Category: General

Accra: Mr John Anim Peprah, the Dormaa Area Head, Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), has advised the public to deal directly with NEDCo officials for meter acquisition and other services without involving middlemen.

Mr Peprah gave the advice in an interview with the media at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region as part of NEDCo’s day three mass revenue mobilisation exercise.

He said it was rather significant for applicants to use approved channels for meter acquisition to ensure transparency and efficiency in the process.

Mr Peprah expressed satisfaction with the progress of the exercise, saying during the first and second days, NEDCo mobilised GHC91,000.00 and GHC92,000.00 respectively.

Giving an account of the exercise on the third day, he said some locally operated institutions and companies showed commitment in settling their indebtedness.

The Presbyterian Nursing Training School settled its debt of GHC12,000.00 while the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital pa
id GHC20,000.00 out of its GHC2.8 million debt, Mr Peprah said.

The rest were St Charles Farms, which paid GHC30,000.00 out of the GHC88,000.00 debt, Kusi Farms, GHC20,000.00 out of GHC40,000.00, and Gyamfi Poultry Farms cleared its entire debt of GHC85,000.00.

The Adama Musah Dry Mill also paid its total debt of GHC19,000.00, whereas power supply to a residential home at Kumikrom, near Dormaa-Ahenkro, amounting to GHC2000.00 was also paid.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has handed over four projects totaling US$1.53 million to its catchment communities in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.

The projects included a renovated maternity block and other facilities at the Abosso Health centre, community centre at Bompieso, doctors and nurses’ accommodation at Huni-Valley and 1.7 kilometres of tarred town roads in Damang.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Executive Vice President, and Head of Gold Fields West Africa, Mr Joshua Mortoti, stated that in line with their objective of supporting local content and boosting economic activities in their operational areas, all the projects were executed by local contractors and praised them for the good work done.

‘As the GFGF marks its 20th year, we are pleased to announce that in January, this year, the Foundation’s investment in Ghana crossed the US$100 million mark.

‘This is a testimony to our commitment to the socio-economic development of communities within the operational areas of ou
r Tarkwa and Damang Mines and by extension the country,’ he announced.

The Executive Vice President said the Foundation’s investment covered several areas under education, water and sanitation, health, agriculture, and infrastructure: including training, scholarships, and enterprise development, adding, ‘to give further impetus to our commitment to sustainable development, the GFGF will soon launch its five-year strategic development plan.’

Mr Mortoti emphasized that an important aspect of the Foundation’s programmes and initiatives were to ensure that they were relevant, impactful, sustainable and could change and enhanced lives.

‘Overall, Gold Fields has contributed significantly to the economic growth of the country, supported infrastructural development, and contributed to continuous service delivery of local government, improving health, education, and service delivery in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.

‘To ensure we carry our support further, taking it to another level, in
2023 Gold Fields commissioned a baseline needs assessment of the two Municipalities,’ he added

According to Mr Mortoti, the objective of the study was to identify a legacy project that would tie into their purpose of creating enduring value beyond mining, and ‘The study recommended expanded access to quality health care, and we call this our Legacy Programme.

‘I believe that many of the stakeholders here today may have already made input into this programme. Further engagement around our Legacy Programme will be done throughout 2024’.

He also pointed out that a breakdown of what the Foundations had spent so far showed that US$ 68.8 million had gone into infrastructure, and that represented about 69 per cent of the total spending.

Mr Mortoti reiterated that Gold Fields would remain committed to share the value of mining with all stakeholders and ensure they met their environment, social and governance commitments.

The Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Mr Abdel Razak Yakubu, explained that the GFGF wa
s established to provide a means for the company to support the government’s development agenda in the host communities of the mines.

In 2023, the Foundation was decoupled from the community relations function of the company. The new Foundation structure pulled together young talents from their Graduate Training programme from its host communities and this team had shown that everything was possible.

In addition, Mr Yakubu said ‘From Damang to Amoanda; from Aboso to Brahabobom, these smart working young men and ladies have continued to exhibit professionalism and the results are evident for all to see.

A secretariat was set up to manage the affairs of the Foundation. For the first time in a long while, the Foundation completed 88 per cent of projects approved by its trustees as against 56 per cent in previous years.’

Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, added that ‘GFGF has invested heavily across the length and breadth of the country through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
, and the government is grateful.

‘Am pleading if the Foundation can invest at least 20 per cent of its CSR in enterprise development, and l believe between 5 to 15 years we will have millionaires in Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal who will help create more businesses.’

Dr Anthony Adofo Ofosu, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), indicated that the construction of quarters was a huge relief to them, stressing that ‘GHS wish Ghanaians will not travel long distance to access healthcare. This can only be possible when we provide health personnel with the needed accommodation, and this is just what GFGF has done, and we thank them’.

Nana Kwabena Amponsah IV, Divisional Chief of Bosomtwe, pledged to ensure the facility was properly maintained to extend its lifespan so unborn generations could also benefit.

Madam Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, the Chairperson of the Minerals Commission, on behalf of First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo’s Rebecca Foundation, donated an ambulance to the Huni-Valley health
centre in fulfillment of a promise made.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Mr George Sarpong, Executive Secretary, National Media Commission has made a strong case for the safety and protection of journalists across the board and especially going into the upcoming general election.

He said the Commission was committed to offering the necessary support to all towards a peaceful election, this year.

Mr Sarpong was interacting with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a two-day training workshop on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for political party Executives in Ho on Monday.

It was organised by the Volta Regional Secretariat of the National Peace Council (NPC) with support from the STAR Ghana Foundation and with funding from the British High Commission.

He said one of the ways of ensuring peaceful elections was protecting the safety of journalists and by extension peace of the nation.

He said journalists should be granted access to all the electoral processes since transparency was the keyword for transparent elections.

Mr. Sarpong, who was facilitating t
he programme said the Commission would protect every journalist ‘who wants to do journalism.’

He said, ‘But anybody who seeks to hide behind any dangerous attempt to undermine our democracy will have himself or herself to blame.’

The Executive Secretary said days, where people could commit offences and sought to avoid liability by claiming political or partisan label were over.

He said anybody would be accountable for their deeds and those who defaulted would face the law.

Mr Sarpong said the Commission would work with all the parties on coordinated mechanisms for the safety of journalists and would work with stakeholders to operationalise it.

He said the Ghana Police Service had made a commitment towards providing the greatest support to safeguard the safety of journalists.

Mr Sarpong said the Commission would not leave any single attack on any journalist unaddressed but more substantively prevent any kind of attack.

He said the Commission would actively work with the National Peace Council.

Mr Sarpo
ng urged the media to re-conceptualise what it meant to have two sides to an issue under peacebuilding.

He called on the media to give the National Peace Council a greater space as the core national peacebuilder in all conflict situations in elections.

Mr Sarpong said the Commission would work with all stakeholders, faith-based groups, political parties and youth groups to protect the peace of the country.

Mr David Yao Normanyo, the Regional Head of NPC said the objective of the workshop was to enhance the knowledge and skills-set of political parties on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for addressing intra and inter-political party conflicts in Ghana.

He said NPC’s expectation is to promote dialogue among the political parties in Ghana to build stronger national cohesion, consensus building and political tolerance.

He said the NPC has identified that inter and intra-party conflicts impact negatively on the general political atmosphere of the country, which led to the workshop.

The NPC is there
fore partnering with some development partners, civil society organisations and governmental institutions to build the capacity of the political parties in alternative dispute resolutions and provide platforms at the national and regional levels that would enable dialogues and consensus building, and address intra and inter-political parties’ conflicts.

In attendance were 30 executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Convention People’s Party (CPP), People’s National Convention (PNC), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), All People’s Congress (APC), Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), and Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: The Nubuke Foundation, through its annual Woori (Smock) Festival, has inspired the weaving industry of the Upper West Region, by taking steps to reduce the challenges of the sector, especially among women weavers, to make them more creative.

The Foundation used its Centre for Textiles and Clay in Loho near Wa to support more than 700 women and craft makers in the region by training them in design, technology, business skills training, capacity building and financial and digital literacy among others.

Madam Odile Tevie, the Director of the Nubuke Foundation, revealed this at Loho in the Nadowli-Kaleo District during the opening of the 2024 edition of the Woori Festival.

It was on the theme: ‘Weaving a Sustainable Future for the Next Generation’, which celebrated culture, creativity, and community activism with support from Access Bank PLC.

People across the region and beyond, including heads of departments, traditional leaders, weavers and artists graced the event, which was spiced up with cultural
dance by the Kparsaga and Wa cultural dance troupes.

It witnessed the spectacular exhibition and display of the best of Ghanaian weaving traditions and textile designs, artwork and art performances such as poetry, dance and singing, and food concepts of the region.

The three-day event featured a range of activities, including educational workshops, art exhibitions, live demonstrations, performances, film screenings, music, and a fashion show.

Madam Tevie said since the introduction of the Woori Festival in 2021, the Foundation had attracted more than 2,000 visitors and witnessed tremendous growth in patronage and incentive activities.

She observed that women in the weaving sector of the region were faced with many challenges, which the Foundation sought to address through partnerships.

Some of the challenges are a lack of adequate capital to purchase tools and materials as well as inadequate capacity to access and sell in a bigger and more sophisticated market.

‘Recent research had shown that women entr
epreneurs face financial exclusion due to lack of collateral, lack of understanding of financing or inexperience in business management and as well as social and cultural constraints,’ the Director added.

Madam Tevie commended the British Council for its support of the Foundation to enable it to realise its vision.

Mr Andrew Entsua-Mensah, the Project Manager of Arts and Culture, the British Council, said arts and culture held the key to contributing to the national economy through market access for creative products.

The British Government saw it as a worthy course to support by providing grants and contributing to policies to promote the creative industry in Ghana, he said.

Mr Entsua-Mensah noted that the activities witnessed at the event had put the rich culture of the region in the eyes of the whole country.

He said the festival was timely as it marked the ‘Ghana Month’ to contribute to the growth of the economy.

Ms Lydia Alhassan, the Chief Executive Officer of Concern Life Foundation, who was the
guest speaker, encouraged weavers to endure the challenges of the industry to impact society.

She said weaving was not a preserve of the less educated but that every person could venture into it, irrespective of his or her occupation and educational level.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Financial institutions have been urged to boldly showcase ACH Direct Credit Near Real Time (NRT) services on their digital platforms to facilitate easy access for customers.

Highlighting and appropriately labelling  the NRT option, will raise awareness among customers about this payment service, encouraging its utilization.

Typically, banks list various digital channels on their internet and mobile banking platforms, attracting significant patronage due to their visibility to customers.

GhIPSS officials suggest that incorporating the ACH Direct Credit Near Real Time into the roster of payment channels will boost its usage.

Ghana is distinguished for offering ACH Direct Credit Near Real Time, a payment channel that positions it ahead of many countries.

This service enables businesses to credit beneficiaries’ bank accounts within fifteen (15) minutes of initiating fund transfers, setting it apart from the Standard Direct Credit (24 hours) and Express Direct Credit (4 hours) options.

Mary Dei Sarpon
g, Head of Bulk Payments and Customer Support, emphasized in an interview that, NRT empowered organisations and individuals to execute bulk payments round the clock, with recipients receiving funds within fifteen(15) minutes-an efficiency that can benefit numerous institutions.

Mrs. Dei Sarpong encouraged banks to actively promote the NRT and attract as many institutions as possible to utilize the service for quick bulk payments.

Ghana’s payment landscape offers diverse options to cater to varying needs, including instant payment, near real time options, and slower alternatives like

third-party cheques, which can take up to two days to clear.

Mrs. Dei Sarpong stressed the importance for banks to make these payment channels visible on their platforms and devise innovative methods to educate the public about their availability.

While GhIPSS does not directly offer these services to the public, it remains committed to raising awareness to assist individuals in selecting the most suitable payment option at
any given time.

NRT provides a faster way of paying many people than any physical cash payment can ever achieve.

The time to manoeuvre through traffic, the risk of carry large sums of money to pay different people, and the fights over payment reconciliation challenges, are completely taken away, with the use of NRT.

The service also comes in handy for businessmen and women as well as individuals who have to make urgent payment to suppliers while busy with other activities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, commended the Atlantic African Initiative launched by HM King Mohammed VI for Sahel States.

GCC States welcome the Atlantic African Initiative of HM King Mohammed VI which will strengthen cooperation between Sahel and Atlantic coast States, Albudaiwi said during the ministerial meeting held on Sunday in Riyadh, between GCC States and the Kingdom of Morocco.

On this occasion, Albudaiwi underlined the importance of the strategic partnership between Morocco and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as the aspiration of the Council’s member States to further consolidate economic relations between the two parties.

This meeting, which was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC member countries, was the opportunity to strengthen the strong foundations of the strategic partners
hip between the two parties, in accordance with the Vision of HM King Mohammed VI, and His brothers heads of State from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Source: Ghana News Agency