Day: April 2, 2024

In the morning of March 29, the Information Office of the State Council of China held a series of press conferences on the theme of ‘Promoting High-quality Development’. Wang Weizhong, Governor of Guangdong Province, introduced the economic and social development of Guangdong around the theme of ‘Promoting High-quality Development of Guangdong and Advancing Modernization with Chinese Characteristics’.

Wang Weizhong said that Guangdong has actively advanced the construction of modernization with Chinese characteristics around the primary task of high-quality development as well as the strategic task of building a new development pattern. Guangdong held the provincial high-quality development conference on the first workday after the Spring Festival Holidays for two consecutive years, seizing the major opportunities of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and taking accelerating the mutual promotion and reinforcement of industries and technology as well as the d
evelopment of productivity of new quality as a strategic move.

Guangdong is a province with an enormous economy, a large population and a huge foreign trade. The regional GDP has reached 13.57 trillion yuan in 2023, accounting for about 1/10 in China, ranking first in the country for 35 consecutive years. The total number of business entities has exceeded 18 million, of which 7.8 million are enterprises, accounting for 1/7 of the country.

Guangdong has joined hands with Hong Kong and Macao to accelerate the construction of a world-class Greater Bay Area. On March 1, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has realized the branch line management, taking a key step towards the integration of Hengqin and Macao. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel and Huangmao Sea Cross-Sea Corridor will be opened to traffic this year, making the major cities in the Greater Bay Area reachable within one hour.

Guangdong relies on productivity of new quality to inject strong vitality into high-quality development. Gua
ngdong has 71,000 industrial enterprises above designated size and 75,000 high-tech enterprises, ranking first in the country. The cumulative application volume of PCT international patents, the regional development index of intellectual property rights, the effective registered trademark volume, and the effective amount of invention patents all rank first in the country, and the regional innovation capacity has taken the first place nationwide for seven consecutive years.

Guangdong has comprehensively enhanced the comprehensive economic strength of the county, gathered efforts to improve the capacity level of urban construction, promoted the orderly transfer of domestic and foreign industries, especially those from the Pearl River Delta, to the east, west and north regions in Guangdong, and accelerated the transformation of disadvantages into ‘potential advantages’.

In 2023, the excellence rate of air quality in Guangdong was 94.8%, and the forest coverage rate amounted to 53%, so that a ‘greening-up’ has
been basically achieved. Now it is the time for ‘beautification’. Guangdong strives to optimize the forest diversification and improve the forest facies, actively and steadily promote carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, making the ecological environment of Guangdong better.

Guangdong has optimized the public service system and social security network to solve the urgent and worrying problems of the masses and promote common prosperity. Guangdong will spare no effort to ensure the employment of key groups.

Wang Weizhong and Zhang Hu, executive vice governor of Guangdong Province, responded to reporters’ questions on economic construction, coordinated development of urban and rural areas, foreign investment and foreign trade, business environment reform, ecological construction and other issues of concern to Chinese and foreign media.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Kweku Arthur-Annobil, Strategy Lead and Business Manager at Stanbic Bank, has urged regulators and leaders in the financial sector to support female entrepreneurs to grow and expand their businesses.

He said this at the 2024 Women in Business Dialogue series, held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, and on the theme, ‘Investing in Women-Owned Businesses for Ghana’s Transformation Agenda: A Call for Action’.

Organised by the Business and Financial Times, the event served as a platform to advocate increased investment in women-led enterprises as a catalyst for Ghana’s socio-economic transformation.

Speaking at the event, Dr Arthur-Annobil reiterated the importance of financial institutions to provide innovative solutions to empower women in business in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

‘Many women remain stagnant in their businesses due to a lack of empowerment and resources. Empowering them to expand requires partnerships and financial assistance. That is where we as financial instituti
ons must step in,’ he said.

He noted that having a lending partner was crucial in facilitating their expansion efforts, and urged financial players to put the right structures in place and design relevant products and services to support the growth of women businesses.

‘Traditional banks need to extend their services into the informal sector and develop innovative lending solutions tailored to its needs. While there are existing initiatives in place, there remains untapped potential for further support,’ Dr Arthur-Annobil said.

He stated that with the rise of digital technologies, tracking business transactions had become easier.

It was, therefore, important to help women businesses to adopt creative approaches, including proper bookkeeping, that would enhance their access to funding and reach a wider market, he said.

Dr Arthur-Annobil also highlighted some initiatives Stanbic Bank had put together to support female-led businesses in Ghana, including the Bank’s SB Incubator, which has empowered and suppo
rted over 3000 businesses.

The Bank’s Trade Club provided a platform for networking among entrepreneurs with valuable customers and suppliers, to expand their reach and opportunities, he said.

The Strategy Lead and Business Manager also noted that they had formed a strategic partnership with ICBC, one of the world’s largest banks to assist clients in accessing markets, and facilitate international trade.

He said, ‘At Stanbic Bank, we say Ghana is our home, we drive her growth. This is why we are deeply committed to supporting our female entrepreneurs, whose businesses play a significant role in driving the Ghanaian economy forward.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Buying and selling have peaked in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, as the Traditional Council commences the pre-burial and funeral rites of the late paramount Chief of Sunyani Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II.

As tradition demands, the traditional council has ordered the closure of shops, stores and major as well as satellite markets in the capital effective Wednesday April 3, 2024.

All food vending businesses along the streets of the capital are all expected to comply with the directive.

The Council announced the demise of Nana Nkrawiri on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, and had subsequently set his pre-burial and funeral rites for Monday April 1 to Sunday April 7.

Known in private life as Christian Kwaakye, Nana Nkrawiri was a retired educationist, born on May 31, 1946, and became the Paramount Chief of Sunyani on Monday, March 17, 1980.

During a market survey, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) noticed a boom in business activities at the Central Business District (CBD), the Nana Bosoma Central and the Sunyani ‘Masom
som’ markets respectively.

In the early hours of Tuesday, major shops, provision as well as cold stores at the CBD which hitherto would have opened around 0900, had already commenced brisk business.

At around 0700 hours some of the shop attendants, and women traders told the GNA that sales were very good and exciting, but they were worried about the directive to close their businesses.

‘I think the directive is very harsh, at least they should have considered and allowed us to open our stores in the evenings,’ a shopkeeper stated.

Madam Joyce Yeboah, a popular fishmonger and cold store operator at the ‘Masomasom’ market, said she was worried that her stuff would get rotten due to the intermittent power outages and fluctuations being experienced nowadays in parts of the municipality.

That notwithstanding, she said business seemed good, and expressed the hope that sales would continue in the course of the day.

At the Nana Bosoma Central Market, business activities looked brisk, though it was only reserved
for Wednesdays where traders from other parts of the municipality and villages throng to sell their stuff.

Some of the buyers the GNA chanced on explained they were in the central market to buy and store more stuff that would meet their needs on the days of the funeral celebration.

Meanwhile, the brisk business activity in the town has created a field day for wheelbarrow, truck pushers and head potters in the Municipality.

Some of them told the GNA they arrived at the central market around 0600 hours, and business had since been good.

Amina Salifu, a single mother, and a head potter said the demand for her service had been exciting at the market and she had even made new customers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Office of the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse says customary rites performed on Saturday, March 30, for a minor and the 63-year-old Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, Gborbu Wulomo, are for her marriage to the Gborbu deity.

It said the rites were to enable the girl assume the role as Naa Yoomo Aywomode, one of the four traditional and religious wives of the Gborbu deity.

‘We would like to emphasise that there is no canal relationship or marriage involved as perceived by many.

‘It has become necessary that the Office of the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse set the record straight on the matters arising concerning the customary and traditional rites performed over the weekend ..,’ a statement signed by Rev. D. N. Gyasi Ankrah, Director of Administrations, Office of the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse, said.

The ceremony, perceived by many as marriage to the 63-year-old, took place on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua, a suburb of Accra, and has since been condemned by government agencies, international organisations, the local and internati
onal media.

The statement stresse that the marriage was to the deity and that the responsibilities of the minor would be to act as a mother to all the priests and priestesses in Nungua.

During festivals, she would carry the corn wine to the festival grounds for praises and thanksgiving to be offered to the God Almighty and also clean and perform ablution for the Gborbu Temple during the annual Kplejoo Homowo Festival.

Again, she would be expected to feed all deities at the cardinals of the Meridian Rock, which is at the centre of the Earth and situated at Nungua and be responsible for the Aywemoede and Shade deitie, duties solely for a virgin.

The statement said the items presented on Saturday were not the usual items presented during marriage rites between a male and a female, and that they were to aid the girl in her traditional duties.

Narrating how the 12-year-old was chosen to perform that role, Rev. Ankrah said the Naa Yoomo Ahwemoede seat had been vacant for the past 300 years after the demise of
the former occupant.

He said spiritual consultations were made and the mantle fell on the minor, who was prophesied to play that role before her birth.

Rev. Ankrah said the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse was a law abiding citizen and would not attempt to violate the constitution of the republic, which he had defended over the years.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The William Wade Harris 12 Apostles Church of Ghana at Canaan, Krisan in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region has ourdoored a new National General Bishop, James Tani V, as the fifth bishop of the church.

His elevation, consecration and outdooring followed the passing on of the fourth Bishop General, Mr Emmanuel Tani IV.

The special event took place when members of the church from Ghana, La Cote D’Ivoire and the Diaspora, converged during the 11th Annual Easter Convention at the church’s Headquarters at Canaan, Krisan near Eikwe in the Western Region.

These include the national executives, board members, prophets/prophetesses, pastors, elders, trainees and the youth wing.

In a message to round -off the week-long Easter Convention, the General Bishop said the highest office conferred on him has encouraged him to discharge his mandate creditably to bring the church onto a higher pedestal.

Bishop Tani called for continuous prayers for the economic prosperity of the nation to reverse the current hard
ships.

‘As the nation goes to the polls in December, political actors and their followers must ensure a level playing field and give peace a chance,’ he said.

Preaching on the theme: ‘And I Will Give My Spirit to You and You Shall Live,’ the Apostle of the Church, Enoch Agyevi Kwame, said the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ must resurrect everything in the Christian’s life to make him/her new.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who joined the church as part of his visit to the District, asked the church to pray for God’s intervention to resuscitate Ghana’s falling currency.

The MP asked Christians to pray for the President so he would not succumb to international pressure and intimidation not to accent to the LGBTQ+ bill.

Mr Kofi Buah also asked the church to pray for peace, love and unity in the run-up to the December general election.

The former Member of Parliament for Evaloe-Adjomoro Gwira, Madam Catherine Abenlemah Afeku, congratulated the
NPP Constituency Secretary, known in private life as Mr James Amachie Kainyah, on his elevation as the National General Bishop of the church.

She advised women to support women in politics to champion their cause.

Source: Ghana News Agency