July 2010 - Ghanaian-German Economic Association
July 2010 - Ghanaian-German Economic Association
July 2010 - Ghanaian-German Economic Association
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
NEWSLETTER No. 61 <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 1 of 14<br />
Dear Members, Dear Clients,<br />
In the month of <strong>July</strong>, the GGEA received two very<br />
important delegations from <strong>German</strong>y. The first<br />
delegation was from North-Rhine Wesphalia. (See page<br />
14 also) It will be recalled that the Government of the<br />
<strong>German</strong> State of North-Rhine Wesphalia (NRW) signed<br />
an agreement of cooperation and friendly relations with<br />
the Republic of Ghana in November 2007. Within the<br />
framework of this agreement, the NRW Ministry of<br />
Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and<br />
Integration (MGFFI) was charged with the responsibility<br />
of identifying potential areas of cooperation between<br />
Ghana and NRW.<br />
In line with this mandate, Representatives of “Duisport”<br />
(operators of the inland harbor of Duisburg, the biggest<br />
in Europe) and MGFFI embarked on a mission to<br />
Ghana to visit the Tema and Takoradi ports to explore<br />
possible areas of collaboration. The Duisport group of<br />
companies is specialized in harbor planning,<br />
construction and Logistics. They had fruitful discussions<br />
with officials of the two harbours and it is expected that<br />
there will be opportunities for cooperative ventures<br />
between them in future.<br />
In the spirit of the partnership agreement between<br />
Ghana and NRW, the GGEA will organize a trade<br />
mission to NRW to explore and firm up partnership<br />
opportunities between member companies and<br />
companies in NRW. It is the belief of the GGEA that<br />
parties to this agreement need to do more to give<br />
meaning, vitality and life to the partnership agreement<br />
and proactive steps need to be implemented by the<br />
governments to bring the private sector operators in<br />
Ghana and NRW closer together.<br />
The second delegation came from the <strong>German</strong> State of<br />
Rheinland-Pfalz. The delegation which was organized<br />
by the State Ministry of <strong>Economic</strong>s, Transport,<br />
Agriculture and Viniculture included industry players<br />
from the Solar, Confectionary and Engineering sectors.<br />
The GGEA organized a very successful B2B session<br />
where some of our members met and discussed<br />
partnership projects with them. Members of the<br />
delegation were somewhat impressed with the overall<br />
business environment in Ghana.<br />
Stephen Antwi<br />
President of the GGEA.<br />
GGEA – <strong>Ghanaian</strong>-<strong>German</strong> <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
Esseefo Street, Asylum Down, P.O. Box KA 9227, Accra, Ghana<br />
Office time: Monday to Friday 9.00 to 17.00 hrs<br />
. GGEA gets new telephone lines<br />
The GGEA would like to announce our new telephone<br />
lines:<br />
• +233 (0) 30 7011206 / 7<br />
• +233 (0) 26 3007588<br />
Advertise on GGEA Website and Newsletter<br />
1 yr Banner Advert (Website) - € 750.00 (members)<br />
€ 900.00 (non-member)<br />
1 yr Newsletter Advert - € 750.00 (members)<br />
€ 900.00 (non-member)<br />
GGEA MEMBER NEWS<br />
GGEA members co-operate<br />
successfully in a substantial deal<br />
Three GGEA members namely MBG<br />
Ltd., Hippo Ltd., and LENZ Finance Management KG, cooperate<br />
successfully to import of trucks from MAN through<br />
MBG Ltd., on behalf of Hippo Ltd., for which LENZ Finance<br />
Management KG arranged finance.<br />
The taking over ceremony of the trucks<br />
took place in Tema on Friday, 9 th <strong>July</strong>,<br />
<strong>2010</strong>.<br />
Tigo opens Customer Service Centre in<br />
Sunyani<br />
Millicom Ghana Ltd., operators of Tigo mobile,<br />
has opened a new customer service centre in Sunyani to<br />
provide support services to subscribers. The centre, located<br />
at Sunyani Zongo, opposite the Municipal Hospital, would<br />
also address peculiar problems that confronted customers<br />
in the area and the region as a whole. At a short ceremony<br />
in Sunyani to open the Cenrer, Mr Anthony Dadzie, the<br />
company’s Territorial Manager, said Millicom started<br />
operations in Ghana with only 17 subscribers. He said due<br />
to the company’s quality network, users in the country had<br />
Telephone: +233-30-7011206 / 7; 21-257837, Fax: +233-21-257838<br />
Mobile: +233-26-3007588; 24-4715454<br />
Email: info@ggea.net Website: www.ggea.net
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 2 of 14<br />
appreciated its existence of Tigo, saying the company<br />
currently had a national subscriber base of 3.5 million<br />
and has a nationwide coverage. Mr Dadzie assured<br />
customers that the company would continue to find<br />
innovation ways to ensure that they used the service<br />
without any hindrances. Business & Financial Times<br />
ensure the overall growth of the group,” she said. ETI<br />
operated in Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The<br />
Gambia. Ms Tall said despite the economic meltdown the<br />
performance of the West African sub-region was resilient.<br />
“Customer desposits rose 25 per cent to US$1,024 million,<br />
resulting in total assets growth of 28 per cent to US$1,451<br />
million,” she added. The <strong>Ghanaian</strong> Times<br />
Zoomlion to venture into large scale<br />
agriculture<br />
Zoomlion Ghana Ltd., a leading waste<br />
management firm, says it is ready to<br />
venture into large scale agriculture production to<br />
support efforts for national food sufficiency. The<br />
company’s agriculture project, which would be<br />
undertaken nationwide on large farmlands, is expected<br />
to provide employment to thousands of <strong>Ghanaian</strong><br />
youths across the country. A large range of food crops<br />
would be produced on the farms in addition to poultry<br />
and livestock production. Mr Samuel Opoku Manu,<br />
Manager of Zoil Services Ltd, a subsidiary of the waste<br />
management company, who disclosed these at<br />
Zoomlion’s midyear review meeting with the media in<br />
Accra, said the company was collaborating with the<br />
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and other<br />
related agencies on the agriculture project. He said the<br />
management of Zoomlion was currently working out the<br />
modalities for the project with the sector ministry for a<br />
successful take off. The <strong>Ghanaian</strong> Times<br />
Ecobank Ghana receives<br />
thumbs up as it contributes 89%<br />
in West Africa<br />
Ecobank Ghana, in spite of the<br />
global economic and financial crisis, last year<br />
contributed significantly to the Ecobank Group profit for<br />
the West African sub-region. The bank last year<br />
contributed 89 per cent of the West African region profit<br />
and 23 per cent of the overall group profit. Evelyn Tall,<br />
Regional Head for the West African Region, answering<br />
questions at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya<br />
shortly after the 22 nd Annual General Meeting of<br />
Ecobank Transitional Incorporated (ETI), parent<br />
company of the Ecobank Group, said Ecobank Ghana<br />
continued to play a crucial role in the group’s<br />
performance last year. “I’ll urge the management of<br />
Ecobank Ghana to continue with their good work to<br />
MTN ends Yello care<br />
The Mobile Telecommunications Network<br />
(MTN) Ghana Foundation has ended the<br />
fourth edition of the MTN staff voluntary<br />
service programme, dubbed “21 Days of Yello Care.” The<br />
programme, an initiative of the chief executive officer (CEO)<br />
of the MTN Group in 2007 became an annual MTN Group<br />
event geared at encouraging all MTN staff in all operating<br />
units in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to commit<br />
themselves to improve on the well-being of communities.<br />
The MTN Foundation is the social support wing of the<br />
company and the Yello Care programme this year attracted<br />
a staff participation of 1,589, representing 80 per cent, an<br />
increased participation rate over the 905 participants or 60<br />
per cent in 2009. The Corporate Services Executive of MTN<br />
Ghana, Mawuena Dumor, said activities and projects for<br />
the fourth edition of the Yello Care programme, as in the<br />
years before, provided MTN staff opportunities to go down<br />
to the grass roots to interact with communities and lend<br />
their support. As part of this year’s programme, MTN<br />
registered some residents of Chorkor and its surroundings<br />
communities in Accra to benefit from the National Health<br />
Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and embarked on a blood<br />
donation exercise to support the National Blood Bank.<br />
Daily Graphic<br />
Lufthansa and Swiss Air win<br />
European top awards<br />
Airlines of the Lufthansa Passenger Airline Group have<br />
again reached top ranking at this year’s World Airline<br />
Awards by Skytrax, with Lufthansa and Swiss International<br />
Air Lines as well as their respective hub airports in Munich,<br />
<strong>German</strong>y and Zurich, Switzerland being voted the best<br />
across several categories by passengers from over 100<br />
countries. Lufthansa was also voted Best Airline in Europe,<br />
while SWISS earned the top award for service excellence.<br />
Lufthansa was awarded Best Airline in Europe taking over<br />
the prize from family-member SWISS, which won the title<br />
last year. SWISS in return ranked number-one in the
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 3 of 14<br />
category Staff Service Excellence, followed by Austrian<br />
Airlines, another member of the Lufthansa Group.<br />
Lufthansa SWISS, Austrian Airlines and British carrier<br />
BMI, another Lufthansa subsidiary, jointly serve 15<br />
destinations across the Middle East from their<br />
respective hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna<br />
and London-Heathrow. Not only in the air but also on<br />
the ground, Lufthansa and SWISS are offering awardwinning<br />
services. Lufthansa’s First Class facilities are<br />
among the sixth-best worldwide, according to the<br />
survey. Earlier this year, Lufthansa’s Munich hub was<br />
voted fourth-best airport in the world, followed by Swiss<br />
International Air Lines’ home base Zurich Airport. Mr<br />
Joachin Steinbach, Lufthansa’s Vice President Sales &<br />
Services Southeast Europe, Africa and Middle<br />
East/Pakistan, said: “management is very proud of the<br />
results of Lufthansa and our partner airlines SWISS and<br />
Austrian Airlines in Europe.” Business & Financial<br />
Times<br />
Cement production at Nawuley to<br />
proceed<br />
A Sekondi High Court (Three) presided<br />
over by Justice Charles Agbevor, has<br />
lifted the injunction it earlier placed on Ghacem Ltd.,<br />
and Multiwall Paper Sacks (WA) restraining the<br />
companies from mining and crushing limestone<br />
deposits at Nawuley in the Jomoro District for cement<br />
production. This followed the intervention of the Nzema<br />
Manle Council represented by Awuley Agyefo Kwame<br />
II, Omahene of Nsein Traditional Council and Awulae<br />
TU Agyen III, Omahene of Gwira Traditional Area to<br />
withdraw the case for an amicable out-of-court<br />
settlement. When Justice Agbevor placed the chief’s<br />
request before counsel of the two parties at the sitting of<br />
the court, Mr Kojo Erskine, counsel for the plaintiffs, and<br />
Mr D. D. Gwira, counsel for the defendants, did not<br />
object. The stance of the counsels compelled Justice<br />
Agbevor to invite the two parties, their counsel and the<br />
two paramount chiefs into his chambers to deliberate on<br />
the issue. The deliberations lasted about an hour. The<br />
judge ordered that Ghacem could carry on with<br />
essential services like maintenance and servicing of<br />
equipment at the site as well as administrative work<br />
until a final agreement had been reached. However, he<br />
said, “what we have also agreed upon was that no<br />
excavation should be undertaken by Ghacem until the<br />
case is resolved.” The <strong>Ghanaian</strong> Times<br />
Zenith Bank partners with Virgin Atlantic<br />
Airlines<br />
Zenith Bank (Ghana) Ltd. has once again<br />
clinched a partnership deal with Virgin Atlantic, one of<br />
the world’s leading airlines which recently launched its<br />
flights between London and Accra. The partnership<br />
stems from the good working relationship between the<br />
Zenith Bank Plc of Nigeria, the parent company of Zenith<br />
Bank Ghana and the airline. Under the partnership, Zenith<br />
Bank collaborates with Virgin Atlantic to support its<br />
pay@bank module known as “Easy Virgin” in Ghana. The<br />
system allows passengers and travel agents to book for<br />
tickets either online or via the Global Distribution System<br />
(GDS) and make payments at any Zenith Bank branch<br />
nationwide, a payment process that takes no longer than<br />
five minutes. Business & Financial Times<br />
GIPC records appreciable levels of<br />
investments<br />
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) recorded<br />
a total of 257 investment projects with a total estimated<br />
value of 619.99 million Dollars last year. Out of this, a total<br />
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of 551.30 million Dollars<br />
representing 88.92 per cent was recorded. According to the<br />
quarterly update report of GIPC, investors made a total of<br />
108.60 million dollars transfers. It said for the first quarter of<br />
this year, FDI recorded 161.34 million dollars which showed<br />
an increase of over 800 per cent compared with 16.53<br />
million dollars recorded in the corresponding quarter of<br />
2009. The report said; "This increase was as a result of a<br />
renewed confidence by investors in the <strong>Ghanaian</strong><br />
investment environment. www.ghanaweb.com<br />
Amalbank rolls Junior Internship to her<br />
Child Customer<br />
Amalbank has this year rolled out her Junior Internship<br />
programme available to her child customers.<br />
From this <strong>July</strong> to September <strong>2010</strong>, child customers, aged<br />
between 10 and 16 years can register (with the approval of<br />
the Parent and Guradian) at any of Amalbank's Business<br />
office (Branches) and partake in Junior Internship<br />
Programme. In this programme, lasting a minimum of 5<br />
working days, child customers work in Amalbank branches,<br />
undertaking basic duties such as simple clerical<br />
duties(photocopying, stamping, sorting out account opening<br />
forms etc), data entry, customer service and marketing.<br />
At the end of the internship, the child customers write a<br />
report of their internship; after which they are awarded<br />
internship certificates for participation. While on internship,<br />
the Bank is responsible for their lunch, health and safety of<br />
child customer.<br />
The child customer is not to undertake personal errand of<br />
the bank staff whilst on internship. Additionally once a<br />
week, they are taken through career counselling on<br />
Banking and other revelant topics necessary for their<br />
development of the future careers. It is planned that for this<br />
year, Amalbank will offer Junior Internship to 300 child<br />
customers across her 18 branches located across<br />
the breath of Ghana.
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 4 of 14<br />
RECENT EVENTS<br />
GGEA ECOWAS PROJECT FORUM<br />
The GGEA organized a forum dubbed “The ECOWAS<br />
Project: Using Ghana and Nigeria as the Pivot to<br />
Promote <strong>Economic</strong> Integration” at the Novotel Hotel On<br />
Wednesday 30 th June, <strong>2010</strong>. (See page 12 also)<br />
Speakers and issues discussed at this forum included:<br />
Overcoming the Challenges of Trade between Ghana<br />
and Nigeria (Hon. Hanna Tetteh, Minister for Trade and<br />
Industry), Opportunities for <strong>Ghanaian</strong> Entrepreneurs in<br />
Nigeria (H.E. Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikro,<br />
Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana), Regional<br />
Integration in Europe: A Lesson from recent history (Mr.<br />
Hans Christian Winkler, Ag Ambassador, <strong>German</strong><br />
Embassy) and Issues in the Business relationship<br />
between Ghana and Nigeria from the Private Sector<br />
(Mr. Kennedy Okosun, MD of Krif Ghana Ltd.)<br />
Member companies present at the event include:<br />
Riepco Ltd., GTZ, Amalgamated Bank Ltd., and<br />
Atlantic Computers. Others include: Poly Group of<br />
companies, Ringway Estates Ltd. and Camelot Print<br />
Ltd.<br />
GGEA organizes Business to Business Meetings for<br />
Trade Delegation from Rheinland Pfalz, <strong>German</strong>y<br />
GGEA played host to a trade Delegation from<br />
Rheinland Pfalz on the 7 th <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> by organizing a<br />
Business to Business Meeting for the four (4)<br />
companies at Labadi Beach Hotel. These Companies<br />
included Schott AG (Solar Engery); Kocks Consult<br />
GmbH (Consulting Engineers); Wawi Schokolade<br />
(Chocolate Confectionary) and Fuhrlaender AG (Wind<br />
Energy, Renewable Energy Production).See page 14<br />
also.<br />
Individual meetings were organized for these<br />
companies to meet with potential <strong>Ghanaian</strong> companies<br />
in their line of business who could serve as potential<br />
business partners. Dr Gorn of Schott AG met with<br />
companies including Mr Vermeer (Energiebau<br />
Sungery), Richard Arku (Richco Solar Energy), Mr M.<br />
Otoo (Stom Engineering), Mr Omane Frimpong (Wilkins<br />
Engineering), Mr Sey (TradeWorks Ltd) and Professor<br />
Amo-Thompson (Consultant). Mr Leinhos of Kocks<br />
Consult GmbH held meetings with Mr R. K. D. Van-Ess<br />
(Community Water and Sanitation Agency), Mr Addai<br />
(Bans Consult-Transport Engineering and project<br />
management), Mr Ebenezer Gabrah of Ghana Water<br />
Company and Mr Ahwireng of Ghana National<br />
Petroleum Corporation. Mr Fuhrlaender of Fuhrlaender<br />
AG met with representatives including Mr Sey<br />
(Tradeworks Ltd), Professor Amo-Thompson<br />
(Consultant), and Mr Omane-Frimpong (Wilkins<br />
Engineering). Mr. Mueller of Wawi Schokolade met with<br />
MR Ohene-Kena (Kasapreko) and with Mr Baah-Duodo of<br />
Cocoa Marketing Company (GH) Ltd.<br />
The delegation was led by Mr Juergen Weiler, Chief Officer<br />
Foreign Trade of the Ministry for <strong>Economic</strong>s, Transport,<br />
Agriculture and Viniculture of the State of Rheinland Pfalz,<br />
<strong>German</strong>y.<br />
UPCOMING EVENTS<br />
GGEA BUSINESS FORUM<br />
Topic: Land Administration in Ghana; the way forward<br />
Date of Forum: 28 th <strong>July</strong>, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Location: Novotel Hotel, Accra<br />
Speakers:<br />
1. Minister of lands and Natural Resources (Hon. Alhaji<br />
Collins Dauda): “The future of Land Administration in<br />
Ghana”.<br />
2. The Deputy Project Director, Land Administration Project<br />
(LAP) Mr. Jimmy Aidoo: “LAP the panacea to land<br />
administration issues in Ghana”.<br />
3. Acting Executive Secretary, Lands Commission:<br />
Modalities for the sale and transfer of landed properties in<br />
Ghana. Dr. Odame Larbi<br />
4. Private Sector Issues on land Administration in Ghana<br />
a. MD of Lakeside Estate: Mr. Sallah Kalmoni<br />
b. MD of Zenith Bank: Mr. Daniel Asiedu<br />
c. others.<br />
Members: GHȻ 10.00<br />
Non-members: GHȻ 30.00<br />
Exhibit at Tendence <strong>2010</strong> – promote<br />
<strong>Ghanaian</strong> handicrafts<br />
Tendence at Frankfurt is the most important consumergoods<br />
event and the leading design platform for the second<br />
half of the year. It is aimed primarily at design-oriented<br />
dealers and the high-grade accessories and gift-article<br />
trade.<br />
GGEA invites <strong>Ghanaian</strong> exporters of handicraft products to<br />
exhibit at Tendence <strong>2010</strong> to help promote the <strong>Ghanaian</strong><br />
products on the international market.<br />
Dates for Tendence: 27 – 31 August <strong>2010</strong><br />
Venue: Frankfurt, <strong>German</strong>y<br />
Deadline for Exhibitor Application: 31 May <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
Contact the GGEA Office for further information.
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 5 of 14<br />
<strong>German</strong> European Businesses Trade<br />
Fair (GEREU) <strong>2010</strong><br />
(29 Sept – 2 October <strong>2010</strong>)<br />
Venue: Accra International Conference<br />
Exhibition Stand = 1,500 USD per 9sqm<br />
Centre.<br />
Category of Sponsorships:<br />
Gold Sponsor (inclusive of exhibition booth) = 5,000<br />
USD<br />
Gold Sponsor (exclusive of exhibition booth) = 4,000<br />
USD<br />
Silver Sponsor = 2,000 USD<br />
Bronze Sponsor = 1,000 USD<br />
Companies interested in participating are welcome.<br />
NB: Deadline 30 st <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
NATIONAL / ECONOMIC NEWS<br />
Set up Ghana-Nigeria Trade Commission - Okosun<br />
THE Chairman of Krif Ghana Limited, Mr Kennedy<br />
Okosun has recommended the establishment of a<br />
Ghana, Nigeria Trade Commission to solely work<br />
towards overcoming the challenges of trade between<br />
the two countries. He further recommended the<br />
commission could be a non-governmental, quasi<br />
diplomatic commission to be headed by a distinguished<br />
former political leader.<br />
Speaking at a <strong>Ghanaian</strong>-<strong>German</strong> <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
(GGEA) ECOWAS project forum in Accra, Mr Okosun<br />
said if the resultant gains in implementing the ECOWAS<br />
protocol were to be harnessed, then appropriate laws<br />
within member countries had to be fine-tuned in favour<br />
of ECOWAS citizens. The aim of the forum was to look<br />
into the concept of ECOWAS and the pertaining issues<br />
of implementing the laid down protocols. He noted that<br />
trade between the two countries should be deepened<br />
for the mutual benefit of the two countries, stressing that<br />
relations between the two countries dates back to<br />
history and therefore there was the need to consolidate<br />
that relationship.<br />
Ms Hannah Tetteh, the Minister for Trade and<br />
Industries, said Ghana and Nigeria are to sign a<br />
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on how to<br />
facilitate business transaction between the two<br />
countries. The MoU is expected to spell out the<br />
procedures an investor would have to follow in<br />
transacting business in both countries. She explained<br />
that it was the expectation of the ministry that with the<br />
signing of the MoU the procedure for doing business in<br />
Ghana would become clearer to Nigerian businesses.<br />
She said “after this is done I will expect every foreigner<br />
who come into the country to invest to follow the laid<br />
down procedures and the laws that govern the trade<br />
sector of the country.<br />
The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator<br />
Musiliu Olatunde Obanikro said the present democratic<br />
dispensation was aware that the ideals of democracy would<br />
only flourish on the bedrock of a strong and virile economy.<br />
He said due to this, one of the methods adopted towards<br />
attaining that objective was through the incentives that had<br />
been put in place to encourage Nigerians and foreigners to<br />
invest in Nigeria. Mr Obanikoro said his country was<br />
endowed with natural resources, huge deposits of oil and<br />
gas, bitumen and other mineral resources which <strong>Ghanaian</strong>s<br />
could invest into. He explained that having experienced<br />
unpleasant experiences in political instability, corruption<br />
and poor macroeconomics management, the present<br />
administration was convinced of the need to come up with<br />
the business as usual syndrome. Mr Obanikro stated that<br />
the government had also put in place an array of incentives<br />
and liberal tariff regime in order to sustain and stimulate<br />
private investment from within and outside Nigeria. Other<br />
contributors including the Managing Director of<br />
Amalgamated Bank, Mr Menson Torkornoo, supported the<br />
idea of putting in place measures to realise the aims of<br />
ECOWAS trade protocol. Daily Graphic<br />
Major relief for workers as parliament approves new<br />
income tax regime<br />
On the heels of the recent increases in utility tariffs,<br />
Parliament has finally approved a new salary tax regime,<br />
the Income Tax Rates (amendment) Regulations, <strong>2010</strong> (LI<br />
1965). With immediate effect, the first GHS 1008.00 per<br />
annum will not attract any tax. The taxable income begins<br />
with the next GHS 240.00, which will attract five per cent,<br />
while the next GHS 720.00 and GHS 14,232.00 will attract<br />
10 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. The introduction<br />
of the new income tax rates is expected to bring relief to all<br />
workers in the country. It is also expected to get workers to<br />
improve upon their productivity as their take-home salaries<br />
go up. While some workers have described the review as<br />
insignificant, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) thinks<br />
otherwise. According to the Deputy General-Secretary of<br />
the TUC, the increase in the threshold “is significant and<br />
the union of its achievement as far as its ability to negotiate<br />
this for the government to agree was concerned.” Graphic<br />
Business<br />
Merger of Revenue Agencies to improve tax<br />
compliance<br />
The amalgamation of the three revenue<br />
agencies aimed at reducing tax evasion is an international<br />
best practice that wil enhance revenue mobilisation and<br />
improve tax compliance, Mr George Blankson,<br />
Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority<br />
(GRA) has said. The three revenue agencies undergoing<br />
the integration process are the International Revenue<br />
Service (IRS, the Customs, Excise and Preventve Service<br />
(CEPS) and the Vale Aded Tax (VAT) Service. The process<br />
would operate mainly on an improved automation<br />
technology platform under the e-Government project to
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 6 of 14<br />
reduce costs and enforce the tax law efficiently.<br />
Government and its development partners including the<br />
World Bank and the <strong>German</strong> Agency for Technical<br />
Corporation (GTZ) have already pledged US$104<br />
million for the establishment and operation of the GRA.<br />
At a media interaction in Accra organised in<br />
collaboration with the Ghana Journalists <strong>Association</strong><br />
and aimed at providing an informal platform for the<br />
management of the Authority and the stakeholders, Mr<br />
Blankson said: “In modern tax administration, voluntary<br />
compliance is the bedrock on which efficient and<br />
enhanced revenue mobilisation is founded.” Business<br />
& Financial Times<br />
increase yield. The move is to ensure that Ghana becomes<br />
a major exporter of pineapple within the next three years.<br />
Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Deputy Minister of Trade and<br />
Industry announced this after inspecting a 3,000-acre<br />
pineapple plantation being cultivated by the management of<br />
Jei River Farms Ltd at Kasoa in the Central Region. He was<br />
accompanied by Mr Kobina Ade Coker, Board Chairman of<br />
Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEP). Mr Ayariga said<br />
Ghana had the potential to produce pineapples in<br />
abundance to meet the rising demand by the international<br />
market. Daily Graphic<br />
Moves to boost rice production up<br />
North<br />
With increasing world price of rice<br />
amidst shortages as a result of<br />
increasing demand and supply forces, Ghana has no<br />
other option than to double her efforts to boost domestic<br />
rice production to sustain internal supply needs. Rice<br />
consumption in Ghana is increasing at an alarming rate.<br />
Between 1988/89 per capita rice consumption was<br />
pegged at 7.0 kg; this figure rose sharply to 16.3kg<br />
between 1994/95. Currently, it is hovering around 30kg<br />
per capital per annum. Domestic rice production on the<br />
hand is characterised by poor farmer access to<br />
production factors such as improved seedling,<br />
technology, fertiliser and credit. As a result, domestic<br />
rice production is trailing far behind demand, standing at<br />
about 30 per cent of demand. Data available shows that<br />
the Northern, Upper East and West regions account for<br />
about 64 per cent of domestic local rice production.<br />
Experts believe that if the northern rice production<br />
sector is properly managed it would cater for production<br />
imbalances in the country. To alleviate the resultant<br />
food insecurity the associated costly food relief actions,<br />
huge food imports and trailing domestic rice production,<br />
the West Africa Rice Centre, Catholic Relief Services<br />
(CRS), USAID Famine Intervention Project and the<br />
International Centre for Soil Fertility have led a network<br />
of organisations and local implementing partners to<br />
adopt an Emergency Rice Initiative a two-year initiative<br />
(2009/10) to boost rice production in Ghana along with<br />
three other West African countries, Mali, Nigeria and<br />
Senegal. Business & Financial Times<br />
Two to promote pineapple production<br />
The Ministry of Trade and Industry<br />
(MOTI) is to collaborate with the Ministry<br />
of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to promote pineapple<br />
production in the country. Under the arrangement, both<br />
ministries would run an out-grower’s scheme to<br />
strengthen the capacity, as well as encourage private<br />
firms engaged in commercial pineapple production to<br />
Interest rates to go down<br />
The Bank of Ghana has taken a giant step<br />
towards a lower interest rate regime, with<br />
the establishment of the Collateral Registry, the first ever in<br />
Africa. By this institution, borrowers and lenders in the<br />
country are now required to register their transaction and all<br />
charges relating to it with a new body, giving details of the<br />
collateral used to back the deal. The Collateral Registry,<br />
known in other jurisdictions as a Registry of Secured<br />
Transactions, takes records of loan amounts from GH₵500<br />
and above and the collaterals – both movable and<br />
immovable – used to secure the credit. This mandatory<br />
registration guarantees that the lender can easily enter the<br />
collateral and realise is value within 30 days of receiving<br />
notice of default without recourse to a court action.
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 7 of 14<br />
According to the Registrar of Collaterals, Mr Mike<br />
Oppong Adusah, the system was to improve the<br />
mechanism for enforcing credit agreements, as it cuts<br />
out the protracted court process associated with such<br />
enforcements and also cuts down on risk premium that<br />
lenders slapped on creditors that had made the cost of<br />
credit in the country exorbitant, the highest in the world.<br />
“The Act mandates the agreed parties (borrowers and<br />
lenders) to fully disclose all information regarding the<br />
transactions, including all charges. This does not leaves<br />
room for hidden charges and so financial institutions<br />
cannot have an excuse for piling up risk premium on the<br />
borrower,” the registrar of collaterals told the GRAPHIC<br />
BUSINESS. The registry, which takes its mandate from<br />
the Borrowers and Lenders Act 2008, Act 773, allows<br />
the use of movable assets such as television sets,<br />
securities, wrists watches, vehicles, machinery and so<br />
on, to secure loans. Graphic Business<br />
Utilities tariff increase meet public outcry<br />
Industrialists have expressed their apprehension about<br />
the 89 per cent increase in electricity tariffs, saying it will<br />
further undermine the country’s precarious industrial<br />
sector. “The AGI is presently collating all information on<br />
the matter to come out with an appropriate response<br />
after we have analysed its exact impact on the various<br />
categories of users; but I can tell you it will have<br />
adverse implications for national competitiveness, for<br />
the strength of our currency, and for our employment<br />
situation,” the President of the <strong>Association</strong> of Ghana<br />
Industries (AGI), Nana Owusu-Afari, said. Speaking to<br />
B&FT, Nana Owusu-Afari pointed out that the AGI<br />
Business Barometer for the first quarter of <strong>2010</strong><br />
revealed industrialists were confronted with high raw<br />
material costs, jacked-up import tariffs on specific<br />
imported raw materials that industrialists only get to<br />
know of when they go to clear their goods at the ports,<br />
and unreliable and poor power supply, among others.<br />
“The AGI’s position on the proposed power tariff<br />
increase of 154 per cent was that such a huge increase<br />
should be staged over a number of years to enable<br />
consumers, especially business people, to factor that<br />
into their annual budgets. “An annual increment of 10<br />
per cent or 15 per cent could enable industrial<br />
consumers to plan and have some control over their<br />
costs, but an 89 per cent increase definitely throws your<br />
budget out of control,” Nana Owusu-Afari said.<br />
Business & Financial Times<br />
Ghana / India creating enduring partnership<br />
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hanna Tetteh, has<br />
called on Indian investors to deepen their engagement with<br />
Ghana’s private sector while viewing the whole sub-region<br />
as a good investment destination with great potential. “Our<br />
peoples have enjoyed healthy relations pre-dating our<br />
independence, and we must endeavour to make that<br />
relationship even stronger through investments and the<br />
transfer of appropriate technology,” she said. Ms Tetteh<br />
pointed out that the West African sub-region had moved<br />
beyond the era of political and civil conflicts, thus creating<br />
new investment opportunities. Ms. Tetteh, speaking at the<br />
opening session of the 12th Confederation of Indian<br />
Industry (CII)–Exim Bank Regional Conclave on India-<br />
Africa Project Partnership in Accra, highlighted Ghana’s<br />
rich endowment of industrial metals which provided a solid<br />
foundation from manufacturing activity. “The sharing of<br />
knowledge and technology is the best way to accelerate<br />
economic development since that will allow our countries to<br />
go beyond dependence on export of primary commodities<br />
and diversity into manufacturing,” she said. The Togolese<br />
Prime Minister, Gilbert Hounghou, reiterated the need for<br />
investment projects to have a sub-regional outlook, saying:<br />
“any project in one country must be designed to serve the<br />
whole sub-regional market so as to prevent duplication in<br />
the various countries. Business & Financial Times
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 8 of 14<br />
Infrastructure gap estimated at USD 2.3 bn<br />
Ghana faces an annual infrastructure spending deficit of<br />
USD 2.3 billion needed to attain middle income status<br />
by the year 2020. This is according to a case study on<br />
Ghana under the Africa Infrastructure Country<br />
Diagnostic (AIFC) survey, an infrastructural research<br />
analyses undertaken by the World Bank in more than<br />
40 sub-Saharan African countries. This figure<br />
represents 14 per cent of GDP and includes spending<br />
needs for investment, rehabilitation, and operations and<br />
maintenance in the transportation, power and water,<br />
agricultural, and ICT sectors. Out of the total figure, the<br />
power sector gap alone contributes about USD 1.2<br />
billion and is said to harbour a huge efficiency gap that<br />
acts as a drag on the growth of GDP. The report<br />
estimates that unreliable power supplies held growth<br />
back by 0.5 percentage points per capital in the period<br />
2000 to 2005. According to the World Bank, Ghana’s<br />
most pressing infrastructure challenges lie in the power<br />
sector, where unreliable supplies have led to economic<br />
losses valued at two per cent of GDP in recent years.<br />
The total burden of power sector inefficiency is said to<br />
cost about 2.8 per cent of GDP. Business & Financial<br />
Times<br />
IMF approves USD 119 m for<br />
disbursements<br />
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)<br />
has approved the first and second<br />
reviews of Ghana’s economic performance under the<br />
Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The<br />
approval will enable Ghana to draw USD 119 million,<br />
bringing total disbursement under the arrangement to<br />
USD 218 million. In completing the reviews, the Board<br />
granted waivers for the non-observance of the<br />
continuous quantitative performance criterion on the<br />
contracting or guaranteeing of non-concessional<br />
external debt and the non-observance of the September<br />
30, 2009 quantitative performance criteria on the overall<br />
budget (fiscal) deficit. The Board approved on <strong>July</strong> 15,<br />
2009 a three-year arrangement under the Poverty<br />
Reduction and Growth Facility. While the fiscal deficit<br />
was significantly reduced in 2009, revenue shortfalls<br />
resulted in the accumulation of domestic payment<br />
arrears. “Reduction of the budget deficit to eight per<br />
cent of GDP in <strong>2010</strong> will require tight controls over<br />
spending, including public administration costs, and<br />
strengthening revenue mobilisation. To safeguard against<br />
new domestic payments arrears, the government should<br />
stand ready to tighten fiscal policies promptly, if the need<br />
arises,” the IMF Mission said in a report. Business &<br />
Financial Times<br />
INDUSTRY / BUSINESS NEWS<br />
Belgium delegation explores business partnership<br />
A 40-member business executive delegation from the<br />
Belgium Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture<br />
has interacted with their <strong>Ghanaian</strong> counterparts to explore<br />
avenues of partnership and cooperation to boost trade<br />
between the two countries. Mr Maurice Vermeesch,<br />
Chairman of East-African Chapter of Belgium Chamber of<br />
Commerce, Industry and Agriculture said they decided to<br />
establish trade partnerships with <strong>Ghanaian</strong> firms because<br />
of the strength and stability in the economy. He said in<br />
addition, Ghana upheld international best standards of<br />
business transactions coupled with her improved relations<br />
with the World Bank and other international organisations<br />
convinced the delegation that their investments would be<br />
safe in Ghana. Mr Vermeesch said members of the<br />
delegation were interested in partnerships in water<br />
treatment, logistics, ports and agri-business. The Deputy<br />
Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga, said<br />
the government was implementing reforms on legislative<br />
and administrative procedures to ensure that the country’s<br />
investment environment was friendlier to investors.<br />
Business & Financial Times<br />
Banks loan quality drops – PWC Survey<br />
The quality of banks’ loan and advances<br />
deteriorated last year as compared to 2008, the 2009<br />
Banking Survey report released by Pricewaterhouse<br />
Coopers has showed. The survey which is in its 10 th year<br />
and done in association with the Ghana <strong>Association</strong> of<br />
Bankers indicated that the industry’s average impairment<br />
charge to gross loans almost doubled from 2.2 per cent in<br />
2008 to 4.2 per cent in 2009. The report cites increased<br />
cost of funds, inflation, depreciation of the cedi and the<br />
delay in paying contractors and other service providers as
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 9 of 14<br />
the key factors for the worsened asset quality. Industry<br />
concentration indicates a shift towards the utilities and<br />
construction sector primarily due to the industry support<br />
in developing infrastructure in the telecommunication<br />
sector and rehabilitating the power sector. UTBank and<br />
Unibank improved on their loan recoveries and covered<br />
part of the impairment charges incurred in previous<br />
year. Business & Financial Times<br />
Anglogold Ashanti pays USD<br />
220m in taxes<br />
AngloGold Ashanti has paid more than USD 220 million<br />
in the form of direct and indirect taxes in the last five<br />
years to the government, a regulator and shareholder of<br />
the company. The company, created in 2004 as a result<br />
of combination of the assets of the former AngloGold<br />
and Ashanti Goldfields, has also spent about USD 1.1<br />
billion in the same period on wages and salaries, utility<br />
bills and importation of raw materials and services.<br />
AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has produced 3.2 million<br />
ounces of gold from the Iduapriem and Obuasi mines<br />
since 2004 and until recently the two operations<br />
produced 12 per cent of the entire AngloGold Ashanti<br />
group gold production. The Vice President of AngloGold<br />
Ashanti, Ghana, Dr Toby Bradbury, disclosed this at the<br />
West Africa Mining and Exhibition Conference in a<br />
presentation on the contribution of AngloGold Ashanti to<br />
the economy of Ghana. Dr Bradbury noted that beyond<br />
the heavy investments in the industry, AGA also<br />
contributed a lot to the health, education, sports and<br />
agricultural sectors of the economy. Graphic Business<br />
Newmont creates more business<br />
opportunities<br />
Newmont Ghana is integrating local business within its<br />
areas of operation into its supply chain business.<br />
Officials of the company said the initiative was an<br />
important component in sustaining mining operation and<br />
local development. That, the company said, was to<br />
maximise local content in its operations at the Ahafo<br />
Mine, where the mining company had, in partnership<br />
with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), set up<br />
a comprehensive intervention, the Ahafo Linkages<br />
Programme (ALP) in 2007. The overall goal of the<br />
Ahafo Linkages Programme is to create income and<br />
employment opportunities for local communities around<br />
the Ahafo Gold Project, particularly micro, small and<br />
medium enterprises (MSMEs) and to help them become<br />
sustainable businesses. It is also to provide business<br />
opportunities beyond Newmont Ghana through<br />
facilitating Newmont with businesses within and outside<br />
Ghana, local businesses within the Asutifi and Tano<br />
North districts of the Brong Ahafo Region. Graphic<br />
Business<br />
New strategy to boost palm oil production<br />
New global strategy that could raise the nation’s<br />
competitiveness in palm oil production is being<br />
developed by experts from the International Finance<br />
Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank<br />
Group. The strategy, to be ready in September <strong>2010</strong>, is<br />
expected to quick-start a multi-million dollar oil palm<br />
programme for policymakers and government and will focus<br />
on access to financing, certification, land-use policy,<br />
technology transfer, and infrastructure development from<br />
the farm to the port, as well as pricing mechanism and<br />
marketing. This is aimed at maximising development<br />
outcomes for the communities while minimising adverse<br />
social and environmental impacts of the sector and<br />
supporting smaller businesses, as well as alleviating<br />
poverty. Analysts say the strategy is timely as Ghana is<br />
expected to export 36,000 metric tonnes of palm oil to<br />
China next year, following the conclusion of a USD 21.6<br />
million deal between Chyuan Ghana Limited and China-<br />
Africa <strong>Economic</strong> Trade Limited. The palm oil to be exported<br />
by Chyuan Chya will mainly be purchased from small and<br />
medium-scale smallholder producers across the country.<br />
Business & Financial Times<br />
MUNICH TO MARITIUS<br />
Governors endorse increase in AfDB’s capital base<br />
The governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s<br />
have endorsed the tripling of the bank’s capital resources to<br />
nearly USD 100 billion. This substantial increase allows the<br />
AfDB to sustain a higher level of lending, including to the<br />
private sector, in response to overwhelming demand in all<br />
countries. In response to the financial crisis, the bank had<br />
frontloaded its commitments, put in place new instruments<br />
to facilitate trade, and restructured its portfolio. As a result,<br />
the bank had used its available resources more quickly<br />
than previously expected. Africa was badly hit by the<br />
financial crisis, which threatened to set back the progress of<br />
improved economic growth that the last decade witnessed.<br />
When member countries came to the bank for support in<br />
the midst of the financial crisis, the bank stepped up to the<br />
plate – it frontloaded commitments, restructured portfolios<br />
to release additional resources, and quickened its<br />
operational process. This has happened at a moment when<br />
Africa faces significant hurdles, such as financing gaps in<br />
excess of USD 117 billion in 2009 and USD 130 billion in<br />
<strong>2010</strong> just to meet the Millennium Development Goals.<br />
Graphic Business
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 10 of 14<br />
South African economy to grow 3.3%<br />
this year<br />
South Africa’s economic growth is likely to exceed the<br />
Treasury’s target this year and next as a global<br />
economic rebound bolsters demand for exports, the<br />
Organisation for <strong>Economic</strong> Cooperation and<br />
Development (OECD) forecasts. Africa’s largest<br />
economy will probably expand 3.3 per cent this year<br />
and five per cent in 2011, after contracting 1.8 per cent<br />
last year, the Paris-based OECD said in a report<br />
released on its website. In the Feb. 17 budget, the<br />
Treasury forecast growth of 2.3 per cent this year and<br />
3.2 per cent in 2011. “The risks to the outlook are<br />
balanced,” the Paris OECD said. “Overly tight monetary<br />
conditions, while confidence remains fragile, many hold<br />
back the recovery. On the other hand, higher<br />
commodity prices and larger capital inflows may provide<br />
further impetus to domestic demand.” <strong>Economic</strong> growth<br />
accelerated to an annualised 4.6 per cent in the first<br />
quarter as record low interest triggered a rebound in<br />
consumer spending, while demand from abroad<br />
boosted mining and manufacturing, the statistics<br />
agency has said. Business & Financial Times<br />
CIM RETURNING EXPERTS<br />
PROGRAMME<br />
Fostering development by supporting<br />
returning graduates and experienced<br />
experts.<br />
Returning experts who have acquired their professional<br />
skills in <strong>German</strong>y have an important role to play in their<br />
countries of origin. When they are integrated<br />
professionally, they can make a sustainable contribution<br />
to the economic, technological and social development<br />
of their country. Their professional know-how is cuttingedge.<br />
They have international contacts, are at home in<br />
several cultures and speak at least two languages<br />
fluently. The Returning Experts Programme puts this<br />
potential to work for development. It supports the<br />
professional integration of university graduates and<br />
experienced experts from developing, emerging and<br />
transition countries, who have completed their training<br />
in <strong>German</strong>y and are interested in returning to their<br />
countries of origin. The focus is on placing professionals<br />
in areas of particular relevance to development. In<br />
addition to placement and advisory services, the<br />
programme offers financial support to experts interested<br />
in returning to their own countries. Employers, too, can<br />
benefit from programme services such as assistance<br />
with recruiting employees.<br />
• Publish your job offers where qualified candidates will be<br />
sure to see it<br />
• We could forward to you the profiles of suitable persons<br />
from our pool of applicants<br />
• We could search for qualified candidates for your position<br />
through our contacts with universities and student<br />
organizations<br />
• We conduct interviews in advance to preselect candidates<br />
with the professional and personal qualities you need.<br />
Together with our advisors for returning experts in Ghana<br />
we provide the following support:<br />
INFORMATION AND ADVISORY SERVICES ON THE<br />
JOB MARKET IN GHANA<br />
JOB PLACEMENT<br />
arranging of contracts with public and private employers,<br />
NGOs and development cooperation institutions<br />
NETWORKING setting up contacts with associations of<br />
returned experts and development cooperation institutions<br />
and experts.<br />
The Returning Experts Programme is implemented by the<br />
Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM)<br />
on behalf of the <strong>German</strong> Federal Ministry for <strong>Economic</strong><br />
Cooperation and Development (BMZ). CIM is a joint<br />
operation of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fϋr Technische<br />
Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH and the International<br />
Placement Services (ZAV) of the <strong>German</strong> Federal<br />
Employment Agency (BA)<br />
For more information, contact:<br />
David Yawo-Mensah Tette<br />
Adviser Returning-Experts Programme<br />
GTZ-Office Accra<br />
Tel: +233-30-2760448, 2 777375<br />
Mob: +233-24-4 36 47 80<br />
Fax: + 233-21-773106<br />
Email: david.tette@gtz.de<br />
Would you like to tap the potential of a<br />
returning expert from <strong>German</strong>y by<br />
employing such a person yourself? If<br />
so, take advantage of our package!<br />
Forward a description of the position<br />
you have to offer with a profile of the person you want<br />
for that job
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 11 of 14<br />
PRESENTATION BY MEMBER COMPANY<br />
INSURANCE SOLUTIONS LIMITED (INSURANCE<br />
BROKERS AND CONSULTANTS)<br />
This is to introduce Insurance Solutions Ltd (ISL), a<br />
<strong>Ghanaian</strong> owned Limited liability Company, licensed by<br />
the National Insurance Commission to engage in<br />
Insurance Broking and Consulting Services in Ghana.<br />
OUR TEAM: ISL is headed by Ms Josephine Amoah<br />
(BSc, ACII , FGII) a chartered insurer with 30 years of<br />
experience in Insurance; 22 years of it as an Insurance<br />
Executive and 8 years as Commissioner of Insurance in<br />
charge of regulation and supervision of Insurance<br />
business in Ghana. Our technical team is well rounded<br />
in Insurance practise with a combined experience of 62<br />
years of Insurance practise ranging from Insurance<br />
Underwriting and Claims, through Insurance<br />
Supervision to Insurance Broking and Consultancy. Our<br />
In-depth knowledge of the market, especially the<br />
providers and products, places us in a unique position<br />
to help you get maximum benefit from your Insurance.<br />
OUR SERVICE: Among others, ISL is well placed to<br />
provide the following services;<br />
• Assist you in the identification of your Insurance<br />
needs, guide you to arrange appropriate and<br />
adequate insurances and negotiate favourable<br />
terms and conditions for you.<br />
• § Provide you with advisory services on your<br />
insurance claims to ensure judicious and timely<br />
settlement of legitimate claims.<br />
• § Assist you to gain a better understanding of<br />
your Insurance cover.<br />
WHY YOU NEED OUR SERVICES<br />
• COMPLEX INSURANCE DOCUMENTS:<br />
Insurance policy documents are often<br />
voluminous and contain technical terms which<br />
most people do not understand. ISL will assist<br />
you to know exactly what you are buying and<br />
the ‘dos’ and ‘donts’ contained in your<br />
insurance documents.<br />
• COMPETITIVE TERMS: Our knowledge of the<br />
market enables us to negotiate more<br />
competitive terms for you than you can on your<br />
own. We can for instance access some discounts<br />
you may not be aware of.<br />
• CLAIMS HANDLING: Processing of Insurance<br />
claims could sometimes be cumbersome and<br />
protracted, additionally if claim forms are not<br />
completed properly it could result in your inability to<br />
make some genuine claims. Our expert guidance in<br />
times of a claim will be of invaluable benefit to you.<br />
ISL will help you through the entire claims process.<br />
We will use our expertise to help you get a<br />
judicious and speedy settlement of all your<br />
legitimate insurance claims.<br />
• SAVINGS: Besides making savings on premiums,<br />
we will save you valuable man hours by taking up<br />
the liaison between you and your insurance<br />
company, and delivering all your insurance<br />
documents at your doorsteps. REVIEW OF<br />
POLICIES: We will review your existing insurances<br />
to ensure that the cover is appropriate and<br />
adequate, and make recommendations which will<br />
enable you to obtain maximum benefit from your<br />
insurances.<br />
• FREE SERVICES: Unlike intermediaries in other<br />
industries, the invaluable services we render to you<br />
are free of charge to you. The Insurance<br />
Companies we place business with, in line with<br />
Insurance practise, pay us commission on your<br />
premium payments. Please note that this in no way<br />
increases your premium. You shall in fact pay the<br />
same premium (or even more) if you deal directly<br />
with the Insurance Companies.<br />
• SERVICING YOUR ACCOUNT: We would assign<br />
to you a relationship officer for your account, who<br />
would among other things give you technical<br />
insurance advice, and perform other duties such<br />
as: 1. Visit you regularly to address your insurance<br />
concerns 2. Arrange new insurances with your<br />
consent 3. Remind you on due dates about the<br />
renewal of your insurance policies. 4. Follow up<br />
on your Insurance claims. As an independent<br />
Insurance intermediary, ISL is free to place your<br />
insurance with any registered insurer of your<br />
choice. We look forward to the opportunity to be of<br />
service to you and your organisation and its<br />
employees and clients.
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 12 of 14<br />
GGEA ECOWAS FORUM (30TH JUNE <strong>2010</strong>) IN PICTURES<br />
Hon. H. Tetteh, Minister for Trade Mr C. Winkler (Ag. Ambassador, H.E. Senator M. O. Obanikro<br />
& Industry <strong>German</strong> Embassy) Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana<br />
Cross Section of speakers<br />
Section of participants<br />
Mr. M.Tokornoo (MD, Amal Bank)<br />
Mr. S. Antwi (President, GGEA) Mr. K. Okosun (MD, Krif Ghana Ltd.) Question time<br />
Question time<br />
Cross section of participants
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 13 of 14<br />
GEREU <strong>2010</strong> ADVERTS
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 14 of 14<br />
GGEA BUSINESS DELEGATIONS<br />
TRADE DELEGATION FROM NORTH-RHINE WESPHALIA<br />
Delegation at Tema Vice President of Duisport,<br />
Mr Thomas Schlipkoether, in Diskussion with<br />
Mr Antwi and Mr Arthur-Mensah<br />
Delegation at Tema Harbour just before starting<br />
Left -right: Dr Ghanem Degheili, Managing Director of<br />
of Duisport Facility Logistics GmbH, Mr Richard Anamoo,<br />
Director of Port Tema, Mr Thomas Schlipkoether,<br />
Mrs Christiane Neuchel-Moellering Head of Department<br />
Good Governance and Infrastucture at the <strong>German</strong><br />
Ministry (MGFFI) in North-Rhine Westfalia, Mrs Alice<br />
Torkornoo Marketing Manager Tema Harbour<br />
TRADE DELEGATION FROM RHEINLAND PFALZ, GERMANY (7 TH JULY <strong>2010</strong>)<br />
Mr Leinhos (Kocks Consult) in a discussion with<br />
participating companies<br />
Mr. Mueller (Wawi Schokoladi, Germay)<br />
Dr. Gorm (MD,Schott Solar AG) and Mr. Otoo<br />
(MD, Stom Eng.)<br />
section of participants on business to business meeting
Newsletter <strong>July</strong> <strong>2010</strong> Page 15 of 14