Day: April 20, 2024

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has organised a farewell ceremony for Alhaji Iddrisu Iddisah Seidu, the out-going Commissioner of the Customs Division.

The ceremony brought together heads of sister security agencies, staff, and families of Alhaji Seidu to witness the colourful ceremony.

The outgoing Commissioner inspected the guard of honour paraded by the Customs Division personnel.

Dr Stephen Amoah, Deputy Minister of Finance, commended Alhaji Seidu for his remarkable contribution and exemplary leadership to the nation over the past three decades.

The Customs Divisions, under the tenure of the outgoing Commissioner, the Deputy Minister said witnessed improvement through innovation and technology.

The division, he stressed, saw advancements in trade facilitation, travel, and economic growth.

Dr Amoah said the ceremony did not only mark the end of his service to the nation but also the beginning of a new chapter due to his expertise in the sector.

‘Your commitment to humanity, integ
rity, and dedication to public service issues are well appreciated, and we hope to sustain the partnership for a prosperous nation,’ he said.

The Deputy Minister was optimistic that the Customs Division would improve the gains made by the outgoing Commissioner and have a positive impact on security and revenue mobilisation.

Alhaji Seidu, in his remarks, thanked the government and management of the Authority for the confidence they reposed in him, saying, ‘It was the greatest privilege to serve the nation.’

‘My journey has been made possible by the support of my predecessors and colleagues, and I acknowledge the good relationships with other security agencies,’ he said.

Among his achievements, he stated, were the easy facilitation of goods at the ports, promoting cross-border cooperation, and designing a bachelor programme in Customs with the University of Cape Coast.

He urged the in-coming Commissioner to ensure the completion and start of the programme to chart a new path of growth for the Customs Divis
ion.

Alhaji Seidu called on the government to facilitate financial clearance to employ staff in the Divison, adding that the Division needed about 5,000 personnel to function effectively.

He charged the in-coming Commissioner to prioritise issues of promotion and welfare of the staff and called on them to support him in succeeding in his new job.

Brigadier General Zibrim Bawah Ayorrogo, the Commissioner of Customs, thanked the government for the honour, and pledged to serve with integrity, dedication, and excellence.

He pledged to embrace emerging technology and best practices to enhance the operations of the Customs Divisions.

He pledged to operate an open door policy and allowed every staff member to express his or her ideas for the growth of the company.

Ms Julie Essiam, the Commissioner-General, Ghana Revenue Authority, said the Customs Division during Alhaji Seidu’s tenure enhanced operational efficiency and revenue mobilisation.

‘Your legacy will serve as a testimony for others to follow.

‘We ho
pe to continue to foster collaboration across the government and industry stakeholders for improved growth,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Africa is at a turning point, having experienced a multiple of shocks that led to many economies into crisis in the past four years.

‘The region is at a turning point. With the right policy choices today, I am confident that this moment could set the stage for this century to be the African century,’ said, Mr Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director, African Department.

He was speaking at the IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Africa in Washington, US, on Friday, April 2024, and monitored by the Ghana News Agency.

The continent recorded a negative economic growth of -1.6 per cent in the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, era, but have since returned to a positive growth path, though fluctuating.

First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, IMFC Chair Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Finance Minister of Spain Nadia Calvino attend the IMFC Plenary during the 2024 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund
in Washington on April 19, 2024. IMF Photo / Lewis Joly

Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was 4.7 per cent in 2021, reduced to 4.0 per cent in 2022, declining more to 3.4 per cent in 2023, but 2024 would see a 3.8 GDP, and 4.0 per cent in 2025 for Africa per IMF projections.

‘These are encouraging signs. But the region is not out of the woods yet. So sustaining reforms will be important for macroeconomic conditions to continue to improve,’ Mr Selassie said.

He noted that sustaining economic gains would ensure that countries in the region could build their resilience to shocks, generate jobs, diversify their economies, and improve living standards for all.

He recommended three priorities for governments in the region, going forward – improving public financing, sustaining inflation reduction measures, and boosting structural policy reforms.

‘But the burden should not be on countries alone. Support from the international community will remain essential,’ he said, adding that the IMF stood ready
to support, having already provided US$58 billion in financing to the region since the start of the pandemic.

In the Regional Economic Outlook, the Fund noted that Africa had recovered its footing, but governments were still grappling with the funding squeeze, high borrowing costs, and rollover risks.

It called for improved public finances focused on revenue mobilisation, maintaining price stability while supporting growth, and implementing structural reforms such as expediting trade integration and improving the business environment to attract more foreign direct investments.

The report also reiterated the need for international community support, noting that countries in sub-Saharan Africa would need an estimated gross external financing about $70 billion annually (6 percent of GDP) from 2024 to 2028.

‘It is crucial that both multilateral and official bilateral creditors continue to play a key role in providing financing to the region and supporting domestic policy and reform efforts,’ the report stated
.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), has launched a culinary event dubbed ‘Feast Ghana’ to celebrate Ghana’s culinary diversity.

The initiative, which is in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Asanteman Queen Mothers Association and the Public Service Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (PSWU of TUC), is aimed at promoting local foods and showcasing the Ghanaian diversity.

It also featured the second edition of the ‘Rep your Region’ programme organised by the Ladies Club of GTA.

Launching the initiative under the theme ‘Flavours of Ghana, celebrating Ghana’s cultural diversity through food’, Mr Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) designate said the ‘Feast Ghana’ initiative aimed to highlight the nation’s culinary diversity and to promote regional cuisine across the nation.

He said in recent years culinary tourism had experienced an exponential growth on the global scale, s
aying culinary tourism had been identified as one of the fastest growing segments of the travelling industry with the projected annual growth rate of over 25 per cent.

Mr Mecer added that through initiatives such as food festivals, culinary workshops and cooking competitions could make Ghana ‘a shining light that throws a spotlight on the talents of local chefs and the abundance of indigenous ingredients.’ .

He said, ‘by collaborating with stakeholders across the food and the hospitality sectors we can create a vibrant eco-system that will not only promote our culinary identity but also drive economic growth and empower local communities by promoting local foods more in our hotels, restaurants, shops, lounges and other entertainment locations.’

The sector minister designate urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity to showcase the best of Ghanaian cuisine to Ghanaians and to the rest of the world, adding that ‘leveraging global growth of culinary tourism and highlighting unique flavours of our food can c
reate lasting impact that resonate with visitors from near and far.’

‘Let us join hands to support the ‘Feast Ghana’ initiative and work together to elevate Ghana’s culinary heritage onto the global stage,’ he added.

Mr Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer, GTA, noted that ‘Feast Ghana’ represented a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrant culinary richness of the nation and celebrate the unity and diversity that food embodies in the Ghanaian culture.

He said the programme formed part of the Ghana Cares Obatanpa project and aligned with the ‘See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana’ campaign launched by GTA a few years ago.

Mr Agyeman noted that ‘Feast Ghana’ would commemorate Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene’s 25th anniversary in the Ashanti Region on April 22, in collaboration with the Asanteman Queen mothers Association.’

The grand celebration of ‘Feast Ghana’ will be held on May Day at the Accra International Conference Center, in collaboration with the PSWU of TUC.

Source: Ghana News
Agency

Executives of the National Cross Border Women Traders Association (NCBWTA) have paid a courtesy call on the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana to discuss issues pertinent to their activities.

The visit followed an earlier launch, in March, by the IOM of a 24-month project, titled: ‘Empowering Women in Small Scale Cross-Border Trade between Ghana, Benin, and Togo,’.

It aims at contributing towards strengthened community development in border areas through an enabling environment for women in Small Scale Cross-Border Trade (SSCBT).

Mrs Rebecca Dzidzogbe Amuzu, Head of Programmes and Policy, NCBWTA, called on the Organisation to partner local associations such as theirs to give practical solution to women in SSCBT along Ghana’s corridors.

She asked the IOM to support the Association through capacity building and sensitisation programmes to help the women have deeper understanding of their rights and responsibilities at the borders to reduce incidents of abuse, extortion and child traffickin
g.

Mr Ethan Way, IOM monitoring and Evaluation officer, commended the founders of the cross-border women traders empowerment group for the efforts and said the IOM was happy about Association as it would help stakeholders deal directly with its beneficiaries.

He said NCBWTA’s call for partnership was in the right direction because it fell in line with the IOM’s objectives towards strengthening community development in border areas by providing an enabling environment for women traders to thrive.

Mr Way outlined some of the major actions the IOM would be engaging the Association and other stakeholders on, which included production of a comprehensive and gender-sensitive analytic reports on SSCBT, and creation of modules on regional and continental framework related to migration.

Also is the development of sensitisation tools for civil society organisations in each of the three West African countries to support women, and finally the sensitisation of women in SSCBT on entrepreneurship, financial inclusion a
nd rights/obligations.

Mr Oscar Akaba-Norvixoxo, the National Coordinator for NCBWTA, in an interview with Ghana News Agency, said the meeting with IOM was successful, which would help grow the informal trading sector.

‘The Association would be ever ready to support in achieving shared goals to empower cross-border women traders.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Naana Adiki Manyeyo Adi I, the Ada Queen for the Royal Adibiawer Clan, has advised women in the area to pay back loans they contract to enable them to get access to more of such opportunities.

Naana Adi, who is also the Head of Community Development Department of Electrochem Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of McDan Group of Companies, says paying back such loans helped to ensure the smooth running of the scheme and allowed more people to access it.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on women’s development in the area, she said the company had given loans to at least 2,600 women at Ada under its interest-free loan scheme since its inception in September 2021.

The scheme was mainly to support local businesses by women because it was the desire of the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Daniel McKorley, that the progress of the subsidiary commercial salt entity must commensurate with the progress of local businesses.

Hence the company’s decision to absorb all the necessary costs to ensure that th
e money was given free to the women to support their trades.

‘One doesn’t need to deposit any money; there is no processing fee, no interest, nothing. You only need to bring your Ghana Card and get enrolled,’ she disclosed.

She, therefore, commended the Kasseh Market Women Association for the prompt repayment of the loan.

The market women, led by Madam Ernestina Nartey, the market queen, did so well in paying back their loans, saying that it was a testament that those who take loans in groups, through the connection of their synergies, would be able to pay them back on time than individuals.

Naana Adi, in charge of the loan scheme, indicated that out of the 2,600 beneficiaries, about 1000 had defaulted on repayment, adding that efforts were being made to get the fund back to assist others.

She revealed that the company had invested GHC1,000,000 more into the scheme to enroll more women in it to help small-scale businesses grow alongside the company’s operations in the Ada Traditional Area.

Source: Ghan
a News Agency