Business

 

 

The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has initiated a groundbreaking employment drive targeting 282 former tollbooth workers, mainly persons with disabilities (PWDs) who lost their jobs as a result of the suspension of road toll collection in Ghana.

This move comes as part of YEA’s broader commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowerment within the workforce.

Speaking at a press conference held at the agency’s head office in Accra on Thursday, Kofi Agyepong, CEO of YEA, underscored the pivotal role of the agency in providing employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth amidst economic uncertainties.

He highlighted the unique challenges faced by former tollbooth workers following the government’s decision to suspend road toll collection, leaving hundreds of individuals without employment.

“While this decision elicited widespread enthusiasm, we must acknowledge its consequential impact on a segment of our society that found itself in a precarious situation. Specifically, over 200 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) experienced a loss of livelihood as a direct result of this policy shift. These individuals, previously employed as breadwinners for their families, were now faced with unemployment and its accompanying hardships,” he said.

The CEO of YEA in a group picture with PWDs

Recognising the need for proactive intervention, YEA embarked on a comprehensive recruitment drive in collaboration with government ministries and advocacy organisations. The result of this initiative saw 282 former tollbooth workers successfully employed as staff members of YEA.

“Rather than lamenting the circumstances, we viewed this as an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to effecting positive change,” he said.

These individuals have been strategically placed in roles such as Regional Disability Desk Officers and District Disability Desk Officers, spanning all regions and 266 operational districts of the agency.

“This brings me immense joy,” Agyepong said, adding that: “This employment affords them not only a sense of pride and financial stability but also positions of influence where they can contribute meaningfully to policy formulation and implementation concerning disability rights.”

In addition to addressing the immediate needs of former tollbooth workers, YEA has developed alternative pathways through impactful programmes such as the Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP), Youth in Skills training, and the garment and textile training initiative under the Garment and Textile module, ensuring equitable opportunities for all individuals.

According to him, the agency ensured the welfare and social security of its newly employed PWDs, guaranteeing them equitable treatment and access to the same benefits enjoyed by other government employees.

He expressed profound gratitude to all partners and collaborators including the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Ministry of Roads and Transport, Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), and the Centre for Employment of Persons with Disabilities (CEPD) who contributed to the success of this initiative, reaffirming the YEA’s unwavering commitment to championing the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in Ghana.

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MTN Ghana has proudly announced the successful completion of its Wide Area Network(WAN) connectivity deployment for GCB Bank Plc. The project, managed by MTN Ghana Capital Projects Group, marks a significant milestone in enhancing GCB Bank’s digital infrastructure and elevating their commitment to serving customers with up-to-date technologies.

 

In a testament to the successful project delivery, the core project group from GCB, led by its Chief Information Officer, Abel Daitey, met with the MTN team led by Richard Densu, Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer for a project closure ceremony, to officially sign off on User Acceptance Tests (UATs) for 212 sites. This significant step underscored the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology by MTN to bolster GCB Bank’s network connectivity and ensure the highest standards of service for their valued customers.

Richard Densu (R), Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Ghana and Abel Daitey, Chief Information Officer, GCB Bank PLC

Considering this achievement, Richard Densu, thanked the project team for their commitment to the delivery of the project. He said, “We are happy to have been chosen by the largest financial institution in the country, GCB Bank for this project, and we look forward to expanding this relationship into other areas particularly in the digital space, cloud and data centers”.

MTN and GBC Officials

 

GCB Bank Plcexpressed its gratitude to MTN Ghana for the timely deployment of WAN for the business. Abel Daitey, said, “This project emphasizes our commitment to utilizing up-to-date technologies provided by MTN to deliver seamless innovative banking experiences and an enhanced customer experience”.

 

The project, initiated after MTN’s successful bid last year, entailed the deployment of wide area network connectivity to a total of 212 GCB Bank Plc sites (Branches/ Agencies/ Remote ATMs). The completion of this project represents not only a significant technological advancement but also a deepened partnership between MTN and GCB Bank Plc.The partnership between these two industry leaders reflects a shared vision for the future of digital transformation and customer-centric solutions.

 

End.

 

Media Contacts:

Adwoa Wiafe

Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer

 

Georgina Asare Fiagbenu

Senior Manager Corporate Communications

Email: MTNGhana.MediaOffice@mtn.com

 

 

 

 

The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has revealed that Senior High Schools across the country collectively owe the company over GH₵45 million.

He clarified that the recent disconnection of Accra Academy was part of a broader nationwide initiative to recover outstanding debts.

Mr. Dubik Mahama expressed concern about the escalating debt stock from various customers, emphasizing the necessity for prompt actions to address the issue.

“Currently, the schools’ bill is pushing towards almost GHC45m in arrears,” Mr Dubik Mahama told TV3 in an interview, adding “Across the nation, put everything together we should be in the region of GH₵2.5bn debt based on debt stock that I am seeing.”

Apologizing for any inconvenience caused, Mr. Dubik Mahama assured that the disconnection at Accra Academy was not the primary objective of the company.

“For Accra Academy and co, I am sorry for what happened yesterday, I know it was a traumatizing experience. That was not the main aim of the company. I had a conversation with the Director General of the Ghana Education Service, and he has promised to have a meeting with me before the end of this week, so we can find a long-lasting solution to these issues and how to treat them going forward,” Mr Mahama stated.

The ECG on Tuesday, February 21, revealed that Accra Academy Senior High School was disconnected from the power grid due to an outstanding debt of GH¢400,000.

In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, Paul Agraga, the head of prosecution at ECG, explained that the disconnection is part of an ongoing initiative to recover outstanding payments owed to the company.

“Normally, we have a team that goes around once a while to inform our customers of their debts so they do not accumulate and so if you take Accra Academy for example, they owe in excess of GH¢400,000 to the ECG.”by: Citi Newsroom

Source: Myjoyonline.com

 

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has encouraged the newly appointed Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, to swiftly put in place strategic policies to address the current economic challenges facing the nation.

In a meeting with the Finance Minister, Asantehene emphasised the importance of collaboration with the Ministry’s staff and urged Dr Adam to consider their insights.

He commended the former Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta for initiating measures to address the economic difficulties and encouraged the new Finance Minister to build upon those efforts for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

Expressing confidence in Dr Adam’s ability to lead an economic turnaround, Otumfuo encouraged him to implement effective strategies and measures.

He highlighted the high expectations placed on financial leadership and underscored the President’s trust in the Finance Minister’s capabilities.

“The President expressed confidence in you and has given you a mandate as the Finance Minister. Although the country is going through economic difficulties, there is hope for an economic turnaround if the right measures are implemented.

Dr Mohammed Amin and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,Asantehene

“Your Predecessor has put in place some measures as part of efforts to address the economic conditions I will urge you to continue from where he left off.

“You are not a new person at the Finance Ministry, you were there already. I will also urge you to work closely with the staff at the Ministry so you can share ideas to achieve the goals that have been set.

“Ghanaians are now looking up to you when it comes to finance issues because the President has put you in that position.”

In response, Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam stated that President Akufo-Addo has assigned him the responsibility of overseeing the completion of all stalled infrastructure projects in the Ashanti Region.

“But you are also aware that, we have faced some challenges as a result we had to stall for some time, but you also know that the President is determined to make sure that these projects are completed for the benefit of our people.

 

The Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has jabbed the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and its Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, about their 24-hour economy policy, describing it as a mere slogan.

He said the NDC and Mr Mahama, when entrusted with the economy for four years, plunged the country into a power crisis, and could not even provide a 12-hour economy.

According to the Minister, this record of the NDC shows that they cannot be trusted with their supposed 24-hour economy.

Samuel A. Jinapor

Speaking at a ceremony in Damongo where he was acclaimed as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Damongo Constituency, on Saturday, 17th February 2024, Mr Jinapor said the NDC has failed to explain the so-called 24-hour economy to the ordinary Ghanaian, and their record in government, which was marked by dumsor [Power cuts], is evident that they cannot provide a 24-hour economy.

The NPP, last month, held parliamentary primaries to elect their parliamentary candidates for constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament.

In the Damongo Constituency, no one contested Mr Jinapor, who is the incumbent Member of Parliament.

According to the party’s Constitution, where only person is nominated at the close of nominations, the person is acclaimed as the Parliamentary Candidate.

This is the second time in succession that Mr Jinapor has gone unopposed in the Damongo Constituency.

The ceremony to acclaim the Minister as the Parliamentary Candidate drew several dignitaries to the Constituency, including the General Secretary of the Party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, the Minister for Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament for Bantama, Francis Asenso Boakye, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, and the Minister-designate for Information, Fatima Abubakar.

In his address at the ceremony, Mr. Jinapor called on Ghanaians to vote massively for the NPP presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

He said in just two months after his election, Dr Bawumia had laid down his policies and strategies to take Ghana to the next level when elected as the President of the Republic.

He said Mr Mahama, on the contrary, has not been able to make any substantive policy proposition to Ghanaians but has rather asked for a period of honeymoon when elected.

According to Mr Jinapor, even though the NDC has been touting a supposed 24-hour economy, they have failed to explain what this means to Ghanaians.

“When you ask them what 24-hour economy means, they either say Jack Toronto, or something else.”

The Minister said Mr Mahama, when he became President, plunged the economy into dumsor [Power crisis], and collapsed small and medium-scale businesses.

He asked how someone who could not provide for a day’s economy makes provision for a night economy.

“For four years … in the day, tailors could not work, in the day, there was no economy for welders, carpenters, fitters, and thousands and millions of Ghanaians, how then are you going to provide a 24-hour economy,” Mr Jinapor asked.

The Minister said contemporary development, across the world, revolves around technology and digitisation.

He said, that even as Vice President, Dr Bawumia has championed policies that will bring the much-needed development to Ghanaians, and has proven that when elected as President, he can take Ghana to the next level.

He called on Ghanaians to rally behind the NPP and Dr Bawumia to continue the progressive policies the Government is implementing.Source: MyJoyOnline.com

MTN Ghana has collected over5909units of blood at its 2024 Save-a-Life campaign. The annual campaign organized to augment shortfalls at blood banks in Ghana, saw thousands of people participating at designated bleeding centres in all 16 regions across the country.

 

Adwoa Wiafe, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, in her remarks at the opening ceremony in Accra said, “We have all heard, at least in the media, some of the harrowing stories of unfortunate incidents that could easily have been avoided if blood was within easy reach.

Students of Accra Academy donating blood during MTN Save a Life campaign

That is why, we, at the MTN Ghana Foundation together with MTN Employees have taken it upon ourselves to organize this life saving event every Valentine’s Day since 2011 not only to donate blood but also to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donations and show our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community”.

Some Staff volunteers and students donating blood in Kumasi during Save a Life

Dr. Steve Paintsil, Medical Officer, National Blood Service, Korle Bu congratulated MTN for the blood donation drive. He said, “the National Blood Service (NBS) sincerely congratulates the MTN Ghana Foundation for organizing yet another nationwide blood donation drive to help stock the nation’s blood banks. In most emergency cases, blood must be readily available for transfusion to avert untimely deaths. It is in light of the above, that the National Blood Bank wishes MTN well”.

Adwoa Wiafe, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana

The following breakdown illustrates the success of the blood donation drive across the various regions.

 

 

 

REGION	UNITS COLLECTED
Greater Accra	531
Western	1058
Western North	198
Eastern	460
Volta	165
Oti	95
Central	532
Northern	621
Savannah	164
Upper East	268
Upper west	260
North East	191
Bono	278
Bono East	271
Ahafo	154
Ashanti	663
TOTAL	5909

 

Voluntary blood donations form only 28.6% of the national blood supply. Maternal health is a leading casualty of the lack of blood. With low levels of blood, healthcare delivery will continue to suffer. Through the Save-a-Life campaign, MTN has provided the much-needed support to the National Blood Bank to help alleviate some of the challenges they face.

Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and Nana Kofi Asare MTN GM for Legal and Regulatory donating blood.

Dr. Steve Paintsil, Medical Officer, National Blood Service, Korle Bu

With the completion of this year’s blood exercise, MTN Ghana through the Save-a-Life campaign has collected over 31,909 units of blood.

Robert Kuzoe Senior Manager for MTN Ghana Foundation preparing to donate blood during MTN Save a Life Campaign

MTN takes the opportunity to thank its employee volunteers, all donors and all of its partner hospitals and schools and bleeding centres across the country.

 

 

Media Contacts:

Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe

Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer

Email: MTNGhana.MediaOffice@mtn.com

 

Georgina Asare Fiagbenu

Senior Manager Corporate Communications

Email: MTNGhana.MediaOffice@mtn.com