Investment Times Newspaper 2023 Edition | Issue 42

Sophia Ackuaku wins African Iconic Female Parliamentarian Award

Oil revenue watchdog Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) says there is the need for the government to attract investors in the upstream petroleum sector to reverse the steady decline in oil production in the country. The committee in its latest annual report urged government to speed up the sustainable development of the country’s petroleum resources as well as to ensure early completion of ongoing project as the country’s crude oil production has been declining for three consecutive years.

PIAC, which has been monitoring government in the last decade over how it spends the country oil revenue disclosed in its 2022 annual report that a volume of 71,439,585 barrels was produced in 2019, but declined to 66,926,806 barrels in 2020, representing 6.32 percent. It further declined to 55,050,391 barrels in 2021 (17.75%) and then to 51,756,481 barrels in 2022 (5.98%).

The average decline over the three-year period stood at 10 percent, PIAC said.

By Benson Afful

Oil production steady decline threatens free SHS funding

Energy analysts have expressed worry over this development as they believe the decline in oil production might a ect the and fund-

Huawei aims to spend US$

by 2026 on global digital transformation

Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, believes deepening digitalization is the way to go and expects to spend US$3.4trillion by 2026 on global digital transformation.

According to Meng Wanzhou, Vice Chairwoman, Rotating Chairwoman, and CFO at Huawei underscored the importance of digitalization being the

new blue ocean for the entire ICT value chain.

Speaking at Huawei’s Global Analyst Summit (HAS) on Wednesday in Shenzhen, China Meng said:

"Digitalisation is a blue ocean for the whole industry," she said.

"Huawei will keep investing in domains like connectivity, computing, storage, and cloud.

The world is embracing this opportunity, with more than 170

By Eugene Davis

countries and regions developing their own digital strategies.

By 2026, Huawei expects that spending on global digital transformation will reach US$3.4 trillion”

Huawei is enabling productivity and e ciency improvements across industries such as mining, healthcare, ports, transportation and many others. It has built in-depth partnerships with nearly 200

with GRA board on revenue mobilisation

The Future of Work Capsules: It’s the era of skillss

By Prince Kojo Tabiri ESQ

By Benson Afful

ing and development of several government projects and programmes.

For instance, government agship programme Free Senior High School is heavily reliant on oil revenue and the continuous decline of oil production might a ect government’s spending on the programme. President Akufo-Addo during the launch of the policy in September 2017 said his government will invest revenues from oil into one of the most ambitious social pro-

grammes in the country’s history. According to him, Free SHS is ensuring that the country’s oil revenues are being equitably distributed to the people—and not ending up in the pockets of a few.

It is estimated that half of oil revenue goes into funding free SHS, for example in 2020 about 53percent of funding allocated for the policy was from petroleum revenue. However, analysts believe that government should diversi ed funding sources of the program to ensure its nancial sustainability.

The average decline over the three-year period stood at 10 percent

power enterprises worldwide and provided digital services for more than 20 leading oil and gas enter prises and 800 mining enterprises

Digital Infrastructure

The company says it is building the digital infrastructure that will support these increasingly diverse and complex industrial scenarios. These networks require ultra-reliable and fast connections between people and intelligent objects, and between home and factories. Huawei is leading the development of the next generation 5.5G infrastructure, developing the technology and networks that will support over 100 billion connections and deliver a 10-gigabit user experience.

Ms. Meng outlined the four distinct characteristics of digital infrastructure that Huawei is delivering to help customers go digital; “We aim to provide our customers with digital infrastructure that has the simplest possible architecture and the highest possible quality, delivering the best possible experience at the lowest possible costs.”

“Our goal is to help organizations go digital in four stages: digitizing operations, building digital plat-

citing digital future."

Driven by strategy, not technology

Meng went on to share three major takeaways from Huawei's nearly 10 years of digital transformation experience. "First, strategy is essential. At its essence, digital transformation is about strategic planning and strategic choices. Any successful digital transformation has to be driven by strategy, not technology."

"Second, data is the foundation," she continued. "Data only creates value when it ows across an organization, so methodical data governance is key. Integrating data across di erent dimensions will create even greater value."

"Third, intelligence is the destination. Data is rede ning productivity. Digitizing operations and building digital platforms helps clean, visualize, and aggregate data, laying the foundation for digital transformation. Putting intelligence to use makes data on-demand, easier to understand, and actionable, taking digital

help realize its strategic vision and prede ned business goals. “She went on to say that “during the digitalization process, organizations will inevitably start incorporating new tools and technologies into their business, but these are only a means to an end.” Putting intelligence to use on data makes it easier to understand, and actionable. This drives transformative management and production capabilities.

Digital transformation is not a one size ts all solution. Huawei is developing application scenarios to make digital technology the source of new productivity by helping industry nd the right technical solution for the right scenario.

Huawei and its partners have developed and released over 100 digital transformation standards for the smart city, nance, electric power, highway, aviation, and healthcare industries. By the end of 2022, over 700 cities and 267 Fortune Global 500 companies

worldwide had chosen Huawei as their partner for digital transforma-

In terms of industry, Huawei has served more than 2,800 medical institutions and 50 of the top 100 nancial institutions. In addition, Huawei’s solutions serve more than 100 airports and 100 ports, and have helped customers upgrade more than 200,000 km of roads, 300 urban rail tracks, and 150,000 km of railway tracks

We are also working hard to cultivate the broader digital talent ecosystem. Through initiatives like our ICT academies, competitions, and the Seeds for the Future Program 2.0, we provide case studies for schools, give students hands-on digitalization experience, and help the industry grow the digital talent pool.

“Digital technology is rede ning productivity, driving a shift from quantity to quality, gradually becoming the key engine for socioeconomic development. The time is right to thrive with digital.”

The President of the Institute of Strategic Research Huawei, Dr. Zhou Hong on his part indicated that Articial Intelligence (AI) should be de-

By Eugene Davis

veloped based on the needs of people.

The goals of AI must be de ned and aligned

He added “As AI's capabilities are improving rapidly, we need to consider how to make sure the development of AI is what people want and ensure AI execution is accurate and e cient. We must create rules and laws to enhance AI ethics and governance.” He believes from a theoretical and technical perspective, these goals present three major challenges: AI goal de nition, accuracy and adaptability, and e ciency.

“If we don't have an agreed-upon de nition, it's almost impossible to ensure that the goals of AI and human beings will be aligned. It also makes it di cult to make reasonable classi cations and computations” Dr Zhou explained.

He mentioned that there are many schools of AI, including symbolism, Bayesianism, evolutionism, behaviorism, and connectionism but they have not been e ectively integrated which may explain why there are no commonly agreed upon goals for AI.

Sophia Ackuaku wins African Iconic

Female Parliamentarian Award

The member of Parliament for the Obom Domeabra constituency in the Greater Accra region, Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku has been adjudged winner of the Africa Iconic Female Parliamentarian of the year award for 2023.

She emerged as winner of the coveted Africa Iconic Female Parliamentarian of the year category among several other women from the continent in the African Iconic Women Recognition award AIWRA 2023 after going through vigorous democratic process of nomination,

screening and voting.

Ms Sophia Karen Ackuaku who made the shortlist of ve remaining nominees beat o the completion from four other female lawmaker nominees, two from Nigeria, one each from Kenya and South Africa respectively to emerge victorious.

Votes

Hon Sophia Ackuaku pulled 329 votes out of a total 694 representing 47% of the total public votes cast against Senator Uche Ekwenife of Nigeria who pulled

163 votes representing 23%, Hon Nkeiruka Nyejeocha also of Nigeria who got 162 votes (23%) , Hon Busia Ruth Odinga of Kenya who had 20 votes (3%) and Rt. Hon Ms Mapisa Nqakula of South Africa who also had 20 votes representing 3%.

The award

The Africa Iconic Female Parliamentarian of the year is awarded to a female parliamentarian in Africa, a woman in leadership who has initiated all manner of innovations to ensure improvement in

the economy of her country and Africa as a whole.

The award vetting panel has a mandate to ensures that recipients of the award is that woman that has lived traits of kindness and commitment of service to people, exhibits constant desire to improve quality of life in society and create opportunities for future generations through the positions she held.

Appreciation

An elated Sophia Ackuaku in an acceptance video expressed gratitude to the organisers for the award

which she noted will motivate her to do more for the development of Ghana and Africa as a whole in transforming lives.

The MP who is a social worker, a philanthropist and a politician said she is a rm believer in investing in people as a virtue that is important than anything else. She dedicates the award to former President John Dramani Mahama and his spouse Lordina Mahama, Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Kingsford Bagbin who gave her the opportunity to shine, her constitu-

Huawei aims to spend US$3.4tn by 2026 on digitalglobal transformation

ents, her children and family, Dr Fazam and the Future Trends Collective Rights of Africa fraternity, OLA Girls, Mrs Kwakye and family, Ghanaian children, and her colleagues MPs and sta of parliament, all Ghanaian women and the voting public who voted for her among the several nalists.

Hon Sophia Ackuaku is expected to formally receive the award on June 1, during at the awards event to be held at Abuja, Nigeria.

Hon Sophia Ackuaku is a product of OLA Girls, Accra Workers College, School of Social Works, Ghana Institute of Journalism, Nalitary Institute, University of USA, and Ko Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre and holds an honorary doctorate degree from the Charisma University in the USA. She is the founder of Womanhood Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation, as a vehicle for empowering young women and the youth in genSophia Ackuaku is a member of the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Association of African Women Entrepreneurs and Nation-

al Association of Women Entrepreneurs and serves as the focal o cer for these international bodies in Ghana.

She is also the ambassador for Future Trends Collective Rights of Africa in Ghana. The Obom Domeabra lawmaker is the owner and Chief Executive Ocer of a cosmetic empire, Eligreen Enterprise Ltd that deals in shea butter-based products, providing jobs for women especially in northern Ghana and also owns two other companies, Amosos Ghana ltd and Donkomi.

The MP previously worked as deputy director in-charge of operations at the National Service Secretariat during the era of former President John Dramani Mahama. Due to her quest of championing development of deprived communities, Hon Sophia Ackuaku has been installed Queen mother for two traditional areas, Adenkrebi in the Greater Accra and Anyarko in the Volta regions where she masterminded several community development projects.

Sophia Karen Ackuaku is a versatile politician who easily adapts to any

new environment she nds herself.

She rst served as the parliamentary candidate for the National Democratic (NDC) in the Dome/Kwabenya constituency but was unsuccessful and subsequently contested on the ticket of the party for the Obom Domeabra constituency also in the Greater Accra region and won the 2016 polls and was re-elected in the 2020 elections for a second term.

Hon Sophia is on verge of making history as she moves from the Obom Domeabra constituency and is seeking to secure the parliamentary candidate ticket of the NDC to contest the Ayawaso Central constituency in the capital for a third term bid to the lawmaking house. She is a mother of three biological sons (boys), Ransford, Richmond and Raymond as well four adopted children.

AIWRA is a prestigious annual international Democracy Heroes Awards event organize by FDN Projects (Friends of Democracy Nigeria Projects) to strictly celebrate women of notes who have consistently and committed to the development of Africa through various women and youth development initiatives.

The Future of Work Capsules: It’s the era of skills

By Baptista Sarah Gebu (Mrs.)

ly. Soft skills, on the other ties that help employees really

Flexible working is the next battleground for talents. It is solates to working arrangementstions o ered to employees in terms of working time, working location and the pattern of

Skills are the talent needed in order to do a job or a task. Job skills allow you to do a particular job whiles life skills help you through everyday tasks. Almost any skill can be learned or improved. Skills, be it technological and or “human” skills – are quickly becoming the new professional currency, a benchmark for evaluating the workforce. What skills set do you possess?

we can work within the same job. To prepare for the future of work and the challenges and opportunities it presents, grab copies of my new book - also good as your Eld-ul-Fitr gift item as we celebrate the Eid for 2023. The E-book (soft copies) also available on Amazon and other portals at @Sarahtistagh.

! changing. It’s the era of Skills. Many are experiencing the signi cant changes of technologiHard skills denote the job-related knowledge and abilities

It’s the era of skills and not paper certi cates. Possessing the right skills will o er you great competitive advantage.lem-solving, entrepreneurship,tence and other 21st century skills and competences areportant. Critical thinking and problem –solving tops the lists of skills (World Economic @MP Robotics Scrimmage

In order to keep up, adapt, and work e ectively, a growth mindset and the ability to continually learn to innovate and invent is recommended. Learn to upskill and reskill. To upskill is to provide training that enhances one's existing skill set, allowing us to grow in our current role whiles, reskilling is the process of learning or training someone on new skills that will help them do a different job. To reskill is essentially to retrain an employee for a new position. The di erence between reskilling and up-skilling is this; when we reskill we learn new skills so you can do a di erent job, or to be able to train people to do a di erent job. Whereas to upskill, we focus more on improving our skills so

Baptista is the author of the New Book: “Prepare for the Future of Work” and the CEO of FoReal HR Services. Building a team of ecient & e ective workforce is her business. A ecting lives is her calling! She is a Hybrid Professional, HR Generalist, public speaker, researcher and a prolific writer. You can reach her via e-mail on forealhrservices@gmail.com You can follow this conversation on our social media pages; @Sarahtistagh. Facebook / LinkedIn/ Twitter / Instagram: FoReal HR Services. Call or WhatsApp: +233(0)262213313. Follow the hashtag #theFutureofWorkCapsules #FoWC

SML Ghana holds stakeholder engagement with GRA board on revenue mobilisation

ing nominees beat o the completion from four other female lawmaker nominees, two from Nigeria, one each from Kenya and South Africa respectively to emerge victorious.

Hon Sophia Ackuaku pulled 329 votes out of a total 694 representing 47% of the total public votes cast against Senator Uche Ekwenife of Nigeria who pulled 163 votes representing 23%, Hon Nkeiruka Nyejeocha also of Nigeria who got 162 votes (23%) , Hon Busia Ruth Odinga of Kenya who had 20 votes (3%) and Rt.

Hon Ms Mapisa Nqakula of South Africa who also had 20 votes representing 3%.

The award

The Africa Iconic Female Parliamentarian of the year is awarded to a female parliamentarian in Africa, a woman in leadership who has initiated all manner of innovations to ensure improvement in the economy of her country and Africa as a whole. The award vetting panel has a mandate to ensures that recipients of the

award is that woman that has lived traits of kindness and commitment of service to people, exhibits constant desire to improve quality of life in society and create opportunities for future generations through the positions she held.

Appreciation

An elated Sophia Ackuaku in an acceptance video expressed gratitude to the organisers for the award which she noted will motivate her to do more for the development of Ghana and Africa as a whole in transforming lives.

The MP who is a social worker, a philanthropist and a politician said she is a rm believer in investing in people as a virtue that is important than anything else.

She dedicates the award to former President John Dramani Mahama and his spouse Lordina Mahama, Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Kingsford Bagbin who gave her the opportunity to shine, her constitu

Female Parliamentarian of the the continent in the African Iconic made the shortlist of ve remain-

Request for Expressions of Interest – Blockwork Building Construction (For Firms Strictly Incorporated in Ghana with Exclusive Ghanaian Directors and Shareholders)

Newmont Africa (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation (the world's largest gold mining company) and operator of the Ahafo South and Akyem mines, is requesting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from eligible, capable, and suitably qualified companies for the provision of Blockwork Building Construction Services for its Ahafo North Project The Project is located in the Ahafo Region of Ghana, near Afrisipakrom, approximately 20km south-east of Sunyani.

General

The scope of the services includes the detail design (shop/construction drawings), supply and construction of blockwork buildings for various permanent facilities This involves the construction of eleven (11) blockwork buildings which consist of approximately 12 000 m2 of total building floor area with 1,500 m3 of concrete slabs and nearly 15,000 m 2 of block wall over a 15-month period Specifically, it would cover the following:

 Surveying and setting out of the works

 Materials testing and quality control services.

 Detailed excavation, backfilling and compaction for the construction of reinforced concrete footings, slabs, and underground services.

 Supply and installation of all concrete works, including formwork and falsework, as well as all reinforcement of steel and wire mesh, including cutting, bending, and fixing.

 Supply and construction of blocks and mortar for the blockwork buildings.

 Supply and installation of termite treatment within the building areas

 Supply and installation of all external building components including steel roof trusses, frames, roof sheeting, verandas, gutters, downpipes, lintels, flashings, ridge capping, eaves, vents, windows, doors, rendering and painting

 Supply and installation of all internal building components, including ceilings, insulation, wall and floor tiling, waterproofing of wet areas and all associated fixtures and fittings.

 Supply and installation of furniture and equipment within the buildings.

 Installation of electrical, communications and air conditioning systems.

 Supply and installation of piping and plumbing systems, including the supply and installation of stormwater drains.

 Testing and commissioning for full and complete performance of each building.

Minimum Criteria

Interested organizations must demonstrate that they can meet the following minimum criteria:

 Company is incorporated in Ghana with exclusive Ghanaian shareholders and directors. We require all appropriate company documentation as well as copies of identification of the shareholders and directors to meet this requirement

 Company is registered with the relevant regulatory and professional bodies. This includes but is not limited to the Ghana Minerals Commission. We require all appropriate company documentation to meet this requirement

 Capability and proven records of successfully providing similar blockwork construction within the mining or related industries. We require an experience statement with verifiable references for the last three projects to support this capability. References provided must include customer organization name, customer name/contract number, date contract was awarded, contract reference with brief description, country/location, value of contract, and date contract was completed.

 Details that demonstrate the company has current capacity and capability to perform the construction in addition to other current projects and any projects tendered but yet to be awarded. Information to include details of current projects, projects tendered, labour, equipment and temporary facilities resources available within the company.

 Financial strength and ability to provide uninterrupted supply and construction services for a minimum of two years. We require supporting documentation to demonstrate this capability including the company’s turnover in the last two years, pre-tax profit (or loss) for the past two years, net worth / shareholders’ funds (or net liabilities) at the date of the latest accounts , the present cash/credit position, and the company’s normal means of funding major contract works.

 Full compliance with all applicable health safety, environmental, and any other relevant and/or applicable standards. We require health and safety management plan, and an environmental management plan to support this capability.

 Provide safety and environmental performance records for the past five years , indicating workplace injury, disease, and environmental incident statistics. Details must include year, period of record, hours worked, fatalities, first aid injuries, medically treated injuries, restricted work injuries, days lost and lost time injury rate per 200,000 man-hours worked

 Robust quality management system (Quality Assurance/Quality Control – QA/QC) to effectively execute the blockwork building construction services.

 Well defined company structure and verifiable evidence of competency of employees. Please express your interest by submitting an e-mail to AhafoNorthTenderBox@Newmont.com indicating the name of your company, contact person , and telephone details. You should also include all the requisite documents demonstrating your ability to comply with the above minimum criteria. All expressions of interest should be accompanied by a formal letter on the interested service provider’s letterhead (submitted to the above e -mail address), with subject “AHN_RFI-1801-2023 – Blockwork Building Construction Services ” by close of business (5:00 p.m. GMT) on Friday, 28th April, 2023

Africa’s

(For Firms Strictly Incorporated in Ghana with Exclusive Ghanaian Directors and Shareholders)

Propak Ghana receives industry backing and endorsements from market-leading partners

take place at the Grand Arena, ICC, from June 6–8, 2023.

Commenting on the endorsement, Jamie Pearson, Marketing Director of Afrocet Montgomery said "AGI has fully endorsed the event and will be present for the opening ceremony. The Ghana Export Promo-

con rmed from the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), the Institute of Packaging Ghana (IOPG), and the Ghana Printers and Papers Converters Association (GPPCA), among many others.

my, sustainability, and nancing op tions for SME and multinational companies, among others. In total, more than 40 speakers are expected, and the full three-day program will be announced in the coming weeks”. According to the Organisers of the

Local companies including Jaykay Group, Docutech, Kane-Em Industries, ePac Flexible Packaging, Finepack, and Sai Commodities, among others, already booked and ready to showcase their products to the target audience that will be in attendance. From the perspec-

tive of an international audience, Expo Austria and EECA Egypt have con rmed pavilions, and there will be group delegations from China, India, and South Africa among a resented, with many more in the

ready booked, don’t delay and get in touch with the organisers today to nd out how you could showcase your business at the newest platform for the industry. Contact the team today or stay up to date with all the latest developments about the event and sign up for the newsletter today.

Understanding Ghana’s Growth and Sustainability Levy Act of 2023 (ACT 1095)

You don't pay taxes - they take taxes" – Chris Rock.

The Parliament of Ghana on the night of 31st March 2023 passed the Growth & Sustainability Levy bill, into law replacing the National Fiscal Stabilisation Levy Act, 2013 (Act 862). Many Ghanaians woke up to the news on April Fools’ Day. In fact, three new tax laws were passed that very night by Parliament.

The object of the Growth & Sustainability Levy Act 2023 (ACT 1095) is to raise revenue for the growth and scal sustainability of the economy and the Levy is payable in respect of pro ts before tax or production for the 2023 to 2025 years of tax assessment. It is worth noting that the levy is subject to review by the nance minister in 2025.

The government has estimated revenue of approximately Two billion, Two hundred and Sixteen Million Ghana Cedis (GHc2,216,000.00) from the levy for the year 2023 alone.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic as well as the Russia-Ukraine war led to a signi cant reduction in revenues and increased the government’s expenditure enormously. This resulted in unprecedented global crises, depreciation in currencies, and impacted living conditions.

The government by way of maximizing revenue for a sustainable economy has imposed numerous tax policies since the year 2021 and the latest addition being the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act of 2023 replacing the National Fiscal Stabilization Levy (NFSL) Act. The NFSL was a special levy on speci ed companies and institutions to raise revenue for scal stabilization of the economy and to provide for related matters.

Other additional tax laws passed by Parliament include the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act, which will impose a 20 percent tax on cigarettes and e-smoking devices, beverages, spirits, and wines, which is projected to rake in about GH¢400 million annually, and the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2023, which will also generate about GH¢1.2 billion.

The government insists these three new tax laws are essential to its quest to secure the $3 billion bailout it is seeking from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Growth and Sustainability Levy Act in focus

The Act imposes a Growth and Sustainability Levy of the percentage of the pro t before tax or the gross production of certain companies and institutions speci ed in the Schedule to the Act.

It imposes a Five percent (5%) of pro t before tax levy rate on institutions under Category A including Banks, Non-Bank Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies, Telecommunication companies, Breweries, Oil Marketing Companies, Shipping Companies, and Electronic Money Issuers.

Category B institutions such as Mining Companies and Upstream oil and gas companies are to be charged One Percent (1%) of the gross production as tax.

Lastly, all other companies outside the two stated categories are to pay a levy of Two points Five Percent (2.5%) of their Pro t before

tax.

It is to be however noted that, the Levy payable under this Act is not an allowable deduction for the purpose of ascertaining the chargeable income of a person (natural or articial) under the Income Tax Act, 2015. Pro t taxes or other similar taxes are not deductible in determining the taxable income of corporate institutions.

The levy assessed for a year of assessment is payable quarterly and is due on the last day of the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth months of a calendar year.

The levy is to be collected by the Ghana Revenue Authority and paid into the Consolidated Fund per section 8 of the Act.

The Minister for Finance is empowered by the Act to make regulations to amend the schedule to the Act to revise the rate of the levy, categories of companies liable to pay and the companies liable to pay the levy.

Conclusion Why are there taxes? The straightforward response is that, until someone

comes up with a better solution, taxing is the only realistic way to raise money to pay for government expenditure on the products and services that the majority of us need.

A ne is a tax for doing something wrong but a tax is a ne for doing something right. Finding creative ways to create income and foster growth will continue to be a primary goal of the government as the nation navigates these di cult times.

Imposing new taxes like the Growth and Sustainability Levy may impact the economy favorably or unfavorably. While it may bring in much-needed revenue for the government to ll budget gaps and satisfy requirements for loans or bailouts, it can also burden businesses and possibly cause their collapse.

THE WRITER IS A BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR OF THE SUPREME COURT OF GHANA AND A MEMBER OF ZOE, AKYEA & CO LAW FIRM, LABONE - ACCRA.

Huawei and partners hold TECH4ALL media roundtable on Day 1 of MWC Barcelona 2023

The Member of Parliament for the Keta constituency in the Volta region, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey has once again appealed to government for the commencement of work on the phase two of the Keta Sea defense project as permanent solution to the perennial ooding of communities along the coast as a result of tidal waves.

According to the lawmaker, several appeals to central government to commence work on the Blekusu stretch of the sea defense project has proven futile leaving the

people at the mercy of the tidal waves annually with devastating e ects to lives and properties.

Mr Kwame Gapkey’s renewed appeal follows the ooding of households in several communities in the Keta constituency. The phenomenon of Keta and its adjourning communities being hit by tidal waves with its attendant negative impacts on livelihoods have become a norm in recent times due to the increasing eating up of habitable lands by the sea. Communities such as Keta cen-

tral, Kedzikofe, Agbotsakofe, Dzelukofe, Nugbesekofe, Tetelikofe among others are currently immersed in water and properties such roads, roo ngs of buildings as well as tourist sites including emancipation beach and parts of Aglor Lodge have all been damaged as a result of the tidal waves.

Speaking in an interview with TV3 News about the disaster, Hon Kwame Gakpey expressed disquiet about the regular kneejerk approach by government to nding a permanent solution to the problem

which kept recurring. He indicated that the time has come for government to act quickly by resuming work on the sea defense project once and for all.

Mr Gakpey noted that despite a pledge by the minister for Works and Housing to parliament following a question he posed that some GHc 10 million has been allocated for feasibility studies for the project and a follow-up visit by the minister to the community, nothing has been done since.

The MP also appealed to benevo-

Sea defense project is permanent solution to tidal wave menace - Keta MP Jospong Group supports National Chief Imam to observe Eid-ul-Fitr

lent institutions including corporate bodies and NGOs to come to the aid of the people even as he urged the National Disaster Management Organisation to act as a matter of urgency to brief relief to the residents.

In April last year, Keta and its neighboring communities especially Agavedzi were hard hit by tidal waves disaster destroying several properties including close to 100 houses and curtailed economic activities of residents for several days.

The Jospong Group of Companies has donated 100 bags of rice, boxes of oil and an undisclosed amount of money to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu.

The donation which is done annually by the company is meant to support the Chief Imam to put a smile on his family and the Muslim Ummah around him during the Eid-ul-Fitr to climax the 30 days of Ramadan.

The acting Director of Communication and Corporate A airs for the Group, Mr. Daniel Ohene Obeng, presented the items to

the National Chief Imam at his residence in Accra on Friday April 21, 2023.

He said Jospong Group and the entire nation were appreciative of the e orts of Sheikh Dr. Sharubutu in handling national issues and Ramadan (fasting) was an important religious duty on Muslims which must be climaxed with peace and happiness.

“In this regard, Dr. Siaw-Agyepong and the entire Jospong Group are giving the items as their token to the National Chief Imam to celebrate with his family and the people around him”.

He also used the opportunity to wish the national Chief Imam, who will be 104 years old on Sunday April 23, happy birthday in advance.

Sheikh Dr. Sharubutu expressed gratitude to the Company and it's Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyepong for the gesture and prayed for God's elevation and protection for the company and its Executive Chairman.

"May God honour him and his steps and may He continue to pour His blessings on him" the national Chief Imam prayed.

Sheikh Dr. Sharubutu also prayed for Ghana and asked for God's protection on the land.

He made a special mention of Bawku and prayed for peace in the town and other neighbouring countries.

He was grateful to God for the peace and harmony that Ghana enjoys as di erent religious bodies are able to live in peace and in unity.

He noted that religious diversity is not for war because they all originated from a common source; God.

He said putting a smile on another

person’s face was a blessing, adding, “if you put a smile on another person’s face, you will never lack from God.”

Sheikh Sharubutu noted that the donation would support their e orts at sharing with the vulnerable and needy families and thanked the company and its Executive Chairman Dr. Siaw-Agyepong and the entire Jospong Group for the gesture.

Ramadan is a month of sharing, and also instills discipline on the Muslim Ummah.

Asian African Consortium, University of Cape Coast sign MoU to support rice production

and self-su cient and also can create jobs for others.

“We also focus on empowering our students with competences to succeed in life” he added.

He lamented that with Ghana’s abundant resources and arable land, it still imports food, which it can produce locally.

“It is very sad that Ghanaians have to import from other countries to feed ourselves yet there are countries with no arable lands who have found ways to produce food locally and even export” he lamented. He therefore stressed that the University is fully behind the project, noting that the University in its small way of complementing efforts to curb importation has acquired a 450 acre of land for agricultural purposes.

form” he reminded the academia.

Background

Last year, Asian African Consortium entered partnership with major rice industry players in Thailand and Ghana to develop an integrated rice farming project. This move by Jospong Group stemmed from the government’s decision to boost the economy through import substitution.

A core team later visited Thailand for the Ghana-Thailand Business conference in March 2023 with researchers from various universities in Ghana as well as major players in the rice industry.

The Asian African Consortium (AAC), a subsidiary of Jospong Group of Companies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to undertake research to boost rice, maize and soya production in the country.

The objectives of this partnership are to identify common areas of collaboration to address the overall mandate of the parties, develop a plan for collaborative operations and detail the scope and principles of engagement between the parties, while aiming at achieving food e ciency in the country.

The CEO of the AAC, Mrs. Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, at the signing ceremony in Accra on

Thursday April 20, 2023, noted that the agreement will facilitate ACC’s collaboration with the UCC research institutes across Ghana to depeen research and development for social change deal with challenges for economic growth and development.

She further added that it will also facilitate the establishment of a research and development consortium comprising of business, crop science, technology, agriculture engineering, chemical engineering as a standing committee to advise on the full value chain in rice, maize, soya and the production of other staples.

“Again, this arrangement will facilitate the establishment of a seedling centre for the commercial production of seedlings for sale to farmers,” she hinted.

She emphasized that “the ACC’s integrated rice project is to make Ghana self-su cient in rice production resulting in signi cant economic bene t for the country”.

The AAC CEO noted that the partnership is crucial for increasing collaboration and boosting Ghana’s economy.

Mrs. Siaw Ageypong, who was particularly pleased with the arrangement between the two institutions, was hopeful that this MoU will pave way for many other collaborations between the two institutions.

Prof. Johnson Nyarko BoampongVice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, reiterated that the University has a specialized training for students to become entrepreneurs

Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, in a brief remark noted that agriculture and research must go hand in hand to ensure that the country derives its full bene ts.

He noted that rice is now a staple food in Ghana and initiatives must be taken to produce quality and the needed quantity backed by research and this cannot be achieved without the academia.

He encouraged the University to ensure that they come up with seedlings that can withstand the Ghanaian conditions as well as produce the needed yields for maximum bene ts.

“We have the knowledge and resources to see this through, therefore you have no excuse not to per-

Last year, Ghana spent over GH¢6.8billion (equivalent to US$560million at current market rates) importing rice, a grain that can be produced locally. While total rice consumption stood at 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2022, imports valued at US$560 million accounted for 800,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the consumption gure, with domestic production catering for the remaining demand – according to data from IDH Sustainable Trade, a foundation headquartered in The Netherlands.

Similarly, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, between 2010 and 2020 the country’s rice imports hit a staggering US$8billion. This, in addition to imports of other food items that can be produced locally, has been a major source of concern for stakeholders.

GAMBO links up with Iconic Record Producer Jermaine Dupri, is a collaboration coming?

Award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Bashir Annan, popularly known as Gambo, has touched base with legendary American Record Producer and singer-songwriter, Jermaine Dupri, and there are high expectations about the two of them collaborating on a song.

Gambo met with Dupri in the states, where he has been touring over the past few weeks ahead of his highly anticipated album release.

Dupri founded So So Def Recordings in 1993. The label, based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializes in Southern hip hop, RnB and base music and has managed a number of top artists such as Kris Kross, TLC, Bow Wow, and Usher.

There are high speculations that Gambo and Dupri are going to have a collaboration. Gambo, the 'Drip' hitmaker is also anticipated to perform at Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings' 30th anniversary festival in Atlanta. Dupri recently announced the So So Def 30th anniversary festival. He teased the festival in an Instagram post, saying the fest will take place from September 29, to October 1, 2023.

And there are high indications that Gambo, who was recently signed to Ghanaian-Liberian actor and comedian, Michael Blackson's Management label, could become the rst-ever Ghanaian artiste to

have a collaboration with the iconic music producer, Dupri. Since early February this year, Gambo has been touring the US. His possible collaboration with Dupri and performance at the So So Def Recordings anniversary fes tival forms part of his commitment to market Ghana at the global stage.

He is one musician who has been using his music videos to market the positive side of Ghana. He has resisted the temptation of project ing Ghana as a poor society.

His potential collaboration with Dupri forms part of e orts to help bridge the gap between Ghana, Africa and the United States.

China, Gabon to further deepen economic and trade ties

The two countries have continuously deepened political mutual trust, conducted practical cooperation, and supported each other on issues concerning each other's interests and major concerns since then.

During this visit, two heads of state –namely Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bongo – will hold talks and jointly attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents.

China has been Gabon's largest trade partner for nine consecutive years as the two economies are highly complementary. Bilateral trade reached $4.55 billion in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 50.8 percent.

Within those trade gures, forestry cooperation has played a prominent role. Gabon has a high forest coverage rate and its total timber reserves are among the top-ranked in Africa. A number of Chinese companies are engaged in timber processing and trade in the special economic zone of Gabon's capital, which strongly supports the country's industrialization process and diversi ed development strategy.

Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon, is visiting China from April 18 to 21 and the trip, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is expected to inject new im

petus into the in-depth development of China-Gabon relations and also mark new achievements.

As an important country in Central Africa, Gabon was one of the

destinations of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's rst new year's visit in January 2023.

The friendship between China and Gabon has been "as rm as a rock"

since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago. In December 2016, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Meanwhile, China said it is welcoming Gabon to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance cooperation in the elds of infrastructure development, energy, mining, and agriculture.

Financial Literacy Campaign Month: CFLE Africa engages over 400 market women and men in Sunyani

The Centre Financial Literacy Education Africa ( CFLE Africa) has engaged over 400 market women and men in Sunyani on becoming nancially aware, the need of cultivating the habit of saving, making the right nancial choices and planning for the future.

The activity which forms part of the Financial Literacy Month Campaign 2023 saw a group of volunteers from the Catholic University

and the University of Energy and Natural Resources trained by the Center for Financial Literacy Education Africa on the essential principles of personal nancial management were given guidelines to engage market women and men at Sunyani Market Center on the 22nd of April, 2023.

Speaking in an interview with the press Peter Kwadwo Asare Nyarko, Executive Director of the

Center for Financial Literacy Education Africa said the outreach aimed at creating awareness of nancial literacy and the essential principles, educating and empowering these market women and men to make the right nancial decisions and to also serve as their accountability partners.

According to him, CFLE Africa is committed to its mandate and will frequently check up on these

people and remind them of their nancial choices and decisions.

"We are building communities of nancially aware and nancially literate individuals, and so this is a key part of our activities. To engage market women and men so they can better plan their nances."

Ayeebo Elijah Anyagbire, one of the volunteers had this to say at the end

of the event, "It was fantastic. I loved the joy that was on the faces of those market women and men. It was worth volunteering! Cheers to the team".

The event was sponsored by Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, with support from the Financial Awareness Foundation, GhanaThink Foundation and Axis Pension Trust.

Nominations open for 5th edition of Health Environment Safety & Security (HESS) Awards

local and international companies who have been successful over the course of the year in managing the risks of workplace development and their Health, Safety, Security & Environment performance, besides doing ethical business. “We see ourselves as helping push the boundaries of what companies can do to help the nation rebuild its economy while ensuring they build a more resilient workspace to protect the future of work and their employees, and the environment,” he added.

HESS Awards

Ianmatsum Global Services, in collaboration with Hegemony Consulting, a leading research and consulting rm, has launched and opened nominations for the 5th edition of the annual Health Environment Safety & Security (HESS) Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to fostering a positive safety and health culture and security within their work environment and among their stakehold-

ers.

The Awards, which bring together professionals from various industries, serve as a platform to publicly recognize and celebrate companies for their exceptional performance and innovations focused on Occupational Health, Safety, Security and the Environment.

The awards, which will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, will be on the theme ‘Building a Resil-

ient Workspace post- COVID-19: the role of HSSE initiatives’ and will begin at 6:00pm.

Managing Director of Ianmatsun Global Services, Isaac Adu-Gyam indicated that the purpose of the HESS Awards among others is to create awareness, raise the bar of excellence, showcase success and encourage organizations to adopt and uphold the highest standards of HSSE management and practice, striving for continuous im-

provement and excellence within their organizations at all times.

“The aim of the awards is also to advocate for businesses in Ghana to no longer put in place Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) initiatives as a matter of compliance but as a means to build a more resilient workspace and workforce as they journey to recover from the e ects of the pandemic,” he said.

Mr. Adu-Gyam said the awards recognize achievements from

Now in its 5th edition, HESS Awards scheme has for the past four years championed the cause of promoting the adoption of best HSSE Practices. The purpose of the Awards is to create awareness, raise the bar of excellence and showcase success thereby encouraging companies and individuals to adopt best HSSE practices and uphold the highest standards of HSSE management. Besides being the rst awards scheme that performs both on-site and o -site assessment as part of the evaluation process in measuring the performance of participating companies, we have seen tremendous and consistent improvement in the performance of participating companies since the rst edition. It is motivating indeed to see that many corporations are becoming more committed to and concerned with the well-being of the environment and the health, safety, and security of their employees and other stakeholders.

Reviving our faith in the last days of Ramadan

By Alhassan Iddrisu Danaa, Head, Business Banking, Stanbic Bank

abstinence from many other worldly pleasures and vices. Fasting is a complete puri cation and a means to developing the consciousness of Allah's presence.

Also, fasting is an action which, we are told, will act as a shield for us when we most need it, i.e. on the Day of Judgement. On that day, when we will be called to give an account of every good and bad deed done in this world, fasting will intercede for us, provided of course, that every condition about the purity of intention and refraining from forbidden activities was done.

the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calen dar and the most sacred month in Islamic culture. For Muslims, the

month of Ramadan is a period of puri cation of our souls and focus our minds on the Almighty Allah.

Muslims are commanded by Allah -

tice goes beyond abstinence from food and drink, but also refrain

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Fasting and the Quran intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.' The Qu’ran says, 'I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.' Then their intercession is accepted” (Tirmidhi). Such importance is attached to fasting, that numerous glad tidings are given in the Hadiths to those who fast truly for Allah’s sake and for the sake of obeying His Command solely to earn His

Pleasure in the life Hereafter. The purpose of this period of fasting, as said by Allah in the Qur’an, is to rmly establish Taqwa (piety and being conscious of Allah) in our hearts. The blessing of Ramadan is characterized not just by its obligation on every Muslim to keep away from certain things which are allowed in other months, but also by the weight of blessings attached to every good deed performed in this month. In the month of Ramadan, the gates of Heaven are thrown open, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. This essentially signi es that, in Ramadan, the devils and their advocates have a much more di cult job diverting true Muslims from fully reaping the bounties of Allah by performing every religious duty with a pure intention.

The Prophet SAW said, "When the rst night of Ramadan comes, the devils and the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of Hell are locked and not one of them is opened; the gates of Paradise are opened and not one of them is locked; and a crier calls, 'You who desire what is good, come forward, and you who desire evil, refrain.' Some are freed from Hell by Allah, and that happens every night." (Tirmidhi). As Muslims

across the world mark the last days of the Ramadan, it is important that we encourage ourselves to stay the course and nish the fasting journey. This is particularly important because although the whole month of Ramadan is lled with blessings, the last 10 days are crucial because it is the time of the advent of Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Power). Lailat-ul-Qadr is one of the most sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. It takes place in the last ten days of Ramadan and was the night in which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is also believed to be the night in which Allah shows great mercy to His creation and the night in which one’s fate is decreed. Allah says in the Qur’an, “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months,” (Qur’an, 97:3). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays on Lailat-ul-Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven.” No one knows the exact day or time the Night of Power happens but it surely comes with all its blessings. As we inch closer to the end of the Ramadan season, let us all be steadfast and experience the blessings of the season.