Accra, Jan. 17, GNA – Government has been advised to take a minimum life insurance policy for all its employees as a means of lending support to the life insurance companies to thrive. Mr Edmund Diamond Addo, General Manager of Donewell Life Company Limited (DLCL), who gave the advice, added that the Government could enact an insurance law to authorize all employers in both the private and the public sectors to effect a life insurance scheme for workers. He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Thursday. Mr. Addo made reference to the new Insurance Act 2006 (Act 724), which makes it compulsory for owners and occupiers of public and commercial buildings to insure them, stressing that Government could enact a similar law that would require employers to take a life insurance policy to cover their employees while they are in active service. He explained that the cost to the employer would be an annual renewable premium. Mr Addo said he was optimistic the move would ensure that families and or dependants of employees, who die in service would receive additional funds apart from the regular pension benefits the deceased would be entitled to. He said dependants or bereaved families of younger workers, who died in active service would most, especially benefit financially from the new proposed insurance law than they would have under the current condition. Mr Addo added that “the life insurance benefit would serve as an add-on to any existing pension benefits.” He suggested that Government could in addition to the enactment of a compulsory life insurance cover for employees in both the private and public sectors, take steps to promote the mortgage industry which was also an avenue for life insurance business. Mr Addo said, “when people go in for mortgage loans, life insurance protection (i.e. a mortgage protection policy) becomes a requirement before the loan is disbursed. This will make the life insurance companies to thrive and the economy to boom”. Speaking on DLCL’s business outlook for the 2013, he said, the company has targeted to grow its premium income by about 35 per cent from an estimate of GH¢7.6 million for the year ending 2012. Mr Addo said in 2011, the company realized GH¢7.2 million in premium earnings. He expressed optimism that the goal would be achieved through implementation of effective and comprehensive strategic activities. Mr Addo said the company would pursue group life businesses, increase its funeral insurance portfolio, introduce a new distribution channel by way of bancassurance and roll out a new child education policy, which would be different from the current one which was tilted towards savings. “Management intends to achieve all these with a minimal cost”, he added. He said management intends to use a new sales structure that is agency-driven, explaining that the agency force would be revamped to serve as the vehicle to carry out the company’s businesses.   Caption for Picture: Mr Edmund Diamond Addo, General Manager of Donewell Life Company Limited.   GNA

Accra, Jan 17, GNA - Four Ghanaians held hostage by Somali pirates on a ship called the Iceberg have been released.

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - The number of measles deaths globally decreased by 71% between 2000 and 2011, from 542,000 to 158,000.

Globally, it is estimated that in 2010 between 153 million and 300 million people aged 15-64 years (3.4-6.6 per cent of the world’s population in that age group) had used an illicit substance at least once in the previous year.

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA – The World Health Organization (WHO) 2012 Global Report for Research on Infectious Diseases of Poverty says infectious diseases remain key agents of the debilitating poverty afflicting so much of the world today.

Lion Henry Quist, Secretary, Planning Committee of the Club in a press statement issued to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday stated the theme for the anniversary as: “Lionism in Ghana, Past, Present and the Future”.

Hon. Benjamin Bewa-Nyog Kunbour, Minister in Charge of Government Business in Parliament.

A statement signed by Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, Presidential Spokesperson, and issued to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, said that the President will be joined by other heads of state from the Sub-region at the summit.

“The party will organize a workshop for all organizers of the party to deliberate on the way forward”, he added.

He also expressed his gratitude to the National Chief Imam, Sheik Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and President John Dramani Mahama for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Committee.

The WASH-UP programme is to provide intervention to areas with improved water supply, basic sanitation infrastructure, hygiene promotion in households, schools, health centres and public places.

Speaking at the inauguration at Gomoa Mfantseman, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, District Chief Executive, expressed his gratitude to the company for helping to solve the acute water problem facing the communities.

Shamuna Bawa had robbed a second hand footwear dealer of her cash of GH¢1,107.00 and a Samsung cellular phone at gun point at Yennyawoso in Kumasi.

Katinan, a former Budget Minister, is now facing 20 counts of conspiracy to rob and robbery. His plea was not taken by the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh.

When the GNA visited the Academy of Christ the King School at the old site, the headmaster was said to be attending a meeting and tutors around were tight lipped on the issue.

The deceased, aged one-and-half years, had been on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the facility after sustaining severe burns.

He said delay in repairing potholes because of financial difficulties has become a major contributing factor to the increasing road crashes in the country.

Togbe Tsedze made the call at a Press Conference in Ho “in the light of current tensions between Alavanyo and Nkonya communities during the just-ended Christmas and New Year festivities.”

The projects include four school blocks and a clinic with nurses’ quarters.

The Association also commended President Mahama for his commitment to uniting Ghanaians and ensuring that peace prevailed in the country.