Investment Times Newspaper 2023 Edition | Issue 45

Gov’t to provide incentives for auto makers

By Eugene Davies

…as trade, nance ministries to engage on Customs Act

US$750m loans will impact economy positively –John Kumah

By Eugene Davies

A Deputy Minister of Finance, John Kumah, has stated that the outstanding loans close to US$750 million which has been approved by parliament will stabilize the troubled economy.

According to Mr. Kumah, the loans will help the economy in terms of government priorities and commitments, adding that reforms are necessary to achieve e ciency in the country’s nancial administration.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has said that he intends to engage the Finance Ministry on the Legislative Instrument(L.I) announcing the e ective date of implementation for all outstanding commitments in the provisions of the Customs (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1014).

The Act seeks to provide incentives for automotive manufacturers and assemblers registered under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturing Development Pro-

gramme provide import exemptions for the security agencies and o cers of the security agencies and for related matters.

It intends to discourage the importation of second-hand vehicles and encourage the assembling of automobiles in the country.

In a speech read for him at the commissioning of the newly built state-of-the-art Rana Motors Assembly Plant in Accra, Mr Hammond said the decision will signi cantly scale up production to full or optimal rates of capacity utilisation for

the companies.

“This is a fundamental provision also for major investment in local component manufacturing to start, as con rmed in my rst few engagements with potential investors on the proposed Component Manufacturing Policy which seeks to incentivise local suppliers and component manufacturing,” the minister added.

Partnership

He expressed dissatisfaction that the country is yet to attract a component manufacturing rm,

claiming that it is not in Ghana's best interest. Mr Hammond referred to his visit to assembly plants in operation, and hoped that the country graduates to a Complete-Knocked-Down assembly, “where almost all components are not only assembled locally, but a substantial proportion, at least 30 to 40 percent initially, consists of components and parts manufactured in Ghana for assemblers and the after-sales

“They are positive loans that will impact the economy” he told the parliamentary press corps on Tuesday when parliament reconvened from their break to give green light to the loans.

Parliament on Tuesday approved seven loan agreements totaling $750 million to enhance public sector reforms, food security, COVID-19 response measures and digital acceleration agenda.

The facilities which were approved during an emergency

2

The District Health Director of the Birim North District in the Eastern Region, Ms Stella Konadu Owusu, has commended Newmont Africa for the consistent support towards healthcare delivery in the district. “New-

mont Africa remains a reliable partner in providing quality healthcare for the people in the district and adjoining towns”, she stated.

Ms Owusu made the comments at a ceremony where o cials of

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, has urged all journalists and media houses to uphold the highest level of integrity and professionalism.

Speaking at the commemoration of this year’s World Press Freedom Day at the International Press Centre in Accra, he said “We will not hesitate to call out any journalist or media organization that indulges in agrant violations of professional ethics and standards. This is in view of the recognition that press freedom and indeed all other forms of freedoms go with

responsibility and the duty to re spect public sensibilities, human dignity and public interest.”

He also added that the GJA, along with MFWA, GIBA, and PRINPAG, recently urged the government to amend certain provisions of the Electronic Communications Act and the Criminal Code, speci cal ly Section 208 of the Criminal and Other O ences Act of 1960 (Act 29).

“As critical stakeholders in the media industry, we cannot remain unconcerned as these laws are used to arrest citizens

By Eugene Davies

K.T Hammond (middle) interacts with o cials of a vehicle assembly plant

Gov’t to provide incentives for auto makers

…as trade, nance ministries to engage on Customs Act

producer of “Assembled-in-Ghana” global vehicle brands.

He believes the investments in the automotive industry, if harnessed properly, will enable assemblers such as Rana Motors and emerging component manufacturers to easily connect to regional markets and supply chains in West Africa and across Africa under ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

By Eugene Davies

termined we change route and we do so by way of industrialisation. Our industrialisation is done on the back of the automobile industry,” he added.

In order to further the government's agenda for economic growth, skill development, job creation, and export diversi cation, K. T. Hammond urged the company to continue working with the government to create a modern automotive sector. Assembly plants

market.”

According to him, measures are being undertaken to complete stakeholder engagement under Ghana’s proposed Components Manufacturing Policy.

“We are targeting policy support to the private sector to invest in the local manufacturing of compo-

nents and parts, starting with low-hanging fruits such as electric harnesses and wires, rubber extrusion parts, air and oil lters, lead acid batteries, shock absorbers, exhaust systems, steel wheel rims, brake system components, windscreens, and wiper blades,” he said.

Milestone

Additionally, Mr Hammond disclosed that the start of commercial production in the facility signi es yet another milestone along Ghana’s ambitious journey to become the foremost automobile assembly and components manufacturing hub in West Africa and a bona de

“This will open up very signicant and sustainable opportunities for job seekers, distributors, suppliers, small-scale industries as well as repair and maintenance service providers nationwide, as is the case in other modern hubs of the African Auto Industry, represented mainly by Morocco, Eqypt and South Africa but now featuring Ghana, prominently as the new kid on the block,” he pointed out.

The Trade Minister also noted that the development is evidence Ghana is on its way to a revolutionary development in terms of the automobile industry.

“President Akufo-Addo is de-

The Rana Motors’ plant becomes the third vehicle assembly plant established for the commercial production of global brands in Ghana.

In addition to Kantanka Automobile Limited, Ghana now has ve new assembly plants producing nine brands of vehicles, namely VW, Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Peugeot, Hyundai, Changan, ZX Auto and now KIA.

President Nana Akufo-Addo’s steadfast commitment and support for the implementation of programmes under the Ghana Automotive Development Policy was approved by Cabinet in October 2019 to create a fully integrated automobile manufacturing hub in Ghana, barely two years after he assumed o ce.

US$750m loans will impact economy positively – John Kumah

sitting today were an on-lending agreement between the government of Ghana (GoG) and the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group for an amount of $150 million to nance the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme phase two under the Multipurpose Programme Approach.

The others were a €170 million between the GoG and the Development Bank of Ghana for the establishment of the Development Bank of Ghana, a $60.6 million agreement between the GoG and the IDA of the World Bank Group as a third additional nancing for the Ghana COVID-19 emergency preparedness.

The rest were a $30 million response project and an agreement between the GoG and the Government of the Republic of Korea (acting through the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Government Agency for the Economic Development Cooperation

Fund (EDCF), an agreement between the GoG and the IDA of the World Bank for an amount of $150 million to nance the Primary Healthcare investment Project and a $150 million agreement between the GoG and the IDA to nance the Public Financial Management for service delivery project.

The House also okayed a nancing agreement between the GoG and the IDA for an amount of $200 million to nance the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project. The loan agreements, which had been on the books already, were supposed to have been approved by the House before it adjourned sine die on March 31, 2023.

Dr.Kumah also stated that the recall of parliament was to complete an “important assignment of loans that has been contracted previously but we have not been able to ratify in parliament. The facilities that were approved today are not new loans, they are already on our books and require parliamentary approval but we were unable to do before we rose the last

time.

He explained, government had to reallocate some funds -US$750m from Afreximbank that was approved last year “we needed to reallocate some of the funds to some more priortity projects of government, so these are not new loans, these are some of the reallocation we did and to approve the already made available funds ..which parliament had not been able to approve.

“These are loans we have already taken on our books, so parliament just approved the on-lending agreement between government of Ghana and DBG, so we just want to put on record that government is not taking any facility, these are loans we have already contracted on our books and require parliamentary approval.”

Contributing to the debate, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, said given enormous impact of loans on the country, he did not think it was time the government should take additional loans.

He said Ghana was currently insolvent and defaulted in the repayment of its external and domestic debts.

For instance, he cited how just last week, one of the rating agencies that Ghana government had contracted had downgraded Ghana to “restrictive default”.

“Mr Speaker, simply put we are in a deep hole and what I know is that when you are in a hole the rst thing you do is to stop digging but unfortunately this government could not stop digging,” he said.

Sadly, he expressed worry that Parliament had been called to approve $750 million, an amount which he said would not go to where “we can drive productivity.”

Buttressing his argument, Dr Forson said with food security being very important, he said the Minority would support any loan that was geared towards food security in a way that farmers would bene t.

“But unfortunately, the $150 million meant for food resilience system in West Africa is money is not going to the

By Eugene Davies

farmer but largely this amount is staying in the o ces and the time has come for us to review the loans that the World Bank grants.

“Often times, the World Bank grants loans to countries where it is heavily concentrated on consultancy and I have my big concern of this matter and I have expressed my concern to the World Bank themselves and I will expressed his here,” he said.

He, therefore, urged the House to reject the $150 million loan to send a signal to the World Bank to cause them to understand that “if they intend lending money to Ghana that money should be geared towards productivity and in something that we can be able to repay.”

Other bills that were approved includes; Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment)Bill 2022, Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (Amendment) Bill, 2023 -it seeks to strengthen due diligence procedures and prescribe circumvention practices. Amends Act 967 of the 2018 law.

Newmont Africa lauded for contributing to quality healthcare delivery

GHS52,300 prize to procure much-needed medical supplies and logistics for the Old Abirem CHPS compound, stating “the facility needed all the help they can get to provide quality antenatal and neonatal care for pregnant women in the area.”

The items included thermometers, weighing scales, beds, chairs, a television set, a double door refrigerator, and waste bins, among others.

through our Foundation or directly through Newmont’s Global Covid 19 Fund and our partnership with Project CURE.”

The CEO Safety Leader Award was instituted in 2020 by Newmont Corporation’s CEO, Tom Palmer, to celebrate safety excellence and encourage replication of best practices in Newmont’s operations around the world. The

Award recognizes a frontline leader who has improved safety performance, managed wellbeing, and replicated leading practices across the business.

Finalists and ultimate winners are presented with prizes to support social interventions of their choosing. George agreed to use his

Addressing the traditional leaders and health o cials present at the venue, Derek Boateng, Senior Manager for Sustainability and External Relations at the Akyem Mine, said, “As a responsible mining business, we have exceptional safety leadership in all parts of our operations, and we continue to work with our stakeholders to achieve our vision of being fatality, injury and illness free.”

He added that, “At Newmont, our people are our most valued assets, and this extends to residents of our host communities. This is why we continue to invest heavily in healthcare delivery in our catchment area

Nana Otibo Boadze, Abirem Gyaasehene, who represented the Abiremhene, expressed appreciation to Newmont Africa for the timely intervention. She con rmed that, over the years, the company had invested in healthcare directly and through the Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAkDeF). This, she stated, has been a game-changer in accessing quality healthcare in the area. “Newmont’s investments have transformed the Abirem Government Hospital and has enabled it to serve many communities in and around the district. We can only express our appreciation and ask for more collaboration in transforming the district,” she concluded.

As part of Newmont’s global strategy to support quality healthcare delivery in its operational areas, the company has partnered with a U.S. based non-governmental organisation, Project CURE to provide medical supplies periodically and free health screening every year to its host communities. The Birim North District continues to bene t from this intervention.

Uphold highest level of integrity

…GJA, PRINPAG to journalists on Press Freedom Day

and journalists and prefer criminal charges over civil remedies for press and speech o enses that are merely defamatory.

The arbitrary application of these laws only serves to instill fear in the general populace.

To ensure that free speech is always protected, it is essential that journalists, who are the vanguards of free speech, receive all the support they require to carry out their duties without hindrance or compromise.”

According to him, under his stewardship, the GJA has established

the Journalists Support Fund (JSF). The Fund will provide legal services to journalists whose rights have been violated while performing their duties. It will also assist in providing training and seminars on safety and security to our members to improve their safety and security. The fund will also be used to support or cushion retirees.

On his part, the President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Edwin Arthur, stated that this year’s World Press

wake-up call to all lovers of media freedom to stand up and to defend media practitioners by condemning all acts that end up negatively a ecting the practice of journalism in this country.

Further, he noted it must be a wake-up call to all lovers of media growth to partner the Ghanaian and to support them in these dicult times to stand on their feet to defend our nation and our enviable democracy, which has become the toast of many in recent times.

By Eugene Davies

opportunity to urge the Government’s media handlers to be proactive and to engage media owners, editors and senior journalists the more in an attempt to save the Ghanaian media from dying.”

A former GJA President, Mrs Gifty

A enyi-Dadzie, indicated that media owners need to seriously reect on the acquisition of delayed broadcast equipment to help sieve the contributions of those who call-in to programmes to make one contribution or the other as well as a panelist who goes overboard to

throw a bomb.

According to her, one other organ that could help sanitize the political campaign environment is the GJA’s Ethics and Disciplinary Council which is mandated to promote high ethical standards among members of the Association in the performance of their duties, enforce the GJA code of ethics, and investigate allegations of unprofessional conduct and ethical breaches of the Association.

Czech - Ghana Health Care and Pharmaceutical Business Cooperation Seminar held in Accra

nesses from the Ghanaiantical sector to engage and explore collaborations with their counterparts from the -

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Ján Füry, Ambas-

Newmont Africa donated medical supplies and logistics to the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound at Old Abirem in the Birim North District. The items were procured from the prize money presented to George Agblevor, a Global Technical Training Specialist at the company’s Akyem mine, for emerging as a

nalist in the 2022 CEO Safety Leader Award.

sador of the Czech Republic in Ghana thanks all the participants for making time to attend the very important event, which seeks to take the cooperation between the two countries to another level especially for players within the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical sector. He went on to introduce His Excellency Vít Rakušan, the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

On his part, H.E Vít Rakušan reiterated the strategic bilateral relations between Ghana and the Czech Republic over the years and highlighted pragmatic steps being taken by the Czech Republic to ensure the relationship between the two countries is deepened through various collaborations.

“Ghana is very important to

the Czech Republic and we consider Ghana as a strategic partner across the West African sub region. Ghana is fast becoming a destination for Czech businesses and this is evident in our visit to Ghana and this morning’s event, which provides for a  face-to-face meeting between o cials of the Czech companies we have here and their Ghanaian partners. We are looking forward to some great partnerships from this event”, he emphasised.

The Chief Executive O cer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Yo Grant thanked the Czech Government for choosing Ghana as an investment destination in Africa. He highlighted Ghana’s strong democratic credentials, and conducive business atmosphere, which has made the

country a safe haven for investors.

He further assured the Czech delegation that Ghana is open to welcoming investors from the Czech Republic to invest and do business in Ghana. He added that the government of Ghana through the GIPC would continue to work closely with the Czech Republic through high-level political and business fora to promote trade and investment between the two countries.

O cials of the Czech Health Care and Pharmaceutical companies that participated in the seminar included Royax Group, Comedeq, Linet, MZ Liberec, MB Pharma, Draslovka and the Association of manufacturers and suppliers of medical devices.

Samsung Electronics has announced the newest edition of the popular Galaxy A series, giving consumers more options with yet another great device to stay connected and enjoy a remarkable mobile experience.

The new Galaxy A24 LTE comes packed with amazing features and a clear mission to rede ne awesome through a brilliant display, a brand-new design, and a camera that shoots sharp and steady. It tops it all o with a large storage capacity that allows you to safely keep your important documents, music, apps, downloads, and collection of all your life’s special moments captured in pictures and video.

The Galaxy A24 LTE boasts the latest software in Samsung’s One UI 5.1 to give you an even ner mobile experience that is one up on the Galaxy A23 LTE, which it replaces. All your apps and les will be safe and secure in the phone’s ample built-in memory of 4 or 6GB of memory and 128GB storage that is expandable by up to 1TB with MicroSD1.

The Galaxy A24 LTE looks the part too with Galaxy’s signature design language that is inspired by Samsung’s agship line. From the back

of the phone, the improved design sports a glossy nish and prism pattern back cover with a re ned and polished camera deck. The optimized ratio between the corner and the camera modules gives the phone a sophisticated look while the no-camera housing is straight out of the apex Galaxy S series design playbook.

The phone’s sleek and premium design is complemented by its exquisite at body pattern. Moreover, you can stand out with one of the phone’s three beautiful colours which include black, silver, and light green2.

Awesome Screen

The Galaxy A24 LTE’s super AMOLED 6.5-inch full high-de nition screen gives a brilliant, vivid display. With its eye care display3 and low blue light emission that’s always clear even under bright sunlight, scrolling through your phone, binging on your favourite shows, or playing games would be a pleasant experience that is comfortable on your eyes.

Awesome Camera Capture all your di erent vibes and gain awesome perspectives with the triple-lens camera that includes an excellent 13-megapixel (MP) sel e lens that will be sure

to deliver your pictures and videos in immaculate quality. The main super sharp and steady 50MP camera is supported by an ultra-wide 5MP and a macro 2MP lens to give you even more options and angles for your beautiful shots.

Awesome Battery

You’d be happy to learn that all these exciting features of the Galaxy A24 LTE will not quickly deplete your battery power and you’ll be able to enjoy them for much longer thanks to the powerful 5,000mAh battery which can last for more than two days on a single charge4.With video playback time up to 20 hours5, the battery can last long enough to keep you connected and should you need a quick recharge4, the 25W fast charger6 will handle things for you to pick up where you left o in no time. You can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes7.

The Galaxy A24 LTE will be available in retail stores from early May 2023 and customers will enjoy Samsung Care+ to protect their awesome new Galaxy – however, the device needs to be registered within 30 days of purchase to get cover for 1 x screen repair within a 12-month period9.

Ecobank’s ‘Double Salary Promo’ makes a return with exciting prizes

“All you need to do is have a salary account with Ecobank. This is specially designed for employers and employees to make payments and receive salaries easily and conveniently. The wonderful thing about this salary account is that it is very convenient and has more bene ts that give customers more value for their money. Simply open an account from the comfort of your home on our digital platforms or walk into any of our branches nationwide and stand a chance of participating in this exciting promotion and be part of our lucky winners,” he added. Dr. Botchway also warned customers to be careful and stay vigilant against the activities of fraudsters. He said, “I want to encourage you all to stay alert and be very vigilant. Do not be deceived by any fraudster.

kindly visit any of our 68 branches across the country, call us, or visit our website.”

A representative from the National Lottery Association (NLA), Bernard Boamah, thanked the Ecobank for its partnership with the Caritas platform. He said, “When companies like Ecobank use the Caritas platform from the NLA, we are able to generate proceeds for the Good Causes Foundation (GCF) which is used to develop various parts of the society. Therefore, indirectly with our partnership with Ecobank, we are touching lives across the country and we are grateful to them for their continued usage of the Caritas lottery platform. I encourage you all to be part of this so that you can enjoy all these wonderful life-changing rewards.”

Ecobank Ghana PLC has relaunched its Double Salary Promo to cushion workers in the di cult economic times. The promo, which rewards salaried workers with twice their monthly pay when they receive their salaries through the bank, is set to run for the next three months, ending in June.

Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway,

Executive Director and Head of Consumer Banking at Ecobank Ghana, o cially launched the promotion on behalf of the bank. Speaking at the event, he shared that the relaunch of the promo will come with more exciting prizes than the previous one. He said, “Last year we re-

warded over 4,000 of our cherished customers with exciting prizes in the rst edition of the double salary promo. This year we are putting more smiles on more faces with even more amazing rewards up for grabs. In this year’s promo, customers stand the chance to win double, triple, and even quadruple their salary back.”

Ecobank will not ask you for any personal details before you win any reward. We will also not require any form of payment before you receive your prize. The lucky winners will only see their cash rewards re ected in their bank account balance. Customers will only be contacted to be informed and congratulated on their prizes. Do not be deceived by anyone. If you are uncertain about anything

The Ecobank Double Salary Promotion was launched in January 2022 as a way of rewarding the bank’s existing and new customers for their loyalty. The rst edition of the promo saw 240 customers win double the value of their pay cheques in all three draws. Aside the double salaries, there are several consolation prizes to be won throughout the promotion.

USAID unlocks over US$204.47m financing to benefit 33,000 agribusinesses

Over $204.47 million has since 2021 been unlocked to support the operations over 33,000 agribusinesses in the value chains of maize, soy, groundnut, cowpea, cashew, mango, and shea.

The USAID-supported Feed the Future Ghana Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture (MFA) Activity facilitated the nancing to the bene ciary agribusinesses of which over half are women-led or women-owned.

The USAID Ghana Mission Director, Kimberly Rosen, disclosed this during the Women in Agribusiness Summit 2023 held in Accra under the theme “Empowering Women in Agriculture through Enhanced Access to Finance.”

“We believe in promoting gender equality and recognizing the unique role that women play in the agricultural industry. Women are the backbone of agriculture, and their contributions to food security and national development are invaluable. But we all know that there are still many challenges that women face, like lack of access to land, nancing, markets, agricultural technologies, and inputs,” Ms Rosen said.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, called on nancial institutions to join government’s e orts in supporting women in agribusiness with loans to purchase critical inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizer and processing equipment. She further entreated women in agribusiness sector to take advantage of government policies and programs through the Ghana Enter-

prises Agency and Micro nance and Small Loans Centre to access nance to grow their businesses.

The Minister also commended MFA for introducing innovative ways of nancing women’s agribusinesses to complement government’s efforts to empower more women to become business leaders and key industry players.

“I applaud MFA for providing business advisory services to women-led agribusinesses in their quest to access nancing. Your partnership with nancial institutions to develop nancing products which are tailored to women, reduce loan interest and to accept social guarantees instead of collateral is laudable,” she said.

The Senior Technical Advisor, Economic Growth at Palladium, Implementers of the USAID-supported Feed the Future Ghana Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture (MFA) Activity, Amanda Grevery, in the welcome address said “investing in women is not just critical for economic development and food security, it is good business. Agricultural enterprises with greater women’s leadership and participation are more stable, and less likely to default on their loans.”

Summit

The event among others showcased investment opportunities in female-led Ghanaian agribusinesses and connected the women entrepreneurs to investors for nancing. Participants included agribusinesses, transaction advisors, investors, nancial institutions, research institutions, civil society groups and trade associations.

Kimberly Rosen, USAID Ghana Mission Director

Huawei aims to use its “4T” technologies to enable an energy landscape transition

by power shortages and rising energy prices. Leo Chen indicated that in facing these challenges, Huawei as a leading ICT company, can be part of the solution. “With a heavy investment in R&D, we’ve developed the most comprehensive set of technologies in ICT, and this forms our unique advantage.”

He said that by integrating power electronic and digital technologies, Huawei’s ‘4T’ (WatT, HeaT, BatTery, and BiT) technologies, which refers to Huawei’s innovations in the eld of power electronics, thermal management, power storage, and Cloud and AI, can enable the traditional solar energy industry to be more ecient and more intelligent.

Huawei’s full-scenario smart PV solutions not only can provide solutions to utility-scale large plants, but also to energy storage facilities, commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftops, residential rooftops, data centres, and smart microgrids in rural areas. By doing this, more exible energy generation solutions that are close to the point of use can be applied and the transmission and distribution setup can be minimised, thus saving costs and losses. Through this approach, power consumers can be transformed into power producers, which helps to achieve better power resilience for users and the whole society.

Huawei has successfully held the FusionSolar Forum 2023 at the sidelines of the Africa Solar Show 2023 last week in Johannesburg.

Industry associations, sector organisations, industry lead-

ers and experts gathered to share industry trends and insights and presented innovative solutions and best practices which will contribute to the development of the industry on the continent.

Leo Chen, President of Huawei

Sub Saharan Africa, said that the quest for global carbon neutrality, energy security, and commercial value are driving the rapid development of a new international energy industry. The urgency of Africa’s own transition is being accelerated

“The application of our “4T” technologies, will also e ectively accelerate Africa’s energy transition toward the direction of ‘4D’, which is Decarbonisation, Digitalisation, Decentralisation, and Democratisation,” he said.

South Africa’s Electricity Minister Dr. Kgosientso Ramakgopa gave a keynote address at the forum, and commended Huawei for the role it is playing in infrastructure development in Africa and in greening South Africa’s energy systems. “Huawei is brining technological advancements and innovations that help us keep pace with the developed and industrialised countries in the global north,” he said.

Xi Jinping sends greetings to working people nationwide ahead of Intl Workers' Day

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday extended festive greetings and best wishes to the country's working people ahead of the International Workers' Day, which falls on May 1 annually.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent the greetings and wishes on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi called on the working people to foster an ethos of work, foster respect for model workers, and promote quality workmanship.

He encouraged them to work diligently and boldly engage in innovation to make solid progress in advancing Chinese modernization, and to play a leading role on the new journey to build China into a stronger country and realize national rejuvenation.

Xi also urged Party committees and governments at all levels to protect workers' legitimate rights and interests, earnestly help them solve their problems and di culties, and promote a social atmosphere in which work and the working people are treated with reverence and great respect

Global Chamber of Business Leaders acknowledges World Press Freedom Day and highlights alignment with SDGs

GCBL Director For Communications, Nicole S. Farrell, opined, "It serves no purpose for the Press to be muzzled. To some extent, they are supposed to be the 'voice of the people' or at the very least, disseminate information responsibly; encourage thought-provoking conversations and discussions; share content that bears purpose. However, they should bear the burden of being responsible in their reporting and being held accountable by cross-sections of the public.

As an experienced media practitioner, I understand the power that the Press can have. The Press can shape perceptions, in uence patterns and ignite action. What with the Cancel Culture being rampantly active though, this also creates a need for operating to the highest degrees of truthfulness, decency and impartiality.

hear, and read what determines our thoughts. Our decisions. Our view on the world and what is happening in the world. Or simply in our neighborhood.

To those ends, one has to understand Press freedom as Mr. Dejan Stancer often presents it, as a fundamental humanity, not merely a human right. At the same time all occupied in the Press sector should never forget that no matter who is responsible for their salary, they serve the public interest and should never ever be tempted to serve individual/owner’s interest. Nor be part of a con ict of interest whatsoever."

Censorship of a speci cally chronic nature can never augur well for any entity or organisation at any level. That signi cantly includes media houses, whether they are print-oriented or within the electronic media categories.

Things have certainly changed from the Baby Boomer era, and as the world recognises World Press Freedom Day, we must acknowledge the vast number of platforms and forums by which the Press gains access to the public to share on topics from current a airs to entertainment, etc. in this 2023.

The Chairman of GCBL and members of Strategic Communications Team of the GCBL shared their insights on the importance of the 'freedom of the Press' movement and how they've found it to align with or in uence topics and matters regarding various Sustainable Development Goals.

Chairman, Dejan Stancer, shared a holistic and in-depth thread of thoughts on the subject. "On behalf of the Global Chamber of Business Leaders, I congratulate all media workers around the world on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

For us at the GCBL, protecting

and promoting media freedom will always be of greatest priority, as well as raising concern whenever the same will be violated. Protecting and promoting media freedom requires a concerted e ort from governments, civil society, media outlets, and individual citizens. It is crucial that we work together in order to enjoy the privilege of having free media.

Unfortunately, media freedom is not always guaranteed, and many countries around the world struggle with censorship, restrictions on Press freedom, and harassment or imprisonment of journalists. Protecting and promoting media freedom is crucial for ensuring a free and open society.

Ensuring Legal Protection

Governments should enact laws that protect press freedom and ensure that journalists are not prosecuted for doing their jobs. These laws should also safeguard the con dentiality of journalists' sources and protect them from harassment, intimidation, or physical harm.

Therefore, media outlets should operate independently from political in uence or commercial interests. Journalists should be free to report on issues of public interest and express their opinions without fear of retaliation. Governments should also refrain from using public funds or advertising to in uence media coverage.

It is also crucial to increase transparency and to demand that governments should be transparent in their dealings with the media and provide access to information that is in the public interest. This includes providing timely and accurate information, allowing journalists to cover public events and meetings, and facilitating access to public records.

Citizens should also be educated about the importance of media freedom and how to distinguish between credible and fake news. Media literacy programs should be integrated into school curriculums to promote critical thinking and enhance public awareness of media ethics. Promoting media literacy is of vital need.

We have to support international e orts as well. International organizations, such as the United Nations, should continue to promote media freedom and hold governments accountable for their actions that undermine Press freedom. Countries should also co-operate with one another to promote the free ow of information across borders.

At the end of the day, by addressing media freedom through these strategies, we can protect the vital role of the media in our societies and ensure that citizens have access to reliable information to make informed decisions."

With speci c reference to the online media freedom surrounding the likes of podcasts, branding also becomes more critical as most cater more strategically for niche audiences. Many are more about sensationalism and creating controversy, and so, lines can become blurred as to what responsibility and the de nition of Press freedom looks like.

The media has been known to be a collective arena for education to be demonstrated as well. With the still relevant traditional media and the advent of online media, there has been various forms of educational content that were conceptualised and produced to appeal to wider audiences. The Sustainable Development Goal #4 refers to Quality Education, and it is hoped that media entities will become inclined or become further dedicated to embracing the notion of edifying and educating the masses without pushing selfish, in uenced and/or selected agendas."

Gregor Kos, Head of the O ce at GCBL, added, "We too often think of Press freedom as something alienated from us. Something not being part of us. Of something somewhere there. Not here. How wrong are we? Since the human is not only a social being, it is more and more information being (received) and what de nes one most is the level of information one receives. It is what we see,

Said Melvin Tarlue, GCBL's Senior Advisor for Media Relations, "It is imperative to have an increase in the number of countries, especially those in the developing world, promoting free speech by way of ensuring the protection/safety of journalists. Governments around the world must take steps to bring an end to impunity for attacks on journalists. It has to be pointed out that in Africa and other parts of the developing world, promoting a culture of free press can result in the promotion of economic development, less violent, stable and more democratic societies

It is worth noting that free press could be one of the tools used to achieve socio-economic development. Businesses that are keen on operating in a stable and democratic environment or nation in order to protect their investments, must take action(s) to help promote free speech. They (businesses) can do so through corporate social responsibility schemes by taking on individuals who abuse journalists in the line of their duties in Court. They can also provide nancial support to organizations that advocate for Press freedom and ght against abuse of journalists. Promoting free speech is critical in achieving the SDG 16, every nation and government must ensure the right to information is mandatory and enshrined in their constitution."

By and large, the media personnel around the world should be acknowledged and honoured for the fundamental role they play, especially when they operate with conscience, integrity and astute leadership.

All is set for Prophet P.B Appiah Adu Legacy Album launch on 7th May

The Christian music community in Ghana is lled with excitement as the launch of the Legacy Album by the esteemed song composer, Prophet P.B Appiah Adu, draws closer.

The grand launch event, dubbed the Atmosphere of Favor, promises to be a night of awe-inspiring worship and celebration.

Prophet P.B Appiah Adu is a

household name in the Ghanaian Christian music scene, with a remarkable repertoire of over 400 songs. He is known for his inspiring and uplifting compositions that have touched the hearts of many. The Legacy Album launch is a testament to his years of hard work and dedication to the craft.

The Atmosphere of Favor event is scheduled to take place on May 7th, 2023, at the Estees Bee Event Center in East Legon.

The four-hour event will kick o at 4 pm and end at 8 pm. Attendees can look forward to an unforgettable night of worship, praise, and celebration.

The event will feature performances from other renowned musicians such as Jacky, Moses OK, Perez Musik, Willie, Ko Karikari, and Author Ralphelle Antwi. Their captivating performances are expected to fur-

ther enhance the already electrifying atmosphere of worship and celebration.

One unique aspect of the event is the request for attendees to come along with 10 prayer requests. This is a call to action for everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to connect with God in a profound way.

The Atmosphere of Favor event is proudly brought to you by Rain Foundations, Spirit Wine

Vessels, and Predecessors Awards Worldwide.

The Atmosphere of Favor event promises to be an unforgettable night of worship, praise, and celebration. Attendees can look forward to a night of soul-stirring performances and an opportunity to connect with God in a profound way. Mark your calendars for May 7th, 2023, and join us for a night of awe-inspiring worship and celebration.

APN, SUCASA organize AfCFTA made-in-Africa grand sales conference

Together with an emerging Ghanaian real estate company, SUCASA, the Secretariat of the Accra-based AfCFTA Policy Network will hold the maiden edition of the AfCFTA Grand Sales conference from 30-31 May, 2023.

The objective of the two-day conference is largely to promote "Made in Africa" goods and services. It has a two-fold objective of seeking to promote English and

French-speaking member States party to the AfCfta  agreement, and encourage reporting from the private sector about the state of AfCFTA Trading.

Given Ghana's hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat, both SUCASA and APN have undertaken to use the conference to assess the extent to which Ghanaian companies –both SMEs and otherwise – are buying into the idea of a Continental

market under AfCFTA. Diculties around understanding AfCFTA prevail, and so APN will continue to use opportunities like this conference to educate the public about AfCFTA, the agreement; and the manifold opportunities that exist to take advantage of scaling up businesses.

Di culties with the economy notwithstanding, APN Secretariat believes there is

no time than now to ensure all actors in the AfCFTA ecosystem come on board to appreciate how far the AfCFTA journey has come.  The conference will be headlined by the Secretary-General of AfCFTA Secretariat, H E Wamkele Mene. Other companies expected to attend include Ghana Investment Promotion Company (GIPC); Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS); UNECA

Sub-regional o ce for West Africa; Association of Ghana In-

dustries (AGI); Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI); Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and Seeds Dubai.

Participation in the conference is free, but companies and SMEs interested in exhibiting should take advantage of the exciting promotion underway, where there is a 10% discount up until the end of the month on booths during the conference.