Travellers will soon have more options when it comes to ying in and out of the UAE.
Etihad Airways and Emirates have signed a memorandum of understanding at the Arabian Travel Market that will expand their interline agreement. This means that travellers who y to the country will have the option to arrive in one emirate and leave from the other. There will be no extra airfare for the service.
For example, someone ying from London can choose to land in Dubai with Emirates and then y out of Abu Dhabi with Etihad on the way back.
The idea behind the agreement stems from o ering travellers the opportunity to see as much as possible when visiting the UAE, as well as to also save time by not having to y back via their arrival airport. This also allows trav-
ellers more exibility with timings when it comes to ying.
“We are pleased to be working again with Etihad Airways — this time to allow each carrier to o er a new range of seamless travel options in and out of the UAE. Emirates and Etihad are leveraging on our strengths to expand our respective customer o erings and boost UAE tourism,” said Tim Clark, president of Emirates.
“We believe this agreement provides a strong foundation to develop further opportunities between both airlines and is an example of our commitment to the UAE’s vision for continued economic diversication.”
Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive of Etihad Airways, added: “We’re delighted to partner with Emirates in our shared mission to support inbound tourism to the UAE and facilitate travel to our
vibrant cities.
“With two world-class airlines supporting UAE tourism, our interline agreement will make it more convenient for guests to experience the best of Abu Dhabi and Dubai on one single ticket, while promising to deliver an exceptional ying experience whether they y with Etihad Airways or Emirates. It’s a win-win proposition for travellers to the UAE.”
The two airlines previously collaborated in 2018 when they signed an MoU to strengthen aviation security within and outside the Emirates.
Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating o cer of Etihad Airways, sitting left; Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial o cer, sitting right, sign the deal alongside Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive of Etihad, standing middle left; and Tim Clark, president of Emirates, standing middle right.
and leverage their insights to make strategic decisions. At PwC, part of our strategy is to digitise our network.
Upscaling our people to use software such as “Alteryx” and “Power BI” for visualisation and data analytics, has been a signicant value addition to our business since 2020. Data analytics is not only valuable while doing business, it can also be applied to personal nances.
Did you know that data-driven organisations are three times more likely to report signicant improvements in their decisions around innovation, growth, and competitive advantage?
Data analytics involves the review of data sets, making trends and using them to draw conclusions about the information they contain.
Data has always been an important component when it comes to decision making.
What has changed over the years, is the large volume of data that must be processed and the advanced rooms available to process this data to make sense and help in decision making.
Essentially, data is as valuable
Whiles the expression, "You are whom you walk with,” holds true to varying degrees, it is often used in an exaggerated manner to highlight the impact of the company we keep on our outcomes.
However, Kimberly Coleman is undoubtedly a living example of the positive e ects of the aforementioned statement. For as long as she can remember, she has always been thrilled by how combining multiple raw ingredients could be transformed into a sumptuous dish. Similarly, she has been fascinated by guessing what items went into the making of another.
The passion would have amounted to nothing if it were not for the in uence of her grandmother – Mayfair Ako. As the Ghanaian food industry continues to see signi cant growth, with the restaurant sub-sector alone increasing at an annual rate of 20 percent over the last ve years and is expected to continue at a similar pace over the next decade, Kim – as she is a ectionately called – wants to contribute to the growth of the food industry.
Her dream is to make her restaurant, ‘Kimberrys Café and Bakery’ a household name, not only a place to nd
as gold. From a business perspective, the rich variety of data that enterprises generate contain valuable insights and data analytics is the way to unlock them. Data analytics, if used properly, provides a competitive advantage by enabling organisations to identify new opportunities
Downloading and building an excel template to monitor personal budgets and spending can help to track leakages to make informed decisions. This may appear to be daunting, but it’s quite simple, especially when initiated on a small scale.
In summary, data analytics is not a scary term. It’s a way to organise data to be able to nd trends, visualise data and make important decisions, both personally and professionally.
good food but a place where you can call home. It comes as no surprise that the majority of her customers, especially women, believe that Kim's amazing recipes have changed the popular saying that,"Good food is a way to a man’s heart,” to “Good food is a way to capture the heart of any gender.”
Early life and hereditary in uence Kimberly was born in France, as the only child of a Ghanaian mother and a French father. As an infant, she relocated to Ghana and was raised by her grandmother at Asawase in Kumasi, speci cally, A54 near
the Manhyia Palace, until she was ve years old.
Inadvertently, Kim's house provided her with the very rst experience she needed to develop the skill set needed in the hospitality industry. Regarding her grandmother's in uence, she remarks, "My grandmother's in uence is the reason I am here today. She was a baker, and her own grandmother was also a baker so you can understand where that came from so I grew up in a home where baking was done daily.”
At age nine, Kim already had a tabletop desk for herself near her grandmother's shelf where
she sold bread and powdered milk to her friends. “My grandmother had the most profound impact on my life because she raised me. She was a well-known baker and she served as a wholesaler to shops and eateries and individuals,” she recounts.
Playing kitchen in grandma’s kitchen
Aged 10, Kim began to understand that she had already fallen in love with spending time in her grandmother’s kitchen. A set of cooking utensils made out of milk tins –which was her grandmother's rst and most valuable gift to her – deepened her interest and served as con rmation that she was equipped and prepared to work in the hospitality industry. A happy memory that still makes her smile whenever she thinks about it.
Education
From nursery and kindergarten to class four, Kim attended Garrison Primary School in Kumasi. She had to complete her academic education from classes ve and six at the Kings International School, which is also in Kumasi. She was a gifted speaker who showed signs of entrepreneurship while being a bright youngster. She received a lot of attention from her teachers for her uency in Twi.
When she was 13, Kim had to leave Kumasi since she had to move to Accra to nish secondary school. At Labone SDA Junior High School, where she nished her junior secondary school education, Kim did exceptionally well in both English and Ghanaian languages.
She quickly discovered how much she liked languages, next only to her passion for food, and decided to major in the Arts when she eventually proceeded to continue her secondary education at the Tema Secondary School (Temasco), where she excelled again in both French and English.
“I was actually a fairly quiet student at school. I have always been intelligent, but I was best at languages. I was thus the top student in Twi when I lived in Kumasi, the top girl in Ga, when I moved to Accra, and nally, the top student in French and English when I lived in Labone and
attended SHS in Temasco. As a result, I performed much better in languages than in the sciences. I therefore always knew I would pursue the arts.”
Kim's excitement at the prospect of focusing solely on the study of Spanish turned to disappointment when she discovered that her only option was to combine it with Psychology and English. Despite having to study psychology, English, and Spanish, Kim excelled so much in Spanish that she was chosen as one of the best students to receive a scholarship to study in Cuba. However, Kim had to decline the scholarship citing a lack of interest.
Launching from Legon
After a few years in the world of languages, the long-hidden love for the hospitality industry, at last, returned with vigour. Subsequently, Kim started skipping lectures in favour of cooking her own meals. To her, she wanted to experiment with di erent dishes across di erent countries. She gained knowledge of new dishes by drawing on the limited experience she had teaching the Turkish Community. She also took advantage of friendships to try new spices from Egypt.
“I resided in a hostel o -campus, didn't attend lectures like I used to and GAME had opened newly at that time, I would always go in to get a new grill pan or sauté pan since I was attracted by them. I also had a friend who was working in Egypt at the time, and I told him I wanted to
sample new spices. I was therefore experimenting with various spices so I enjoyed cooking,” she notes.
After experimenting with various recipes, Kim would share the results with her friends who made it a point to visit with new friends anytime Kim prepared a new dish. Kim's other driving force for entering the eld commercially was how lucrative she realized the business could be. “I became even more interested in cooking after I realised how much money my grandmother was making from it. She frequently brought basins lled with cash and asked my other cousin and me to divide it up into the appropriate denominations,” she recalled.
A food vlogger is born
After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Ghana, Legon she relocated to the United States in 2010, as a result of marriage. Blessed with a baby and with more time on her hands as a new mother, she always found herself preparing more dishes than an ordinary wife would.
The idea of sharing a picture and a recipe for any cooked meal was made simple by the ever-popular application –Facebook. Her frequent posts, which she initially did as a pastime, caught people's interest. She received loads of requests from social media friends to teach new recipes.
Return to Ghana
Kim returned to Ghana in 2012 and gained employment as a Producer for the ‘Famous TV
Show’ in 2013. During that period, she combined producing, hosting and food vlogging on Instagram.
Kim made her rst sale as a food vlogger in 2013, a sale that stayed consistent until she thought it wise to register the business a year later in January 2014.
“I used to prepare and deliver food to my coworkers in the o ce while I was still working at Famous TV, and I was still vlogging at the same time. People started ordering stews, soups and cakes anytime I posted them on social media, and in 2014, I decided to register the business but still take orders from the comfort of my home,” she says.
The o cial opening
The time for Kim to take the next step was the start of the 2020 pandemic. She organized in person and virtual baking classes and due to the success of these masterclasses, she took the decision to establish a physical location for Kimberrys.
“The turning point for me was when I received numerous testimonials about the positive e ects of sharing my recipes, including the ability to mend broken homes, strengthen bonds between people, and experience awe-inspiring moments.” She was particularly encouraged by the recognition she received as the owner of Kimberrys Café and Bakery on Instagram.
She then rented a place in Osu in 2020, where she formally began, and three years later, Kimberrys Café and Bakery is known as a brand that is popular across di erent age groups. "I had the ridiculous notion that I could do anything during Covid. I passed through the stages of depression at that time, just like the majority of others, but my experience was more positive. I then made the decision to set up a space.”
Take the ‘I can do’ chances
Building and sustaining excellent relationships is the cornerstone of the company. Kim believes that being at peace with oneself is the foundation for doing so. One thing that keeps her motivated is learning to constantly say “yes” to opportunities and chances before con rming her capacity to execute that work.
“Sometimes when people come in to ask for a particular avourof a cake or dish, I quickly say I can but probably
not in stock and immediately I start to do my research and experimentation, and as often when it doesn't work out, I trash it and continue until I perfect it and it usually blows their expectation away," she explained.
Despite having no prior formal experience in the culinary arts, Kim is optimistic that she will improve because she aims to enroll in more international culinary training programmes and publish books to motivate aspiring business owners who want to work in the hospitality industry. “I de nitely want to be greater than this and make Kimberrys a household name. I plan to enrollin more advanced courses and create cookbooks to inspire others and impart my knowledge,” the food maker stated.
Despite her very busy schedule, Kim’s ability to compartmentalize allows her to spend quality time with her family which includes three young sons.
Motorway Roundabout, that serves as the junction of major Highways including the Abidjan-Lagos corridor which is critical for the development of the West African sub-region has also been re-a rmed. Japan will also o er USD 500 million of support over the next three years to augment Ghana’s e orts through the Accra Initiative and other endeavours to secure peace and stability, of the Sahel region and the coastal states of the Gulf of Guinea.
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida to Ghana has taken the already robust bilateral, political and economic relations as well as the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries a notch further.
This visit, which is the rst of a Japanese Prime Minister since Junichiro Koizumi visited Ghana some Seventeen (17) years ago in 2006, when President Akufo-Addo was Foreign Minister, saw Ghana and Japan exchange notes for the Enhancement of Rice Seeds Production Capacity in
Ghana and on the Human Resource Development Scholarship to support the training of young administrative o cials in Japan. Additionally, the sturdy development of Phase II of the project for the improvement of the Tema
Speaking after a very productive bilateral session, President Akufo-Addo, said, birthed as far back as 1927 when Dr. Hideyo Noguchi arrived on the shores of the then Gold Coast to conduct research on Yellow Fever, relations between the two countires have witnessed countless successful strategic partnerships and co-operation with the street in front of the Japan Embassy in Accra, “named the Dr. Hideyo Noguchi Street, upon my instructions, in addition to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research located at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, in memory of that illustrious son of Japan and in appreciation of the continued generosity of the good people of Japan to Ghana.”
Throughout this period, he continued, Ghana has been a “great admirer of the Japanese model of Development and of Japan’s technological advancement and I informed the Prime Minister, we were bene tting from his country’s wealth of knowledge and experience to boost our own development.” Thus, this evening, he added, “we have discussed at length how to boost further our political and economic relations, cultural and people to people exchanges as well as our cooperation at the multi-lateral level.”
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Ghana on Monday, 1St May, 2023 on the second leg of an African tour which begun in
Egypt and will see him visit Kenya and Mozambique. The two leaders, whose countries occupy non-permanent member positions at the United Nation’s Security Council agreed to pursue key reforms to “re ect the changing circumstances of the world from 1945, when the composition and structure of the Security Council was established by the victorious powers of the second world war.”
Consistent with Ghana’s position on Russia’s war, President Akufo-Addo maintained that, “as the rst country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain our independence from the shackles of colonialism and imperialism, Ghana became one of the ve initiators of the historic non-aligned movement.
Historically, we have always been against great power domination of the a airs of the world. It is a position we will continue to hold and that is why during the voting in the United Nation’s General Assembly, Ghana voted in favour of the motion condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Great powers, trampling on new and small nations and violating international law, are not things we welcome within our modest means, we will register our disapproval of them.”
Describing Ghana as a Ghana is a major economic hub of West Africa and an important partner with whom Japan shares fundamental values and principles
such as democracy and rule of law, Premier Fumio Kushida, explained that, “the purpose of this visit to Ghana is to directly listen to the voices of Africa and to re ect such feedback in the discussions to take place at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.”
He said, Japan “has con rmed the importance of business and investment promotion between Ghana, the lynchpin of the West African economy, and Japan. Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki are operating assembly plants producing vehicles and these are great examples of our time. I also understand that Honda plans to set up an assembly plant by the end of this year. Another move which I hope will accelerate the business relationship between our two countries.”
Ghana and the United Nations (UN) have signed the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) agreement that will ensure the UN will deploy an estimated US$517m over the period around three key pillars of work; Inclusive Economic Transformation; Equitable Access to Services; and Durable Peace.
It integrates work on key issues such as nancing, the environment and climate, digitalisation, urbanisation, data for decision making, and strengthened partnerships across all pillars.
It also outlines the UN development system’s integrated contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with a commitment to leaving no one behind, a human rights-based approach, to Gender Equality and Wom-
en’s Empowerment, and to building resilience, sustainability, and strengthening accountability.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance highlighted the substantial progress on the debt exchange programme, as well as on engagement with bilateral creditors to secure the necessary nancing assurances required for the IMF Programme.
“We welcome initiatives of the UN system on SDGs nancing in areas such as the Integrated National Financing Frameworks and call upon the UN to support our need for technical assistance and capacity building in investment promotion and developing project pipelines and bankable projects,”
he added.
He said government is aware of the impact of the Domestic
Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) on the domestic nancial sector and steps are being taken to mitigate the impact of the DDEP on the nancial sector by establishing the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, to among other things, provide solvency and liquidity support to eligible nancial sector institutions which may be a ected by the DDEP.
The UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Charles Abani, in his remarks said the process of developing this framework has been deeply participatory, inclusive and comprehensive, involving key government partners, the private sector, civil society and non-governmental organisations, youth groups and other key stakeholders.
“The implementation of this cooperation framework will be guided by, and be accountable to, a UN-Government Joint
Steering Committee co-chaired by both the Minister for Finance and UN Resident Coordinator. The steering committee will ensure national ownership and monitor progress, challenges and opportunities,” he added.
He also indicated that the agreement shows the UN’s commitment to standing with Ghana as the country aims to accelerate achievement of the SDGs and agenda 2063. Ghana is viewed as a leader among its peers in addressing and resolving challenges around its development.
Present at the signing were the heads and representatives of twenty-one (21) United Nation agencies, Chief Director, Ministry of Finance, Directors, and other o cials from the Ministry.”
less expensive than deep rock mining, but it can be more damaging to the environment.
In order to mitigate the potential environmental impact of the mining operation, GTS and Himeros Mining have implemented several environmental control systems. These systems will ensure that water is recycled and that no chemicals are used in the mining process. This will reduce the amount of pollution that is released into the environment, which will help to protect the local ecosystem.
Gulf Technologies Systems
(GTS), a leading Israeli company, and Himeros Mining Limited, have entered into a joint venture agreement to develop a gold mine in the Western Region of Ghana, speci cally in the Sefwi-Esaase District.
The mining operation will involve state-of-the-art boring equipment to develop a 3.5 billion dollar mine over the next ve years. This new venture is expected to produce up to 250 kg of gold per month, along with 150 kg of other precious metals, and a poten-
tial for diamond mining operations in the future.
GTS and Himeros Mining Limited have agreed to use di erent types of mining techniques, implement environmental control systems, and consider the impact that this mining operation will have on the local communities.
The mining operation at the Sefwi-Esaase District will involve both deep rock mining and alluvial mining. Deep rock
mining involves drilling into the ground to extract minerals that are located deep beneath the surface. This type of mining can be very expensive, but it is often necessary when the minerals are located too deep for other methods to be e ective. In contrast, alluvial mining involves extracting minerals from the sediment of rivers and streams. This type of mining is
In addition to these environmental control systems, GTS and Himeros Mining have also implemented a plan to treat the waste soil that is produced during the mining operation. This soil will be treated with a special fertilizing process to remove all metals from the soil. Once the metals have been removed, the soil will be suitable for agricultural use. This will help to mitigate the environmental impact of the mining operation and ensure that the local ecosystem is protected.
One of the key bene ts of the mining operation at the Sefwi-Esaase District is that it will provide employment opportunities for the local communities. The mining operation will employ residents from the local villages that surround the mine, providing them with a source of income and a way to improve their standard of living.
In addition to providing employment opportunities, the mining
operation will also have a positive impact on the local economy. The mining operation will generate revenue for the local government, which can be used to fund local infrastructure projects and improve the quality of life for the local communities.
The joint venture agreement between GTS and Himeros Mining to develop a gold mine in the Sefwi-Esaase district of
Ghana represents a signicant investment in the future of the region. The state-of-the-art boring equipment and the implementation of environmental control systems will ensure that the mining operation is conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
The use of both deep rock mining and alluvial mining
techniques will allow for the extraction of a variety of precious metals, including gold and potentially diamonds. The waste soil will be treated to remove metals and will be suitable for agricultural use, further mitigating the environmental impact of the mining operation.
The employment opportu-
nities and economic bene ts that the mining operation will bring to the local communities will provide a signi cant boost to the region. The joint venture agreement between GTS and Himeros Mining is an important step towards the development of the mining industry in Ghana, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the country's economy for years to come.
In August 2022, the Republic of Ghana and the United Mexican States celebrated sixty-one (61) years of bilateral relations. As part of the celebrations, both countries looked forward to strengthening their bilateral ties for the bene t of their people.
Last week, the relations between the two countries was deepened by the signing of a sister city agreement between Accra and Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco in Western Mexico to promote cultural and commercial development.
The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday, 26th April 2023 at the Accra City Hall and attended by key stakeholders from the creative arts, culture and tourism sector as well as the trade, investment and education sectors.
In her address, the Mayor of Accra, Hon Elizabeth K. T Sackey, said the friendship between the two cities was the beginning of the collaboration in the areas of arts, culture, tourism, trade, and investment, education and a testament to the bilateral cooperation that had existed for years between Ghana and Mexico.
She was hopeful that Guadalajara and Accra would embark on impactful projects to the bene t of its residents. "I must admit, Guadalajara and Accra do not only experience lovely sunshine but are also very hospitable cities and since Accra won the title to host this great programme, the two cities have been nurturing a friendship which is being culminated in the signing of a sister city agreement today, " she added.
On her part, Mrs. Lilian Rizk
Rodrigues, Director of International Relations and Migrant Attention at the Municipality of Guadalajara, described the union as historic feet for the two cities citing the agreement as the rst of its kind to be signed with an African city.
According to her, the decision to enter into a sister city agreement with Accra emanated from the common love of books, adding that the relationship would open a door to close connections full of shared activities in the areas of culture, education, tourism, commerce and technology.
"We are very excited about the world of possibilities that opens with the signing of this twinning agreement, which we are convinced will translate into multiple bene ts for the inhabitants of both cities and will be an example to the international community of universal frater-
PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS24 LTD. EDITOR: BENSON AFFUL editor@business24 com gh | +233
nity... We are making history and we should be proud of it...Let me reiterate that in Guadalajara you all have and will have open arms and can count on us at all times, " she said.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Mexico in Ghana, Arturo Salazar expressed gratitude to the Mayor of Accra for making the twinning agreement a success assuring that it would go a long way to foster unity and bring development between the city of Accra and Guadalajara.
Guadalajara has a population of 5 million people and it is the second largest city in Mexico, which is located in the north of the American Continent. It is the birthplace of important cultural manifestations in Mexico such as Mariachi folk music, the liquor called tequila and the Mexican national sport: charrería.
