The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with Ghana Railways Development Authority (GRDA) has organised a workshop on the Study for Safety Operation and Management of Railway System in the country. The workshop was held at the JICA Ghana Office in Accra and was attended by officials of Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning, Ministry of Transportation, The Ghana Railways Company Limited (GRCL), and various stakeholders from private companies. Representatives of RITES Limited, an Indian national engineering consultancy company specialising in railway systems, were also invited as special guests to share their expertise in railway development. The objective of the workshop was to discuss the current situation and issues facing the Western Line (Takoradi-Tarkwa-Dunkwa-Awaso) and to come up with realistic goals for improvement. There were presentations on Japanese and Indian railway systems for safety operation, and recommendations on how to deliver appropriate maintenance for the railway system in order to reduce cases of accident and delay. The importance of maintenance for safety was emphasised and the need to secure sufficient budget for maintenance was made clear. The Ministries, GRDA and GRCL agreed to cooperate and work toward creating a new maintenance budget, which will be based on the Action Plan due to be proposed by GRCL soon. The 22-month Study for Safety Operation and Management of Railway System in the Republic of Ghana will be concluded in November 2013, with a final report reflecting the current situation, improvement goals for effective and efficient maintenance of the railway system in Ghana, while ensuring its modernisation and expansion.
As part of its commitment to making local communities where it operates better-off for its being there, AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has donated a cyber café and e-learning centre to the people of Obuasi. The brand-new centre is located in the Obuasi Municipal Library compound. It is designed to help students in Obuasi further their studies and successfully build networks around the world. It will help local entrepreneurs to expand their businesses, finding customers and suppliers in other regions or internationally. “The cyber café and e-learning centre is one of several projects that result from the strong collaboration between AGA, the local assembly and the community,†said John Alexander Ackon, Chief Executive Officer, Obuasi Municipality, at the opening ceremony. “Many members of the local community still do not have access to computers or reliable Internet services, which is critical to development. We are delighted that AGA is enabling the community to benefit from technology,†he continued. “In mining, we see the huge role that technology plays every day. It drives innovation. It helps us to reduce and manage our environmental impact. It improves our efficiency and performance across all of our operations. Technology is transforming the way that we operate at Obuasi,†explained Kwesi Enyan, Managing Director, Obuasi Mine, AGA. “We are excited to be able to share our enthusiasm for technology; this is proof of the critical role we believe that it has to play in social and economic development.†AGA research shows that for a population of 240, 000, Obuasi Municipality had 24 Internet cafes in 2009. Today, there are only 6 functional cyber-cafes. Yet, demand for, and the number of people needing Internet access has increased hugely. Research shows that 70% of local Internet users are school pupils and students. The rest are mainly business people including traders, start-up investors and sole proprietors. In response to this need, AGA created its first cyber-café and e-Learning centre in Ghana -- in Obuasi. AGA will begin educational activities with the distribution of Internet “Dos and DON’Ts†to the main beneficiaries. The company is exploring how to work with the municipality to set up computer and Internet clubs in the local schools, continuing the company’s significant investment in technology for education. AGA has plans to open further cyber-cafes and e-learning centres in Obuasi and Iduapriem.
By Patrick PAINTSIL Ghana intends to share its gas resources with other ECOWAS countries to help address the energy challenge facing the sub-region, President John Dramani Mahama has said. In a speech read on his behalf at a three-day high level forum in Accra to deliberate on energy efficiency and sustainability in the ECOWAS sub-region, Mr. Mahama assured sub-regional energy ministers that the country will export gas through the West African Gas Pipeline from the first half of next year. “We will pipe gas from our Jubilee and other oil fields into the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) as early as the first half of next year in order to make it available to member-states of the WAGP project.†He said Ghana is on course to achieve universal access to electricity and sustainable energy by 2016. This will be done by increasing power generation from the current 2,443 megawatts to around 5,000 megawatts in that time-span. “A recent national audit on energy has indicated the necessity to consolidate and improve upon the stock of various thermal, hydro and gas-based sources of energy in order to achieve sufficient and sustainable supply as well as cost-effective generation of power in the country,†he said. The regional energy forum was organised against the backdrop of the newl-adopted United Nation’s goals on universal access to energy services by 2030 -- which seeks to promote universal access to modern energy services, double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and increase the regions’ share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. It was jointly hosted by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREE); Global Forum for Sustainable Energy (GFSE); and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Energy Foundation-Ghana, under the theme “Paving the Way for Sustainable Energy for All in West Africa through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiencyâ€. The forum facilitated adoption of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREE) policies by regional energy ministers, as well as the establishment of a regional framework of actions to achieve the set targets. Mr. Ebrima Njie, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, said the forum provided the platform for delegates to deliberate on ways to address the energy problem facing the sub-region and identify concrete plans of action for making energy-access a reality for people in the region. He said to enhance the enabling environment for increased access to energy services in the region, ECOWAS has developed two complementary regional policies on renewable energy and its efficiency. Mr. Njie said the policies demonstrate the sub-region’s strong political will to employ sustainable energy technologies toward the realisation of policy objectives, while providing clear regulatory frameworks that promote greater private sector participation and investment. He said the renewable energy policy that has been adopted will ensure adequate exploitation of the region’s abundant renewable energy sources; such as solar, wind, small-scale hydro and bio-energy for grid electricity supply, as well as provide access to energy services in off-grid rural areas.
Ghana National Gas Company Ltd (Ghana Gas), has deployed Avaya Unified Communications and networking infrastructure at its headquarters to enable it to facilitate reliable and efficient communication for its operations. The Avaya platform will enable Ghana Gas to centrally manage all applications, controlling cost and reducing administrative time. According to officials of the state-owned gas company, the critical nature of their business requires a communication solution that is reliable, easy to deploy and expandable at minimal investment. As a result, Ghana Gas has deployed the Avaya Aura Communication Manager, as well as Avaya ERS 4000 networking solutions for its communication network. “Quality and value are two watchwords that define our approach to business. We recognized in Avaya and its business partner, RayCom Technologies, these same qualities and they have given us a solution that fulfills this†said Richard Attoh-Okine, ICT Manager at Ghana Gas. Avaya is expected to continue to deliver a complete solution to Ghana Gas including messaging, conferencing and communication access to its mobile and remote stations as well as staff to be located in the Western Region – the nerve center of the Gas facility. Avaya switching product is deployed to ensure Ghana Gas has a highly reliable and fully optimized network to be able to support its mission critical communications. Avaya, which has achieved over a 400 per cent growth over the last three years, is recognized by industry and technology experts as a world leader in Unified Communications and Enterprise Telephony, Contact Center, Enterprise messaging, Range audio conferencing, and Hardware maintenance. Recently, the Managing Director of Avaya Africa operations, Hatem Hariri visited the country at the invitation of its local partner, Raycom Technologies to meet businesses that could utilize its equipments to improve and enhance the efficiency of their operations. Avaya has also signed a five-year agreement with Bharti Airtel to provide contact center technology and managed services designed to increase the performance, reduce the costs and accelerate the transformation of Airtel’s customer service experience.
DataGroupIT, a leading Information Technology (IT) firm with branches across the continent, says it is poised to provide unparalleled, efficient and cost-effective IT data storage, management and protection to local businesses. DataGroupIT is led by highly-experienced directors, logistics experts and a trained sales team. It is a frontrunner in the African market in new product penetration, distribution and overall sales in the IT industry. The company, in partnership with NetApp, offers innovative storage and data management solutions that accelerate business breakthroughs and achieve outstanding cost-efficiency. “We already have customers in Ghana. We have no issues around pricing; Netapp has what we call the international pricing that applies worldwide. Our pricing is most competitive. Flexibility and efficiency is our value composition, giving rise to business agility. With Netapp you can get to the market faster. The solution is unified -- i.e. it speaks multiple languages,†said Rex Mafiana, NetApp West Africa’s District Manager. The company has over the years developed innovative processes, enabling the creation of market demand while developing the appropriate distribution channels for its product lines. Companies that use NetApp storage data solutions provided by DataGroupIT enjoy a reduced data centre footprint by 50%, are able to boost storage utilisation by 200%, and storage system performance by up to 400%. They are also able to achieve up to 166% ROI as a result of data centre transformation.
The world’s most influence business magazine, Forbes has described the recent signing of partnership agreement between Africa’s leading Mobile phone and computer assembler rlg Communications and the world’s biggest software and programme developer, Microsoft, as a “partnership for the futureâ€. The magazine in its October 22, 2012 edition highlights the prospects of the deal sealed in Ghana in august this year, granting rlg an Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) status. The partnership also allows Microsoft’s software and programmes including the just-released Windows 8 to run on rlg-branded laptops and phones. The US-based magazine said the rlg/Microsoft deal is “an international collaboration providing high-tech career paths for Ghana’s youthâ€. According to Forbes magazine, the partnership offers a major boost for the West African country’s preeminent information and communications technology (ICT). “Building a brand requires a lot of funding, but today we have managed to position rlg as one of the top computer brands used in Ghana,†the company’s founder and CEO, Roland Agambire, is reported to have told the magazine. He believes this will give global impetus to what has already become a household name in the sub-region. “The perception of the people was key to the company’s success, “Agambire says. “We had to show Ghanaian people that our products were not just local. They are certified to international standards, and when people use an rlg product, the way it feels and responds is no different from that of renowned products from the United States or Europe,†Mr. Agambire, reigning Marketing Man of the Year, added. rlg is currently ranked 2nd in the list of top-100 companies in Ghana, and was recently voted the 3rd Most Respected Company in Ghana. Forbes is an American business magazine owned by Forbes, Inc., published bi-weekly.It features original articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. Forbes also reports on related subjects such as technology, communications, science, and law. Headquarters are in New York City. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune and Bloomberg Businessweek. The magazine is well-known for its lists, including its lists of the richest Americans (the Forbes 400), highest-paid stars under 30, and its list of billionaires.
La Beach Towers, the luxurious beachfront residential development in Accra, has been named the Best “Up-and-Coming Developer (Mixed Use Condominium)†at the fifth Ghana Property Awards. The Awards are the biggest real estate industry awards event in the country, organised by Property Express Limited in collaboration with the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) and the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing. La Beach Towers, located on the La Beach Road in Accra, emerged tops in a category comprising developers such as Dream Realty, Villaggio Vista, and Vanguard Properties. Mrs. Worlase Afatsiawo, Head, Sales & Marketing for La Beach Towers, said the award is an endorsement by the industry of their project, which is intended to provide not just luxury seafront homes to individuals but also to give a new outlook to the country’s beaches. “We are excited and humbled by the award. We won because our product is unique and is the first of its kind in the country, which is what has been recognised by the organisers and judges,†she said. La Beach Towers comprises three 18-storey (ground plus 17) towers set within beautifully landscaped tropical gardens in a seafront gated community. Each tower comprises 66 apartment units divided into 60 three-bedroom apartments, two four-bedroom penthouses, and two four-bedroom sky villas. All the units have en-suite master-bedrooms and fitted kitchens, electric cookers, waste-disposal facilities, access via lifts and staircase, air-conditioning, broadband Internet connectivity, cable TV, and lounges that open out to balconies overlooking the ocean, the gardens or the city. In addition, each of the three-bedroom apartments which sit on the first to 15th floors in each tower has servant quarters and/or study; while the penthouses have servant quarters, study and family room; and the sky villas have servant quarters, study, family-room and entertainment/cinema room. La Beach Towers also includes an amenities block with a 150-capacity underground car park (in addition to a ground surface car park), a club house (housing among others tennis and basketball courts), a gymnasium and spa, a café bar, swimming pool and Jacuzzi. “The development is currently on the 8th floor of the first tower and the internal walls for the lower floors are being done. The Podium parking is 60% completed and all materials being used are of the highest quality,†said George Twum-Barimah-Adu of Cypress Investments Limited, the developer of La Beach Towers. “Sales are currently ongoing and we encourage investors to invest in this unique opportunity to own a piece of exclusivity,†he added. He said people can buy the apartments to live in or as an investment, adding that pricing of the apartments comes with very good terms and the potential to earn tidy returns as the value of the property increases over time. When completed, La Beach Towers will be run by a facility management company that will provide adequate 24-hour security and be available to see to the needs of residents. The first residents are expected to move in after the first phase is completed next October. The second phase, which has already started, will be finished in 2014, and the third and final phase is expected to be delivered in 2015. Mrs. Worlase Afatsiawo, Head, Sales & Marketing, La Beach Towers, and Mr. Steiner Wood of SKOL Consult, the Project Managers for the Development
GREDA President, Mr. Kwakye Dopoah-Dei, last week hosted over fifty members of the Turkish business NGO TUSKON -- who were in the country to attend the 10th International Building, Construction and Property Fair -- to a cocktail and dinner at his residence. The event served as a veritable networking platform between GREDA and their Turkish counterparts, attracting personalities in the real-estate and building industry such as Dr. Alex Tweneboa, former GREDA president; Mr. Seth Adu, Managing Director of Devtraco Limited; Mr. Torgbor Mensah, founding president of GREDA, and several others. In his welcome remarks, Mr. Dopoah-Dei urged the delegation to take advantage of the stable economic and political environment in the country to invest in the real-estate sector by partnering Ghanaian businesses since it offers great opportunities for the future. According to the GREDA President, even though a few Ghanaians are seriously doing good business with their Turkish counterparts the trade volume is still less than enough -- and called on fellow Ghanaian business people to consider Turkey when looking for new investors, since in his words “they are very innovative and have very good products comparable to the best standards in the worldâ€. Responding, board-member of TUSKON and leader of the group Mr. Osman Gemci said TUSKON is highly interested in boosting relations with Ghana as well as serving as a bridge to bring the Turkish and Ghanaian businesses together, adding: “it is in this respect that TUKSON was in Ghana to take part in a couple of exhibitionsâ€. Mr. Gemci urged members of GREDA to consider Turkey, which is the 16th-largest economy in the world with about US$800billion GDP -- more than US$10,000 GDP per capita -- as an important business destination. “Even at the height of the global economic crisis in 2011, Turkey was the second-fastest growing economy after China,†Mr. Gemci added. “As we have done since the foundation of our group, we will continue to work in order to improve Turkey-Ghana trade volume by bringing together the business people of Turkey and Ghana,†Mr. Gemci said. He commended the GREDA president who has had several years of excellent business relationship with several Turkish companies and also expressed his group’s gratitude to him and the executives of GREDA for the wonderful reception. Dr. Alex Tweneboa, the immediate past-president of GREDA, said members are looking forward to a sustainable partnership between the two groups and invited TUSKON to make Ghana the hub of their dealings with Africa, “since Ghana is the gateway to the continentâ€.
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