SARPONG'S BLOG

Genevieve Basigha, a speech and hearing impaired lady and Founder of Research Utilization School for the Deaf (RUSFORD) at Obuasi, has been crowned the overall winner of MTN Heroes of Change Season III at the National Theatre.                 PROF. FRANKLYN MANU BOARD CHAIRMAN OF MTN GHANA FOUNDATION PRESENTING THE CHEQUE TO MADAM GENEVIEVE BASIGHA Genevieve Basigha was announced overall winner. She received spontaneous standing ovation amidst wild jubilation from the audience when she walked on stage to receive her prize. Speaking through a translator, an excited Genevieve expressed her gratitude to God, her staff and MTN Ghana Foundation for the honour and recognition accorded her. She recounted the challenges she had endured as a result of her disability and during her effort to support children with speaking and hearing impairment. She said, “I have suffered but with God everything is possible. I thank my staff for working with me...

The Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa, one of the sub-region’s leading sustainability and corporate social responsibility advocacy organizations has announced the 4th National CSR and Sustainability Conference to be held in Accra next month. The Conference will bring together, all major stakeholders in the CSR and sustainability spectrum in Ghana.                                 Prof. Martin Gyambrah addressing the media at last year's event The Conference is one of the successful signature advocacy projects of the Centre for CSR, West Africa. It is organized annually, and since 2014, major organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Plan International, Care International, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Unilever Ghana, Vodafone Ghana, Guinness Ghana, Millicom Ghana (Tigo), the Ministry of Trade & Industry, Association of Ghana...

The International Development Association (IDA), an agency of the World Bank has earmarked US$5.5 million to support over 55 communities in Ghana to fight climate change as part of the natural resources management project. The amount US$5.5 million form part of the Ghana’s Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Local Communities project (G-DGM) which aimed at strengthen the knowledge base of these communities and practices towards reducing deforestation and improving the sustainable management of their activities. The beneficiary communities are selected from Brong-Ahafo and Western Regions of Ghana. According to IDA, the project will contribute towards helping the communities better understand REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from deforestation and Forest degradation plus conservation of Forest, Sustainable Forest management and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks). Mr. Henry Kerali, the World Bank Country Director for Ghana said "this project contributes to the World Bank Group C...

Madam Valentina Mintah,  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of West Blue Consulting, a world class business and IT-consulting and technology firm has been awarded the “Chief Executive Officer of the Year 2016-Business and IT Consulting Services” Award at the prestigious Ghana Entrepreneur Awards 2016 held in Accra. The Award presented to her by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic Turkey to Ghana, H.E Nesrin Bayazit seeks to recognize Madam Mintah’s outstanding achievement, vision, innovation and growth in the trade facilitation and customs modernization in Ghana. She received a certificate and a coveted plaque. The seventh Ghana Entrepreneur & Corporate Executive Awards 2017 which was organized by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana (EFG) in association with the OmniBank seeks to reward excellence among the most committed and dedicated entrepreneurs and corporate executives in Ghana. The award is in collaboration with the Ministries ...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com The management of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (CBOD) has pledged it support towards the upcoming Ghana Energy Award which is slated in December this year. The Ghana Energy Award is aim at celebration the tremendous work of the players within the energy sector. It's​ also to bring together the stakeholders in the energy industry to deliberate on issues affecting the sector. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CBOD, Mr. Senyo Hosi recognized the importance of the award and how it will strengthened and encouraged the industry players to live up to expectations. "The award must be legitimate to be accepted by all stakeholders. Let the industry players be part of the award and let them feel they own it," Mr. Hosi stated. He said this when the management of the Energy Media Group (EMG), the publishers of Energy Ghana (EG)  magazine visited CBOD to informed them about the upcoming Ghana En...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is to introduce Payment Systems and Services Bill, 2017 as a result of reviewing the existing Electronic Money Issuers and Agents’ Guidelines (2015) and the Payment Systems Act 2003 (Act 662). According to the central bank, the idea is to consolidate these two laws into one piece of legislation. Dr. Johnson P. Asiama, the 2nd Deputy Governor of the BoG said they have consulted widely with stakeholders in drafting the bill, and the draft is currently with the Ministry of Finance, which it’s ready to be presented to the Cabinet. Addressing a cross section of bankers in Accra, Dr. Asiama mentioned that the central bank initiated the review because of the response to the changing banking and payment landscape. “Information and communication technology (ICT) is transforming the financial services industry with rapidity. ICT is challenging the traditional banking model by providing alternative channels...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com Nestle Ghana is to distribute shoes to a total of 4,000 pupils to selected basic schools in the country. The project aim at helping the children in deprived communities to take their first step towards becoming champions in sports and in life. Already, a total of 2,000 pupils have so far received their sports shoes in the Central and Volta Regions. The Category Manager for Milo, Mrs. Funmi Osineye said the 4,000 shoes are to be distributed at the end of the exercise all across the country. According to her, the distribution started in March and expected to end by ending of May 2017 with distribution to the Ashanti and Northern Regions. The beneficiary schools in Volta region includes Methodist primary, Freetown basic school, Salvation army primary, Armfield basic school, Agove Basic school, Lokoe basic school, Ziave Methodist primary, Klefe Demeti primary, Matse E/P primary and Mate R/C primary. The beneficiary sc...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com The management of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital will this week raise about GHc500,000 at it maiden fundraising dinner in Accra. The amount GHc500,000 will be use for refurbishment and purchasing of the equipment such as Biochemistry Analyzer, Haematology Analyzer, Electroconvulsive Therapy Machine, Anaesthetic Machine among others. Speaking to the Daily Express, Mr. Emmanuel Aboagye, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the hospital mentioned that apart from the items listed above, the hospital lacks good toileting facilities, unavailability of medication and inadequate staffing. Others are lack of beds, lack of bed sheet, shortage of thermometers, shortage of detergents, painting, cracked roofs, lack of food, and among others. He stated that if they are able to raise this amount, it’s going to help them improve the condition at the hospital. The management has invited dignitaries from the government, the industry...

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com Some Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in Ghana are losing huge sums of revenues as a result of smuggling of fuel into the industry while others are gaining. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PETROSOL, Mr. Michael Bozumbil said some OMCs have team-up with some of the tank owners and drivers who are eventually smuggling fuel to these OMCs. According to him, the oil industry in Ghana is suffering from "illegal fuel galamsey" which is coordinated by cabals within the industry.  “This is very serious than the main galamsey in mining we are all talking about. It has more security implications and its rippling effects unmatched. We are operating from a system where you suffer to do the right thing while others are benefiting from doing the wrong things. If you cannot beat them then you must definitely join them has been the message from these cabals,” he stated. He spoke to the Daily Express after the Energy Media G...

…Speaker to response Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye will officially response to the ban placed on three sitting Members of Parliament (MP) and one former MP by the UK High Commission in Ghana either this Friday or Monday May 8, 2017. According to the Madam Kate Addo, the acting Public Affairs Director of Parliament, the Speaker Prof. Ocquaye has traveled out of the country and expected to be at the House this Friday. After Jon Benjamin, British High Commissioner to Ghana issued the ban letter on the four MPs, the legislature has not responded officially. However, some MPs including the four banned MPs, the Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and Madam Kate Addo have given comments to the banned. The UK High Commission in Ghana, headed by Jon Benjamin placed a ten-year travelling ban to the UK on some Ghanaian Members of Parliament (MP) and a former one. The four MPs include: former MP for Asunafo South George Boakye, NDC MP for Bi...