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Former GIFF presidents defend importance of freight forwarders in global shipping industry

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Kwabena Ofosu Appiah and Joseph Agbaga

A former President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Kwabena Ofosu Appiah, has expressed worry that the industry trend that seeks to phase out freight forwarders as middle men while empowering the traders is a threat to the freight forwarding fraternity.

In that same vein, the seasoned freight forwarder has also identified this as an opportunity for the industry to evolve.

Mr. Ofosu Appiah said this in relation to the World Trade Organisation initiative to facilitate trade at the most convenient and affordable means for traders which has gradually gained momentum globally. And as such, it is feared that clearing agents, like other forms of middle men, may be axed.

Speaking on the Eye on Port live program, he said while the fraternity’s activities are backed by legislation, clearing and forwarding agents should not be comfortable with the present insulation that it provides. Instead, Mr. Ofosu Appiah has called for clearing agents and freight forwarders to continue to explore ways they can provide value for traders.

“Let us not allow let statutory demands shape us. But let’s get closer to the trader who is the prima donna and kingpin of our existence, and find more solutions that will wow the customer so that legislation or no legislation, there is value. We should plug ourselves into the trader’s supply chain architecture and offer solutions they can’t provide. That way we cut their cost, and stress to handle everything.”

“For example, these big supermarkets, if their clearing and forwarding agents have the capacity to plug their inventory system, can you imagine how much load is taken off their heads and how much efficiency is introduced?” Mr. Ofosu Appiah quizzed.

Also contributing to the discourse, another former President of GIFF, Mr. Joseph Agbaga, also supported the call for evolution of the freight forwarding industry.  He opined that modern freight forwarder in Ghana have been able to evolve to position themselves as third party logistics service providers capable of doing beyond customs brokerage.

“We have seen this coming, and we are becoming more sophisticated and we are aware of our customers knowing that international transport solutions do not lie in isolation but a partnership between a customer and a freight forwarder. Against this backdrop, there has been the use of Information technology to make things happen,” he said.

Both former presidents of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders were like-minded in the emphasis that the freight forwarder is a key, indispensable component in international trading activities by virtue of the exposure the practice gives.

Mr. Ofosu Appiah said with the freight forwarder serving as liaisons between shipping lines, government actors and ports, they have been able to ascertain industry standards especially pertaining to prices of goods and services and are able to facilitate fair and cost-efficient trade processes.

Mr. Agbaga added that freight forwarders by virtue of their work, must be “a storehouse of knowledge” to assist traders go through the supply chain at the least possible level of hustle.

“You should be able to understand the nuances of trade like how to interpret a sales contract and other formal process,” he stated.

The veteran freight forwarders nonetheless expressed dissatisfaction about how much government policies take into consideration the opinion of that particular industry.

World Bank pledges support to Ghana’s YouStart Entrepreneurship programme   

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Daniel Owusu (middle) Country Youth Lead, WB Ghana Youth Voices with Patrick Mullen

The World Bank has pledged its support to the implementation of the Government’s GHS10 billion YouStart programme, aimed at building Ghana as an entrepreneurial nation. The support, which would come in the form of financial and technical assistance, is to ensure that the goal of creating about a million jobs for the youth in three years was achieved.

To this end, the Bank is currently designing a comprehensive youth-centred programme in line with the objectives of the YouStart initiative and support its successful implementation. Mr Patrick Mullen, Programme Lead, Human Development, at the World Bank, announced this at the launch of the Ghana Youth Voices Chapter, in Accra recently.

He described YouStart as a laudable initiative. The Government is to provide funding and technical support to the people between the ages of 18 and 40 and youth-led businesses to assist them start, build and grow their enterprises as it builds Ghana as an entrepreneurial nation.

He said: “Currently, the World Bank is working with the Government on a new operation that would support some aspects of the YouStart programme.”  He added: “The Bank is already supporting the implementation of projects that aim at addressing and removing some of the binding constraints of youth employment.”

This includes the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project, which is to help the Government to better respond to the need to create more decent jobs for the youth, while upgrading their skills to meet the demands of the current labour market.

Mr Mullen said the Bank Group’s Ghana Country Partnership Framework (2022 to 2026) emphasised support to create more quality jobs for youth through skills and entrepreneurial development, access to finance, investment climate reform and quality infrastructure.

Hence, the establishment of the Ghana Youth Voices Chapter to represent and include the youth to share ideas and be part of the implementation of the Bank’s projects in education, employment and climate change in a win-win situation.

In an interview after the programme, Mr Daniel Owusu, the Chapter Lead, Ghana Youth Voices, said the project would enable the youth to play critical parts in the implementation of the Bank’s support programmes with Ghana.

He said: “There’s a cry that the youth are often not part of the Government’s project implementation. So, Youth Voices will make the youth know the various programmes of the World Bank Group related to Ghana and be part of its implementation.”

“We’re going to map out every youth organisation in Ghana and create a platform where people get to understand what the Bank does, which will help them in their career path, research work,” Mr Owusu, said.

The Youth Voices programme uses a hyper-localised approach, composed of youth volunteers who are led by a country-based World Bank staff to provide a youth-focused angle and analytical work to World Bank lending operations. It integrates the youths’ contributions and addressing the challenges they specifically face, which is to help World Bank interventions become more youth-informed.

Source: GNA   

NIA offers premium services in Ashanti, Eastern and western regions

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NAABENYIN JOOJO AMISSAH
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Prof Ken Attafuah, head of the NIA

The National Identification Authority (NIA) says it now offers premium registration services at its Ashanti, Eastern and Western Regional offices.

The introduction of the new services, which commenced on Monday, December19, 2022 would operate in addition to the premium centres at the NIA Head Office and Calbank Head Office in Accra.

Official statement signed and issued by the acting head of corporate affairs of the authority, Dr. Abudu Abdul-Ganiyu, indicated that the premium services would be fee-based.

The services provided include first time registration and issuance of the Ghana Card, replacement of lost, missing or damaged cards and the update of a personal record that requires the printing of a new card.

Service charges

According to Dr Abdul-Ganiyu, first-time registration and issuance of the Ghana Card would cost GH₵ 280.00 whereas replacement of lost, missing or damaged cards would cost GH₵110.00 and update of a personal record that requires the printing of a new card would cost GH₵110.00

Additionally, other services such as the change or correction of applicant’s name and the change or correction of the order of applicant’s name would attract charges,which would also be applied to the correction or addition of applicant’s previous name or maiden name and the correction of applicant’s date of birth.

Change or correction of applicant’s nationality, correction of applicant’s gender and change or correction of applicant’s height would all attract charges.

The statement added that applicants requesting premium services should note that “Requests that have already been approved, and for which payments have been made will not attract any additional fee.”

However, “Requests not yet approved, or approved but not yet paid for, will be treated as fresh applications. Such requests would attract a fee of GH₵110”. It continued.

Process and procedures

The premium services will be based on an online booking system and walk-in system up to 3rd January 2023 but beginning 4th January 2023, NIA premium centres would operate only an online booking system; It, therefore indicated that payment of fees for all premium services must be made with either CalBank Mobile Banking Platform with short code *771# or CalBank Online Mobile App.

The statement further hinted that NIA would not accept cash payments for any of its update or card replacement services at any of its Regional Offices.

Following this, the statement added that “Alternatively, payment for the above services may be made at a CalBank Branch Office”.

The statement also advised applicants to take note of the fact that “not every request for an update of personal record or card replacement can be handled on the same day”.

It added that review and approval of requests for the update of a personal record or card replacement may take longer than a day.

Madamfo Ghana Foundation constructs multi-purpose schools for Obuasi

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Nana Kwabena Ponko II (in cloth) being assisted to cut the tape to commission the block
Enoch Sunday Attipoe addressing the forum

Madamfo Ghana Foundation, an NGO, has constructed and commissioned a multi-purpose JHS block for Nana Ponko II School in Obuasi.

The new block has three classrooms, teachers’ common hall and anoffice. Other facilities are an eight-seater water closet toilet and a mechanised borehole to supply water to the community in which the school is situated.

All the classrooms are stocked with the required desks for the students as well as cupboards for the keeping of books.

The new school block, according to the Deputy Country Director of theNGO, Mr. Enoch Sunday Attipoe, is to replace a dilapidated wooden structure which serve as classrooms.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr.Attipoe said the Foundation was touched by the state of the school’s old building as published in the media, hence the NGO set in motion plans to redeem the school from the sorry state it finds itself with the construction of the new block.

The new JHS block

He stated that since the establishment of the NGO 20 years ago it has provided several communities in the country with schools, health facilities and water among others and added that, he was pleased to have extended the services of the NGO to the people of Obuasi with the construction of the Nana Ponko II JHS block.

Mr.Attipoe expressed the hope that the new school building will help promote effective teaching and learning.

Nana Kwabena Ponko II, Chief of Kunka in Obuasi, who chaired the function expressed delight that the school named after him has seen such a massive facelift and thanked the NGO for the gesture.He called on the Municipal Assembly to rehabilitate roads at Kunka, especially where the school is located so that anybody coming to the school will have a smooth ride.

The Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Elijah Adansi Bonah and the Municipal Education Director, Mr. George Alfred Koomson saluted theNGO for its support to the school.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

AGA Obuasi community Trust Fund commissions Education and water projects

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Board members of AGA Obuasi Community Trust Fund and Stakeholders

AGA Obuasi Community Trust Fund (AGA- OCTF) has commissioned Education and water projects in its quest to improve educational standards and sanitation in Obuasi and its surrounding communities.

As a result, the managers of the fund have executed projects including fully furnished 2-unit KG blocks at Dokyiwaa and Binsere in the Obuasi Municipality as well as Mechanised boreholes for the people of NewBidiem and Baakoyeden in Obuasi and Wioso in the Adansi North district.

The AGA Trust Fund was launched in 2012 towards the stability agreement between AGA and the Government of Ghana.

As part of the revised agreement in 2018, the Mine pledged to contribute US$2 per ounce of gold produced into the Trust Fund.

The newly commissioned 2-unit, 2 Kindergarten KG blocks cost GH¢107,623,928 with two fully furnished classrooms with tables and chairs for both pupils and teachers, a multi-purpose Hall and office for the headmaster, kitchen and store room, including washroom facilities for both male and female pupils and staff, with mechanised borehole to ensure constant supply of water.

The 2-unit KG blocks at Dokyiwaa

There will also be the construction of mechanised borehole with an overhead concrete stand for three other communities at a cost of GH¢210,494.23.

Nana Boakye Yiadom II, a Board member of AGA Community Trust Fund, commissioning the projects at Dokyiwa explained that the Trust Fund decided to invest in the construction of the KG blocks, because they believe the critical role education play in the development of the socio-economic of the society which is the foundation’s priority.

He noted that, AGA OCTF is aware of how crucial Kindergarten education is in the educational development of children, hence the decision to construct the 2 blocks for Binsere and Dokyiwaa to enhance intake.

He appealed to the beneficiary communities and the schools to protect and maintain the facilities to stand the test of time.

Mr. Elijah Adansi-Bonah, the Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi, challenged the Fund to consider investing in areas that could create jobs for the people of Obuasi.

Mr.Adansi-Bonah pleaded with the residents of Obuasi to support Anglogold Ashanti to enable them produce and maximise profit in order to contribute into the Trust fund.

Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, Senior Manager Sustainability indicated that about GH¢6.6 million has been paid into the fund since 2019 in fulfilment of the Agreement it had with the Government of Ghana. Nana Afia Afrifa Tokudwom III, Queenmother of Dompoase Sub-Traditional Council commended the Trust Fund for investing heavily in the area of education since its establishment about a decade ago.

She called on parents to prioritize their wards’ education by investing in them. George Alfred Koomson, Obuasi Municipal Director of Education said research has said the school’s environment play a vital role in the development of a child hence the need to commend the Trust Fund for putting up two multipurpose KG blocks.

He almost admonished Old students of schools in Obuasi to always contribution to the development of their Alma maters.

Do not sell your cocoa farms lands for mining -COCOBOD

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A Cocoa Farm

Cocoa farmers have been urged not to allow themselves to be influenced by the huge sums of money offered by some individuals to convince them to sell their farmlands for illegal and small-scale mining activities.

They should not allow one-time quick money to entice them to dispose of a heritage which could serve the present and future generations.

Mr Ebenezer K. Agyen, Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) of COCOBOD, who made the call, said cocoa was not only the backbone of the Ghanaian economy, but also treasured by families and communities.

There was, therefore, the need to protect cocoa farmlands and prevent them from being used for illegal mining activities in the country.

MrAgyen was speaking at the seventh annual general meeting of the Kokoo Pa Farmers Association in Kumasi held on the theme “The effects of illegal mining (galamsey) on the future production of cocoa in Ghana.”

MrAgyen said cocoa farmers needed to form stronger associations in communities to enable them to have the strength and one voice to resist attempts by individuals and groups to take their farmlands for mining activities.

He said the government through COCOBOD, was implementing productivity enhancement schemes to help individual farmers to increase crop yields and thereby, increase cocoa beans production in the country.

Mr Frederick Amponsah, Executive Director of Kokoo Pa Farmers Association, said the objective of the organisation had been to promote the adoption of sustainable farming practice to achieve economic and social well-being of its members and their communities.

This was being done through capacity building and training of their members to enable them to become knowledgeable in sustainable agricultural production practices to help increase their crop yields and incomes.

He said the Village Savings and Loans Association Project, which was being implemented by the Association, so far, had about 5,966 members who were in 256 groups in 145 communities.

GHc 4,989,100 has so far been disbursed to 2,628 farmers to support their activities.

Mr Vincent Frimpong Manu, Board Chairman of the Association said, to ensure that members adopted best agricultural practices, the Association engaged some extension officers and supported them logistically with motorbikes to visit the farmers regularly.

Mr Peter Aidoo, Chairman of the Association said it was currently operating in 278 communities in 11 districts of three cocoa producing regions in Ghana, with a total membership of 10,300 farmers.

He urged the farmers to embrace innovative technologies to help them get more yields in cocoa production to increase their income.

By Kwabia Owusu-Mensah

GNA

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sells Los Angeles Home of His Late Girlfriend for $6.5 Million

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NANA KWESI COOMSON
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P. Diddy

Hip-hop mogul Sean Combs, aka Diddy, sold a nearly 10,000-square-foot Los Angeles home last week for $6.51 million.

The six-bedroom, six-and-a-half bathroom residence sits on half an acre in the Toluca Lake neighborhood, located about 12 miles northwest of downtown in the San Fernando Valley. The property was home to Kim Porter, an actress and model who dated Mr. Combs for many years and had three children with him. She died from pneumonia on the property in 2018 at age 47.

The gated traditional-style home is “one of the largest and grandest homes in Toluca Lake…on one of the most prestigious streets in the San Fernando Valley,” according to the listing with listing agent Carl Gambino of Compass.

It boasts a two-story entry foyer with a gallery level, a great room with a fireplace and built-ins that opens up onto the pool and spa area, and a large eat-in kitchen, according to the listing.

The six bedrooms were painted in an array of colors, including black, aqua and bright pink, listing photos show. There’s also a media room, an outdoor fireplace, a sports court and a three-car garage.

Mr. Combs is a three-time Grammy Award-winning musician, known for songs such as “I’ll Be Missing You” and “It’s All About the Benjamins.” He also founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, which produced work by the likes of Faith Evans and The Notorious B.I.G.

He bought the home in 2009 for $5.25 million through a limited liability company tied to one of his long-time advisors. Representatives for the rapper did not immediately return requests for comment.

The six bedrooms were painted in an array of colors, including black, aqua and bright pink, listing photos show. There’s also a media room, an outdoor fireplace, a sports court and a three-car garage.

Mr. Combs is a three-time Grammy Award-winning musician, known for songs such as “I’ll Be Missing You” and “It’s All About the Benjamins.” He also founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, which produced work by the likes of Faith Evans and The Notorious B.I.G.

He bought the home in 2009 for $5.25 million through a limited liability company tied to one of his long-time advisors. Representatives for the rapper did not immediately return requests for comment.

“I’m a proud Polygamist with my full chest” -Yul Edochie

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NANA KWESI COOMSON
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Yul Edochie

Nigerian Actor Yul Edochie has declared himself a proud polygamist, a statement which has sparked reactions. Yul in a lengthy statement said God directed him to become a polygamist, adding that the Bible acknowledges it.

He added that his action is a blessing for himself and his wife, May Edochie to calm down as he knows she wouldn’t be happy about it

Yul Edochie is making headlines after he justified his action to become a polygamist with a backup reference from a Bible verse, Exodus 21 vs 10. In a lengthy post via his social media timeline on Sunday, December 18, Yul, who is married to two wives said he was directed by God to be a polygamist to give his son a proper identity.

Yul acknowledged that his first wife May Edochie was not happy about his action but he stressed that it was a blessing for her.

A part of his lengthy post read: “I’m a very proud Polygamist. With my full chest. Read Exodus 21 vs 10.The bible acknowledges Polygamy. It is my destiny.

God directed me to do it. So I can give my son a proper identity. Therefore it came with many blessings. Blessings for me, blessings for my wife Queen May to calm her down cos as a human being she’ll definitely not be happy about it, and blessings for my wife Judy as well.”

2nd Edition of Black History Festival launched

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NANA KWESI COOMSON
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Dignitaries at the launch of the Black History Festival

The Black History Festival, a special initiative dedicated to the celebration of the strong ties between Governments of the United States of America and the African Union member states over the years has been officially launched on 16th December 2022 at the Africa Trade House in Accra, Ghana.

Speaking at the Ceremony, the Coordinator of the Black History Festival, Mr. Stephen Selasie Asuo reiterated that it became necessary for the Bureau for International Development, Exchanges and Commerce (BIDEC) to facilitate the promotion of exchange ideas, businesses, and culture amongst other innovations to the Diaspora, to foster sustainable partnership for positive development in Ghana and the African continent. This he believes will boost investor confidence in the continent and reduce unemployment in the sub-region.

The Chairman of the parliamentary select committee on Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah in a remark said, ‘’ the US continues to see Ghana as a beacon of hope in Africa because of our continued diplomatic relationship in the area of business, etc though Ghana exports minimal products to the states.”

He noted that the Black History Festival is a good platform to showcase made in Ghana to the world and he urged the organizers of the BHF, to lead change in exposing a lot more innovations in Ghana other than the usual products that are being exhibited all the time. This he said will attract a lot more people from the diaspora.

Head of Diaspora at the Office of the President, Mr. Kwasi Awuah on his part said, serving as the chairman for the Year of Return project, he believes there’s a lot of potential with our brothers and sisters in the diaspora to play a key role alongside their Ghanaian counterparts for economic transformation therefore this project is timely to explore such potentials.

In a statement by the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei, she said ‘’we need to be proud of what we have and to patronize made in Ghana, that’s the only way we can support the private sector in creating a lot more innovative opportunities for young people.”

CEO of EIB Network, Mr. Nathaniel Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray noted that Ghana has a bank of creative ideas that can be projected for revenue for the country, therefore, calling on all stakeholders in the creative industry to find a way to create an enabling environment to intentionally market what we have to the Diaspora.

Chief of Banda Ahenkro, Dr. Kofi Anyan has pledged to lease lands to individuals from the Diaspora hoping to invest in the area of Agriculture and other useful ventures. This he feels should be replicated by all traditional heads in the country

The second edition of BHF will be held in Columbus Ohio, USA from 15th to 18th February 2023 and It is a unique chance for stakeholders to have a common platform to commemorate the heritage, arts, culture, trade, leadership and innovation of Africa in the history of the United States of America.

Cyril Ramaphosa re-elected as leader of South Africa’s governing African National Congress

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (center) recently survived a move to start impeachment proceedings against him.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) in a party leadership contest, the ANC said on Monday.

The announcement comes at the end of the ANC National Elective Conference, which started Friday.

Last week, Ramaphosa survived a move to start impeachment proceedings against him in a vote in parliament.

The ANC parliamentary caucus largely voted last week to block an investigation into an ongoing scandal, after initial evidence found Ramaphosa could have violated his oath of office.

The findings related to the theft of more than $500,000 in cash from the South African leader’s private game farm in 2020. The cash was stuffed inside a leather sofa, according to the panel investigation.

The panel, led by a former chief justice, found that the crime was not reported to the police and that there was a “deliberate decision to keep the investigation secret.”

After initial speculation that he would resign, Ramaphosa’s lawyers sought to challenge the panel’s findings in court. The president has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying the money was from the sale of wildlife at his Phala Phala farm.

South Africa President Ramaphosa will not be impeached over cash-in sofa scandal

Ramaphosa was first confirmed as South African’s president in 2018 after his predecessor, a scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma, was effectively pushed out of office by his own party.

He made his name as a trade union leader during the apartheid era and as the chief negotiator for Nelson Mandela, helping to guide South Africa out of white minority rule in the 1990s.

Mandela made it clear he wanted Ramaphosa to replace him after his presidency ended. But Ramaphosa lost the race to helm the ANC – and the country – to Thabo Mbeki, another anti-apartheid leader who came back to South Africa after living in exile.

Source: cnn.com

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