SARPONG'S BLOG

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express The Safi Sana Ghana Limited, a wholly foreign owned company from Netherlands is investing about US$1.69 million in the services sector of Ghana’s economy. The company is among top five companies that registered with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in the third quarter of 2015. The other four companies are AKSA Energy Company Limited, Karpowership Ghana Company Limited, Jubaili Agrotec Limited, and Mulch Company Limited. According to the GIPC, Safi Sana project concept is designed to push the frontiers of innovation in waste treatment and reuse. “It prides itself in building business models into activities along the entire sanitation value chain – waste collection, transportation, treatment and reuse,” a statement from GIPC stated. GIPC said “the approach by Safi Sana is one that has sustainability in-built into its business model to ensure that the solutions to sanitation are viable. The renewable energy Act (Act 8...

By: Emelia Essumanba- Josiah- Daily Expressn  essumanba@gmail.com Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24 have organized a two-day special programme devoted to Ghana on their digital terrestrial television network in Accra last week. The programmie broadcasted in English, gave audience on every continent the opportunity to hear and see Ghana as described by Ghanaians themselves. These two special editions were aired on “Accra Live PM”, renamed after their new flagship magazine “Paris Live PM”. The programs included an exclusive interview with President John Dramani Mahama on his goals and ambitions for the country, discussions on Ghana’s situation and economic forecast, educational challenges and information technologies and also Ghana’s bilateral relations with France. The program also hosted entrepreneurs from the country’s fashion design industry, culture, music and sports. All this was recorded at the Accra Alliance Francaise premises, as Gha...

By: Mathias Amoah-  Daily Express As from 15 February, 2016 Brussels Airlines will operate six flights a week between Brussels and Nuremberg, the second largest city of Bavaria. Brussels Airlines continues to expand its network in Germany, adding Nuremberg as a destination comes next year, only a couple of months after successfully launching flights to Bremen. The capital of the region Franconia will be connected with Brussels Airport six times a week. “The new route is very good news for the large number of businessmen, EU-officials and lobbyists who so far could not travel between Nuremberg and the European capital”, says Brussels Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Lars Redeligx. “As from 15 February we will offer them direct flights and smooth connections to other European destinations on all weekdays and on Sunday.” “We are delighted with the new connection for the winter season. It allows us to respond to the large demand of the local industry in Nuremberg”...

By: Raphael Apetorgbor- Daily Express rapeorgbor@theventpr.com In an effort to fight cervical cancer among women, the Al-Hayaat Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the Central University College (CUC) has held a cervical cancer sensitization programme for students of the university. The ‘Pinky Vajay Jay’ awareness campaign was held under the auspices of the SRC Women’s Commissioner, led by Miss. Beatrice Gyimah. The main purpose of the event was to educate student’s especially female students about cervical cancer. Speaking at the event, the Founder of the foundation, Hajia Hanatu Abubakar indicated that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 400,000 women are diagnosed of cervical cancer across the world yearly, however, about 275,000 women die and 80 per cent of these death cases were recorded in developing countries including Ghana. She therefore entreated women to go for cervic...

By: Raphael Apetogbor rapetorgbor@theventpr.com The National Health Students Association of Ghana (NAHSAG) has elected Mr. Phanuel Seli Gakpetor as President for 2015/2016 academic session. NAHSAG is the umbrella body of students of all health students and fresh graduates from the various health training institutions and universities across the country Mr. Gakpetor was elected at a congress which took place at the Catholic University College, Fiapre Sunyani in the Brong- Ahafo during the weekend. The congress was attended by many Students’ Union executives across the country. The congress was held under the theme “Quality Assurance in Health Education; the Role of Stakeholders”. Mr. Gbekpetor will take over from the current President, Mr. Frank Amoakohene in the coming weeks at the University of Ghana, Korle- Bu campus. Other newly elected executives include: Mr. Richard Yeboah as 1st Vice President, Mr. Mark Hammond as the 2nd Vice President, Olivia Azur...

Raphael Apetorgbor- Daily Express rapetorgbor@theeventpr.com The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG) has announced the formation of its advisory board called the PUSAG Associates. The advisors would help link up alumni and students into opportunities that may exist in and outside the country. Speaking at the launch in Oyibi, near Accra, Mr. Isaac Adjin Bonney, Convener of the group said the board would also help mobilise all members in the exchange of ideas and act as advocacy role for an accredited member institution. He noted that the board would help in the realisation of the vision and mission of PUSAG through effective effort and it would ensure that the NEC is ably supported with ideas and links in corporate Ghana to achieve manifesto. “The advisors will meet quarterly to discuss issues, share experience, and provide one another confidential help to achieve their goals,” the Convener stated...

By: Raphael Apetorgbor- Daily Express rapetorgbor@theeventpr.com The Private University Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG) is appealing to government to exempt educational institutions from the on-going load shedding during this examination period. They are also asking government to ensure it fixes the energy crisis by December as promised. A statement jointly signed by Mr. Richard Odame, the PUSAG National President and Mr. Francis Kwabena Asante, the Media Relations Director and copied the Daily Express said this call has become necessary considering the fact that students at the various universities in the country have started taking their end of semester exams. The leadership of PUSAG believes that government and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) can spare the universities of the on-going load shedding exercise at least for the next three weeks (exams period) to enable them enjoy incident free examination period; thereby improving academic performanc...

The Jury for the IFEJ-Flamingo 2015 Awards for Business and Financial Journalism has shortlisted six financial journalists for various categories of awards. The chair of the Seven-Member  Jury Mr Daniel Otabil Koomson said in all 23 entries were received and distributed over Seven Award Categories. The shortlisted financial journalists are Mr Moses Mozart Dzawu of  Bloomberg Ghana Office, Mr Kwasi Adjei Anim of Viasat One (Western Region), Mr Kofi Adu Domfeh Luv FM Kumasi Office, Mr Felix Dela Klutse  of Business Day, Mr Francis Tandoh, Accra Bureau of the Xinhua News Agency and Adnan A. Mohammed of Economic Times. In all the six listed nominees will be vying for the ultimate prize which is sponsored by the World Bank. In July this year, the Institute of Financial Journalists (IFEJ) launched the Second Edition of the IFEJ-Flamingo Award for Business and Financial Journalism. The essence of the a...

By: Attah-Effah Badu The largest gathering on HIV and AIDS, and Sexually transmitted infections, in Africa has  officially commenced in Harare, Zimbabwe, under the theme; HIV/AIDS in Post 2015 Era: Linking Leadership, Science & Human Rights.  Christened the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2015), the summit, being attended by about 5000 delegates is to showcase new research findings, and strategies towards achieving the global target of ending the AIDS epidemic by the year 2030. Delegates attending the conference comprise of renowned researchers, leaders, civil societies, Persons Living With HIV; policy makers, health experts; activists and other key stakeholders across the continent. The conference, being organised by the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) is from 29th November – 4th December 2015. A bout a thousand research findings on HIV and AIDS and STIs are to be presented during the course of the conference. A ke...

MultiChoice Ghana is thrilled to announce the addition of YFM (Channel 303) and Joy Prime (Channel 100) on the GOtv platform. The two channels will be available from the 26th November 2015 at 9:00 AM. YFM, a member of the Global Media Alliance, is one of the most listened to urban,“young” music and entertainment radio stations in Accra, with popular award winning shows like; “Rise & Shine”, the “Y-Lounge” and the ultimate weekend party starter – “Party Pressure”.  The station is now available in Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi  with spill-overs in Tema , parts of  Volta, Eastern and Central Regions of Ghana and in other cities that have GOtv signals. Joy Prime, a digital TV station with the MultiMedia Group, provides 24 hours of non-stop entertainment programmes ranging from award winning series and telenovelas  like “Mama Eko” & award winning Asian series “I Do”, movies- local and international produced, reality, lifestyle and game shows. Over the la...

The World Bank Group today unveiled a new plan that calls for US$16 billion in funding to help African people and countries adapt to climate change and build up the continent's resilience to climate shocks. Titled Accelerating Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Development, the Africa Climate Business Plan will be presented at COP21, the global climate talks in Paris, on November 30. It lays out measures to boost the resilience of the continent's assets - its people, land, water, and cities - as well as other moves including boosting renewable energy and strengthening early warning systems. "Sub-Saharan Africa is highly vulnerable to climate shocks, and our research shows that could have far-ranging impact -- on everything from child stunting and malaria to food price increases and droughts," said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. "This plan identifies concrete steps that African governments can take to ensure that their countries will not lose hard-...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) last week approved a US$56.2 million African Development Fund loan to support Ghana’s Public Financial Management and Private Sector Competitiveness Program. According to the bank, this general budget support operation is the first in a two-year programmatic series of US$100 million that will be implemented in 2015 and 2016. The bank said the operation is in response to the continued decline of the Ghanaian economy, caused by a weak macroeconomic environment and a series of exogenous shocks. Daily Express gathered that during the presentation of the operation to the Board of Directors, Jacob Mukete, Director of the Bank’s Governance, Economic and Financial Management Department stated that, “the program aims at strengthening fiscal consolidation, deepening the public financial management reform, and improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the economy.” He sai...

The Network of Communications Reporters (NCR) has commended the telecoms regulator, National Communications Authority (NCA), for opening up the sale of the 800MHz spectrum for all telecom operators in the country to bid. "NCR believes the NCA's move is in the interest of the greater majority of the people because when fully deployed, telecom users can have access to super high speed internet and data services while their mobile voice quality will also be greatly enhanced”, it said. This was contained in a statement jointly signed by NCR Dean, Mr. Charles Benoni Okine and Liason Officer, Mr. Samuel Dowuona. It would be recalled that the NCA, in 2012 awarded Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Licenses in the 2600MHz spectrum band exclusively to three wholly Ghanaian-owned companies, Surfline Communications, Blu Telecoms and Goldkey Telecoms in pursuant of government's local content policy. The three were to start offering Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express The four companies who submitted their applications to the National Communications Authority (NCA) to acquire 4G LTE licenses are said to be ready for the announcement of the winners by the regulating authority. The National Communications Authority did announce the availability of some space in the 800MHz for two companies to be awarded licenses in order to operate 4G LTE in the country. The 4G LTE network is an improved technology of 2G and 3G technologies. Basically, people who have smart phones which are compatible to the 3G technology are able to use their phones to browse the internet, send text, send pictures and among other things. Similarly, users of smart phones which are compatible to the 4G LTE will be able to experience much better services than what 2G and 3G provides. The companies who were able to meet the 9 November, 2015 deadline are Scancom Ghana Limited, the operators of MTN; Surfline Communications Limited;...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express Government has tasked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to come out with guidelines on the running of ‘independent state-owned institutions,’ in the country. According to the government, these guidelines will be subjected to Cabinet discussion and approval. This contained in Government’s white paper on the Report of the Commission of Enquiry into Payments from Public funds arising from Judgment debts & Akin Matters (C.I. 79/2012). The Commission recommended that State institutions must be given the independence to act and perform under the laws that establish them. “This is the only way they could be called upon to account for their stewardship and face the consequences if need be,” it added. The Commission was of the view that Government should redefine its role in matters concerning institutions that have independent legal capacities but are wholly State-owned. “It is not a good practice for the State to always a...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express Bank of Ghana (BoG), the regulator of the banking industry has announced that Ghana currently has gross foreign assets of US$5.7 billion which can sustain the country for a period of 3.4 months of imports. According to the central bank, there are other inflows which expected to beef up to the US$5.7 billion reserve. Dr. Kofi Wampah, the Governor of the central bank announced this at a news conference after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) review of the state of the economy. The governor stated that the central bank was expecting US$800 million from cocoa inflows into the country. He also mentioned US$50 million from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB). “With all these coming into the country in addition to the regular monthly inflows such as gold export, cocoa and manganese among others to our reserve will be better for months,” said the governor. He said for the first 10 months of 2015, the overall balance of payments p...

  African Media Agency (AMA) the pan-African media relations specialist and MobileMoney Africa , the online platform for mobile financial media reporting, today announced an alliance to promote financial inclusion on the continent. As part of this agreement, AMA will be responsible for promoting the 6th Remittance & MobileMoney Expo event taking place on  Feb 2-3  in Lagos, Nigeria. The expo is the leading continental event focused on mobile financial services. AMA will engage the main print, broadcast and online media of the continent, key stakeholders through the global aggregators and their strategic partners AllAfrica.com and Africa.com. "For a few years now, we have worked closely with the champions of financial inclusion on the continent from the Better than Cash Alliance to MasterCard and Barclays Africa. This partnership with MobileMoney Africa will strengthen our goal to push financial inclusion as the centre of economic empowerment", said Eloïne Ba...

MultiChoice Africa announced the addition of Emmanuel TV, a Christian television channel founded by T.B. Joshua, Pastor of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). The channel will launch on the DStv and GOtv platforms on Thursday, 19 November 2015. Subscribers will get access to Emmanuel TV on DStv channel 390and GOtv channel 82, bringing the ministry to the homes of viewers across Africa.  The channel will air 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will bring to viewers inspirational sermons from Prophet T.B. Joshua alongside dramatic healings, deliverances, miracles and touching charitable projects.  Since its beginning in 1993, The SCOAN has grown to become one of the most sought after Christian ministries across the world. The church’s television network, Emmanuel TV was established in 2006 and has been broadcasting worldwide with a viewership of over 100 million. Emmanuel TV is currently one of the most subscribed Christian chan...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express The management of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Ghana has presented several packages to 12 loyal customers who took part in the remittance campaign introduced by the bank. The promotion which took place between the period of May and June 2015 was to enable people living in the country receive remittances from their families and relatives in abroad through any UBA branches across the country.                           Mrs Abiola Bawuah, CEO-MD of UBA presenting a prize to one of the winners The 12 persons were identified to have received the highest remittances during the promotion, even though there were a number of people who received remittances through the bank. They were given fridges, gas cookers, microwaves and among other things. The Daily Express gathered that the remittance business is growing and to increase its market share, UBA Ghana organized this...