Otinkorang Ankrah, Mr Kwame Gazo Agbenyadzie, Mr Isaac Buabeng, Mr Atsu Menyawovor and Mr Desmond Brown, with Mr William Agbenyegah as Chairman.
That, she said, would help in the provision of insurance for the poor and low income earners who constituted majority of the population in the sub-region in order to improve the very low insurance penetration, which stands at 1.157 per cent, in the sub-region.
The commissioner was speaking at the inauguration of the 14-member Planning Committee to steer the affairs of the AGM and Educational Conference to be held in Accra from March 21 to 24, 2010 on the theme, “The oil discovery in West Africa; its impact on the socio-political and economic development of the sub-region and the vital role of the insurance industry in the management this natural resource”.
She said the West African sub-region needed to make a reinsurance arrangement that would help in retaining what it could and reinsure what it could not at fair rates on the international market.
Mrs Kyiamah implored the planning committee to consider liaising with the West Africa Insurance Supervisors (WAIS) (the association of the sub-region’s insurance regulators) to ensure a more co-ordinated approach to implement decisions and resolutions that would be passed at the end of the international conference.
She said since the establishment of WAICA in Accra in 1973, Ghana had hosted majority of the AGMs. She, therefore, encouraged the planning committee to explore ways to get WAIS involved in discussions on integration for Ghana not to miss out on the expected benefits.
The Vice-Chairman of the planning committee, Mr George Otoo, accepted the responsibility of the committee on behalf of his colleges, fully aware of the task ahead.
He appealed to the members of the committee to be mindful of the work at hand and consider it as a collective responsibility and not an individual one.
He reminded his colleagues that the time frame was short and advised all to attend committee meetings to ensure the success of the programme.
Other members of the committee are Mr Larry Jaime, Mr William Coker, Mr George Robertson, Mrs Mary Ohene-Adu, Mr William Pyne, Mr Gabriel Glover, Nii Otinkorang Ankrah, Mr Kwame Gazo Agbenyadzie, Mr Isaac Buabeng, Mr Atsu Menyawovor and Mr Desmond Brown, with Mr William Agbenyegah as Chairman.
Friday, January 1, 2010
BROLL INAUGURATES RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS (PAGE 19, DEC 31)
A NUMBER of modern residential apartments for leasing have been inaugurated in Accra.
Built by the Broll Ghana Limited, the apartments, situated in the heart of the city, provide affordable accommodation to corporate bodies and visitors who would want to enjoy facilities normally found in a hotel at home.
Inaugurating the project, the Chief Executive Officer of Broll Ghana, Mr Kofi Ampong, said lack of purpose-built apartments for short leases had been the bane and major challenge facing expatriate consultants, corporate bodies and extension investors in Ghana.
“Time and time again, inadequate residential facilities for short leases have compelled most firms and business entities to spend much of their financial resources on hotel accommodation for their consultants and expatriate staff who sojourn in Ghana for a short period,” he noted.
He said the recent upsurge of furnished apartment development in Ghana was intended to meet the accommodation needs of visiting clients, consultants, banking institutions, firms in the communication industry, agencies under the United Nations and some diplomatic missions.
“Dreams Court is, therefore, well positioned to satisfy this need,” he said.
He also said the Dreams Court, the latest apartment facility in Accra, had two blocks of sixteen flats. Each flat has fully furnished three bedrooms and a sitting room with top-of-the-range furniture made from true luxury materials; the bedrooms and the sitting rooms are fully air-conditioned and the kitchens have all the requisite installations and fittings.
Mr Ampong said the “Dreams Court” was by far the most complete quality-built home in Accra for a visiting family, adding that the bedrooms and sitting rooms had plasma televisions with DSTV connection, telephone facilities and Internet and a 24-hour security to ensure the safety of their clients.
He said “businesses, consultants and clients of banks, diplomatic missions, who would lodge in Dreams Court would have closer proximity to the ministries, the ‘Wall Street’ of Ghana, the Ridge Ambassadorial Enclave, the Castle and a magnificent panoramic view from every window makes a client’s stay in Dreams Court very enjoyable and unique.”
Built by the Broll Ghana Limited, the apartments, situated in the heart of the city, provide affordable accommodation to corporate bodies and visitors who would want to enjoy facilities normally found in a hotel at home.
Inaugurating the project, the Chief Executive Officer of Broll Ghana, Mr Kofi Ampong, said lack of purpose-built apartments for short leases had been the bane and major challenge facing expatriate consultants, corporate bodies and extension investors in Ghana.
“Time and time again, inadequate residential facilities for short leases have compelled most firms and business entities to spend much of their financial resources on hotel accommodation for their consultants and expatriate staff who sojourn in Ghana for a short period,” he noted.
He said the recent upsurge of furnished apartment development in Ghana was intended to meet the accommodation needs of visiting clients, consultants, banking institutions, firms in the communication industry, agencies under the United Nations and some diplomatic missions.
“Dreams Court is, therefore, well positioned to satisfy this need,” he said.
He also said the Dreams Court, the latest apartment facility in Accra, had two blocks of sixteen flats. Each flat has fully furnished three bedrooms and a sitting room with top-of-the-range furniture made from true luxury materials; the bedrooms and the sitting rooms are fully air-conditioned and the kitchens have all the requisite installations and fittings.
Mr Ampong said the “Dreams Court” was by far the most complete quality-built home in Accra for a visiting family, adding that the bedrooms and sitting rooms had plasma televisions with DSTV connection, telephone facilities and Internet and a 24-hour security to ensure the safety of their clients.
He said “businesses, consultants and clients of banks, diplomatic missions, who would lodge in Dreams Court would have closer proximity to the ministries, the ‘Wall Street’ of Ghana, the Ridge Ambassadorial Enclave, the Castle and a magnificent panoramic view from every window makes a client’s stay in Dreams Court very enjoyable and unique.”
VENTURE INTO ON-LINE JOURNALISM (SPREAD, DEC 30)
JOURNALISTS have been urged to take advantage of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) to improve on the standards of journalism and venture into on-line journalism.
The Vice-President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, who made the appeal, said it was important for media houses to prioritise and intensify efforts at catching up with the global communication revolution to prevent them from swimming against the tide in the future.
He was speaking at the launch of the Ghana Business News (GBN) website in Accra, which was on the theme: "Online Journalism: Putting Ghana on the Global Platform".
Mr Monney said the flipside of the digital revolution had been replete with chilling and heart-breaking stories and underlined the need for the infusion of ethical circumspection and the practise of responsible journalism in the on-line business.
Mr Monney was of no doubt that the GBN.com would come out with the right professional meal to satisfy all who patronised it.
The Managing Online Editor of the GBN, Mr Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, said the GBN.com was a pacesetter in online journalism.
He said the aim of the GBN was to practise journalism of the best quality, which could match international standards.
He added that although the site had been in operation only for a year, it had made remarkable impacts.
Mr Dogbevi said the website had become the number one business news source in Ghana, according to the rankings by the world's number one search engine, Google.
He said journalism had long been held as the Fourth Estate of the Realm because of its prestigious position, but the importance of the media was being undermined by the activities of some journalists.
"Journalism in Ghana appears to have reduced to a pedestrian vocation that is open for mass participation as though there are no values guiding the practice,” he noted.
The Chairperson of Editors Forum Ghana, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, officially launched the website and advised the management of the GBN to ensure that pictures used were accompanied by captions to explain them.
The Vice-President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, who made the appeal, said it was important for media houses to prioritise and intensify efforts at catching up with the global communication revolution to prevent them from swimming against the tide in the future.
He was speaking at the launch of the Ghana Business News (GBN) website in Accra, which was on the theme: "Online Journalism: Putting Ghana on the Global Platform".
Mr Monney said the flipside of the digital revolution had been replete with chilling and heart-breaking stories and underlined the need for the infusion of ethical circumspection and the practise of responsible journalism in the on-line business.
Mr Monney was of no doubt that the GBN.com would come out with the right professional meal to satisfy all who patronised it.
The Managing Online Editor of the GBN, Mr Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, said the GBN.com was a pacesetter in online journalism.
He said the aim of the GBN was to practise journalism of the best quality, which could match international standards.
He added that although the site had been in operation only for a year, it had made remarkable impacts.
Mr Dogbevi said the website had become the number one business news source in Ghana, according to the rankings by the world's number one search engine, Google.
He said journalism had long been held as the Fourth Estate of the Realm because of its prestigious position, but the importance of the media was being undermined by the activities of some journalists.
"Journalism in Ghana appears to have reduced to a pedestrian vocation that is open for mass participation as though there are no values guiding the practice,” he noted.
The Chairperson of Editors Forum Ghana, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, officially launched the website and advised the management of the GBN to ensure that pictures used were accompanied by captions to explain them.
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