Category: General

Aston Villa have turned playmaker Philippe Coutinho’s loan move from Barcelona into a permanent deal for €20 million, the LaLiga club said on Thursday.

Barcelona said they had inserted a 50% sell-on clause for any future sale of Coutinho, who bagged four goals and three assists since initially signing for Villa on loan in January.

At Villa, Coutinho was reunited with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, with the pair playing together at Anfield from 2013-15 and Gerrard now managing the Premier League team.

“This is a brilliant signing for Aston Villa. Phil is a model professional and his impact on the group has been very clear since he joined in January,” Gerrard said in a statement by Villa.

“With the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he’s also a valuable role model for our younger players who can only benefit from his experience.”

Brazil international Coutinho joined Barcelona in January 2018 for approximately £142 million but had not been able to establish himself in the first team at Camp Nou and he spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Bayern Munich.

Villa are 12th in the league and host Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Source: Modern Ghana

IFC and Equilibrium Partners have announced the EDGE certification of The Genesis Residences, a multi-unit residential development, which also happens to be the former home of Theodosia Salome Okoh who designed Ghana’s national flag.

Under IFC’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) green building standard, Equilibrium Partners, in collaboration with The Okoh Family, is redeveloping the late Theodosia Salome Okoh’s residence into a more efficient, climate-friendly 30-unit residential building.

The Genesis Residences is located in the North Ridge neighborhood of Accra and will be completed in September 2022.

The units will use low-flow water fittings and naturally ventilated spaces that help the building reduce residents’ energy use by a quarter, and water use by a third.

In addition, the construction materials used require less than 50 per cent of the energy needed to manufacture, transport, and install – known as embodied energy – than those of other construction projects in the area.

It is a privilege to have the opportunity to transform such a historic piece of real estate,” said Cyril Tay, Managing Partner of Equilibrium Partners.

We prioritized quality and sustainability by building according to the EDGE standard and are proud to honor Mrs. Theodosia Okoh and the entire Okoh Family with red, gold, black, and green.” IFC’s EDGE program was launched in 2014 to support the construction of green buildings and help fight climate change.

The program is active in 170 countries. The Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund has recently signed a partnership with IFC to make EDGE the standard for green building in Ghana.

It’s encouraging to see more developers in Ghana choose IFC’s EDGE certification,” said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC’s Senior Country Manager for the Ghana cluster of countries.

High-profile projects such as The Genesis Residences will serve as inspiration to drive the adoption of green building techniques.”

In Ghana, EDGE has certified 14 prominent buildings since 2017 in the health, hospitality, retail, and financial sectors, and is encouraging developers to adopt green building techniques.

The Genesis Residences is the first high-end residential building in Accra to be EDGE certified.

Source: Ghana Web

Bolgatanga, May 12, GNA – Mr Edmund Nellic Nyanwura, the Bolgatanga Municipal Director of Health Services says the Bolgatanga Municipality has an unmet need in the coverage of COVID- 19 vaccination and urged the public to help eliminate the disease.

He said the Municipality carried out a mop-up vaccination during a four-week National vaccination under the Africa Vaccination day which started from April 21st – to 29th and the exercise was still ongoing to reduce the gap.

He said only 3,900 people took the vaccine during that period and there was a need for the municipality to cover more people.

“With a population of 93,000 in the municipality, 51,000 have taken at least one dose of the vaccine and we still have an unmet need”, he said.

Mr Nyanwura in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. encouraged all who had taken the complete dosage to go for the booster vaccine which so far had low patronage.

The Municipal Health Director noted that during the same period last year the Bolgatanga Municipality did not have any active cases of COVID -19 until August 2021 when the Municipality started recording positive cases again.

“This is why we need to encourage people to go for the vaccination, everyone has a role to contribute to eliminating the disease”, he said.

Mr Nyanwura said every health centre, NHIS centre and health directorate had the COVID- 19 vaccines and urged all who had not taken the vaccine to visit any of such places to do so.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Captain Etoenyo Onassis Bankas, General Secretary, Ghana Merchant Navy Officers Association (GMNOA) noted that Ghana’s economy was growing and the demand for maritime shipping was likely to increase steadily.

“This is hindering the unlocking of Ghana’s Maritime economic potential, and thus the low level of employment of Ghanaians in the Maritime sector,” Capt. Bankas stated this during a seminar at the African Unity Auditorium of the Regional Maritime University (RMU) at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region.

The seminar was organized by the GMNOA in collaboration with the Regional Maritime University Alumni Association (RMUAA) which was on the theme: “Your Place in the Maritime Labour Market,” as monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) at Nungua.

He said the association seek to bring the maritime market to light to whet the investment appetite of public and private sector organizations to invest more into businesses in the maritime market.

Dr Kofi Mbiah former Chief Executive of Ghana Shipper’s Authority called for a comprehensive national maritime policy to guide the maritime industry beyond maritime territorial sovereignty and ownership rights.

“Beyond cabotage, we have to have a national maritime policy to guide local content, employment generation, labour, legal issues, oil and gas, clean beaches; and for the life of the mariner or seafarer after retirement from active service.” Dr Mbiah said, explaining “Cabotage is right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory”.

Dr Mbiah, who is also currently Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping, in a lecture and a panel discussion, stressed that Ghana must develop and adopt a comprehensive national maritime policy that goes beyond cabotage, and new legislation and review of regulation.

Dr Mbiah who is also a Maritime Law and Management Expert called for

massive investment in the maritime industry and value chain activities in the blue economy as he explained that there was the need to take more advantage of the marine and water resources of the earth because water covered two-thirds of the earth’s surface, and land a third.

Among the area, he identified for more investment are research, hospitality and recreation, husbandry, defence and environmental development and protection, which he said should be guided by a national maritime policy.

Dr Mbiah however wondered why many people would not go into research despite the advent of the Internet and other modern research tools, systems and mechanisms.

He called for the development of technologies and skills for current and emerging opportunities in the maritime industry; “Levels of efficiency must go up,” Dr Mbiah stressed.

Dr Jethro Brook, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University (RMU) also reiterated the need for collaboration between the institution and all necessary and potential industry actors to create opportunities in the maritime industry for national development.

According to him, this would unravel avenues toward ending the high level of unemployment drastically.

Dr Brook encouraged Ghanaian seafarers to embrace and support the GMNOA agenda and urged every alumnus of the University to be interested hence getting involved in the activities of RMUAA as the associations play crucial roles in the development and continued existence of the University.

Representatives from Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, Ghana Shippers Authority, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, the Ghana Maritime Authority, and the Ministry of Labour.

Others from the private sector were: Kudu Logistics, COSCO Shipping, Bernard Schulte Marine Services, Tullow, Enterprise Life, Assure Trustee, Masser-Afrique, NUSPAW- TUC, Members of the RMUAA, Members of the GMNOA, students of RMU among others attended the seminar.

Source: Modern Ghana

The African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises (AGF West Africa S.A.) has granted a portfolio guarantee line for a total amount of 2.5 billion FCFA to Société Générale Burkina Faso to support SMEs, women entrepreneurship, and the green economy in Burkina Faso.

The signing ceremony took place at the Maison de la PME of Société Générale Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.

This portfolio guarantee is backed by the AFAWA Guarantee for Growth program, a joint initiative of the AfDB and the African Guarantee Fund, which aims at releasing up to $3 billion in loans to women-owned SMEs in Africa.

Signed by Harold Coffi, General Manager of Société Générale Burkina Faso, and Bendjin Kpeglo, Managing Director of AGF WEST AFRICA, this agreement will allow Société Générale Burkina Faso, on the one hand, to further increase its commitment to the SME/SMI segment, in line with the activities of the Maison de la PME created by the bank and, on the other hand, to promote the development of green entrepreneurship and women’s leadership in the business community.

As part of the signing ceremony, Mr. Bendjin Kpeglo, Managing Director of AGF West Africa, said:

“Limited access to finance is a major obstacle to the development of African SMEs. AGF is committed to improving SMEs’ access to finance by providing financial institutions with guaranteed solutions and capacity-building support.

“Our partnership with Société Générale in Burkina Faso aims at strengthening the competitiveness of businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, including those owned and managed by women (through the AFAWA program) and those whose activities are geared toward protecting the environment,” he added.

On his part, Mr. Harold Coffi, Chief Executive Officer of Société Générale Burkina Faso, said: “The Société Générale Group, which has been present in Africa for 100 years, reaffirms its loyalty to the continent and its firm commitment to supporting the development of local economies.

Thus, through the “Grow with Africa” initiative launched in 2018, Société Générale intends to actively contribute to the sustainable development of Africa around 4 priorities which are: to support the development of African SMEs, participate in the financing of infrastructure, finance agricultural sectors and the renewable energy sector and finally to promote financial inclusion by supporting female entrepreneurship in particular.”

According to Mr. Coffi, as a privileged partner of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, Société Générale Burkina Faso embodies an ambition of financing the economy on a daily basis, adding that the partnership with the African Guarantee Fund will serve to increase the financing capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises and promote the country’s economic growth.

He said: “Société Générale Burkina Faso is fully committed to this strategic axis of the Group, with the creation of the Maison de la PME in 2019 and the strengthening of its collaboration with various international actors involved in the development of SMEs.

Among these players is the African Guarantee Fund (AGF West Africa S.A.), with whom Société Générale Burkina Faso is proud to sign this partnership agreement today in order to guarantee a portfolio of new loans to Burkinabe SMEs.”

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, May 12, GNA – Winners of the 2022 Kwahu Mountain Marathon have met the Paramount Chief of the Kwahu Traditional Area Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II.

The winners of this year’s 21-km marathon which took place on Easter Saturday, included William Amponsah who won the ultimate GH$2000 while Koogo Atia placed second with Ishmael Arthur having emerged third.

In the women’s category, Sakat Lariba placed first beating off competition from Kenya’s Emily Jepkoech (2nd) and Addo Noami (3rd).

Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II commended the winners for their efforts and hard work during the race having emerged winners.

Despite the challenges encountered during this year’s race, the Kwahuhene was optimistic that next year’s race would be much bigger and better with very juicy packages for winners and all runners.

He hoped that the race would in the future attract more foreign runners with top Kenyan long-distance runner Emily Jepkoech taking part in this year’s race.

The Kwahuhene further stated that the dream was to make the Kwahu Marathon an internationally recognized race with event organizers working closely with the Ghana Athletics Association to make this a possibility.

Mr. Edward Boahen, Project Manager of the Kwahu Mountain Marathon, further stressed that the objective was to promote sports tourism, unearth talents and give the Kwahu Easter festival celebrations a positive image.

He apologized to the participants for the various discrepancies that happened during and after the race, and assured them of a much more improved competition next year.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has lauded the Government of Ghana for optimising financial resources from the Bank fruitfully in constructing the Pokuase interchange.

Dr Adesina made the commendation when he toured the interchange with a team from the Bank and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta.

The project was opened to traffic on July 9, 2021 by President Nana AAkufo-Addo.

Dr Adesina observed that the project, originally planned to be a three-tier interchange was developed into a four-tier interchange, making it the first in West Africa and the second in Africa.

He expressed contentment at the submission of a Ghana Private Road Transport Union representative at the inspection that the interchange had reduced travel time from two hours to about 30 minutes, saying that would increase productivity and grow the economy.

He said the Bank was also joyful to learn that the interchange had reduced accidents by 40 per cent on the stretch.

The Pokuase Interchange was jointly funded by the AfDB with 84 million dollars and the Government of Ghana with about 11 million dollars to promote sustainable economic growth, convenience and safe transportation.

The project, which is a part of the Accra Urban Transport projects, was done by Messrs China Zhongmei Engineering Company Limited.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, May 12, GNA-The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on African governments to invest in making the nursing profession attractive.

The Organisation said that would require the provision of proper equipment, better working conditions, appropriate education, upskilling opportunities, and job creation.

The WHO in a statement to commemorate International Nurses Day said the case for investing in nursing education, jobs and leadership was clear, and the time was now to commit to action.

International Nurses’ Day is celebrated annually on 12 May in memory of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, but also to honour nurses as an invaluable resource, and raise awareness of the challenges they face.

It is on the theme, “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and Respect Rights to Secure Global Health, could not be more appropriate.”

The Day is celebrated in the context of the global COVID-19 health emergency, which has highlighted the depth of the nursing shortage in Africa, and globally.

It said nursing leadership also needed to be optimised, with chief nursing and midwifery officers mandated to drive the nursing agenda across education, employment, policy, and practice.

“Nurses have a critical role to play in Primary Health Care delivery, often being the first and only health professional a patient would see.

“They contribute to research, disease prevention, treating the injured, administering palliative care, and more. They are the true unsung heroes on the front lines of disease prevention and care,” it stated.

“…It is a common cause that investing in nurses and midwives was good value for money and investing in the education and job creation in the health and social sectors would result in a threefold return in terms of improved health outcomes, global health security, and inclusive economic growth.”

Statistics from WHO indicate that the world needs nine million more nurses and midwives to realise the health-related global Sustainable Development Goal by 2030.

It said WHO in Africa’s analysis had identified a threshold of about 60 nurses and midwives per 10 000 people as a critical point for attaining at least 70 per cent of the universal health service coverage index.

WHO said currently, most countries had fewer than 20, with the number dropping way below even that for many across the continent, it stated.

It said a total of 66 per cent of nurses were concentrated in six countries, including Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Nigeria has the highest share of the headcount of nurses at 21 per cent, followed by South Africa at 18 per cent.

It stated that throughout the pandemic, nurses had made great sacrifices, acted courageously, and recommitted daily to tackle a global health threat that was unprecedented in modern times, serving as an indispensable pillar supporting African health care systems through some challenging times.

“We most sincerely appreciate and celebrate all nurses in the African Region and thank them for their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.

“The WHO African Region has long grappled with a severe shortage of nurses, which if left unaddressed, poses a significant threat to our progress towards Universal Health Coverage,” it said.

There are 1.6 million nurses and midwives across the 47 Member States influencing change towards transforming the future of health care in Africa.

Source: Ghana News Agency