Category: Business

Tema, April 25, GNA – The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) Tema Branch, has organized a one-day customer service workshop for 45 employers and employees to equip them to give better services to their clients and customers.

The participants were taken through topics including service culture, setting standards, customer service leadership, communication in customer service, customer retention, and building a customer service team.

Mr Isaac Barry, Chairman of GNCCI-Tema, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Tema that the Chamber seek to equip participants with the requisite knowledge and skills to create a high customer-oriented culture to attract and retain customers to increase sales and close quicker deals profitably.

Mr Barry said in today’s unpredictable economic environment, customers were seeking excellence in return for their money from service providers; service providers on the other hand were requiring staff whose valued transactions could delight customers to establish a loyal relationship.

He added that to achieve these goals, a high level of professional development in customer service was required in a well-structured manner to meet the need of today’s business executives.

Mrs Yvonne Ohui MacCarthy, President of the Institute of Customer Service Professionals, resource person for the workshop said there was the need for workers to change their mindset about their customers, explaining that customers were not difficult but rather situational as they react to what a company throws at them.

Mrs MacCarthy said developing a good customer service culture also required skills, commitment, involvement, and uncompromising, as good customer service does not happen by chance.

She noted that creating the needed change was not only about changing of physical structures of an organization, but rather by creating a culture from scratch by listening to the customer through the conducting of surveys, existing questionnaires, focuses group meetings, and asking for feedback.

She said listening to the customers creates the room for the organization to build a relationship with their clients and initiate the right goods and services they wanted.

“We have organizations that always want to think for the customers, they end up bringing out goods and services the customers don’t want and they wonder why,” she indicated.

Mrs MacCarthy noted that there was also the need for employers to hire right, stressing that people should not be hired just because of higher education, or friendship and relationships, but must rather put the right people in the right position for the good of the organization.

She said just as the customer is the most important person and needed to be satisfied, management of organizations must equally see their staff as internal customers who are the engine room of the company that also needed to be taken care of.

She stated that, when staff was empowered and made to feel part of decision-making, they work better and own the customer service culture of the organization.

She indicated that it was not enough for employers and management to pay rhetoric or write down their expectations for a transformation in their organizations without committing resources to it adding that some complained of not having monies to even get people to coach and train their staff while they expected the employer to give the needed results.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,-Ghana Export Promotion Authority in efforts to increase earnings from the Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) is setting up various sector working groups under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI).

The move is in line with the implementation of the National Export Development Strategy, which identifies various interventions and structures for successful operation of the strategy.

One of the structures to be established is the sector groups which would take care of the priority sectors that have been outlined.

Speaking at a meeting with stakeholders and industry players in the exports sector in Accra, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Human Resources and Administration at GEPA, Mr Albert Kassim Diwura, who read the speech of the CEO, said the newly established Coordinating Secretariat at GEPA was working assiduously with other stakeholders such as the National Coordination Secretariat of the AFCFTA, the Ghana Standards Authority, the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Shippers Authority and a host of other agencies to implement the Strategy.

“GEPA’s role is to coordinate the implementation of the activities and actions of the Strategy and for this reason ware happy to inform you that the NEDS Coordination Secretariat has been set up at GEPA and implementation of the NEDS has effectively commenced,” he said.

Effective implementation of the interventions for the 17 prioritized NTE products identified in the Strategy will require collaboration of key implementing partners centred around the product sector groups, he said.

It is for this reason that the strategy outlines the necessity for Sector Groups to be formed and provided specific terms of reference for their work.

Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, who attended the meeting on behalf of the Minister Mr Alan Kyerematen, said the successful implementation of the NEDS would quicken the pace of the development of the export sector thus giving impetus to Ghana taking advantage of the huge opportunities offered us by the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“Indeed, the AfCFTA is probably the best vehicle through which we can ensure the rapid attainment of the goals we set ourselves in the NEDS and increase non-traditional export revenues to USD25.3 billion by 2029 and substantially create jobs,” he added.

GEPA was directed by MOTI to develop a 10-year strategy to increase NTEs revenue from $2.8 billion in 2020 to $25.3 billion by 2029.

The NEDS was launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in October 2020.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,-The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and Zaacoal Company Limited have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to produce activated carbon for the mining industry.

The Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Professor Richard K. Amankwa signed on behalf of the university and the Chief Executive Officer of Zaacoal, Sulley Amin Abubakar, initialled on behalf of the company.

The Ghana Chamber of Mines initiated a series of engagement between the two parties, culminating in the signing of the deal.

The agreement would allow Zaacoal Limited to produce the first activated carbon in large quantities locally, using a technology designed and developed by UMaT.

Dr Sulemana Koney, the Chief Executive of the Chamber of Mines, said at the signing ceremony that the agreement would help the mining industry and could foster broad-based socio-economic development.

“There are various opportunities within the supply chain of the mining industry which we believe we have the capacity to do rather than importing,” he stated.

Dr Koney the chamber had been looking for opportunities in the mining industry and that enabled us to know Zaacoal a few years ago.

“Activated carbon is a major input in the gold production process and the preferred material used is coconut husk which is carbonized and subsequently activated. Zaacoal is in the business of producing carbonized coconut shells for various clients so we had a conversation to see how we can marry them to UMaT to produce activated carbon which is a two-stage process,” he explained.

The Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Professor Richard K. Amankwa, for his part, said the university had conducted a lot of research into the country’s mining industry and was looking for commercialisation opportunities.

‘We have people in UMaT who are in the small sale mining space and bringing about improvement in technology. We have over the years been seeking commercial institutions to partner us to increase value addition in our space and today we are here to celebrate some kind of marriage which would lead to the commercialisation of research.

“In a university, we are supposed to create new knowledge and when we do this, it sometimes become very innovative and can be commercialised and that is what we are seeing today,” he stated.

The CEO of Zaacoal, Sulley Amin Abubakar said the agreement would be of immense benefit to the local mining industry.

He said Zaacoal Limited through the partnership was going to produce about 15 tonnes of activated carbon per hour to feed into the operations of the mining companies.

He praised the CEO of the Chamber of Mines, Sulemanu Koney, for facilitating the partnership, indicating that his efforts in seeing the production of activated carbon in the country would go a long way to benefit other industries that use the product.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, April 12, GNA- Approximately, 230,000, representing 3.2 per cent of children between the ages of 5 to 14 years are engaged in economic activity in the country.

Out of the figure, almost 80 per cent are involved in agriculture-related activities with economically active male children being about 82.2 per cent and females, about 71.2 per cent.

This was highlighted in the 2021 Population and Housing Census report on economic activity released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

On a regional basis, the Savanah region is identified as the region with the highest proportion of children population engaged in agriculture-related economic activity with 89.8 per cent recorded in the region.

This is followed by the North East with 88.6 per cent; Upper West, with 87.9 per cent; Upper East, with 82.7 per cent; Northern region, with 81.0 per cent and Oti region, with 80.2 per cent.

Greater Accra is the region with the least proportion of children’s population engaged in agriculture-related economic activity as only 26.2 per cent is economically active in the sector.

Other regions with less proportion of the children’s population engaged in agriculture-related economic activity are Central, 45.5 per cent; Western, 51.0 per cent; Volta, 55.7 per cent; Ashanti, 56.6 per cent; Eastern, 62.0 per cent and Ahafo with 70.3 per cent.

The rest are Bono,71.5 per cent; Western North, 71.7 per cent and Bono East, 77.5 per cent.

The report said while one per cent of children within the urban areas engaged in economic activity, the Greater Accra region on a regional basis had proportionately the highest population of children engaged in economic activity relating to service and sales.

Data showed that the region proportionately had 42.6 per cent of children engaged in economic activity venturing into the service and sales sector.

This is followed by the Central region with 27.2 per cent; Western, 19.1 per cent; Eastern, 18.5 per cent; Ashanti, 17.3 per cent; Volta, 16.2 per cent and Bono,11.7 per cent.

The Upper West region has the least proportion of the population of children in economic activity relating to Service and sales with 2.2 per cent followed respectively by the North East with 2.4 per cent; Savannah, 3.1 per cent; Upper East, 3.2 per cent; Northern, 4.2 per cent and Oti region with 6.5 per cent.

The remaining regions are Bono East, 7.4 per cent, Ahafo, 8.8 per cent, and Western North 9.8 per cent respectively.

The report further highlighted that the involvement of children in economic activity in the Oti Region, which was at 20.8 per cent was six times more than the national figure of 3.2 per cent.

“It is also prominent in five other regions: Northeast (11.4%), Savannah (9.9%), Upper West (9.3%), Northern (8.6%) and Upper East (6.1%)” the census report stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, April 12, GNA - The Kumasi Shoe Factory (DIHOC Footwear Division Limited) has taken craftsmanship a notch higher with the mass production of fashionable shoes to capture Ghana and Africa’s shoe market.

 Over the years, the shoe factory has been producing safety and security boots and shoes for the country’s security services and recently expanded its production to cover specifications and designs suitable for Ghana’s shoe market.

 The Kumasi Shoe Factory, also known as DIHOC Footwear Division, is a joint venture between a Czech Republic-based company, Knights a.s., acting through its subsidiary, Knight Ghana Limited and DIHOC Holding Company, owned by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

  The total capacity of the factory is about 700,000 pairs of assorted boots and shoes with a current production capacity of 100,000 pairs annually, hence the introduction of fashionable shoes to scale up production.

  The new designs were showcased at the company’s first showroom in Accra, Burma Camp after mass production started in 2018.

  The Vice President, Mr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the company of the Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff, last week, inspected and inaugurated the Defence Industries Holding Company Limited (DIHOC) and cut sod for various projects under the holding of the Company.

  He said such state and private sector collaboration was crucial in Ghana’s quest to enhance its economy.

  Dr Karl Laryea, Chief Executive Officer of DIHOC Footwear Division Limited, said as part of efforts to revive the Kumasi Shoe Factory, the Company started the production of shoes and safety boots for the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies from November 2012.

  “This time round, we’re trying to open our market to all Ghanaians with the production of fashionable shoes,” he said, and explained that the essence was to target women with the production of lady’s wear and shoes for diabetic patients to be launched in 2023.

   The CEO said the Company was faced with some production difficulties as some of the rubber manufactured in Takoradi was bought from Europe because it was owned by a foreign company that shipped all its rubber to Europe.

 He said plans were afoot to revive the “Achimota Sandals Policy” started by Dr Kwame Nkrumah in the 1960s where the Kumasi Shoe Factory produced sandals for school children, adding that there was a similar arrangement by the previous government to about 250,000 pairs yearly for deprived schools. 

  Reviving such an initiative, he said, would enable the Company to employ more workers to meet the increasing demands.

  He said because leathers for production were not produced in Ghana but brought from India and sometimes Argentina, it would be prudent if the Government gave it some tax reliefs for a period of five years to enable them to produce the shoes at affordable prices for school children and the populace. 

  “If possible, we are also asking the Government to give us some Offtake Agreement for five years to enable us to produce for most of the security agencies. This will also help us bring our workforce to about 800,” he said.

  Dr Laryea said when the factory started in the 1960s, Ghana’s population was about six million with a workforce of 1,800 then, so with a population of 31 million currently, a workforce of 10,000 would be needed to produce at full scale.

 He said there was the need for the Government to protect the indigenous companies in its economic transformation agenda, and that there were plans to expand its production and penetrate the African market through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, April 12, GNA-Ghana is set to host the maiden edition of the ECOWAS Finance Award (EFA) on Friday, May 13, 2022, at Alisa Hotel in Accra.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency said the EFA would recognise industry talent, leadership skills, industry net worth and capability.

The event is under the theme: “The Roles of Africa’s Banking & Financial Services Sector in Delivering Expectations of African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).”

It said EFA would feature a keynote presentation and a panel discussion on topics, including the key roles, synergies, collaborations, and partnerships required from West Africa’s banking and financial institutions to deliver on the gains of AfCFTA.

The keynote is expected to be delivered by Mr Pierre Frank Laporte, Country Director, World Bank, Ghana.

Other dignitaries expected to attend the event are Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Director of Jospong Group of Companies, Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister, Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, among others.

There are nine broad award categories comprising Banking, Insurance, Pension Funds, Investment Finance, Development Finance, Microfinance Banking and Mortgage Finance, Regulatory and Fintech as well as individual recognition awards.

Each broad award category, except the Regulatory Award, will feature four award areas namely: the ECOWAS CEO of the Year, ECOWAS Company of the Year; ECOWAS Most innovative company of the year and ECOWAS fastest-growing company of the year.

There will also be ECOWAS Financial Reporter of the Year (Radio, TV, and Print Categories).

“EFA is created to provide a platform of engagement for players in the banking and financial services sector, policymakers in government and investors alike,” Mr Iheukwumere Amadi, Awards Director, stated.

He said West Africa’s combined annual gross domestic product and gross domestic product per capita stood at US$683.772 million dollars and $1, 721 respectively.

The statement said the impact of the banking and financial services sectors on the growth and development of the economy of the sub-region could not be glossed over.

It said in the past two decades, the sector had contributed hugely to closing known gaps in unemployment, funding startups, MSMEs and industries that had continued to employ hundreds of previously unemployed persons, especially, the youths.

Mr Amadi said the vision, courage, passion, and determination some managers of the banking and financial sector in the sub-region had demonstrated in the face of a daunting, harsh business climate made the ECOWAS Finance Award more compelling.

The event is being organised by the African Consolidated Analytical Limited, a leading consultancy firm in Nigeria, in collaboration with Business Day Media under the auspices of Ecowas Ventures.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, April 12, GNA – The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) has appealed to the Government to address the challenges in the Value Added Tax (VAT) Flat Rate Scheme (VFRS) before migrating traders onto the Standard Rate Scheme (SRS).

The Association noted that though the trading in the market was done under the same condition and environment and around the same customers, three different payment systems existed.

They are those who operate under VFRS, SRS, and those who are not qualified to register and charge VAT.

That situation, Dr Joseph Obeng, President of the Association said brought about disparity among the competing traders: “Thereby, urging most traders out of business.”

He said this in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, noting that such a major tax policy should be uniformed and not discriminatory.

“It is also important for policymakers to understand that taxes should not be designed in a manner that poses difficulty for operators, thereby, destroying their businesses. It should rather be simplified to make compliance easier and raise compliance level higher,” he stated.

The Association indicated that: “In view of this, we find it very necessary to call the attention of the government to the fact that the trading community, especially our members will not be able to migrate to the Standard Rate Scheme.”

It also called the attention of the Government to resolve the issue of non-availability of VAT input, non-registration and issuance of VAT invoices and surcharge for the lack of VAT input.

“In this case, the VAT scheme should be; either a flat rate for all traders to operate or a uniform standard rate that ensures fairness and equity or is made optional for traders to choose any of the two,” GUTA urged.

The Association said it was hopeful that the Government would come to terms with the situation and concerns raised and will: “Carefully and seriously consider all the stated facts and act accordingly.”

The VFRS was introduced in 2017 as a special method of collecting and accounting for VAT/National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) for all VAT-registered retailers of taxable goods with an annual turnover of more than GHS200,000, and not exceeding GHS500,000.

These registered taxpayers were charged VAT/NHIL and COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy (HRL) at a marginal rate of four per cent on the value of their taxable sales.

The tax was introduced to make accounting for the tax easier for small businesses, which were predominantly in the retail, wholesale and distribution chains.

In line with the tax policy proposals in the 2022 Budget Statement, the Parliament of Ghana passed the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act 1072) to bring the SRS into effect.

Source: Ghana News Agency