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Showing posts from December, 2021

PIWC Sakumono Women’s Ministry visits New Life orphanage

The Women’s Ministry of Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) Sakumono has visited the new life orphanage home behind the Junction Mall, Nungua in Accra on Saturday December 18, 2021. The visit which took place on Saturday, December 18 sought to put smiles and joy on the faces of the young ones during this year’s Christmas celebrations. Items worth about Twelve thousand Ghana cedis (GHS 12,000.00) and a cash donation of GHC 2,000 were donated to the home. Some of the items donated included bags of rice, breakfast cereals, buckets, assorted drinks, biscuits, bottled water, cooking oil, clothes, and shoes. The rest were Toilet roll, sanitary pads, baby diapers among other. The Ministry also fellowshipped with children and encouraged them to live for the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In an exhortation, the Resident Minister for PIWC -Sakumono, Eunice Owusu Sekyere Kwarteng quoted 2 Timothy 3:15 and Luke 2:52 and asked the children to read their Bibles and pray every day as well a...

MTN inducted into project management hall of fame

  ...Wins 5 awards at 2021 Project Management Awards MTN Ghana has been inducted into the Project Management Hall of Fame at the 2021 Project Management (PM) Awards after it was adjudged Project Management Company of the Year for the third consecutive time. The Project Management awards recognizes individuals and organisations who pursue best practices in economic development through projects and have attained the highest standards of professional conduct and competence within the project management space. MTN Ghana surpassed all by winning five awards which are listed below. Project Management Company of the Year Economic Impact Project of the Year Innovative Project Award Project Team of the Year Project Director of the Year – Mr. William Tetteh William Tetteh, Chief Capital Projects Officer of MTN Ghana was adjudged Project Director of the Year following the significant role he plays in the overall management and execution of project portfolios in the Commercial, Capex and CEO r...

Celltel set to roll out US$300million Ghana Smart Cities Project

  As Ghana marches towards a complete digital economy, a wholly-owned Ghanaian company, Celltel Networks Limited has been granted full nationwide authorization by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to roll out its much-touted US$300 million Ghana Smart Cities Project. The substantive authorization makes Celltel an Internet and Public Data Service Provider. It comes after a provisional authorization granted the company earlier in the year. In terms of scope, the NCA said "Celltel Networks Limited whose shareholder is Kludjeson International Limited, is authorized to use 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz bands nationwide and VSAT Network Class 3 (1-49 terminals) nationwide to provide access to its clients. This clears the way for Celltel to roll out its long-awaited Ghana Smart Cities project in collaboration with various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the length and breadth of the country. The project promises a nationwide Wi-Fi service that would come ...

Obour: Bice Osei Kuffour appointed Ghana Post boss

  President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed the former President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffour, popularly known as “Obour”, as Acting Managing Director (MD) of the Ghana Post Company Limited. The appointment is subject to regularisation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act and the Company’s regulation of Ghana. The Musician, who recently contested and lost in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary at Asante Akyem South constituency, joins the Company at a time when it is expanding its postal network and improving its services in areas across the country. Kuffour holds a degree in Political Science and Information Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon, and a certificate in global leadership from the Aspen Institute in Colorado, USA. Read also: Pass Tax Exemptions Bill - SEND Ghana advices Parliament He was formerly a Board Member of the National Folklore Board from 2017 to 2021; an Executive Member...

Dr Bawumia launches Policy, Guidelines for National E-Pharmacy

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has launched the policy and guidelines for the National E-Pharmacy programme as part of Government’s ongoing efforts to improve access to and delivery of health care to Ghanaians. When fully operational in 2022, the E-Pharmacy programme is expected to transform access to pharmaceutical care in the country and make Ghana one of a handful of countries with a national scale e-pharmacy in the world. Speaking in Accra on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 Vice President Bawumia recalled that a few years ago, at the Annual General Meeting of Pharmacists, he challenged the Pharmacists to explore greater ways of infusing technology into their operations in ways that among others, improves access, efficiency and the availability of medicines across the country, especially in rural and less urban areas. The challenge, he said, has since been taken up through the leadership of the Pharmacy Council, Pharmaceutical Society and other stakeholders, leading to the c...

African Super App ayoba reaches 10m monthly active users

MTN in partnership with ayoba, Africa's Super App, has reached an exciting milestone of over 10 million monthly active users. In Ghana,  ayoba has over1 million customers. 2021 has been a fast-paced year so far for ayoba, who celebrated its second year in operation in May 2021. The ayoba platform aims to harness growth in the African digital economy by breaking down barriers such as limited access to the internet and digital services, low smartphone penetration, lack of locally relevant content, and affordability.  We celebrate this milestone and are pleased that through ayoba we can provide access to affordable communications, so that millions of people across our markets can enjoy the benefits of a modern connected life”, says MTN Group Digital and Fintech Officer, Serigne Dioum. Read also: MoMo approval sends MTN Nigeria shares to record high MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy is to drive digital and financial inclusion across Africa, via ayoba we intend to reach 100 million month...

ECOBANK, others light up Accra for Christmas

Ecobank Ghana and a number of other corporate organizations have joined forces to light up the majors streets and roundabouts in the city of Accra for this Christmas under the auspices of the Greater-Accra Regional Coordinating Council and a number of municipal assemblies. The project, dubbed “Light Up The City 2021” was executed by Jandel and Mullen-Lowe, and also has other corporate organizations such as MTN, Unilever, Duraplast, Absa, Access Bank, FBN Bank, The Enterprise Group, Qualiplast, Wire Weaving Industries, and a few others. This is the third edition of Lighting Up The City, and Ecobank has always been part of the project, aimed at creating a bright and exciting atmosphere in the city at night during the festive season. This year’s Light Up The City, which will benefit Accra and Kumasi, has been taken a notch higher in terms of the designs and reach, to restore some brightness and joy to Ghanaians, after having gone through a difficult year due to Covid-19. Dan Sackey – ...

Cost of presidential travels national security issue - Minister tells Parliament

The Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has told Parliament that presidential travels are national security issues which cannot be made public. He explained that the cost of the presidential air travels was covered by the operational funds of the National Security and were clothed with rules of confidentiality and state secrecy. According to him, it was not the general practice in the intelligence community everywhere to make such disclosures public. Unable to disclose Speaking on the floor of Parliament yesterday, Kan-Dapaah, therefore, urged Parliament to bear with his inability to make any disclosures on the cost of presidential travels for reason of national security considerations. He was responding to questions filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa East, Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. Twum-Barimah wanted to know the cost of air travel of former Pr...

Ghana bans travelers from Malta, initiates temporary ban on travelers from Israel, South Korea

  Ghana has initiated a temporary travel restriction on all travelers from Israel and South Korea. The temporary restriction is for 14 days, beginning December 20, 2021, for both countries. Apart from that, a travel ban has been imposed on all travelers to and from Malta, beginning December 20, 2021, due to the Omicron Covid-19 variant. A statement from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration issued on Friday, December 17, 2021, said Ghana does not recognize any of the Covid-19 vaccine certificates from Malta. To this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to state that the general public should take not of the above and adhere to it accordingly," it said. Below are copies of the statement on all the affected countries. Israel  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana wishes to inform the general public that the Government of Ghana has initiated a temporary travel...

Blows in parliament over E-Levy voting

Parliament on Monday night turned unruly during voting to consider the Electronic Communications Tax, (E-Levy) proposed by the government in its 2022 budget, under a certificate of urgency. MPs from opposing sides of the house were at each other’s throat following an attempt by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu (NPP, Bekwai), who was presiding over proceedings, to vacate his seat momentarily to enable him join in the head count voting. Joe Osei Owusu had said he would yield his seat to the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah (Independent, Fomena) while he (Osei Owusu) was out to be counted and thereafter return to resume his seat. But members of the Minority side vehemently protested the procedure and said Joe Osei Owusu cannot vote as the presiding speaker. And when eventually he attempted to carry through his decision, some members of the minority attempted to seize his chair and warned he would not return to it to preside over the rest of proceedings. That ...

Yuletide season: influx of goods, low patronage

Most markets and business centres across the country appear busy and bustling as the Yuletide approaches, but traders say sales are slow. There is an influx of goods, ranging from foodstuffs, other edibles, drinks, clothing and other items usually well patronised during the Christmas festivities all around the markets and business centres. From the central business districts (CBDs) in Accra and Kumasi to the markets in Takoradi, Sunyani, Tamale, Ho and Koforidua, there are busy activities, with traders and hawkers taking over pavements and pedestrian walkways, while prospective shoppers also flock these areas, hoping to get items on their shopping lists, a situation that has created both vehicular and human traffic in town. However, traders and hawkers are complaining that patronage of their goods is very low. Prospective shoppers, on the other hand, are lamenting the high prices of the items, some having gone up by as much as 50 per cent, compelling them to either do window shopping o...

Mends Academy commissions ICT lab, holds 2nd graduation

Mends Academy has commissioned a literature library and an ultra-modern ICT Laboratory for its students and the people within the community. Cutting the tape for the commissioning, the Aburi Ankobea Hene Nana Benpu II, commended the owners of the school for the initiative and prayed for God guidance in all their endeavours. I am impressed with what I have seen and I pray for God guidance to enable you do more” Nana Benpu II told the Director of the school. The commissioning of the ICT lab coincided with the school’s second graduation, speech and prize giving day where parents were charged to allow their children participate in the school’s extra-curricular activities. Christiana Mends- Proprietress The Proprietress of the School, Christiana Mends at the ceremony urged parents and students to focus on the benefits of extra-curricular activities emphasizing that it gives their children the opportunity to stand out amongst their peers. She explained that extra-curricular activities occur ...

The lion and the antelope may have their differences, but neither would set the forest shelter ablaze

  While the 4 th Republic remains the most enduring in Ghana’s democratic journey, the two-horse race between New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) has created a perception that each party is entitled to run two consecutive 4-year terms. This perception threatens the peaceful coexistence of Ghanaians during the second term of either party in Government. The key actors of the main opposition party mobilizes its base and incites them to do whatever it takes to annex power from the ruling party. Allowing the two main political parties to take the country to the brink of civil war at the end of each election cycle especially during the end of the second 4-year term is not acceptable. Since the year 2000, the fourth quarter of every election usher the country into a frenzy, with Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and religious bodies literally competing on organizing peace building events to ensuring peace before, during and after elections. These efforts have...

Rhodalene Amartey named Dean of the year at NSA 2021

The dean of students for the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Rhodalene Amartey has been named the dean of the year by the National Students Awards Ghana 2021. The award is in recognition of the selfless leadership exhibited by GIJ’s dean during the short term of her assumption of office as the Dean of the school. The National Students Awards, in recognition of the hard work of the dean during the volatile and shaky moments of the school, especially in the political crisis at the students front, said the award is in appreciation of the leadership exhibited by Amartey in restoring democracy , trust and peace into students affairs. Now more than ever, students have renewed their trust in the leadership of the dean, describing Amartey as a mother for all. Students who spoke after the awards said, if for nothing at all, they trust that they have a dean that will listen to them and advice them. “We have a dean that we can walk up to and trust that she will pay attention to us and listen”, som...

Inflation hits four-year high - Biggest jump since August 2019 rebasing

Inflation for November has hit 12.2 per cent, up from the 11 per cent recorded in October, Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, has announced. The figure is the highest inflation recorded in over four years when the economy recorded an inflation rate of 12.2 per cent in September 2017, and also the highest since rebasing in August 2019. The main drivers of last month’s inflation rate was the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels sub sector which recorded the highest inflation rate of 20.5 per cent. This was followed by the transport, the food and non-alcoholic beverages sub sectors which recorded inflation rates of 16 and 13.1 per cent, respectively. The education services sub - sector recorded the lowest inflation rate of 0.7 per cent. Impact on economy Commenting on how the high inflation would impact the economy, Prof. Annim said while inflation rate affected diverse economic variables, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) did not specifically indicate t...

Upfield Shea Sustainability Initiative to grow 6,000 trees in Ghana by 2023

Upfield, the global leader in plant-based nutrition has announced the launch of the first phase of its Shea Sustainability Initiative in West Africa, which will restore about 150 hectares of savannah parkland in the North East Region of Ghana. The initiative is expected to grow 6,000 shea and other indigenous trees by 2023, an official statement issued to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra said Wednesday. Upfield, the leading producer of plant-based margarines, spreads and cheeses, with more than 100 brands, announced the initiative as a strategic partnership with Ghanaian landscape restoration firm, Eco Restore. The company produces well-known brands such as Blue Band, Flora, Rama and Violife, Proactiv, Becel, I Can:t Believe It’s Not Butter, Country Crock and Violife®. Upfield's shea sustainability initiative is in line with the company's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy and its Sustainable Sourcing Policy, said the statement. The project will seek to create s...

RCBs renew call for govt to reduce their corporate tax

The Association of Rural Banks Ghana has renewed calls for the government to reconsider a reduction in the corporate tax rate for rural and community banks. Until the passage of the new Income Tax Act 2015, (Act 896) in 2015, rural and community banks were paying eight per cent tax on their annual income but the passage of this law saw it increased to 25 per cent. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of the climax of the 8th Rural Banking Week Celebration, the Executive Director of the association, Comfort Owusu, said the hike in the corporate tax was suffocating the rural banks and hampering their development role in the provision of basic infrastructure, financial and material support to individuals and institutions. She said the government should therefore reconsider a downward revision of the corporate tax rate for the RCBs to enable them to live up to their development responsibilities. If government wants rural and community banks to play the role they...

COVID-19: It's not right time to re-open land borders - Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said it is not the right time to reopen Ghana's land borders at a time a fourth wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was threatening with the discovery of a new variant - Omicron. In a national address Wednesday night, President Akufo-Addo reiterated that Ghana's land borders will remain closed until the right time. The address, which was the 27th update President Akufo-Addo has given to the nation since the outbreak of the disease elaborated on the new measures taken to prevent the spread of the disease especially during the Yuletide. On the continuous closure of the borders, President Akufo-Addo said: "To my fellow Ghanaians living along the borders of our nation, I know of the difficulties occasioned by the closure of our borders. "As you know, the decision to close our borders, which are a source of livelihoods for many, was necessary because we wanted to limit the importation of the virus into the country. "We...