Accra:  17 December 2012: Baffour Akwasi Agyemang, a 33 yr old participant of Vodafone’s World of Difference can indisputably be described as a tireless giver. Baffour has been giving life to people by donating blood every three months for the past 16 years.  That is why when he heard the Vodafone Foundation call for entries on Luv FM in Kumasi to give people who are passionate about giving back to society the rare opportunity to do so, he applied, and is now making a big difference that will serve the people of Ashanti region and beyond.   The graduate from Christian Service University in Kumasi believes he has a calling to give back to society. His motivation in donating blood over the years, he shares, is a service to God. ‘If God protects me then I feel obliged to give blood and help others.   I’m a blood type O negative and only 6 percent of the population have this blood type which means it is always in short supply. I have seen the positive effects it donating blood has had on many lives’ . Baffour had always wanted to be part of the Vodafone Ghana Foundation World Of Difference initiative. Being a regular blood donor, he had good links with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and other NGO’s who had mentioned the initiative to him in the past. Upon hearing the announcement on Luv FM, he spoke to the head of the unit at KATH - Dr Shirley Owusu Ofori and asked if they could help him with his proposal to the World Of Difference initiative as he was interested in working with KATH as his main NGO. His proposal, which was about blood donation and the cause and effect of donating, was embraced by Vodafone Foundation and he was chosen as a participant. Baffour started his journey with two main objectives; getting a blood bank management system and increasing the amount of donors. To paint a clear picture, KATH had historically been logging in details of donors and other information manually which meant on occasions there were human errors, misplaced and inconsistent information. The new management system will help with tracking, inform donors of their next donation, help with inventory and also with cross matching. Currently, the software is being developed by Faisal Mohammed who is a software engineer for Infotech - a software development company. Baffour used to work for and has used his relationship to broker a deal with the CEO of infotech to sponsor the development of the program at a nominal cost of GHC 3500. The management system will look at donor registration, investigative analysis, match request and alerts and messaging to people on the database who have given blood before. It is no mean feat to modernise blood donation at KATH; this new system thanks to Vodafone Foundation’s World of Difference initiative will revolutionise the way in which blood is accessed and used in Ghana. A key part of this initiative is to raise awareness and educate people to donate blood. Baffour initiated a school drive to evangelise about his personal story and his walk in faith to help others who are in need. His heartfelt messaging cuts to the core of the issue - give blood and save a life, that life could be a family member. With all these various efforts from Baffour, KATH and the initial recognition from Vodafone Foundation World of Difference programme, there has been an incremental rise of 30 percent of new donors. ‘I have always wanted to be involved in The World Of Difference programme and the opportunity came at the right time. I’ve always believed that God gives opportunities and I am truly humbled to be contributing to change the unfavourable perception people have on giving blood, and also being the guiding force in digitising the blood donor process. Vodafone Foundation’s World Of Difference programme has brought hope to KATH, the people who are sick and in need of blood, and also educating those who are able to give blood. My take home lesson from this is that people care and people want to help; they just need to be shown the way. I’m truly humbled and blessed’, noted Baffour Akwasi Agyemang. Carmen Bruce-Annan, Head of Corporate Communications at Vodafone Ghana shares Vodafone’s excitement on the life-changing contributions the World of Difference participants are making in Ghana. ‘We are very impressed by the progress each participant of the World of Difference programme has made would be an understatement; Vodafone Foundation’s World of Difference programme has given them the tools and the know how to make a difference and we are constantly moved by the great results we see. The World of Difference programme is currently in it’s third year and has to date positively transformed communities with impactful and sustainable projects that will guarantee a brighter future for all Ghanaians.

President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed his government’s support and campaign for the candidature of Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, a former Minister for Trade and Industry, for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). President Mahama asked his colleagues in an address to the 7th Summit of the Heads of State and Governments of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Thursday, to join Ghana to support Mr. Kyeremanteng for the position, said a statement from the Office of the President Government’s decision to support Mr. Kyeremanteng, a leading member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), was first announced by the late President, John Evans Atta Mills, during the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012. Speaking to journalists after his address, John Mahama gave the assurance that Ghana will use its leverage within the committee of nations to garner support for Mr. Kyeremanteng’s bid. Ghana, he said, has already secured the support of the entire membership of the AU and expressed the hope that through negotiations and dialogue other countries, including members of the 79-member ACP, will go with Ghana's choice.

By Basiru Adam The Ministry of Energy has presented a final draft of the Petroleum Exploration and Production (E&P) Bill to the Attorney General’s Department for “final comments”, but concerns raised by Civil Society over aspects of the bill may have to wait for another day. The bill does not address the call for a mandatory disclosure provision – thus, the disclosure of oil and gas contracts remains a matter of discretion on the part of the sector minister. Mr. Edward Bawa, a Communications Specialist at the Ministry of Energy, told the B&FT that the Right to Information Bill and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) make it possible for members of the public who may want information on oil and gas contracts to have it upon request. The position of Mohammed Amin Adam, Executive Director of the African Centre for Energy Policy, however, is that the mandatory disclosure clause is needed so that it would no longer lie within the discretion of the Minister to decide which contracts to publish. Due to the lack of a provision in the bill for a mandatory disclosure of oil contracts, only seven of about 14 contracts signed so far have been published, he told the B&FT. “If we agree that disclosing the contracts is a fundamental step in ensuring transparency, then we should go all out and ensure that it is done.” Another concern raised by Civil Society which the bill may not address is for the country to have an open and competitive bidding process in the award of oil and gas licences. According to Mohammed Amin Adam, Ghana would have higher value if it allows an open and competitive bidding process for basins that have been proven to hold significant accumulation of oil reserves.   Mr. Bawa indicated, however, that government is sticking with the process of negotiating the licences because “we must, at these early stages of the industry, guide the process.” “Irrespective of wherever you are coming from, your philosophy and your thinking in exploring should fit into what we call the strategic fit of Ghana,” he said. He said in future, when the country has gained enough experience in the industry, it might change the rules to suit the times. “The E&P law in itself will not be cast in stone, and therefore over a period of time, if we realise that as a country we should now do open and competitive bidding we will do it. We don’t intend doing that – at least for now.” It does appear also that the bill maintains the situation where additional oil entitlements or windfall taxes would be determined based on oil companies’ rate of investment returns, instead of production as Civil Society is calling for. “By production-based additional oil entitlement, I mean we should have a benchmark for oil production, and if they produce beyond that benchmark, then the extra production attracts additional oil entitlement or the windfall tax. As it is now our system is based on rate of return. If they make profit beyond a certain level, then that is where we get additional oil entitlement. And because these companies have a tendency of inflating their cost – and also because we don’t have a cost-control mechanism in our law – Ghana becomes disadvantaged and so we don’t get windfall tax,” said Mohammed Amin.  â€œThe additional oil entitlement should be moved from rate of return-based to price of production-based. This is what Nigeria and Venezuela are doing,” he added. After several revisions, the bill appears to be getting ready to go before law makers. According to Edward Bawa, from the Attorney General’s Department, the bill will go to Cabinet for approval before it eventually goes to Parliament. “We would have wished that this bill were in Parliament yesterday; it has gone through a lot of consultations, and we think that at the Attorney General’s Department it shouldn’t take up to a month,” he said. An initial draft of the bill was prepared in 2010 but has had to go through various revisions and polishing-up.   When passed, the E&P law will replace the 1984 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act (PNDC Law 84) to make way for a more comprehensive and advanced legal regime to govern petroleum activities.

By Dominick Andoh Mr. Jonathan Broll, Chairman of Broll Property Group – a property services company – has called for a fortification of the mortgage financing industry and a review of the interest rates in order to address the country’s housing deficit. Ghana’s housing deficit stands at 1.7 million and it is estimated that 150,000 housing units are required annually to bridge the yawning gap. “[Presently] there is a dire need for affordable housing. The biggest impediment is the lack of general mortgage finance for housing as well as a very high interest rate. That makes it almost impossible for a young couple starting life to be able to afford their own accommodation. “There is no magic wand other than for interest rates to come down to lower levels. It’s important for the banks to improve their balance sheets so that the cost of borrowing will come down. Then mortgages will become easily available and affordable,” he said.   In an interview with BFT, he indicated that the success of the property development of the Accra Mall, which is managed by Broll Ghana, has led to enormous interest from many property developers looking to enter the Ghanaian market. “Today, there are about eight large malls being planned in Ghana. With the growth of the economy has come the growth of the middle class; with that they have disposal income and people want to shop in modern air- conditioned malls with a good tenant mix and a great variety at a competitive price.” Indigenous Ghanaian retailers have taken to the mall concept. This competitiveness is keeping the cost of living under control. Broll Property Group, which started in Cape Town, South Africa, 38 years ago, is one of the pre-eminent property service providers on the continent. Its repertoire of services includes property management, valuation, leasing and sales, and corporate real estate services. The company, with its affiliation to CBRE, the world’s largest property services company, currently provides property services to over 250 of the Fortune 500 companies. The company established a branch in Ghana through a local partnership with SSNIT and SIC in May 2006, and has quickly entrenched itself in the market that is growing-- buoyed by the oil and gas industry. The company offers the full spectrum of property-related services including commercial broking, property valuations, retail leasing and consulting, corporate real estate services, facilities management, property management, shopping centre management, project management, and residential estate management. In addition to close ties with other Broll Property Group subsidiaries in South Africa, Nigeria, Malawi and Namibia, the Ghanaian operation enjoys affiliate status with CBRE, bringing representation to more than 80 countries and 438 offices around the world. Mr. Broll said the company will continue to provide service excellence to its clients. The company will focus on leasing and management of malls, and corporate real estate services. “We are very optimistic about the future of Ghana and we think there is an enormous potential and we want to be part of it.”

  A  nine -member Board of Trustees to oversee the activities of the KNUST Institute of Sanitation and Waste management (KISWM) has been inducted into office The Institute which opens in 2013 aims at building the capacity of people in waste management and to draw governments’ and stakeholders attention to the waste and sanitation problems facing the nation. The Board of Trustees has the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Professor William Otoo Ellis as chairman. Other members on the board include the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Zoomlion Group of companies   Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Professor Yebo Okra, Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor. Emeritus Kwame Sarpong, Dr. Patrick Cline, Head of the Institute, Professor Ernest Yanful, University of Western Ontario in Canada,  Nana Oduro Kwarteng and a representative of the financial sector. . Dr.  Agyepong said the vision to establish the Institute is borne out of the reality that there is the need to build the capacity of Ghanaians and waste management practitioners in other African countries. He said the institute will look at areas such as the treatment of hospital waste as well as other forms of waste treatment that are currently not available in the country. In his acceptance remarks, the chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Otoo Ellis acknowledged the heavy mandate entrusted into the hands of the Board and pledged to ensure that the Institute becomes the best in Ghana and in the African sub region. “Capacity in the Waste management industry is limited and it is the duty of the Institute to fill the technological gap by training the man power needs of the people,” he said. He added that the Institute is anticipated to run short courses in waste management and higher courses in same. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in his closing remarks commended Zoomlion for the initiative it has taken in establishing the Institute since there is the need to build the capacity of local government authorities in waste management, “The establishment of an institute to tackle waste in the country is long overdue. Government is very happy and commends Zoomlion for this timely intervention,” he said.  

  Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem Limited, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah has emphasized that Ghacem is committed towards supporting government in its quest to develop the country’s  infrastructural facilities through the Ghacem Cement Foundation (GCF). He said the GCF was set up by Ghacem in 2002 to assist deprived communities in the country to improve their health and educational infrastructure, and has so far donated about 350,000 bags of cement (an  equivalent value of about GHC 6million) for the construction of such facilities, particularly in deprived communities since its inception. Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah, who is also the Secretary to the foundation, was speaking in an interview  in Tamale at a function where beneficiaries of this year’s Ghacem Cement Foundation free cement allocation scheme from the northern sector of the country were presented with chits for their allocations. Beneficiary Regions that formed part of the Northern Sector of the country included the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo. The donation is the last of two distributions which has been carried out by the foundation this year. The Southern Sector which comprise the Western, Central, Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions were first to benefit from the free cement at a ceremony which was held in July this year at Cape Coast. According to Dr. Dawson, activities of the GCF formed an essential element of Ghacem’s Corporate Social Responsibilities which was aimed at assisting deprived communities to go a long way to augment Governments efforts towards the development and improvement of the country’s infrastructural facilities. On his part, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, Chairman of the GCF stressed that adherence to the criteria for application was very crucial and  advised applicants to concentrate on one project at a time for the foundation’s selection committee to appreciate exactly how many bags were genuinely required for a project. First and foremost, he noted, the free cement allocation was restricted to purposes of rehabilitating or completing an educational or health infrastructure located in rural, poor or very needy communities. The requirements include an original letter from the Community or Head of institution, the Chief, Chairman of a Town Development Council, a Head Teacher or Head Master in an educational institution or Doctor-in Charge or Medical Assistant, Administrator or Head Midwife in a health institution. Each application is to be endorsed with a letter from the District Director of Education or Health, the DCE or any Senior Government Official or Chairman of the Town Development Council or head of religious institution, pictures of existing structures to be rehabilitated and have an indication of the time-frame for completion of the project after cement has been received for the purpose.  

  Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem Limited, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah has emphasized that Ghacem is committed towards supporting government in its quest to develop the country’s  infrastructural facilities through the Ghacem Cement Foundation (GCF). He said the GCF was set up by Ghacem in 2002 to assist deprived communities in the country to improve their health and educational infrastructure, and has so far donated about 350,000 bags of cement (an  equivalent value of about GHC 6million) for the construction of such facilities, particularly in deprived communities since its inception. Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah, who is also the Secretary to the foundation, was speaking in an interview  in Tamale at a function where beneficiaries of this year’s Ghacem Cement Foundation free cement allocation scheme from the northern sector of the country were presented with chits for their allocations. Beneficiary Regions that formed part of the Northern Sector of the country included the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo. The donation is the last of two distributions which has been carried out by the foundation this year. The Southern Sector which comprise the Western, Central, Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions were first to benefit from the free cement at a ceremony which was held in July this year at Cape Coast. According to Dr. Dawson, activities of the GCF formed an essential element of Ghacem’s Corporate Social Responsibilities which was aimed at assisting deprived communities to go a long way to augment Governments efforts towards the development and improvement of the country’s infrastructural facilities. On his part, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, Chairman of the GCF stressed that adherence to the criteria for application was very crucial and  advised applicants to concentrate on one project at a time for the foundation’s selection committee to appreciate exactly how many bags were genuinely required for a project. First and foremost, he noted, the free cement allocation was restricted to purposes of rehabilitating or completing an educational or health infrastructure located in rural, poor or very needy communities. The requirements include an original letter from the Community or Head of institution, the Chief, Chairman of a Town Development Council, a Head Teacher or Head Master in an educational institution or Doctor-in Charge or Medical Assistant, Administrator or Head Midwife in a health institution. Each application is to be endorsed with a letter from the District Director of Education or Health, the DCE or any Senior Government Official or Chairman of the Town Development Council or head of religious institution, pictures of existing structures to be rehabilitated and have an indication of the time-frame for completion of the project after cement has been received for the purpose.  

By Dominick Andoh Domestic airline operators are strategically positioning themselves to attract more passengers as the festive season approaches. While some have announced competitive promotional air fares, others have increased their flight frequencies in response to growing traffic into some local destinations. Africa World Airlines, a regional and domestic operator, has announced a new promotional fare of GH¢55 one-way from Accra to Kumasi and GH¢85 one-way from Accra-Tamale. The new prices are effective from December 25 to January 25, 2013. The airline has also increased its flight frequency between Accra and Kumasi to three per day. Antrak Airlines is offering passengers a reduced fare of between GH¢50-70 on the Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Takoradi routes, and GH¢115 on the Accra-Tamale route. Starbow, another domestic and regional airline operator, has reduced ticket prices and increased flight frequency to Kumasi to five. The airline is offering passengers a reduced fare of GH¢49-120 one-way on the Accra-Kumasi and the Accra-Takoradi routes. Passengers also get to enjoy a reduced fare of GH¢149 one-way on the Accra-Tamale Route. Competition within the domestic aviation sector in the past three months has led to a reduction in ticket prices as carriers strategise to outwit each other. Kumasi Airport, as a result of the booming domestic aviation industry, has seen a tremendous increase in passenger throughput and traffic. It is currently the busiest domestic airport in the country. The facility has recorded an increase of 300 percent in passenger throughput—from an average of 4,000 passengers a month in 2011 to 16,000-- this year. The GACL, the company responsible for planning, developing, managing and maintaining all airports and aerodromes in the country, is undertaking extension and renovation works at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as well as Kumasi and Sunyani airports. The company is also seeking to raise US$173million and US$35.5 million for renovation and expansion works at the Kumasi and Sunyani airports respectively, through a public-private partnership. The Tamale airport is earmarked to be developed into an international airport to serve as an alternative to KIA in Accra.