Investment Times Newspaper 2023 Edition | Issue 46

Page 1

UN

sinks US$517m into Ghana’s economic recovery

Did you know that data-driven organisations are three times more likely to report signi cant improvements in their decisions around innovation, growth, and competitive advan-

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 as gold. From a business perspective, the rich variety of data that enterprises generate contain valuable insights and data

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 Women’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.

2

2

Tax Shorts -Let's talk data analytics Gold

Kimberly Coleman nourishes appetites – The journey

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 inuence 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 affectionately 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 good food but

A N E W T HINKI N G Monday 08 May 2023 Issue No.46
3 2
in Sefwi-Esaase: A
joint venture state-of-the-artbringsmining equipment
Women should work addressing Hollard women 3
4
Rush
new
and sustainable practices to Western Region
Ghana reinforces ties with Japan
…sign more cooperation agreements
The power of entrepreneurs hip to inequalityreduce in Ghana
4

UN sinks US$517m into Ghana’s economic recovery

The UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Charles Abani, in his re marks said the process of develop ing this framework has been deeply participatory, inclusive and comprehensive, involving key gov ernment partners, the private

Tax Shorts -Let's talk data analytics

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

analytics is the way to unlock them.

Data analytics, if used properly, provides a competitive advantage by enabling organisations to identify new opportunities 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 signi cant value addition to our business since 2020. Data analytics is not only valuable while doing business, it can also be applied to personal nances.

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, espe-

Kimberly Coleman nourishes appetites – The journey

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 inuence, she remarks, "My grand-

mother'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),

cially 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.

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 lan-

Monday 08 May 2023 – Investment Times 2

guages 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.

Aspiration

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

Gold Rush in Sefwi-Esaase:

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.

A new joint venture brings state- of-the-art mining equipment and sustainable practices to Western Region

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 potential 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.

Types of Mining

The mining operation at the Sefwi-Esaase District will in-

volve 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 less expensive than deep rock mining, but it can be more damaging to the environment.

Environmental Control Systems

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.

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.

Impact on the Local Community

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 signi cant 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 opportunities 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.

Women should work smarter, says Tucci Ivowi, addressing Hollard women

The CEO and Founding Member of the Ghana Commodity Exchange, Tucci Ivowi, has charged female sta of the insurance group Hollard Ghana to stay focused to accomplish higher strides. According to her, women must become experts in their industry to advance to leadership positions. She urged them to

deliver results because smart leaders want intelligent individuals on their teams. She believes that to change the narrative, we must embrace equity and seize opportunities to nd more fair solutions.

She addressed the Hollard Women High Tea, which was themed "Embrace Equity" to commemorate IWD 2023 at Tri-

beca, a restaurant in Accra.  In her view, women should always work SMARTER. They ought to develop a work ethic that makes them Sincere, Motivated, Artistic, Resilient, Tough, Empathetic, and Respected. She underlined the need to adopt these professional principles to remain relevant and

Monday 08 May 2023 – Investment Times 3

advance to the next prospect.

In her presentation, Tucci said:

1.“Don't focus on the ladder, or you are likely to fall. Focus on achieving results, and that will elevate you”.

2.“Don’t let yourself down and blame others for not letting you reach your potential. Failure allows you to grow; embrace it”.

3.“Do not take an opportunity and squander it. This act affects women; do not let your gender down”.

4.“To remain relevant, never stop developing yourself”.

5.“Marry a friend and a partner. Someone supportive of your career advancements”. The speaker, Tucci Ivowi, was complimented by the host, Patience Akyianu, Group CEO of Hollard Ghana, for empowering Hollard women.

Sheila Wristberg, CEO of IRisk Management LTD, a guest, also, introduced Hollard

Women to ‘Women Leadership in Insurance Africa'. It is a community for women Sheila founded in the insurance industry that provides support, advice, skills, and mentorship to enable women to excel. The day ended with great bonding activities like singing and dancing, accompanied by good food and music. Participants also had the opportunity to network with the speaker and guests. The country’s favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market having previously operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance with the world-class expertise

of an international insurance brand in 18 countries across the world. With feet rmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customized to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard o ers various life and general insurance products including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more; and can be reached via the following means: 0501603967 (Hollard Insurance) and 0501533698 (Hollard Life). Beyond various nationwide o ce branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can nd Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs.

The power of entrepreneurship to reduce inequality in Ghana

In our experience, working with young African leaders and entrepreneurs for over a decade, we have learnt that with the right support and access to resources, young people have the potential to create jobs and income opportunities for themselves and others. We have debunked commonly accepted norms around entrepreneurship and job creation in Africa and modelled a perspective in the form of Very Young Entrepreneurs Scenario - demonstrating that accelerating employment creation through economic growth is achievable through higher levels of education and investment in entrepreneurs of all ages - especially those between the ages 15 and 22 . We have also theorised, based on research, country-speci c interventions that are applicable and contextually unique to local economies. In Ghana for example, using inferential descriptive analysis and an Exogenous Switching Treatment Regression (ESTER) model, we explored the impact of entrepreneurship on job creation for the youth and relevant industries capable to be mass jobs-generative.

Youth-owned companies in the country have demonstrated the unique capability to address socio-economic challenges and consumer needs while also responding to youth unemployment. Entities such as Ako Fresh, a food preservation company incorporated in Ghana by  22 year-old Mathias Charles Yabe, o er innovative  award-winning solar-powered cold storage and preservation services to help extend the shelf life of crops for up to 21 days in a bid to minimise post-harvest loss.

Having grown up in an environment prone to food insecurity and social injustice, Mathias established the company to not only mitigate these challenges but also to create jobs and income opportunities directly and indirectly. The company employs 20 people and serves an industry that employs thousands. And, combined with its ecommerce platform, the company plans to expand outside the borders of Ghana in the coming years. Amo Fresh is, currently conducting market assessment in Burkina Faso as its rst potential country to branch into.

Our research analysis on Ghana’s economic environment focuses on youth employment and was conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It discovered that most young people have focussed their interest towards businesses and innovative ideas at varying scales and in di erent sectors of the economy, ranging from agriculture and food processing to service provision.

Youth unemployment in Ghana has increased over the past two decades, despite the economic growth witnessed over the same period. The unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 years old in Ghana is estimated to be about 26%. Urban youth unemployment is particularly pronounced and severe, with rural-urban migration being a key factor.

To mitigate the crisis and its accordant non-desirable outcomes, including poverty and inequality, the government of Ghana, NGOs and development partners have made several e orts, most of

which are focused on promoting a shift from the conventional formal government provision of jobs, towards youth entrepreneurship.

The government introduced entrepreneurship studies across tertiary education institutions and  launched the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (NEIP) as well as an entrepreneurship module under the Ghana Youth Employment Program (YEP). This is some evidence of the government's commitment to youth entrepreneurship. It has contributed to an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs to thrive, although at a slow pace.

In agreement with Oxfam International’s recommendation, the quality of education in Ghana must improve in order to close widening inequality. And the introduction of entrepreneurship education in tertiary institutions is one right step in the right direction.

Over the last 20 years, Ghana has been somewhat successful in reducing poverty levels. Economic growth has been impressive, leading the country to become the second-largest economy in West Africa. However, increasing inequality is undermining strides in poverty reduction, holding back economic growth and threatening social stability.

We have a strong belief that entrepreneurship can certainly be a powerful tool to reduce high unemployment which in turn could decrease inequality levels. And, when combined with the right policies and innovation, entrepre-

neurship can have an impact on both joblessness and inequality.

It must be noted that the potential for entrepreneurship as a solution to ending unemployment is not instantaneous. The same is applicable to its potential  to reduce inequality. But, entrepreneurship in large industries such as in construction, transportation and utilities, nancial services, professional business sectors have the highest potential to absorb large populations of the unemployed and therefore to fasttrack the mandate to end unemployment.

Agriculture, energy and technology, if applied with strategic intent to be jobs-generative,have a simi-

lar potential to achieving this. In Ghana particularly, it is these sectors that could turn the situation into a positive one. This is what we understand from our research analysis of the country. Government and policymakers have a responsibility to fashion a path for this to become a reality. At the core of this are mechanisms and policies to e ectively ease the provision of funding resources and credit facilities, entrepreneurship training and education as well as new innovative knowledge-based economic practices. These are key entrepreneurial recipes to halt unemployment in Ghana and to reduce the widening gap among the rich and the poor.

Ghana reinforces ties with Japan …sign more cooperation agreements

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 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-afrmed.

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

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.

Speaking after a very productive bilateral session, President Akufo-Addo, said, birthed as far back as 1927 when Dr. Hideyo Noguchi ar-

rived 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 benetting from his country’s wealth of knowledge and ex-

perience 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

Monday 08 May 2023 – Investment Times 4

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. His-

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

Insurance, your essential lifeline

For religious people like myself, a higher being is our dependable lifeline in any situation. However, my strong belief does not limit my faith in insurance as an essential lifeline. Permit me to tell you more from the perspective of a Christian working in insurance.

Why is Insurance a LIFELINE?  Insurance is the only thing that promises and gives sure support outside the promise of God when the unexpected happens. While it does not promise a restoration of life when it is lost, it does promise bene ts to surviving children or family, support to the life when saved, and recovery of properties when lost. I believe that buying an insurance cover for yourself, your family, business, and or private properties is not the absence of faith in God but rather an exhibition of the wisdom of God that he gives liberally to all who ask.

The frailty of man necessitates the importance of making life decisions like taking an insurance cover to cushion us against the events that land us in a state of devastation. Family and friends may give us some sup-

port when the unforeseen happens, but for how long or to what extent? Well, we cannot tell.  Insurance, therefore, is the only thing that promises the extent of support to give when the unforeseen happens or when disasters strike, hence the surety to hang our hopes on and have that peace of mind.

What Areas Do I Need Insurance?

1.As a Person / Family  Life is full of risks and uncertainties. Hence, it would be best if you had insurance for yourself and the people you love against death, critical illness, permanent or temporary disability and loss of property through t res, oods, burglary, collapse, etc.

2.As a Business / Business Owner  The dream of every business owner is to see his investments do well. The main aim of any business is to be pro table as it grows. When an unfortunate incident happens, the future of the company gets shaken. Events like re outbreaks, oods, the collapse of a building, etc., can a ect business growth. You could also lose your business due to professional negligence leading to a lawsuit lia-

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.”

bility, burglary, accidents leading to loss of life of an employee(s) or disablement, etc. These losses can a ect the owners' nances, leaving them with debts. Insurance is vital because it helps you get back to where you were before the incident.

3.Insurance Policy Types

There are numerous insurance policies in the Life and Non-Life insurance space for personal and commercial purposes. They cover all insurance needs, be it life, funeral, education, motor, travel, re, burglary, marine, workers compensation, professional indemnity, contractors all risks, and engineering risks.

To nd out what type of insurance package you need, speak to an expert today for the right cover for yourself or your business.

Remember, insurance is an essential lifeline like a life jacket worn while on a ship; you may need it for that support one day when the unexpected happens. Get insured irrespective of your faith and the slight discomfort it may give you through premium payments because life is full of risks and uncertainties.

Hollard Insurance is Most Broker Friendly and Supportive Insurer.. 1st Runner-up at the IBAG Conference

Hollard Insurance has emerged the rst runner-up, Most Broker Friendly and Supportive Insurer as awarded by the Insurance Brokers Association of Ghana (IBAG) in Sunyani.

The Most Broker Friendly and Supportive Insurer Awards was the highlight of the 2023 IBAG Annual Conference & Exhibition held at Eusbett Hotel, Sunyani. Winners were recognised based on criteria such as turn-around time in reasonable quotes and terms; adequacy of commission paid; quality of underwriting and coverage granted; willing-

ness to make concessions in claims settlement and how corporative they are with brokers.

Speaking on the recognition, Managing Director of Hollard Insurance a subsidiary of Hollard Ghana, Daniel Boi Addo, expressed his appreciation to all brokers for the honour done to Hollard. He also thanked the Broker Team, headed by Maame Efua Sackitey-Williams, and all supporting teams for helping to build impactful relationships with brokers.

“At Hollard, we say ‘Long Live the Broker’ because we understand in a world of growing complexity, we need expert navigators who can point us in the right direction. We under-

stand the unique role of brokers in enabling more people to create and secure a better future and our partnership with them aims to deliver a triple win for all. Thus, a win for the customer, the broker, and us”.

Over 200 participants attended the conference. They included Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers, Insurance and Reinsurance companies, Insurance Regulator (NIC), and the press, among others.

The 2023 edition of the IBAG Educational Conference and Exhibition was organised to aid the continuing professional development that

presents delegates with an opportunity to network and build relations, learn, and share best practices, innovative ideas, and strategies for the progress of the insurance industry.

About Hollard Insurance

The country’s favourite insurer Hollard Insurance combines its deep local knowledge of the market with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand.

With feet rmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customized to the

unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard was previously Metropolitan Insurance which operated in Ghana for over 25 years. Hollard o ers various general insurance products including personal accident, motor, business, home, and more; and can be reached via the following means: 0501603967 (Hollard Insurance). Beyond various nationwide o ce branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can nd Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh and www.jumia.com.gh or through their brokers for all their insurance needs.

Monday 08 May 2023 – Investment Times 5

UENR Valedictorian receives the Hollard prize at graduation ceremony

Insurance group Hollard Ghana has rewarded the overall best-graduating student, Seidu Joshua Adams from the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), with the Hollard Prize at the school’s just-ended 7th congregation in Sunyani.

Seidu Joshua Adams, the recipient of the prize, received a laptop, a cash prize, and a citation from Hollard for graduating with a GPA of 3.78 in Actuarial Science from the Department of Mathematics.

The Hollard Prize is awarded under the school’s Hollard X Academia partnership with the insurance group to enable the better futures of students by supporting their career development.

The Presentation Reese Mensah-Daniels, Head, Regional Operations and Regional Markets, gave the presentation with assistance from Eric Adu-Gyam , Manager of the Hollard Insurance Sunyani branch, and Prof. Samuel Fosu Gyasi, Dean of the School of Sci-

ences.

Speaking on the Hollard Prize, which is awarded to valedictorians in Hollard x Academia partner schools, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, Group Head of Marketing and Corporate A airs, said the scheme aligns to the insurance giant’s purpose to enable more people to create and secure a better future, starting with young people.

"We are super proud of Joshua for chalking this great

feat. We share in his joy at emerging the best student in his year group after steady academic progress. With the Hollard Prize, we reward top-performing students like Joshua because it’s important to show that hard work pays.”

"Hollard is a caring socially conscious company that believes in enabling our community to create a better future for all. Given the importance of universities in building our human resource capacity, including future insurers, we nd

it crucial to support their work,” she added.

The University of Energy and Natural Resources is one of four schools bene ting from the Hollard X Academia scheme. The comprehensive programme provides a platform to enable the better future of students through Hollard’s Streetwise Finance initiative, mentoring, corporate engagement, and experience opportunities, as well as resource-sharing programmes for three years, subject to renewal.

PUBLISHED BY INVESTMENTTIMES EDITOR:
PHONE +233 54 551 6133 MAIL info@investmentimesonline.com ADDRESS Plot 91 Baatsona | Spintex - Accra Monday 08 May 2023 – Investment Times A N E W T HINKI N G
BENSON AFFUL

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.