Kofi Ahovi

 Ghana's telecommunications system will be left on autopilot as telecom workers embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from Monday 5 th September 2022, until the following non- negotiable demands are met by their employers: Immediate recall of all targeted members of TIP whose contracts have not been renewed by the employers by mere association with the Union and other Union leaders who are part of the current Joint standing negotiation committee and sub- committee negotiating the 2022 CA and salary Immediate payment of Golden handshake to all TIP members whose contracts have ended with Reliance and have not been Cooperation from the employers to jointly sign and submit a letter to NLC referring to the pending items in the 2022 CA negotiation and the 2022 salary increment negotiation that we have declared a deadlock The Telecom and IT Professionals Union (TIP), made up of telecom engineers, technicians, I.T professionals and other allied workers, who manage the key technical op...

The Ghana National Eggs Campaign Secretariat (GNECS) has organized a training workshop for health staff, particularly, nutrition officers in the Northern Region on the benefits of egg consumption. According to the Secretariat, the training is to help educate nutrition officers in the region on the importance of eggs and along with their health benefits. The nutrition officers, in turn, are expected to sensitize the public on the benefits of same. Speaking to the media in Tamale; the Northern Regional capital, Comfort Kyerewaa Acheampong, the National Coordinator of the Ghana National Eggs Campaign Secretariat said, the Secretariat found it necessary to collaborate with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), especially the nutrition department, in order to educate the public on the importance of eating eggs. It is also to help dispel the myths surrounding the consumption of eggs among some people in the country. This Particular training is specifically for nutrition officers of the Ghana Healt...

  The Abesim Business Centre of Asa Saving and Loans in the Sunyani Municipality of Bono Region has organised a free health screening for its customers there. At the end of the day’s exercise, about 200 women who were mostly micro business operators benefited. The health screening covered conditions including malaria, typhoid, blood pressure, eye care, blood group and blood sugar. The beneficiaries also received free medications. The activity which formed part of the company’s annual corporate social responsibility was administered by health personnel from the Rafchik Hospital at Abesim near Sunyani. The Goaso Area Manager of Asa Saving and Loans, Emmanuel Asare Yeboah, described the exercise as a long-term social investment which was very critical to the sustainability and growth of the business in the Abesim enclave and beyond. He said majority of its customers were women-led micro enterprises of which the operators were overwhelmed with busy schedules, thus their inability to se...

  The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) will launch its 'Media Awards 2022' on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra. A press release issued by the General Secretary of the Association, Kofi Yeboah said a seven-member Awards Committee to select winners to be celebrated will also be inaugurated at the ceremony. The Committee will be under the chairmanship of Dr. Sarah Akrofi-Quarcoo, a lecturer at the Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana. According to Yeboah, the committee has presented its report to the National Executive of the Association. The event is tentatively scheduled to take place in November, the press release stated. The flagship programme of the GJA is organised annually to recognise and reward excellence in journalism by members of the Association. The awards ceremony was last held in 2020 but controversy surrounding the recent GJA elections did not permit the organization of the awards in 2021. The 26th ...

 The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has shut down a Shell fuel filling station at Atimpoku in the Eastern Region for selling petrol laced with water. The move followed the circulation of a video on social media and subsequent complaint made to the NPA on August 29, 2022 about a suspected contaminated fuel purchased at the aforementioned retail outlet located close to the Adomi Bridge at Atimpoku. A press statement dated August 29, 2022, issued by the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the NPA said a team from the Eastern Regional office of NPA was immediately dispatched to ascertain the veracity of the report. The team immediately undertook a water content presence test and a dip into the well of the outlet indicated the presence of water." "Management of Vivo Energy in a letter addressed to the Authority posited there was water ingress into the underground Super tank after a heavy downpour in the area which was corroborated by the investigative team sent by the Authority,...

  Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says the AfCFTA Hub, an integrated and comprehensive digital platform designed to drive trade in Africa will benefit players in the telecoms and ICT industry by stemming digital payment fraud to a very large extent.  Speaking at the launch of the AfCFTA Hub and Stakeholder Forum, the Minister said “The telecom industry, in particular, should benefit from the related policy of deploying the AfCFTA Hub as a common fraud reporting node and blacklist database harmoniser because of its regional element. Without regional solutions, criminals will exploit the gaps among countries to evade apprehension.” The Minister therefore strongly urged the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Ghana Chamber of Telecoms (GCT), the Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA) and related bodies to speed up the rollout of the AfCFTA Hub across all telecom networks as a common anti-fraud engine, business directory se...

  The US dollar is on a tear, strengthening around 11% since the start of the year and – for the first time in two decades – reaching parity with the Euro.   Indeed, an overwhelming number of major currencies have depreciated against the dollar, with big implications for the developing world. Given the slew of headlines, I wanted to outline some of the key impacts that a strong dollar has on emerging markets (EMs).  First, why is the dollar appreciating?    The dollar is strengthening primarily because there is strong demand for dollars. The  economic outlook  for most economies points towards a major slowdown. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine has created massive geopolitical risk and volatility in markets.  On top of that, historic inflation has prompted the US Federal Reserve to aggressively hike rates.  These factors, among others, are prompting a flight to safety, wherein investors are exiting positions in Europe, EMs, and elsewher...

  The value of the cedi has begun strengthening against the US dollar, following its consecutive sharp depreciation against the American currency for almost six weeks. Joy Business checks at some forex bureaus indicate that the cedi sold at ¢10 or below on Saturday, August 27, 2022 and the price is expected to go down in the coming days.  This is as a result of the $750 million Africa Export-Import (Afrexim) bank loan that came in last week and the actions by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to close down licensed forex bureaus flouting foreign exchange laws. Officials of the Central Bank had embarked on some field exercises to check the state of compliance with some bureaus in the metropolis, believing that actions by some operators have been contributing to speculation in the foreign exchange market, hence affecting the stability of the cedi. A popular forex bureau operator at American House at East Legon in Accra told Joy Business on condition of anonymity that the demand for the Am...

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is forecasting a peak in inflation later this year before trending back towards the medium-term horizon. According to the Central Bank, this is due to the risk to the inflation outlook as result of increased commodity prices, particularly crude oil. The rest are heightened supply chain disruptions, and the over 20% increase in utility tariffs set to kick in from 1st September, 2022”. The warning was contained in an address by the First Deputy Governor of the BoG,  Dr. Maxwell Opoku Afari read on his behalf by Dr. Philip Abradu Otoo, Director of Research at a Financial Literacy Workshop for Journalists in the Northern Zone of Ghana. The two-day training workshop was organised for selected Business and Financial Reporters in Tamale, Northern Region. It was under the theme:  “Sustaining the Recovery: The Role of the Journalist in Building Confidence”. Implications It is not clear for now what the forecast by the Central Bank will mean for the current rate ...

  Telecommunications giant, Vodafone Ghana, has refreshed its mobile product portfolio, comprising Integrated Bundles (voice, data, and SMS) and Data Bundle offerings, to offer its customers more value. Vodafone Customers can now enjoy more data bundle allocation at the same price, with more minutes to call all networks and non-expiry bundles. Speaking on the updated portfolio of products, the Director of the Consumer Business Unit at Vodafone Ghana, David Umoh, explained that Vodafone now offers more value for money by increasing data allowances on data bundles, giving more minutes to call all networks, and offering non-expiry bundles on the entire product portfolio. He explained, “At Vodafone Ghana, we listen to our customers and continually innovate to deliver products and services that reflect our customers’ feedback. Hence, we have increased all network minutes and data bundle allocations to offer our customers more value. We have also ensured the bundles come with non-expiry ...

  I was recently informed by very reliable sources that a former mobile money staff of one of the telcos, who is currently service a jail term at Ankaful Prisons for working with a click of fraudsters to steal from mobile money customers is still at his criminal ways while in jail. The guy is allegedly still providing vital information and tricks to fraudsters on how to beat the system, get customer information and manipulate victims into losing their guards so they could be defrauded. Indeed, the latest trick they are using now clearly shows that the brains behind it is more than just someone skilled in social engineering. This is someone who knows more than the average fraudster and he is using his privileged knowledge and skills to help fraudsters manipulate the system and people. More details about this particular jailed fraudster and his kind are gradually unfolding. But it is important to remove the vail on the new trick so that all of us will be aware and stay on guard. Not ...

  Fairtrade Africa has organised its General Assembly (GA) on the 26th August 2022 in Accra, Ghana for Fairtrade certified producer organisations across the continent. GA is the highest decision-making body of Fairtrade Africa, constituted by representatives of producer organisations across Africa, who meet annually to deliberate on topics related to trade, market opportunities, sustainable production, advocacy for structural and institutional changes, living income, living wages among others, and to take key decisions to advance and empower farmers and workers. The event brought about 60 delegates from the Middle East and North Africa Region, West Africa Region, Southern Africa Region, East and Central African Region, as well as Fairtrade Africa’s 7-member board. Prior to the GA, a field visit was organised to Fairtrade producer organisations Fanteakwa Farmers Union, ABOCFA Cooperative who are cocoa producers, Golden Exotics Ltd, and Volta River Estates Ltd, producers and exporter...

  A South African man who literally went the extra mile to prove his love for his woman has set online users on a frenzy and has been trending on social media. The 57-year-old man, identified as Joseph Kagiso Ndlovu, ran a 90km (56 miles) marathon to propose to a woman named Prudence. He was pictured holding a banner asking the woman to marry him, as he approached the finish line of the Comrades Marathon on Sunday. Prudence will you marry me? Run 90k for you," read the banner. Local media and online users have been having a field day talking about the lengths to which the man had to go to woo his lover.   Ndlovu told the BBC on Monday that Prudence Dick, who was at the race to support him, said yes to his proposal. He said they have been dating since the beginning of this year and plan to get married sometime next year Earlier, it was not clear she had accepted the proposal and some people online had been egging her on to accept the proposal. As a country, we deserve the answe...

  The Commissioner of Customs at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Col (rtd) Kwadwo Damoah has been relieved of his duties as the boss of Customs. He has been asked to hand over his duties and office to the acting Deputy Commissioner (Preventive), Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah. Iddrisu Iddisah is to act as the Commissioner of Customs Division pending the President's substantive appointment. The change is to take effect from Friday, August 26, 2022, a letter dated August 26, from the Office of the President, addressed to Col (rtd) Damoah and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante stated. Deputy Customs Commissioner Adu Kyei transferred to Finance Ministry Graphic Online understands that, Adu Kyei, Deputy Commissioner of Customs has also been transferred to the Ministry of Finance. "Following the expiration of your contract of service as Commissioner (Customs Division) of the Ghana Revenue Authority on 13th October, 2021, the President of the Republic has d...

  Serene Insurance, a member of the First Sky Group, operating in the general insurance space in Ghana was Friday night recognised as the fastest growing insurance company at the 5th Ghana Insurance Awards held in Accra. The recognition comes on the back of the reputation Serene Insurance has built as a provider of reliable and cost effective insurance products and services that address the needs of the insuring public. From the onset with one branch, today Serene Insurance boosts of nine branches with over 68 staff and more than 40,000 institutional and retail client base showing the steady growth and penetration into the industry market in Ghana in a space of four years. Serene Insurance’s aggressive agency network expansion of over 200 active agents across the country, unrivalled customer service, strong financial base, being one of the well capitalised players in the industry and inclusive product penetration into the insurance market among other innovations has positioned it a...

  One of the greatest threats to a happy marriage is infidelity; indecent association including sex with someone other than a spouse. Unfortunately, this canker is fast increasing and most marriages have been victims. For example, in a study done in the US some five years ago it was found out that in 80 per cent of marriages, one or both partners had cheated. Some two years ago on one radio programme when this writer referred to the study in the US, someone called in and in a contribution asserted that the 80 per cent figure was too low and could be as high as 99 per cent in the Port City of Tema! More disturbing is the fact that Ghanaian women who were known to be faithful to their husbands are now matching their men bumper to bumper! An article in a Nigerian paper suggests 95 per cent of Nigerian husbands have ‘side chicks’. Today, some studies suggest 80 per cent of husbands and 65 per cent of wives in Ghana are victims of infidelity. The problem cuts across age, profession, tri...

 The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), is considering a review of its methodology in calculating foreign direct investments into the country. According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GIPC, Yofi Grant, the proposed new methodology is based on recommendations by the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the launch of the Centre’s 19 th Edition of the Ghana Club 100, Grant quipped the new methodology when agreed to, will include the recognition of projects by businesses, particularly by foreign companies as part of the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI). The inclusion of projects by businesses as part of foreign direct investment (FDI) is a common practice around the world and is particularly practiced in developed countries. Traditionally, the GIPC records cash and equipment brought into the country by foreign companies as foreign direct investment (FDI). GIPC is reconsidering the metrics i...

 State-owned bank, GCB, is still the country’s most recognised banking institution, according to research firm, Global InfoAnalytics. This is because, GCB, per the Q2 2022 Banking Sector Brand Health Check report by Global InfoAnalytics, maintained its lead over peer banks in the country in the measurement of the Prompted and Unprompted Brand Recall metric of banks. GCB first took over the number one spot from Ecobank Ghana in Q3 2021, and it has since then held onto the number one position till date. In its second-quarter banking report, the research firm notes that GCB for the review period scored a prompted brand recall of 12.13%, followed by ADB and Ecobank Ghana, which scored 8.82% and 7.63% respectively. GCB led the prompted brand recall with 12.1%, however, this represents a drop of circa 5% over the December 2021 report. ABSA also recorded a sharp decline compared to December 2021. Fidelity, Cal Bank ADB recorded improvements compared to the last period,” stated G...

  SAS Finance Group, owned by Togbe Afede XIV, the Paramount Chief of Asogli Traditional Area, has dismissed the claim by TV Host, Paul Adom-Otchere, that it made between GHS 40 million and GHS 100 million in advisory fees on various Government of Ghana Bond issuances since 2014. The company in a statement issued on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, remarked that assertions made by Paul Adom-Otchere, were false and misleading. We wish to state that the total fees earned by SAS from these mandates did not amount to, but was actually far less than ¢40million, and thus, cannot be presented as falling between ‘GHS 40million to GHS 100 million’, as stated by Paul Adom-Otchere on the Good Evening Ghana Programme on Metro TV. “We find the disingenuous attempt by Paul Adom-Otchere to draw SAS and its founder, Togbe Afede XIV, into the current debate about the apparent and patent conflict of interest in the selection of firms to act as Bond Market Specialists very distasteful”, it explained. It sta...

 The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has officially launched the 19 th edition of its flagship event, the Ghana Club 100 Awards. Arguably the most respected corporate programme in the country, the Ghana Club 100 Awards creates a database of the top 100 viable companies in Ghana. Since its inception in 1998, the objective of the awards scheme has been to promote effective corporate governance thus serving as a benchmark for corporate excellence and recognition of the achievements and contributions of the private sector to Ghana’s development. Speaking at the launch of awards scheme, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIPC, Yofi Grant, noted this year’s edition is to celebrate the resilience of businesses in the country in recognition of the devastating impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on business operations as well as the attendant negative impacts of the Russian-Ukraine war. According to him, despite the harsh impacts of the pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, busi...

The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye has announced that the organization has institutionalized a Data Analytics Unit in its organogram for the first time in its almost 20-year history.  Dr. Okoe-Boye said this during a capacity–building program organized for selected staff of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in partnership with the PharmAccess Foundation. The program was designed to provide the selected staff of the NHIA’s Claims Processing Center, Actuarial and Management of Information System Directorates with the skills needed to have complete control over the NHIA’s Data Analytics System.  He said the Management of NHIA is pursuing a 5-Point turn-around strategy dubbed  5D’s@2D  to revamp operations of the scheme through  D igitization,  D evelopment,  D issemination,  D ata, and  D ecentralization by 2023. For him, this move is part of a holistic plan to make NHIA the most visible and responsive public ser...