Day: September 6, 2021

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Concerned NPP group asks President Akufo-Addo to ignore political saboteurs

Sunyani, The ‘Concerned NPP Supporters in Bono Region’, an emerging youth group in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ignore political saboteurs and concentrate on building a better Ghana.

The group said it was solidly behind President Akufo-Addo towards national reconstruction and hoped he would ignore “nation-wreckers” and concentrate on his bid to achieving his vision for the nation and to building a better society for all in his last term of office.

“We have noticed images and a video in circulation in the social media insinuating that President Akufo-Addo on his recent tour to the Bono Region inaugurated uncompleted maternity block at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital”, it said in a press release issued and signed by Mr. Eric Tabiri, the Founder and Convener of the group.

A copy of the release made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani noted, “these images and video being circulated in the social media by crisis merchants and mischief makers is a propaganda machinery adopted by nation-wreckers in the Bono Region”.

“This is part of their numerous strategies to sway the attention of Ghanaians from the good deeds of the President and make the government unpopular in the eyes of the good people of Ghana who voted massively for the NPP”, it stated.

“We have every reasonable cause to believe that there are elements within the Sunyani Municipal Hospital hierarchy who are determined to undermine the NPP government in the hope of achieving their hidden agenda which is to cause the defeat of the Party in Election 2024”.

“We, therefore, wish to state that there is no iota of truth in the images and video in circulation and therefore wish to set the records straight. President Akufo-Addo on 11th August 2021, as part of his two-day working visit to the Bono Region, inaugurated a newly-constructed Maternity and Mental Health Block at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital together with the Bono Regional Headquarters of the Fire Service and the Administration Block for the Third Battalion Infantry base in Sunyani”.

“At the time of the inauguration, the project was completed, a fact the hospital authority have alluded to in a press release issued and signed by same. Some days after the inauguration of the Maternity and Mental health block, the Management of the facility decided to enhance it with their own specifications”, the release explained.

“The hospital authority decided to partition the corridor leading to the theatre and recovery ward with a swing glass door and create a triangular area at the reception and it was during this construction that some rented press and some NDC communicators got access to the facility and took pictures and made live videos on Facebook and other social media outlets”.

“The manner in which these individuals had access to the facility and went live on Facebook gives rise to suspicions that, the act is nothing but some form of organised and well-orchestrated sabotage by some officials within the hospital purposely to cause disaffection for the government and ultimately bring about the defeat of New Patriotic Party in the next general elections”, the release stated

It, therefore, appealed to the hospital authorities “to fish out the miscreant officials and sanction them accordingly” and called on the general public to “disregard this fake story and treat it with the contempt it deserves”.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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President Akufo-Addo tours Oti and Volta Regions

Dambai (O/R), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would begin a one-day working visit to the Oti Region on Thursday.

Mr Seidu Musah, the Oti Regional Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) indicated that the President will on this visit inspect ongoing road networks.

The statement said the visit would take the President to the Regional administrative office in the Krachi East Municipality, Regional Education office at Jasikan in the Buem Constituency, Regional Health administrative office at WoraWora in the Biakoye District, Regional Feeder Roads office at Kete-Krachi in the Krachi West District and Regional Agriculture office at Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region.

The President would again inspect the Oti Regional Waste Management Plant at Yariga-No2, 1D1F cassava and yam process factory at Addo-Kwanta all in the Krachi East Municipality.

The statement said, the President was expected to pay a courtesy call on the chiefs and other stakeholders to interact with them on Thursday September 9, 2021.

The President begins the Volta leg of his tour on Friday with a programme on Stone City Radio and a sod-cutting for the China Aid Phase Two of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho.

He is expected to proceed to Hohoe to commission the Rural Technology and Solution Centre, inspect work on the World Bank Secondary City Market project and pay a courtesy call on Chiefs of Gbi Traditional Area.

President Akufo-Addo ends his tour with a courtesy call on the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs and commissions a lorry park and storm drain at Anfoega.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Spanish Ambassador-Designate presents open letters to Foreign Minister

Accra, Mr José Javier Guitérrez Blanco-Navarrete, the Kingdom of Spain’s Ambassador-Designate to Ghana, has presented his open letters to Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, in Accra.

At the meeting, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey congratulated Mr Blanco-Navarrete on his appointment as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Ghana.

She acknowledged that the fruitful cooperation that existed between Ghana and Spain had deepened progressively over the years.

The Minister said the high-level visits from the two countries had strengthened bilateral ties and cooperation in various sectors.

With regards to trade and investment, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey underscored the contribution of Spain to Ghana’s economy through investments in several sectors, notably, agro industries, renewable energy, construction, and health sectors.

On maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, she lauded the commitment of Spain and other European countries to curb drug smuggling and warding off pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.

Madam Ayorkor Botchwey acknowledged the support of Spain for education in Ghana and in this regard, highlighted the offer of training programmes for officers of the Ghana Army, and the One -Year Master’s Programme in International Relations offered to Officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

The Minister affirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening relations with the Kingdom of Spain and assured him that the Ministry’s doors remained open for continuous cooperation with the Ambassador-Designate.

Mr Blanco-Navarrete, who lauded the strong ties between the two countries, also noted that Ghana was one of the leading countries on the African continent.

The Ambassador-Designate also reiterated the need to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Interplast supports Fifth Volta Trade and Investment Fair

Ho, A leading manufacturer of plastic pipe systems in the country, Interplast, has pledge to support the fifth Volta Trade and Investment Fair coming up in Ho in November 2021.

The company will provide a financial support package of GH¢20,000 and signed an agreement with the event organizers to use the fair to train farmers in the Region on irrigation techniques.

Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, led the planning committee of the Fair at a meeting held at the Company’s office in Accra.

The Minister said the Region was on course to holding one of the biggest fairs in the country, and to spread a vast business platform to be held up by the industrial community.

He was also elated about Interplast’s interest in the event, and said, “together, we can ensure a successful fair”.

Mr Bernard Avle, General Manager of Citi Fm, who is a brand ambassador for the fair, applauded Interplast’s lead, and urged other companies to emulate their example.

Mr. William Dzamefe, Acting Regional Director of Agriculture, said the farming landscape in the Region was being transformed on the fulcrum of irrigation innovation, and indicated his outfit’s readiness to work with Interplast to boost the Region’s agricultural potentials.

The Fifth Volta Trade and Investment Fair is on the theme: Promoting Sustainable Trade and Investment” and will run from November 15 to the 28.

It is focused on agribusiness, tourism and ICT, and is expected to attract some 500 exhibitors and draw over 8,000 visitors to the Ho Sports Stadium where it will be held.

Interplast plans to exhibit products and floated plans to also establish a demonstration farm in the Region.

The Association of Ghana Industries is partnering the Volta Regional Coordinating Council in hosting the two-week event, which has already attracted the interest of commercial organizations including the Ghana Commercial Bank and MTN.

Interplast’s team, represented by Madam Elizabeth Owusu Gyebi, Marketing Manager, Engineer (Ing.) Haidar Malhas, the Irrigation Manager, Ing. Fares Al-Ayadi, Backoffice Manager, was delighted to present to the planning committee the portfolio of products of Interplast.

They also presented different innovative solutions of irrigation provided by Interplast.

The planning committee of the fair had a tour of the manufacturing plant of Interplast, the biggest pipe manufacturer in West Africa.

The visit was concluded with a successful partnership to promote, boost and support the fair, to assist the farmers of the Region move from traditional farming to agribusiness.

Present at the meeting were Reverend Isaac Adza-Tettey, Regional Economic Planning Officer, Mr Dela Gadzanku, Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries, and Atsu Sedzro, Project Coordinator for the Volta Fair.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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MMT to acquire new coaches to augment fleet

Kumasi The Metro Mass Transit (MMT) will by the end of this year receive new luxurious coaches to augment its fleet to improve and expand its operations in the country.

Additionally, broken down buses that need maintenance are currently being fixed to bring them back on the roads.

Mr. Richard Osei Bamfo Deputy Managing Director in-charge of Technical and Operations, who made this known said the government, as part of the effort to improve public mass transportation, had initiated processes for the acquisition of new buses for the public bus company.

“The objective is to improve the current bus fleet of Metro Mass Company limited in the country and provide comfort for the travelling public”, Mr Bamfo said at the relaunch of the company’s luxurious buses in Kumasi.

The relaunch was to create awareness among the travelling public of the availability of the company’s air-conditioned buses on the various routes in the country.

It was also part of efforts by the company to rebrand itself and indicate its readiness to offer efficient, safe, and affordable transport services to the public in all parts of the country.

Mr George Krobia Asante, Public Relations Officer said the company was working to bring its services closer to the people and said new terminals had been opened in vantage points in Accra, Kumasi, and other big cities and towns to ensure that people had easy access to the buses at their convenience.

Mr Krobia Asante stressed the need for the drivers and conductors to be disciplined and treat passengers with the utmost respect and excellent service to help position the company as a preferred transport operator in the country.

He mentioned some of the loading terminals in Kumasi as Abrepo, Manhyia, Airport roundabout, Dichemso, Abuakwa, Patasi, Santasi.

Buses from these terminals travel to Bolgatanga, Accra, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Tamale, Wa, and others, adding that charges ranged from
GH¢35.00 to GH¢50.00.

Mr Krobia Asante said the company had also acquired a new terminal at Tudu in Accra where passengers travelling to Takoradi, Obuasi, Ho, Bolgatanga, Kumasi, Bawku, Sunyani, and other routes, could board the buses.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Saudi businesses asked to take advantage of AfCFTA opportunities in Ghana

Kumasi, Alhaji Mohammed Habib Tijani, Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has asked businesses in the oil-rich Kingdom to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to invest in Ghana.

He said Ghana was a safe and profitable destination for doing business in Africa and that taking up opportunities would ensure the mutual benefit of the investors and the host country.

At a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Sultan bin Abdul Rahman Al-Marshad, the Ambassador wooed investors of that country to make use of opportunities presented by AfCFTA.

A statement issued from the office of the Ambassador and made available to the Ghana News Agency, said Alhaji Tijani briefed the CEO on investment opportunities in Ghana with particular reference to various government flagship programmes such as the One Village One Dam (1V1D), One District One Factory (1D1F), and the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ).

He said the initiatives were introduced to ensure all-year-round access to water by farmers, tackle youth unemployment, achieve food security and add value to Ghana’s export through agro-processing.

Ahaji Tijani also spoke of other investment opportunities the programmes offered and requested the CEO to encourage Saudi investors and businesses to invest in the programmes.

He told Sultan Al-Marshad that in due course, the government would submit proposals on the programmes for consideration and possible bilateral investment opportunities.

He acknowledged the immense contributions of the SFD to the Ghanaian economy since the early 1980s and mentioned projects like the Northern Electrification Programme, the Tetteh Quarshie-Mamfe Road Project, and a recent loan granted for projects at the Korle Bu and Bolgatanga hospitals.

The CEO, on his part, said Saudi Arabia was a major producer of high-quality fertilizers and that the Saudi Exim Bank could be engaged to make arrangements with the Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) to provide fertilizers to Ghanaian farmers at competitive prices under the PFJ.

He also requested Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana to submit proposals to the SFD for consideration in the areas of trade and investments.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Work deligently to safeguard cocoa industry: COCOBOD boss urges stakeholders

Accra, The Chief Executive of Ghana COCOBOD, Mr. Joseph Aidoo, has tasked stakeholders to lead the campaign for afforestation, good agricultural practices and adherence to COVID-19 protocols to safeguard the cocoa industry. Addressing participants at a plenary session of Olam’s Annual Cocoa Managers’ Conference, Mr Aidoo said climate change and COVID-19 had impacted the cocoa industry extensively.

Cocoa trees, he said, needed specific weather conditions to enable them to bear healthy cocoa pods, therefore, as soon as the climatic balance was disturbed, cocoa cultivation, livelihoods of cocoa farmers, as well as the quality of chocolate became negatively affected.

Olam Cocoa Ghana, one of the largest private Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) in Ghana’s cocoa sector, hosted and led discussions with key stakeholders on topical issues of concern to the industry at its annual Managers’ Conference.

The 2021 edition of the Managers’ Conference was organised under the theme: ‘Delivering FY21 in the face of current industry dynamics’.

The weeklong programme, which opened on September 2, 2021, at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Kasoa, brought together some 500 managers of the business drawn from across Olam Cocoa’s operational areas.

Industry players and influencers, as well as government officials, led discussions on trends and developments in the cocoa sector and how best the company could position itself favourably.

The country head of Olam Ghana, Mr. Amit Agrawal during a session with staff said, “Olam Ghana has, within a short period, birthed six different businesses, which are all leading in market share.

“Olam is the fifth largest company in Ghana, according to the latest Ghana Club 100 rankings, based on the size of revenue.”

He said these milestones had been possible because of hard work, good processes, and the continuous promotion of the welfare of staff.

On the impact of COVID-19 on the company, Mr. Agrawal said because the business had digitalised its operations and had already become paperless and cashless before the advent of COVID-19, product sales and procurement of produce had been least affected by the pandemic.

The participants were taken through various procurement courses, such as how to achieve their FY21 targets with zero outstanding and how to maximise value.

There were also non-procurement courses such as financial management, project management, communication and presentation skills to equip employees for the main crop season.

Other activities for the participants included a medical screening exercise, sports, and an excellence award ceremony during which employees were appreciated for their exceptional performance.

The Business Head, Mr. Eric Asare Botwe, stated: “In the face of the financial challenges and the impact of COVID 19, Olam International has continued to show maximum support for Ghana and COCOBOD.

” We are one of the leading buyers of beans from Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) through our external trading arm as well as for our Olam Cocoa Processing supplies.”

He commended the team for its hard work and urged staff to stay the course of maintaining Olam’s leadership position in the internal marketing space.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency