By Patrick PAINTSIL Leasafric , a private leasing company, has presented some food items, medicines and other toiletries to HelpAge Ghana as the company’s way of reaching out to the aged and vulnerable in society. The donation went to support the upkeep of members of the organisation to ensure that they lived in a good condition during the festive season and beyond. The items include bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil and crates of soft drinks.Mr. Kalu O. Kalu, Leasafric’s head of Finance and Administration, said the gesture affirms the company’s move to celebrate the festive period with the elderly in society. “By this, we want to reach out to the elderly and celebrate the festive season with them. We believe they are our parents for which reason we should make them feel loved and cared about by putting a smile on their faces. Mr. Eric Nyarko, Programme Officer, HelpAge Ghana, thanked Leasafric for donating to the organisation, stressing the items will go to support members to live and grow in good, decent conditions. “This is what the organisation seeks to achieve and we remain grateful to your company for this noble gesture. “We are currently a national non-governmental organisation that promotes the welfare and wellbeing of the aged through advocacy and campaign. “We run health programmes and collaborate with other NGOs in the various regions. Currently, we have 22 communities in Accra alone. We do all these for the older people to feel loved and secure,” Mr. Nyarko said. Mrs. Paulina Kuonoo, Osu Zone 1 Leader, thanked Leasafric on behalf of members of the organisation, stressing: “we appreciate you for thinking about us by presenting these items for us to celebrate Christmas. We pray for the growth of your business through this gesture.” Meanwhile, the company also held an end-of-year client appreciation party for its corporate business partners and customers. The interactive event was to commend its business clients for assisting in their success within the year while providing the platform for business networking and rekindling business ties.  

  By Patrick PAINTSIL Leasafric , a private leasing company, has presented some food items, medicines and other toiletries to HelpAge Ghana as the company’s way of reaching out to the aged and vulnerable in society. The donation went to support the upkeep of members of the organisation to ensure that they lived in a good condition during the festive season and beyond. The items include bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil and crates of soft drinks.Mr. Kalu O. Kalu, Leasafric’s head of Finance and Administration, said the gesture affirms the company’s move to celebrate the festive period with the elderly in society. “By this, we want to reach out to the elderly and celebrate the festive season with them. We believe they are our parents for which reason we should make them feel loved and cared about by putting a smile on their faces. Mr. Eric Nyarko, Programme Officer, HelpAge Ghana, thanked Leasafric for donating to the organisation, stressing the items will go to support members to live and grow in good, decent conditions. “This is what the organisation seeks to achieve and we remain grateful to your company for this noble gesture. “We are currently a national non-governmental organisation that promotes the welfare and wellbeing of the aged through advocacy and campaign. “We run health programmes and collaborate with other NGOs in the various regions. Currently, we have 22 communities in Accra alone. We do all these for the older people to feel loved and secure,” Mr. Nyarko said. Mrs. Paulina Kuonoo, Osu Zone 1 Leader, thanked Leasafric on behalf of members of the organisation, stressing: “we appreciate you for thinking about us by presenting these items for us to celebrate Christmas. We pray for the growth of your business through this gesture.” Meanwhile, the company also held an end-of-year client appreciation party for its corporate business partners and customers. The interactive event was to commend its business clients for assisting in their success within the year while providing the platform for business networking and rekindling business ties.  

Fiesta Royale Hotel has been awarded with a special commemorative Gold Award at the 5th Ghana Business and Financial Services Excellence Awards (GBFSEA) ceremony. Organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, it had the theme, “Promoting Ghana’s Economic Development.” The GBFSEA has been instituted to honour enterprises which are deemed to have made outstanding contributions to the development of Ghana at either the national or regional level. The citation accompanying the award paid glowing tribute to Fiesta Royale’s proficiency in Ghana’s hospitality industry, and excellent customer service coupled with affordability, luxury and modernity. The award was received on behalf of the hotel by top management members, led by the General Manager, Mr. Neville Paul. In a brief acceptance speech, Mr. Paul thanked the organisers of the award for consistently acknowledging the immense services offered by Fiesta Royal in the country and assured that the facility would not rest on its oars but continue to offer and give out their best for their large clientele.

Fiesta Royale Hotel has been awarded with a special commemorative Gold Award at the 5th Ghana Business and Financial Services Excellence Awards (GBFSEA) ceremony. Organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, it had the theme, “Promoting Ghana’s Economic Development.” The GBFSEA has been instituted to honour enterprises which are deemed to have made outstanding contributions to the development of Ghana at either the national or regional level. The citation accompanying the award paid glowing tribute to Fiesta Royale’s proficiency in Ghana’s hospitality industry, and excellent customer service coupled with affordability, luxury and modernity. The award was received on behalf of the hotel by top management members, led by the General Manager, Mr. Neville Paul. In a brief acceptance speech, Mr. Paul thanked the organisers of the award for consistently acknowledging the immense services offered by Fiesta Royal in the country and assured that the facility would not rest on its oars but continue to offer and give out their best for their large clientele.

By Patrick PAINTSIL The Liberia High Commission held a networking and familiarisation event during the festive season for its nationals residing in the country to encourage and inspire them recoup their pride, and enlighten them on the need to return home to assist in rebuilding of their country. The event was also to enable the Embassy identify and empower Liberians who wish to integrate into the Ghanaian community with vocational skills that will make their stay in the country more beneficial.Dubbed “Empowerment through Self-Participation”, the event attracted some of Liberia’s high-profile public officials and renowned evangelist, Dr. Lawrence Tetteh. Angie Kolue Nynemah Lavela von Ballmoos, Second Secretary Vice-Consul, Embassy of Liberia, explained the motive behind the event: “We intended to pool Liberians in the country together so as to create the platform for them to network and market their skills while empowering those without jobs for them to fit in the Ghanaian society. “As at June 2012, Liberian nationals in the country ceased to be refugees. They either have to integrate into the Ghanaian society or return to Liberia to help rebuild the country, and that is why the Embassy is organising this programme to identify their problem, encourage them and empower them economically. “The Embassy is currently working with non-governmental organisations to train and equip our people here with skills which we believe can benefit them as they continue to stay in the country -- or even when they go back to Liberia. Mr. Rudolf P. von Ballmoos, Liberia’s Ambassador to the country, said the fun-packed event also sought to get all Liberian nationals together in a bid to make them “take off their clothes as refugees” and think about empowering their lives. He assured them of the Embassy’s support for those who are willing to return home to support the country’s development. “Some people have decided to go home to Liberia and join in the process of rebuilding the country. The Liberian government and the Embassy are ready to assist individuals who opt to go because we believe they have to be part of the country’s rebuilding exercise. Mr. Ballmoos thanked government for the continued assistance and support it extends to Liberians in the country. Rev. Lawrence Tetteh of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach implored the people to renew their minds to enrich their lives. He commended Liberians who have opted to return to their country stressing, “you will not be acknowledged and respected in any country like your own. This is the best time for you to relocate so as to integrate perfectly into the country.”

By Patrick PAINTSIL The Liberia High Commission held a networking and familiarisation event during the festive season for its nationals residing in the country to encourage and inspire them recoup their pride, and enlighten them on the need to return home to assist in rebuilding of their country. The event was also to enable the Embassy identify and empower Liberians who wish to integrate into the Ghanaian community with vocational skills that will make their stay in the country more beneficial.Dubbed “Empowerment through Self-Participation”, the event attracted some of Liberia’s high-profile public officials and renowned evangelist, Dr. Lawrence Tetteh. Angie Kolue Nynemah Lavela von Ballmoos, Second Secretary Vice-Consul, Embassy of Liberia, explained the motive behind the event: “We intended to pool Liberians in the country together so as to create the platform for them to network and market their skills while empowering those without jobs for them to fit in the Ghanaian society. “As at June 2012, Liberian nationals in the country ceased to be refugees. They either have to integrate into the Ghanaian society or return to Liberia to help rebuild the country, and that is why the Embassy is organising this programme to identify their problem, encourage them and empower them economically. “The Embassy is currently working with non-governmental organisations to train and equip our people here with skills which we believe can benefit them as they continue to stay in the country -- or even when they go back to Liberia. Mr. Rudolf P. von Ballmoos, Liberia’s Ambassador to the country, said the fun-packed event also sought to get all Liberian nationals together in a bid to make them “take off their clothes as refugees” and think about empowering their lives. He assured them of the Embassy’s support for those who are willing to return home to support the country’s development. “Some people have decided to go home to Liberia and join in the process of rebuilding the country. The Liberian government and the Embassy are ready to assist individuals who opt to go because we believe they have to be part of the country’s rebuilding exercise. Mr. Ballmoos thanked government for the continued assistance and support it extends to Liberians in the country. Rev. Lawrence Tetteh of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach implored the people to renew their minds to enrich their lives. He commended Liberians who have opted to return to their country stressing, “you will not be acknowledged and respected in any country like your own. This is the best time for you to relocate so as to integrate perfectly into the country.”

By Benson AFFUL The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported the business plans of three entrepreneurs with a sum of US$100,000 each through the African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM). The beneficiaries of the grant were Gonja Meat Company, an agribusiness engaged in the processing and sale of fresh meat; Sardis Enterprises International; and Viable Vision Industries Ghana Limited, a commercial mushroom farm. The Chief Executive Officer, Gonja Meat Company, Alex Osei-Kwame, said the grant will be used to produce high-quality and affordable meats from locally-raised livestock, which will be processed in its abattoir in Kumasi and sold through its sanitary outlet stores. “Sardis will establish a strong brand for the Ashanti line of produce, particularly its organic pineapple, and expand production and export from approximately 4,900 to 42,000 pineapples per month in 2013,” Chief Executive Officer, Micheal Griffin told the B&FT in an interview. Viable Vision plans to use its grant to set up centres and support programmes to train small-scale mushroom producers and hobby growers. Andrew Karas, acting USAID/ Ghana Mission Director, said ADM is one of the few public-private initiatives to harness the knowledge and resources of the U.S.-based African diasporas and other entrepreneurs to address economic opportunity by increasing access to capital for small-scale and medium-sized enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa. He said USAID and other development leaders believe that the fight against poverty in Africa is largely a fight against unemployment. “Establishing innovative, sustainable business initiatives and promoting entrepreneurship generate jobs and capital, therefore creating the potential to improve the fortunes of generations to come,” he said.USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah, said: “The ADM will strengthen and help satisfy demand for locally-produced products and services. “This business will buy, sell and hire from within the communities they serve, putting money into the local economy, building local capacity and fuelling broad-based economic development.” Ambassador Erieka Bennett, Head of Mission for the African Union (AU) Diaspora African Forum, said he was delighted to host the second reception to honour the winners of the award at the W.E.B Dubois Centre in Accra. ADM is jointly funded by USAID, the Western Union Company, and the Western Union Foundation. Other contributing partners include Ecobank, African Capacity Building Foundation, George Washington University Centre for International Business Education and Research, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the US Department of State, and Irv Barr Management.

Ismail Manaaf, a Wa based licensed chemical seller is the latest weekly winner of Airtel’s Deedew promotion. Mr. Manaaf received GHC5,000 for emerging with the most points in the promotion. Airtel’s Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs Donald Gwira in congratulating Mr. Manaaf reiterated that in addition to Airtel ensuring that the promotion is run in a fair and transparent manner, it is also designed in a way which ensures that the points that customers gain are derived from usage on the network. “When our customers browse the internet they gain points, when they use airtime and send SMS they gain points, and when they use our Airtel Money service as well they gain points too. These are activities that they will usually undertake on a regular basis and we are rewarding them for their usage”, Mr. Gwira said. He added that Airtel Ghana is happy to see that their customers have embraced the promotion and are using Airtel’s services a lot more. Mr. Manaaf on his part hailed Airtel Ghana’s mobile commerce product Airtel Money. “I usually come to Accra for business and there have been some occasions that I have been cash-strapped. What I usually do is to call my family in Wa and they send me money via Airtel Money which I can cash easily”, he said. According to him he was not surprised when he was told he had won the weekly prize. “I use Airtel a lot so I knew I was getting a lot of points and I am very excited to have won”. He added that he will use the money to expand his business. Airtel selects winners whose regular usage on the network gets them points. Winners are determined via the accumulation of points. “If non-Airtel customers want to take part all they need do is simply buy Airtel SIM cards and activate to earn points. Customers can also earn points by recharging with either scratch cards or through Airtel Money /Pre-Tups to earn points. Points are accumulated via daily usage – Voice, Data, SMS, Airtel Money Transactions”, he said. Mr. Gwira added that customers can multiply their daily points by 5 when they meet their daily Obolobo 5X target. Airtel’s Deedew promotion has so far seen about 200 people winning various prizes. The promotion runs into March 2013.

Devtplan Consult in partnership with Novel Logics and Agile Group, UK, has launched the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)-UK training programmes in Ghana. The ILM is the UK’s largest awarding body for leadership and management qualifications dedicated to advancing the capabilities of leaders and managers worldwide. The programme provides expert training, tailored learning resources, and globally acclaimed qualifications towards supporting and developing a global leadership and business community. The launch of the programmes, which took place in Accra and Kumasi, attracted a large audience of students and academicians from across the country to learn about the novelty the progrramme brings to leadership training in the country.     Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Adam, Chief Executive Officer and managing partner of Devtplan Consult, pointed out that ILM offers a new dimension to leadership and management training with a keen focus on practical work. For his part Mr. Bernard Hot, Managing Director at Novel Logics UK, observed that due to the changing trends in workplaces, most employers are seeking for employees who do not only have the requisite qualifications for the job but also have the needed leadership and management experience. He stated that ILM provides an opportunity to acquire internationally-recognised qualifications with the needed leadership and management skills required to guarantee workplace productivity.  He therefore urged corporate institutions, employees and students in the country to register with Devtplan Consult and join over 90,000 people worldwide who gain an ILM qualification annually.  The introduction of ILM programmes in Ghana brings to three the total number of countries in Africa with opportunity to experience this international programme. The other African countries include South Africa and Kenya, making Ghana the first and only country in the West African sub-region with access to ILM programmes. DevtPlan Consult is a multi-skilled team of business development, research and management consultants. It provides consultancy, capacity building, educational and professional learning solutions in the areas of small and medium-scale enterprise business development, project management and monitoring, and research and information technology support services among others. It is the first and only certified satellite centre for ILM programmes in Ghana.