Housing Minster urges SuCasa to

The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has urged SuCasa Properties, a real estate company, to extend itsects beyond Accra to other regions in the country.

During a courtesy call by SuCasa Properties to secure government support and partnership ining infrastructure, Mr. Asenso-Boakye stated, "I urge you to extend your project to the outskirt of Accra - to the other regions."

Furthermore, the Minister noted that his Ministry is considering a partnership where the developer produces two-bedroom houses at the Nsawam enclave at a cap of US$30,000, with the State absorbing 40 percent of the development cost through the provision of the government’s unencumbered lands.

SuCasa Properties Limited, as a demonstration of its commitment agenda, recently inaugurated Phase-one or the No.1 O’Grantson Communities at East Legon Hills –a 2,000-housing unit development. The event also served as the sod-cutting ceremony for phases two and three of the project.

(CEO) Michael O’Grantson-Agyapong – who led the team from that the company has plans to expand into other regions of the country and welcomed the Minister's request. “SuCasa is already positioned for other regions in our own business forecast and projections,” he noted.

Attracting FDIs via SuCasa Real Estate Experience

In addition, Mr. O’Grantson-Agyapong presented a new cam-

SuCasa Real Estate Experience to the Minister. The campaign, he explained, involves a global tour to organise real estate conferences, exposing investment opportunities in Ghana for Foreign Direct Investment and Diaspora engagements.

He elaborated, that the investment opportunity awareness creation will be organized by SuCasa Properties Ghana in partnership with relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of He added that the expo is part of the government's Public Private Partnership Initiative engagements for economic growth and development, and aims to buildpora community to invest prudently in Africa with reputable developers in a seamless manner.

“The global tour and expo, would the opportunity to engage with from property developers and the engaging with charlatans and all kinds of unscrupulous entities back home in Africa in their quest for home ownership,” he said, adding that the launch of the maiden edition of the SuCasa Real Accra by the end of March. This comes as data from the World Bank shows that remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa grew by 5.2 percent to US$53 billion in 2022, highlighting the potential impact of diaspora investments in Africa's economic development. The courtesy call also served as an opportunity to formally express appreciation to the Minister for honoring their invitation to be the Keynote Speaker at the Sod Cutting Ceremony of the No.1 O'Grantson Communities. According to data from the World Bank, remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa grew by an estimated 5.2percent to US$53 billion in 2022. Given that this is approximately 10percent of their annual income, their total annual income could be estimated to be US$530 highest single GDP of any country in Africa. This indicates that cashty invested in Africa could potentially help turn African economic fortunes around for the better.

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has encouraged women to take the right steps and introduce initiatives encouraging more women to pursue careers in technology to ensure diversity and inclusion.

She echoed that, despite numerous technological advances, the tech industry continues to be dominated by men. Women make up only a small percentage of the workforce, showing the degree of gender disparity.

Speaking at the just-ended Females in Tech (FEMITECH) Conference organized by the GhaExcellence in ICT (GI-KACE) on Wednesday, March 8, at the GI-KACE auditorium, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful stated, “Sustainable to achieve gender equality and empower girls and I see this goal manifesting in this year’s FEMITECH conference.

Today, we are empowering women and girls to pick up careers and leadership positions

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful commended the Director-General of GI-KACE, Dr Collins Yeboah – Afari and the organising committee for such an amazing program of knowledge sharing among females that will help raise a generation of young women who will pick up the mantle to become leaders and technology giants in the not-so-distant future.

“ It gladdens my heart that a male Director General promotes female activism in technology, which is a sign that men are ready to support and promote gender equality,” she added.

Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), Dr Collins Yeboah –Afari urged all men to join the worthy cause of helping women build a future where women will have equal representation and opportunities in the tech industry.

He added that women could make a positive impact and pave the way for future generations in technological development and innovation when women in tech from academia, industry and policymakers have conversations to promote equality and break the biases in the tech space.

At the FEMITECH Conference, the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, was awarded for her outstanding leadership in Tech and Women Empowerment.

Other individuals awarded for their role in promoting technology tioners and aspiring females in Tech. of Ghana and the quiz mistress for the National Science and Maths quiz; Ing. Dr Lucy Agyepong, Dean of Engineering, Academic City University College; Winnifred and Co-Founder of Super Fluid AI Lab. Notably, Nana Yaa Konadu, a renowned media practitioner at Peace FM, was awarded for her exceptional work in using ICT to promote women's empowerment.

Femitech

The FEMITECH conference is focused on female tech practi-

The conference aims to inspire and empower women in this industry and create a supportive community to help them achieve

Fatoumata Doro (MD, Vilsco Ghana Group), Ing. Dr Lucy Agyepong (Associate Dean of Engineering, Academic City University College), Suzanne Diop (Head Of Nestle Business Services For Sub

Kaufmann (Dean of Engineering, University of Ghana), Mrs Eva Andoh-Poku, Deputy (CEO,nalists Association, tertiary students, students from second cycle institutions, ICT groups, individuals from corporate Ghana.

AngloGold Ashanti Limited (AGA) has announced the payment of a ended December 31, 2022. The amount is less 15 per cent of the gross of 322 South African cents.

The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) said the “dividend will be converted on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. All shareholders registered in the books of AGA at the close of business on Friday, March 17, 2023,

The GSE said the Register of shareholders will be closed from Monday, March 20, 2023, to Tuesday, March 21, 2023, both dates inclusive.

“In view of the foregoing, the ex-dividend date has been set as Wednesday, March 15,2023. Consequently, an investor purchasing AGA shares before this date will it said.

It noted, however that, an investor buying AGA shares on or after Wednesday, March 15, 2023 will dividend will be paid on Friday March 31, 2023.”

Mr Awori was appointed CEO of the Pan-African lender in September of last year, succeeding Ade Ayeyemi, who retired at the age of 60 in accordance with the bank’s policy.

Awori joins the Ecobank Group after a 25-year career in the banking industry, including nearly 10 years as Managing Director of Absa Bank Kenya Plc.

Experience

Prior to joining Absa, he held several senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank in the Middle East and Africa. He brings a wealth of banking experience, skills and expertise to the Ecobank Group He joins Ecobank at a time it is angling for a larger market share as multinational banks exit the continent.

Mr Awori said “It's a fantastic opportunity to take Ecobank to the next level of its growth strategy. Despite current global challenges,

- pects. Ecobank is uniquely positioned to provide systematic change across the banking sector at a pan-African level, using the geographic footprint it has Gateway “Through our single gateway platform, we are well-positionedcial products and solutions for countries, corporates, and SMEs to capitalise on the continent's vast resource, trade and investment opportunities”. He said the will under his management provide relevant, accesservices that addresses the evolving needs of a vibrant, youthful, and entrepreneurial continent. “Ecobank’s brand and heritage continue to be a source of pride”, he added.

Qualities

Chairman of the Ecobank Group

Mr Alain Nkontchou said “Mr Jeremy Awori’s exceptional and proven qualities as a result-oriextensive knowledge of the African banking landscape, make him the ideal choice to steer the growth of the Ecobank Group through the current era of rapid

The Group Chairman further noted that Jeremy has the full Ecobank is one of the largest banking groups on the continent outside of South Africa, with an asset base of $27.5 billion and more than 32 million customers in 33 markets across the continent.

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

African Union (AU), an organization uniting 55 African states, has consistently placed focus on African women's empowerment,ing for their basic civil rights.

Noting that African women's related questions, in practical tems, remain overwhelmingly important on AU's agenda and within its

Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mousa Faki Mahamat, on the occasion of Women's Day 2023, has stressed critical ways to bridge the gender digital divide and make women play important roles across Africa.

Mousa Faki Mahamat expressed strong delight that this year's celebration with all members of the African Union, having launched the implementation Roadmap of the African Women's Decade on

Financial and Economic Inclusion 2020-2030 and its programand Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion 2030 Initia-

The African Women's Decade calls for innovative and sustainable solutions towards the empowerment of African women while the Initiative recognizes digitization at the core of the

In commemorating this year's March 8, under the theme 'DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality - 20 Years of Maputo Protocol’, the theme is aligned with several AUC priorities to maximize e-tech dividends for women as a means to contribute to women’s sustainable development, through increasedtive participation in the technolo- gy space.

The African Union is delighted to join the global community to celebrate the formidable contribution that women have made in Innovation and technological transformation.

In addition, women, especially young women, should be at the core of this digital transformation. This Women's Day is particmarks important milestones at the continental and global levels in pursuit towards Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE). At the continental level, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, popularly known as the Maputo Protocol;

It is also 60 years since the estab- lishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which gave birth to the African Union. It marks the end of the 1st 10-year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, which recognizes Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment as a cross-cutting issue in all its aspirations. Globally, it is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

But the road remains long and much remains to be done. The African Union concluded the AU Gender Summit, ahead of the just concluded AU Ordinary Assembly of Heads and States and Government. This Gender Pre-Summit made important recommendations, that need to be reinforced though the collective and concrete action. The recommendation called for:

Establishing a network of region- al and national champions to increase the reach and inclusion of women and youth; Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to strengthen intra-regional trade; Investing in access to women and youth, especiallysion; Collecting disaggregated data by gender and youth to inform policy development and program execution.

It further called for leveraging the education sector by includingulum; creating more opportunities for women and youth in governance and leadership positions to ensure representation and inclusive in decision-making; needs of women and youth, particularly in rural areas and the borderlands. ing accountability mechanisms of the Maputo protocol; and cascading mechanisms to ensure grassroots movements, CSO and Women's rights organizations remain at the center of interventions in order to translate macro-level strategies into micro level impact.

AU believes that Innovation and Technology are key accelerators for development on the Conti-

- nent, and more particularly through the pioneering contributions past and present, made byfore, necessary to look at critical ways to bridge the gender digital divide and make women, particularly young women and girls, as a priority constituency in this developmental sector of the future to achieve Gender Equality in Africa and beyond.

-

Standard Chartered Bank Ghana

PLC has appointed Ebenezer Twum Asante as Chairman of the from March 1, 2023.

He succeeds Dr. Emmanuel Oteng Kumah who retired from the Board in October 2022. His appointment has received approval from the Bank of Ghana. Ebenezer joined the Board of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC in May 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director. He served as a member of the Board’s Risk and Audit Committees and was until recently the Chair of the Board’s Cyber Security Committee.

Speaking on behalf of the Board, Judge Professor (Mrs) Akua Kuenyehia congratulated Ebenezer on his appointment.

“We are delighted to have Ebenezer as our new Chairman and we look forward to continue working with him to build on the Bank’s governance standards and deliver long term sustainable value to all our shareholders. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Dr. Kumah for his dedication, commitment, and contribution to Standard Chartered over the last nine years. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” she said.

Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC, Mrs. Mansa Nettey also noted that, “Ebenezer is a proven and dynamic leader with extensive experience and deep knowledge of our scape. His appointment comes atmistic that we will work together to deliver on the Bank’s strategic ambitions.

Management & Corporate Leadership experience across FMCG, Fintech and Mobile Telecommunications sectors.

He is currently MTN Group’s Senior Vice President (SVP) for Markets, with overall executive responsibilities of the three regions of MTN Group i.e., West and Central Africa (WECA), Southern and East Africa (SEA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Prior to assuming that role, he was Vice President respectively for SEAGHA and WECA regions after serving as CEO of MTN Ghana and Rwanda. He joined MTN Ghana as a Sales & Distribution Executive after moving from Unilever where he worked for 13 years in various capacities from a Graduate trainee all the way to becoming Managing Director of Zambia, Customer Development Director, and member of the Unilever Ghana Board of Directors. Ebenezer serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of

MTN Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire and Cameroon.

Commenting on his appointment, Ebenezer said, “It is an honour to serve as Board Chair of Standard Chartered in Ghana – a great organisation with rich heritage and legacy. My focus will be to continue to work with the Board, ManBank’s dynamic role in Ghana, whilst taking advantage of technology in pursuing the Bank’s objectives in sustainable and ethical to deliver on our commitments to all our stakeholders”..

In 2021, Audrey won additional Chartered Women in Technology farming community in the Volta Region of Ghana - where she now runs Sabon Sake - as part of a volunteer project while still a student at Ashesi. The project was focused on identifying solutions to Ghana's collapsing sugarcane industry and, with it, hundreds of farming livelihoods. However, she and her colleagues stumbled on another challenge during this visit. They discovered that farmers burned most sugarcane waste accumulated during harvesting. The burning and other traditional farming practices in the area harmed soil health and led to broader declining crop yields. returned to campus with this unexpected challenge in mind and, with other colleagues on campus, developed a way to convert sugarcane waste to organic fertiliser that could eventually be manufactured and distributed at scale. It led to the creation of the Hausa language which means "to make something new".

Ashesi's Ghana Climate Innova2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in announced winner of the US Department of State Climate where Audrey competed in the from the US, Israel and Egypt.

"Across sub-Saharan Africa, 65% of our soils are degraded," shares Audrey. "We are losing a lot of soil nutrients that provide food that feeds not just ourselves but also the world. Sabon Sake converts biomass waste which would usually be burnt or discarded, to produce an organic soil amendment that enables farmers to improve their soil health more sustainably. We are also able to train farmers to understand what it means to grow food in a climate-changing era."

"The farming communities we work with are growing food not only for themselves but also to supply local markets," she adds.

"People from the urban landscapes buy products at the local farmers' market to sell in Ghana's cities. The local farmers are,ers across the country. Farmers within our network understand the impact of climate change. They have witnessed it, know the importance of transitioning from conventional to regenerative agriculture, and are excited to adapt well to thrive."

The book which was recently published to highlight the importance of diversity in the workplace has become an Amazon bestseller in record time, taking the number one spot on the best-selling list within just few days of its publica-

Titled: 'Lady Diversity Power: Why Diversity Is The New Way To Do Business', the book was co-autwo of Amazon's best-selling female authors, Hazel Herrington and Karen Mc Dermott as well as 12 other women

Herrington Publications Worldwide and KMD Books on February 28, 2023.

Interestingly, 'Lady Diversity Power' now ranks number one on Amazon, having taken over other great books such as: 'Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Hollywood Media Empire', 'Bad Mormon: A Memoir', 'The First Decade: My Journey from Blogger to Entrepreneur', and 'Good Power: Leading Positive Change In Our Lives, Work and World'.

About Lady Diversity Power*

The 12 other remarkable women from diverse backgrounds who co-authored 'Lady Diversity Power' are: H.E. Laila Rahhal El Atfani, Naila Qazi, Linda Fisk, Kelly Markey, Joanna James, Hilda Johani CMA, Dr. Khomotso Mashalane, Lisa L. Levy, Annie Gibbins, Cathy Dimarchos, Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes, Sarah Blake, Shelli Brunswick, and Toni Lontis.

Among other things, 'Lady Diversity Power' which is avail-w. k m dbo o ks. c o m /l a d y div e rs itypower, shares inspiring stories and practical advice on why diversity is the new way to do business globally.

Lady Diversity Power is a must-read for people looking to build more "inclusive and equitable workplaces."

In the Foreword of 'Lady Diversity Power', H.E Laila Rahhal El Atfani says "The business world is changing. The days of the white, middle-aged man running the show are coming to an end. In their place, we are seeing a new kind of leaders: one who understands and values diversity."

Touching on why diversity is the new way to do business, Ms. Herrington stated that "Lady Diversity Power is a concept that encapsulates the idea that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. It is about recognizing and celebrating the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that women from diverse backgrounds bring to the table."

According to her, "in today's rapidly changing global marketplace, diversity is no longer just a moral imperative, it is a strategic one. Companies that fail to embrace diversity risk being left behind, while those that actively seek it out and cultivate it stand to thrive in the new global economy. By empowering women of diverse backgrounds to lead, we can create more innovative, inclusive, and equitable work-

She explained that "Lady Diversity Power is not just a catchphrase, it's a call to action for all leaders to embrace the richness of Diversity and harness its power for

About the authors

Ms. Herrington, a multiple award-winning Zimbabwean author, celebrity interviewer and CEO of Herrington Publications Worldwide, has authored several other books including: 'Personal Branding: Build Credibility and Elevate Your Brand - The Ultimate Guide:', 'How to Achieve Personal Growth - The Essential Guide,' and 'The Ultimate Speaker Branding Blueprint on How to Build a Strong Personal Brand', all of which are available on Amazon.

She is also a co-author of a number of books including: 'Mediation Beyond Covid', 'A Woman's Guide to Business Domination,' and 'Think Limitlessly.'

Karen Mc Dermott is the founder of Serenity Press, Making Magic Happen Academy and Everything Publishing Academy. An award-winning entrepreneur, multi-genre author of over 20 books, mentor and renowned speaker, Mc Dermott founded

Serenity Press in 2012.

Linda Fisk is a multi-award-winning leader, speaker, best-selling author and university professor dedicated to amplifying and extending the success of other

Dr. Khomotso is a globally recognized humanitarian, philanthropist and women empowerment advocate.

H.E Laila Rahhal El Atfani, is a globally respected women empowerment advocate and successful businesswoman.

Meanwhile, Ms. Herrington and Mc Dermott, two renowned, internationally-acclaimed authors, are scheduled to soon launch another book titled: 'Lady Entrepreneur Power'.

By Claire Hutchings

We are at the halfway point for 2030), but we are not halfway to achieving them. In fact, in many critical areas – from poverty to severe and compounding crises. governments worldwide must urgently recommit to the SDGs, including their underlying promThe challenge is formidable. Consider SDG1, which aims to eliminate poverty in all its forms. According to the World Bank’s Partnership for Economic Inclusion, government-led poverty-al2021. But to reach those furthest behind, such programs must recognize and account for the web of overlapping constraints poverty.

encompasses deprivation and exclusion in multiple areas, such as nutrition, sanitation, health care, and education. Factors like gender, disability, and displacement also play an important role in keeping people in poverty. - ence in rural Bangladesh, shows that below a certain income/asset threshold, households’ ability to access resources that could increase their income is severely limited. It also shows that large transfers of resources and/or support that create better jobs for enabling people to escape the poverty trap over the long term. An understanding of the various constraints and barriers that people in extreme poverty face within each unique context is thus vital to enable governments to devise and target optimal interventions.

This is easier said than done. People facing extreme poverty often live in isolation and thus may not be included in social government mechanisms for determining eligibility for and ensuring enrollment in support the basic knowledge or ability to such as limited mobility or literacy).

As a result, the people who need the most help often end up either excluded from government found that 79% of the poorest quintile of the population in low-income countries receive no social assistance.

But there are steps governments can take to improve program targeting and reach. For starters, they can make greater use of registries linked to existing poverty-focused programs. Tunisia’s government is already doing this. Using registries from program, the authorities identify households at the intersection of climate and socioeconomic vulnerability. Factors like monthly income, productive labor capacity, access to water, and land degradation are considered, as is whether the household is headed by a woman. Combining information from other government registries or databases with existing social Colombia’s government comof Victims with a social registry used for an existing cash-transfer ing cash transfers. The government was then able to urge the recipients to invest the transfers in ways that boosted well-being and resilience.

The information in social regisand enhanced through household surveys or local “vulnerability assessments,” which can help to and deprivations faced by particular groups of people living in extreme poverty. Governments can also expand social registries, using mechanisms such as participatory community consultations that identify households that are unregistered or misrepresented in

In the Indian state of Bihar, Satat

Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY) is a

“the human capital of the poorest and most excluded households through support of consumption and livelihoods, savings, and training.” The complex and time-consuming targeting method used during the pilot period was enable the program to be scaled including transect walks and wealth-mapping based on input from village organizations – dimensional initiative – promotes the delivery of essential services to the poor and vulnerable. To the existing social registry by adding readily available data on marginalized people living in poverty. Kenya’s government also incorporated a participant-targeting tool, designed and maintained by partners, that collects information related to multidimensional poverty, including housing conditions, water and sanitation, energy access, productive assets, food security, and access to social programs.

136,000 households living in extreme poverty across all 38 of Bihar’s districts.

Targeting does not end with registration, selection, and enroll-

- viewed as an ongoing process, with regular assessments and feedback systems built into every program to support the continual updating, enhancement, and integration of registries, which in turn will facilitate better targeting. At the same time, governments and their partners can ensure that all participants in poverty-alleviation programs are also connected to other public services and systems.

Reaching those who are the furthest behind will never be easy. But if governments make the most of existing data and systems, carry out multidimensional local assessments, and continuously strive to improve targeting methods, progress is possible. And if we are going to achieve the SDGs, it is essential.