June 2023 – Lesotho Wire

June 30, 2023

Verifone Launches New Brand

Verifone unveils new brand and enterprise website to exemplify its class-leading payments platform offering

Verifone new logo

New Verifone brand identity

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., June 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Verifone rebrands to highlight its innovative payment solutions by introducing a new logo, brand identity and global website to align with an updated vision. Verifone is now the “Payments Architect and Commerce Expert” partner for all businesses everywhere. Verifone’s robust product and services portfolio delivers on that promise as it spans digital payment solutions, secure payment devices, cloud-hosted Payments as a Service, merchant acquiring, point of sale technology, advanced business insights through data science, managed services practices, and more.

After rebuilding its entire offering and company culture under new leadership, the refreshed brand identity matches the innovation and passion of a new Verifone. Consumer recognition and trust in the Verifone name needed to be preserved while simultaneously highlighting Verifone’s heightened digital focus, future-first approach and leading position in the marketplace. The new iconography conveys the connected, modular and evolving nature of payments in modern life, and it shows the architectural role Verifone plays in payments and commerce. All of this comes together on Verifone’s new global website where consumers, merchants and other stakeholders are introduced to a new, more user-friendly Verifone experience. The new brand is extensible across business units and around the world.

Verifone T650m Mobile Payment Device

With half a trillion dollars in transactions traversing its cloud via payment devices or Verifone-powered websites and apps, Verifone truly enables global commerce. Verifone stands out in the payments space where most businesses still piece together fragmented offerings from multiple providers to address complex customer needs. Verifone is the single provider with a comprehensive, flexible toolset that streamlines and reduces costs for any enterprise to accept payments.

“The world of commerce evolves constantly, and it is this dynamic environment that we’ve simplified and continue to revolutionize. Verifone started in the Fintech space over four decades ago, rapidly evolving our service offerings to meet the needs of all large and small businesses,” said Mike Pulli, Verifone CEO. “We are the critical commerce partner for businesses worldwide, offering solutions with a futureproof architecture. Our new brand matches our digital-first thinking, employee-focused mindset, and accelerated innovation. Our customers, and their customers, rely on Verifone every day.”

Verifone has focused intensely on new, innovative payment capabilities and features in recent years, significantly expanding the solution stack and enabling new markets. The company’s commerce expertise means its solutions can easily be adapted across nearly every vertical. From complex, global, omni-commerce retailers to a local vendor at a farmers’ market, Verifone futureproofs payment ecosystems and tech stacks.

Verifone M440 Multilane Payment Device

To experience Verifone’s new identity, watch the introduction video https://vimeo.com/verifone/newbrandlaunch and visit the new corporate global website at https://www.verifone.com/en/global. New country-specific websites will go live in the coming weeks and months.

About Verifone

Verifone is the payments architect shaping ecosystems for online and in-person commerce experiences, including everything businesses need – from secure payment devices to eCommerce tools, acquiring services, advanced business insights, and much more. As a global FinTech leader, Verifone powers omni-commerce growth for companies in over 165 countries and is trusted by the world’s best-known brands, small businesses, and major financial institutions. The Verifone platform is built on a four-decade history of innovation and uncompromised security, annually managing more than 12B transactions worth over $500B on physical and digital channels.

Verifone Media Contact:
Email: Press@Verifone.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7b9f429-f5f1-4860-b995-5062fdf2a9ef

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd30d469-60f2-47dd-b38d-3ad8691781c7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/41c98491-40b2-4ec3-ac59-94d7cacf78cd

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8867578

June 30, 2023

St Kitts and Nevis announces extension to Citizenship by Investment Programme Sustainable Growth Fund Limited Time Offer due to unprecedented demand

Basseterre, June 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International investors have been clamouring to take advantage of one of the best deals in the investment migration industry this year – St Kitts and Nevis’ Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) Limited Time Offer (LTO) which allows investors to gain approval for alternative citizenship in the country in as little as 60 days for a reduced fee.

In December 2022, the St Kitts and Nevis Head of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Michael Martin, announced the enactment of the updated St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2023, which included the introduction of the LTO for the SGF investment option effective 1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023.

On 29 June 2023, Michael Martin made the following comment regarding the LTO:

“We have received an overwhelming response and demand for our Sustainable Growth Fund investment option through the Limited Time Offer and felt that we had to extend the offering for another seven months until 31 January 2024. International investors continue to see the value of the world’s first and finest Citizenship by Investment Programme and this proves it”.

The SGF remains the quickest and easiest route to alternative citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis and now until 31 January 2024, a main applicant can acquire alternative citizenship by contributing only US$125,000 to the SGF and receiving approval in principle within 60 days of acknowledgement by the CIU of submission of their application.

Under the LTO, the minimum SGF contributions are as follows:

Single applicant – US$ 125,000
Main applicant and a spouse – US$150,000

Main applicant and up to three dependants – US$170,000
Each additional dependant under 18 – US$10,000
Each additional dependant over 18 – US$25,000

Revenue from the SGF has facilitated economic development and social upliftment in the country. The SGF is used to provide financial support to educational institutions, and medical facilities, as well as support infrastructural development, increase tourism, preserve local culture and heritage and support sustainable growth initiatives in the twin-island nation.

Discerning investors are seeing the benefits of being part of St Kitts and Nevis’ success story. Following upgrades to the CBI Regulations, the country now offers one of the most secure and best-regulated investment migration offerings in the world.

This means that international investors looking to hedge their bets in a stable and growing economy should look no further than St Kitts and Nevis.

This extension is a fantastic opportunity for investors to obtain citizenship through the LTO. This is a final extension and from 1 February 2024, the minimum SGF contribution will increase to the amounts prior to the LTO period.

The country is making sure that it has only the best to offer international entrepreneurs and families who have realised that global powerhouses are no longer illustrious investment options due to security risks. Investors want to ensure that they can safeguard their families and wealth in a global economy that has been offering nothing but uncertainty since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Smaller governments such as that of St Kitts and Nevis have found ways, through CBI, to protect themselves from global shocks, offer favourable business policies aimed at growing corporations in international markets and, by using international funds channelled to the SGF, can diversify and grow their economy to meet global needs.

St Kitts and Nevis continues to create a name for itself as a financial nexus in the Caribbean with an attractive CBI programme underpinned by a sound legal framework and robust multi-layered due diligence.

For nearly 40 years, St Kitts and Nevis has been the pioneer of the global investor immigration industry and those who recognise this are taking advantage of the LTO.

Chantal Mabanga
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
+44 (0) 207 318 4343
chantal.mabanga@csglobalpartners.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8867177

June 30, 2023

Parents urged to support autistic children to maximise inherent talents

Dr Susana Annan, Specialist Psychiatrist at the Tamale Central Hospital, has expressed the need for parents and other caregivers of autistic children to provide their needs to help maximise their hidden potentials.

She said children living with autism had some unique strengths and abilities, which when identified early, could help them lead more productive lives.

She emphasised that ‘They are able to concentrate and stay focused on their tasks. They have a special eye for detail because of their great observational skills. They do well in learning with cues.’

Dr Annan, who made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, said such children could become experts in what they did using methodical approach, analytical, spotting patterns, among others in handling their tasks.

She said, ‘they are noted for their honesty, loyalty, commitment, tenacity and resilience.’

She advised parents with autistic children to disregard various misconceptions associated with the condition and endeavour to provide their needs to enable them to harness their hidden potential.

Autism in children is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which requires medical attention.

It is often characterised by children avoiding eye contact, inability to respond to their names as well as repetitive movements such as flapping of hands, flicking their fingers and body rocking.

Although, there is no readily available statistics of children with autism in Ghana, World Health Organization in 2021, indicated that about one in 160 children had autism worldwide while in the United States, it is estimated that about one in 59 children had autism.

Source: Ghana News Agency

June 30, 2023

IPP Debts: Shutting down not the solution – ACEP

Mr Benjamin Boakye, the Executive Director of Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), says the decision to shut down and cut power supply to the national grid is not the solution to the debt challenge Independent Power Producers (IPP) faced.

He said because the cut in power supply as communicated by the IPP had a revenue loss implication to them as well.

‘What has sustained the power and the stability of the grid is that the IPPs preferred to be owed than shutdown and not get paid. Because contractually, once you shut down, then it means you don’t want to get paid, ‘ he said.

Speaking in an interview, he advised that the larger problem of debt accumulation in the power sector be given priority and resolved as it negatively impacted the fiscal situation of the country.

‘The national budget is suffering from the power sector. If you accumulate what we have spent in the past three to four years ago, it is more than $6 billion essentially for power people have consumed and refused to pay,’ he stated.

He called for a broader engagement on how the country could produce power, sell, and recover its money efficiently.

Mr Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Deputy Minister of Energy, said that the Government was meeting three Independent Power Producers (IPP) today over the possible cut in power supply due to the about $2 billion debt.

‘These are our partners that we have worked with over the years, and we will continue to with going forward. It is important that we engage with them to resolve problems that are there, ‘ he said.

He said Government’s indebtedness to the IPPs was an albatross due to the pay or take agreements signed.

The IPPs, which produce 2000 megawatts of power are demanding an interim payment of at least 30 per cent of their arrears or they will cut power to the national grid on July 01, 2023.

Source: Ghana News Agency

June 30, 2023

Burning of the Holy Quran: HM the King’s Ambassador in Stockholm Recalled for Consultations

Morocco has recalled the Ambassador of His Majesty the King to Sweden to the Kingdom for indefinite consultations following a demonstration during which the Holy Quran was burned in front of a mosque in Stockholm.

It has also on the very High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Kingdom of Sweden in Rabat to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates stated that during the summons, the Swedish diplomat was informed of the Kingdom of

Morocco’s ‘most vigorous condemnation of this offence and rejection of this unacceptable act.’

‘This new offensive and irresponsible act disregards the feelings of more than a billion Muslims during this sacred period of the great pilgrimage to Mecca and the blessed feast of Eid Al-Adha,’ the statement stressed.

‘Regardless of the political positions or differences that may exist between countries, the Kingdom considers it unacceptable that the faith of Muslims should be disrespected in this way, nor can the principles of tolerance and the values of universalism be reduced to accommodating the views of a few while showing so little regard for the beliefs of more than a billion Muslims,’ the statement added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

June 30, 2023

Ghanaian cloth dolls, stuffed animal toys producing factory aims to become global industry leader

MBA MODE Ghana Limited, a Ghanaian cloth dolls and stuffed animal toys producing factory located at Kasoa in the Central Region, is aiming to become global industry leader through export.

Miss Theresa Mami Baduba Ansah, Director of MBA MODE Gh Ltd, and Member of the Textiles, Garments, and Leather sector of the Association of Ghana Industries, said ‘The future of our dolls is very promising. We see our dolls sold in many countries, in many homes and in the hands of many children, both Africans and non-Africans learning about African history and heritage through our iconic dolls and our story telling books.’

She added that ‘We see our dolls contributing to the preservation and celebration of African culture and heritage by telling the African story through them.’

She was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on the operations of the company and its outlook for the near future.

MBA MODE Gh Ltd, established in 2013, produces unique dolls that are black with hair that depicts Ghanaian-African, and they are handmade with love and precision, adequately stuffed to maintain their shape and beauty even after many times of being washed.

The dolls come in sustainable African print cloths, which are sewn from African print waste fabrics.

Ms Ansah, who is also technical apparel, fabric art and doll pattern designer, cloth doll artist, fashion design instructor and fashion entrepreneur with a solid background in Accounting and fashion designing, said ‘Our goal for producing black dolls is to make iconic dolls that represent great men and women, who were instrumental in building the country in Ghanaian history leveraging on that to extend to Africa as a whole.’

She said, ‘Another unique thing about our dolls is that they are made by young women including a person living with disability, who invest their time in the making of the doll, while they make earnings to be able to fend for themselves and their families.’

She spoke about the future of the company saying ‘We see many people, especially women employed in our doll factory to be able to become self-reliant. And we see a Ghanaian toy producing factory headquartered in Ghana, positively impacting our community and beyond by providing valuable fashion skills training as we create sustainable products.’

Aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (Goals 3, 4, 8, 10 and 12) she said ‘We believe that skills development will change individual life, family and the entire nation as a whole’ adding the company envisaged to project Africanism and preserve African culture in fashion as Africa’s preferred fashion kids and toy brand and to provide accessible, practical, business oriented and cost-effective training in fashion design technology.

Ms Ansah spoke about her journey into the industry and said ‘My late husband discovered my sewing ability, because then, I could cut and sew clothes for our little son out of the blue. He suggested I enroll in a fashion school, which I did in 2012. I started sewing for clients two months after my enrollment and registered my fashion business in 2013.’

She added that ‘Officially, I started operating in our living room in 2014 after my graduation. A year after, I moved the business from our living room to a rented shop and later had three staff members including two apprentices.’

She said ‘There, I started preparing myself to train students. In 2017, we started the fashion school with six students in a two-bedroom house with six staff members. We have since trained over 500 students and still counting, having a team of 17 staff members and five board members.’

Ms Ansah touched on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of her company, saying ‘COVID- 19 hit us so badly that our school had to be closed. Engaging our business in the production of nose masks, we thought of how we could diversify and what we could do for children at home.’

She said ‘Through a client of ours, we discovered we could make dolls and that started our dolls and toys production. My motivation for going into fashion designing came from my late husband and the fact that being self-employed was what I needed to be able to regulate my time and take care of the home well.’

‘I would say the COVID pandemic was a motivating factor then, to start the doll business and bring smiles to children’s faces. However, today, what motivates me to continue producing dolls is our rich cultural heritage as blacks and telling African stories of our past.’

Source: Ghana News Agency