Day: May 28, 2024

Mr Martin Kofitsey Nyahe, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Akatsi South has announced that the newly built Business Resource Center (BRC) within the Assembly premises is ready for use.

The facility, set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, under the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), is aimed to support the growth and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and the government’s ‘One-District, One-Factory (1D1F) companies.

Mr Nyahe disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency after REP and technical officers inspected the facility and subsequently handed it over for use.

He revealed that the facility, being part of the government’s industrialisation agenda, was one of the largest facilities among the 67 similarly established edifices across the country.

Mr Mark-Ankomah, a Business Development Officer under the REP who toured the facility together with some other officials, explained that the BRC would provide business development services for everyone.

These include the iden
tification of business opportunities, business plan preparation, facilitation of access to finance/credit, and business health check, also known as business diagnostics.

Other services include the provision of training in management and entrepreneurship, business counseling and advisory services, productivity improvement programmes, and capacity building for institutions.

The BRCs, to be run as profit-making entities, are to be managed by private sector operators under a franchising arrangement with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), the ultimate owners of the BRCs.

This ensures the sustainability of operations and maintenance of the centers’ facilities and the aggressive and guided promotion of business activities in the country.

Currently, five out of the 67 designated centers are located in the Volta Region, namely, Akatsi, Sogakope, South Dayi, Hohoe, and Kpando.

It has facilities such as reception areas, offices for staff, business centres/cafés, conference/training rooms, small meeting rooms, and
showrooms.

The Center is connected to a standby generator, and solar power, well equipped with information and communications technology equipment to support information and communication processes, and others.

Funding for the project was received from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the African Development Bank.

The handing over of the keys was done by David Walter Limited, the project contractor to the Programmes Coordination and Management Unit of the REP through the MCE.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Children Parliament, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) says the wellbeing of children is the cornerstone of the future of Nigeria.

The Speaker of the parliament, Rahama Waziri, stated this at the 2024 National Children’s Day in Abuja on Monday.

The theme of the event was, ‘Enhancing the Total Wellbeing of the Nigerian Child through Quality Education and Skills Development’.

Waziri said that the event provided the needed opportunity to discuss how to collectively ensure that every Nigerian child receives the education and skills necessary to thrive.

According to her, empowering children with education and skills is pivotal to the sustainable growth and development of the country.

‘It is through their eyes that we envision a brighter tomorrow, and it is through their development that we can achieve it.

‘Education is the bedrock of any progressive society. It is the tool that empowers individuals to transcend the limitations of their circumstances and achieve their full potential.

‘For the Nigerian chil
d, quality education is not just a right but a necessity. It is the gateway to opportunities, the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and the foundation for a prosperous and equitable society.

She also stressed the need for skills development, describing it as crucial in preparing children for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

She noted that the world was rapidly evolving, and the jobs of tomorrow would demand a diverse set of skills.

‘It is imperative that we children are equipped with both technical and soft skills that will enable us to adapt and thrive.

‘We need to ensure that schools are well-equipped with modern facilities, including libraries, laboratories, digital resources, with curriculum updated to reflect current realities and future projections.

‘In this digital age, technology plays a crucial role in education. Integrating ICT in classrooms can enhance learning experiences and provide students with the skills needed in a tech-driven world,’ she said.

School children during
a match pass at the 2024 National Children’s Day in Abuja on Monday

Responding to the children’s call, President Bola Tinubu said that the Federal Government has embarked on key transformative policies to create a conducive learning environment across the country.

Tinubu, who was represented by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, re-affirmed his administration’s commitment to all matters relating to the total wellbeing and development of the Nigerian child.

He said that the Federal government had established the National Education Data System, approved skill development for all levels of education and teachers ‘training in digital skills.

‘Government is committed to establishing 24 skills and innovation hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres across the country.

‘Also, the FG is set to inaugurate private sector Innovation Enterprise Centres across the country to deliver on the skills acquisition programme of the government.

‘The government is also building 91 Vocational Centres in secondary schools
across the country to ensure that all levels of education enjoy the impact of our policy.

‘We are also working with the State Commissioners of Women Affairs and the State Ministries of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board and Civil Society Organisations to ensure quality education and skills development for Nigerian children,’ Tinubu said.

Similarly, Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, assured the children that their rights would be protected.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said: ‘When it comes to fighting for your rights, I shall always be there for you because Mr. President said the poor shall breathe and the children are one of the vulnerable.’

Mr Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCT Administration, explained that since 1964, May 27 of every year has been set aside to celebrate the Nigerian child.

Benjamin-Laniyi also said that the day was also to promote policies that protect children’s rights, education, and other necessities of human rights.

She
said that the FCT, under Nyesom Wike, was working to ensure that every child in the FCT had access to quality education, and skills development for them to excel in life.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Krachi West Municipal and Nchumuru District of the Oti Region have received some relief items from World Vision Ghana, a Christian Non-governmental Organisation to support flood victims.

The beneficiaries, most of whom were victims of the 2023 flood that ravaged hundreds of rice, yam, cassava, groundnuts farmlands, had received significant support including clothing, shoes, school bags, hygiene kits and 60 marker boards.

Mr Ivan Aboagye, the Kete-Krachi cluster manager of World Vision Ghana, said the Organisation was committed to supporting the affected communities when the need arose, and the donation formed part of the Organisation’s willingness to help vulnerable communities during disaster.

The beneficiaries expressed their profound appreciation to World Vision Ghana for the thoughtful and kind gesture.

Mr Patrick Kwaku Bulator, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), appreciated World Vision Ghana for their support and said the donation came as a relief to the residents who were struggling to recove
r from the devastation caused by the spillage.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Godspeed Leadership and Mentorship Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the Federal Government and other education stakeholders, to address out-of-school children and improve security in schools.

Mr Habila Kayit, the executive director of the organisation, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, to commemorate Children’s Day.

According to Kayit, insecurity is a threat to the attainment of a better future for the child.

‘Schools and communities have been displaced making it impossible for some children to continue pursuing their education in some parts of the country where insecurity is heightened.

‘The incessant kidnapping of school children is worrisome and requires urgent attention.

‘It is important to have collaborative initiative to ensure the return of every child back to school, most especially in areas where schools have been closed due to the activities of bandits and kidnappers,’ he said.

Kayit called on faith-bas
ed organisations, community development associations and non-profit organisations, to assist the government in tackling insecurity and out-of-school children.

This, he said, would guarantee a safe and prosperous future for children.

He said that the children’s day celebration was an opportunity to reiterate the importance of creating a better future for the Nigerian child by addressing challenges that could impede their growth and wellbeing.

He called for policies and programmes designed to equip the next generation of leaders.

‘These children neglected to fate will grow with no guidance and might be a tool in the hands of mischief makers who might indoctrinate them into all manner of crimes,’ he said.

Kayit also said that no child should suffer because of the greed and mismanagement of the country’s resources.

He, therefore, called on security operatives to intensify effort to rid the country of the hands of corrupt leaders.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Tongu Council of Chiefs have taken a bold step to address the recent surge in killings in the three Tongu districts of the Volta Region.

In a communiqué issued by Togbe Nakakpo Dugbaza VIII, President of the Tongu Council of Chiefs, the council expressed its deep concern over the ‘culture of impunity’ that had emboldened criminals to continue their rampage.

The council’s move comes in response to the gruesome murder of 12-year-old Peter Sina and his co-worker at Akorlikope in the South Tongu District.

Determined to avert further bloodshed, the council took strides to engage the security agencies in the three districts to deliberate on the issue and chart a course of action.

In the interim, the council has urged the public to remain calm and volunteer information on the murders and crim to Paramount Chiefs, trusted leaders, Assembly Members, and security agencies.

The council has also sent a strong warning to the culprits, making it clear that they would be apprehended, and necessary legal actions tak
en against them.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Federal Government’s Credit Scheme aimed at ensuring the affordability and availability of locally assembled vehicles will enhance the growth of Nigeria’s Automotive Council, Mr Joseph Osanipin said.

Osanipin, the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to him, under President Bola Tinubu-led administration, the council has extended crucial financial support to assembly plants across Nigeria.

‘The ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment through the presidency is putting together a credit scheme to encourage those people who want to patronise only locally manufactured/assembled vehicles.

‘So the credit scheme will not be for those people who want to go and bring their vehicles from abroad, but for locally manufactured ones,” he said.

Osanipin expressed hope that the credit, which would be given at a favourable rate, would bolster growth, ensure the sector thrived, and contribut
e significantly to the economy.

In spite of this support, some assembly plants faced challenges such as operating below capacity or shutting down production.

While acknowledging these issues, the NADDC boss emphatically stressed the importance of consistent production, saying the president’s directive would ensure regular production.

Osanipin said affordability was a key focus of the Federal Government’s automotive policy.

According to him, locally assembled new vehicles are competitively priced compared to imported ones.

‘New vehicles, the ones we assemble in Nigeria are competitive in terms of price and can go head to head with new ones that are coming from outside the country.

‘Let us say utility vehicles (pickup), if you look at the price of sone pickup vans assembled in Nigeria are about 60 per cent of the price of those that are coming from outside.

‘Some are 70 per cent, some are 80 per cent based on the type of the pickup vans, so in terms of price, they can compete with new vehicles,” Osanipi
n said.

The NADDC boss said the availability of assembled vehicles was another critical area being addressed.

He recounted an instance where a government agency (MDA) needed ambulances and was directed to purchase CNG vehicles locally.

Osanipin said the assembler delivered the initial batch immediately and then produced the remaining ones, which was done promptly.

According to him, this demonstrates the capability of local assemblers to meet demand, provided there is sufficient support and consistent demand.

He said that the credit scheme would ensure that more Nigerians opt for locally assembled vehicles, thereby, boosting production.

‘As the nation looks forward to the coming years, the positive impact of these policies will continue to drive the growth and development of Nigeria’s automotive industry, creating jobs, boosting the economy, and promoting local manufacturing.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, has urged investors and business leaders not to abandon the country because of present economic challenges.

He encouraged them to wait patiently for democracy to provide the needed window of opportunity to change the country’s direction.

‘Please don’t leave our country. It is said that the darkest hour is before dawn. The beauty of our democracy is that it affords us the opportunity to change our current trajectory.

‘You can be rest assured that the new NDC will work with you to create environment for businesses to thrive,’ he said at the eight edition of the Ghana CEO Summit.

It was held under the theme, ‘Reigniting Business and Economic Growth: Charting a Path Forward, Economic Diversification and Artificial Intelligence Transformation.’

The former president noted that the interface between economic diversification and artificial intelligence presented a unique opportunity to promote sustainable growth and prosperity for the cou
ntry.

He said cooperation between policymakers and stakeholders was required for the success of economic diversification, which would reduce reliance on conventional industries and build resilience to external shocks.

Furthermore, platforms such as the annual presidential CEO dialogue would be key in promoting open communication and implementing practical approaches to achieve the full potential of economic transformation, he noted.

‘I am deeply committed to fostering business growth and economic prosperity in Ghana’ he said.

Mr Mahama said a future NDC-led administration would prioritize economic stabilisation and the restoration of a stable currency by initiating an economic recovery and fiscal consolidation plan based on the results of a national economic dialogue to be held within the first 100 days in office.

He pledged to, among other things, reduce government expenditure, reduce the size of government, improve efficiency and fight corruption.

He said he would also invest in agriculture, agro-proc
essing, tourism, manufacturing, and the creative industry.

‘We will work with urgency to restore our cocoa production. To improve forex flow into our economy, we will accelerate the drilling of oil and gas in our onshore and offshore concession,’ he said.

Mrs Abena Osei-Asare, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance assured businesses of the government’s commitment to maintaining expenditure within budget limits despite 2024 being an election year.

‘We will make sure we raise the needed revenue to balance the tide,’ she said.

Mrs Osei-Asare said the government had been committed to giving tax relief to the private sector since 2017 through its approach to tax collection.

‘This we did by abolishing significant taxes to free resources for private sector investments,’ she said.

She however noted that current fiscal sustainability pressures required that ‘revenue performance was significantly improved to make it difficult to implement more tax reliefs.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has highlighted its various initiatives to revolutionise the Nigerian automotive industry.

The Director-General of NADDC, Mr Joseph Osanipin, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

NAN reports that Osanipin, appointed in October 2023, wasted no time implementing strategies designed to bolster the sector and drive economic growth.

Osanipin said the council had focused on enhancing the component parts sector, which was crucial for both Semi-Knockdown (SKD) and Complete Knockdown (CKD) vehicle production.

According to the director-general, the parts are the building blocks of our automotive industry.

‘A typical vehicle like a passenger car has more than 3,000 parts. The hose that can take fuel is a part, the nut, oil filter, fuel filter are all parts.

‘So some of these things are what we are looking at to put more effort in making sure that these things are produced in Nigeria.

‘By doing so, we are increasing
the technical know-how of our people, we are creating jobs for our people, we are increasing and improving the economy in the auto industry and as well increasing the component part,’ he said.

According to him, this initiative is also strategically aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, ensuring Nigeria’s automotive parts are recognised under the Rules of Origin.

Osanipin said it prevented other West African countries from dominating this market share.

He said it was another significant initiative involved in promoting the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.

He recalled the Federal Government’s directive to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to purchase CNG vehicles, specifically those assembled or manufactured in Nigeria.

The director-general said NADDC was working closely with relevant stakeholders to implement this directive effectively.

‘So we also engaged our people here in Nigeria because we licensed these assemblers, we gave them the lice
nce to operate anywhere here in Nigeria.

‘We are working with other agencies to put in place the necessary standard. We work with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

‘And SON has released more than 50 standards to guide the conversion process or production of CNG vehicles

Recognising the importance of skilled manpower, Osanipin said the council developed the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for CNG and Electric Vehicles (EVs) training.

He said the validation process for the NOS, which would serve as the curriculum for training programmes, had been completed and submitted to the National Automotive Testing and Education (NATE) for approval.

Osanipin expressed optimism that the process would certify and enhance the skills of individuals in the automotive sector and further support the industry’s growth.

The NADDC boss also reiterated his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s automotive industry and ensuring its sustainability and competitiveness on a continental scale.

‘Our efforts are geared t
owards creating a robust automotive sector that can compete globally while providing economic opportunities for Nigerians,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, the founder of the defunct Groupe Nduom Savings Loans Company, says the gap between the banked and unbanked populations continues to widen due to the absence of GN Bank.

He said universal commercial banks in the country were often reluctant to open branches in rural areas, which constitute the majority of the unbanked populations.

In an ongoing tour of the branches of the defunct bank in Elmina, Cape Coast, and Mankessim, Dr. Nduom said that since the collapse of the GN Bank in 2019, existing banks had not made the effort to establish outlets in rural areas.

‘Have you seen any bank occupy our facilities since our bank went down? We are the only bank that cares for the rural population and the unbanked in the country. We are the only bank you will find in most of the rural areas, and since the time we left, no bank has attempted to invest in such areas. A vacuum in the unbanked sector has been created due to our absence,’ he said.

Dr. Nduom said the rural part of the country had many u
ntapped financial potentials that needed urgent attention from financial institutions.

The untapped potential, according to him, included a thriving agriculture sector that needed additional capital to scale and growing small and medium-sized enterprises that also needed soft loans to grow their businesses.

Dr. Nduom said these valuable services that were critical to engendering financial inclusion had been absent in the rural parts of the country since the collapse of GN Bank.

As part of the effort to revive the defunct GN Bank and recover its banking license from the Central Bank, the bank had taken steps to engage relevant stakeholders, notably former customers and staff.

Mr. Nana Yaw Mintah, a trader and resident of Takoradi, said access to credit in the community had become extremely difficult since businesses were unable to meet the credit requirements of the existing banks.

He said the existing financial institutions in the community often doubt the creditworthiness of small businesses.

He said p
rior to the revocation of the GN Bank’s license, it was the only financial institution that easily granted credit to small businesses.

Mrs. Abena Ofori, a trader at the Kotokraba market in Cape Coast, indicated that no financial institution had made any effort to replace GN Bank.

She urged the government to do the needful by restoring the license of the bank to ease the affairs of the traders in saving their money and accessing credit.

Source: Ghana News Agency

As President Bola Tinubu marks one year in office, the impact of his leadership is evident, especially in the country’s automotive industry.

Mr Joseph Osanipin, the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to Osanipin, the NADDC has been instrumental in driving forward the President’s vision of a Renewed Hope Agenda.

The director-general said the president’s directives have significantly boosted efforts to promote made-in-Nigeria vehicles and strengthened the automotive sector.

NAN reports that Tinubu had directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles made in Nigeria.

According to the president, any submission contrary to this will be rejected. This unambiguous stance has provided the necessary impetus for compliance and simplified NADDC’s enforcement efforts.

‘So we are working with necessary stakeholders and agencies to pursue that
and with this directive from the president it made our job easier.

‘And I am sure every stakeholder in the industry is very happy with that because they know we need to invest more in CNG vehicles.

‘Most of the assemblers we have already have the kit, they train themselves, they have been doing manpower training to equip the staff on how to do the conversion.

‘And some of the assemblers are already doing direct CNG so that there will be no need for conversion, it is coming out as CNG,’ Osanipin said.

The director-general said a significant part of Tinubu’s vision was the development of the local spare parts sector.

Osanipin said component parts development remained NADDC’s major achievement. While Nigeria may not be able to produce all automotive parts, the emphasis was on leveraging local capabilities.

He said local production of items such as car seats, leather, and oil filters had been prioritised to meet domestic demand and reduce reliance on imports.

On support, he said the council had engaged com
ponent parts manufacturers, particularly in Nnewi, to support their efforts.

‘We have had an engagement with them in Nnewi ,we went to meet them in their offices, in their workshop, in the plants in Nnewi, because we have noticed a lot of them are around that axis.

‘And then we are putting together an industrial park in Nnewi.

‘So the essence of the industrial park is to bring everybody under the same roof so that they will be able to have a shared facility,’ he said.

According to the NADDC boss, sharing facilities such as power, training and testing centres will reduce costs and make local products more competitive.

‘These facilities will ensure that locally made products meet international standards as verified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).’

The director-general said in alignment with Tinubu’s vision, NADDC conducted extensive training programmes for technicians and roadside mechanics while focusing on manpower development.

He said NADDC had developed regulations for Electric Vehicl
es (EVs) and CNG vehicles and enhanced the skills of local technicians to ensure they were well-equipped to handle the evolving automotive industry.

Osanipin reiterated that the focus on made-in-Nigeria vehicles, component parts development, and manpower training underscored the present administration’s commitment to creating a sustainable and competitive automotive sector.

He said: ‘our efforts are geared towards creating a robust automotive sector that can compete globally while providing economic opportunities for Nigerians.’

Source: News Agency of Nigeria