By Fred SARPONG
The contributions of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to modern economies cannot be taken for granted. It looks like it affects every aspect of the society, economy, political and cultural environment of this country, Ghana.
Taken into consideration of what goes on in many nations, it look as if well developed and necessary policies and regulations have been put in place to adequately exploit the potential of ICT for socio-economic development. Of course, Ghana is no exemption and more need to be done.
Streamlining costs and improving success in Ghana’s economy are key objectives for small businesses to grow despite the difficulties the country experience.
One of the communication technologies, whose application has become pervasive, is the mobile telephone, its deployment, access and use has gained much prominence in Ghana and the world at large.
There is clear evidence that with the emerging of more mobile operators in the country, more businesses will be created and it will offer more jobs for Ghanaians.
However, it is important to note those small business operators or small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country are also given millions of cedis to the mobile phone operators.
In an interview with the Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu indicted that this government has realize the SMEs sector hold key to the economy of this country because they constitute over 80% workforce of the economy.
In order for the government to recognize the effort of the SMEs sector, the government will soon take an initiative which will help improve activities of SMEs in Ghana. He noted that one of these initiatives is to allow the mobile operator’s to offers some packages for small businesses operators.
Hannah Tetteh, the Minister of Trade and Industry also has said that the SMEs industry players have been neglected for too long and for that matter corporate bodies must help to assist them since they are the main successes of Ghana’s economy.
A lot of products and services are been introduce every now and then by MTN, Vodafone, Kasapa, Tigo and Zain, but which of these products does improve the activities of SMEs in the country.
Mobile phones have become an integral part of daily life used by over 10 millions Ghanaians especially those in the SMEs. Those persons or the traders now take for granted the ability to communicate by phone at any time, from any place, and to any part of the country in order to improve their business activities and also give revenue to the operators.
It is now time for MTN, Vodafone, Kasapa, Tigo and Zain to develop special products merely for those in the SMEs sector to enhance the operation of these businesses and also generate revenue for themselves (operators).
There is the need for the mobile phone companies to develop innovative services that will meet the changing needs of users; for example, developing mobile telephone into a multi-tasking platform that combine several services into one.
The mobile operators can also import into the country mobile phones with special design for SMEs operators. This can be done by allowing the manufactures to introduce special software purposely for SMEs.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
GCNet introduces e-MDA Software for Agents
By Fred SARPONG
The Ghana Community Network (GCNet) is introducing an electronic Ministries Departments and Agency (e-MDA) software application that will allow shipping agents prepare their documentations, such as final clearance, report and freight rate easily, faster and sent them through online.
The new software application will have back form for the agents with functionality such as online payment, as compared to the old software application which do not have such features. It is also a centralized word based application. The new application takes effects from 20th September 2009.
This new software replaces Ministries Department and Agency (MDA) which was developed barely five years ago and only work as a single application.
In order for the agents to understand the concepts of the new software application prepare a good report and also network with a relevant internet operator, GCNet has organized a seminar for the agents in Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
Meanwhile, similar programmes have been organized and others are yet to be held for agents in Tema, Elubo, Aflao, Paga and other areas as well.
Chris Holden, the Operations Manager of GCNet proposed that all agents should start using a broadband internet rather than still using dial-up. He noted that using the dial-up does not reflect the current activities been done by both the agents and GCNet.
GCNet’s mission is to provide ICT-Based solutions that foster trade development and facilitation, and ensure effective mobilization of trade-related revenue.
GCNet have a strong desire to review the bottlenecks in the clearance process and together with stakeholders address the challenging issues in order to realize their aim of customs modernizations.
The Ghana Community Network (GCNet) is introducing an electronic Ministries Departments and Agency (e-MDA) software application that will allow shipping agents prepare their documentations, such as final clearance, report and freight rate easily, faster and sent them through online.
The new software application will have back form for the agents with functionality such as online payment, as compared to the old software application which do not have such features. It is also a centralized word based application. The new application takes effects from 20th September 2009.
This new software replaces Ministries Department and Agency (MDA) which was developed barely five years ago and only work as a single application.
In order for the agents to understand the concepts of the new software application prepare a good report and also network with a relevant internet operator, GCNet has organized a seminar for the agents in Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
Meanwhile, similar programmes have been organized and others are yet to be held for agents in Tema, Elubo, Aflao, Paga and other areas as well.
Chris Holden, the Operations Manager of GCNet proposed that all agents should start using a broadband internet rather than still using dial-up. He noted that using the dial-up does not reflect the current activities been done by both the agents and GCNet.
GCNet’s mission is to provide ICT-Based solutions that foster trade development and facilitation, and ensure effective mobilization of trade-related revenue.
GCNet have a strong desire to review the bottlenecks in the clearance process and together with stakeholders address the challenging issues in order to realize their aim of customs modernizations.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Where should Ghana’s oil Revenue Go?
By Fred SARPONG
In discussing the future prospects for Ghana’s oil, it is important that we recognize that Oil Money has to be the underlying reason why some foreign firms are in Ghana today. Many of these companies are here not because of the oil but the money that comes from the oil. If our leaders did not take care money will be pouring into our dear nation from all over the world to buy the Ghana’s little oil.
A lot has been said about Ghana's oil and the revenue that is supposed to come from the blessed but not the curse product by 2010 as the nation will be ready to witness major production.
Politicians and their allies in the country started jubilated and the announcement came that oil has been discovered and still some are singing praises simple because boom money will come from the sector.
But one may ask, are the people which lands the oil has been happy? Some of them are serious worry after getting to know the history oil in some rich nations in Africa. Example is Nigeria. They are also not happy because for some years now commodities like gold, diamond, cocoa and timber not brought any benefit to them especially those around the production areas rather they are still experiencing poverty with no access to water, healthcare, education, electricity among other things as well.
The question many Ghanaians are asking is that will the people benefit from the oil if they could not benefit from gold and other minerals? Is there any guarantee that the people will benefit from the oil proceeds when it begins to flow in 2010?
For several years foreign companies have taken billions of dollars from Ghana out of the sales of our rich gold, diamond, cocoa, timber, bauxite, you name them and living nothing to the benefit of the people of this country.
The only people who seem to have benefited from the revenue from these valuable assets are the corrupt politicians, their allies and the multinational companies and they are the very people who are likely to benefit from the oil come 2010.
Some are of the opinion that the only profit the people will have as is the case of gold and diamond, will be paying for the cost of environmental degradation, pollution of soil, rivers, wells, stream that will render many farmers and fishermen jobless.
Already, the previous government and the current government tried and trying to get Ghanaians involve in several seminars and forum to discuss where the revenue of the nation 2010 oil production should be channel into. But many believe that such effort has been taken over by the government and rather turn the beneficiaries to just lookers.
The question many Ghanaians are asking is that how different will the management of Ghana’s finding oil be from the countries like Nigeria, Libya, Guinea, Gabon and others who are not able to used the oil revenue to improved the lives of their citizenly.
In Nigeria for example 80 million people or even more still live on less than a dollar a day despite nation receiving over $400 billion from the sale of oil. All that Nigerian leaders can show for the billions they have received are the deep poverty, violence crimes, kidnappings, instability in oil producing areas, massive official corruption seen at all levels of government both federal and state as well as environmental degradation and pollution of rivers, wells, creeks and the soil which has rendered millions of farmers and fishermen jobless.
We should be very carefully that the flow of oil revenue will not lead to the collapse of other very important sectors of the economy like agriculture and tourism due to over dependence on oil revenue.
The Government of Ghana should be very carefully that the revenue from the 2010 oil production be use to build hospitals, long-lasting roads, irrigation projects, schools, sanitation, entertainment centers, playing grounds, housing facilities for poor people and take a keen interest investing in information and communication technology especially for the youth of this country.
The government should put in place proper laws that will make the exploitation of the oil sustainable, environmentally and eco-friendly. Therefore environmental impact assessment should be conducted for every project linked to the oil operation.
The laws must also seek to ensure that oil money will not end up in the pockets of the elite to the detriment of the people and the economy. Therefore, the utilization of the proceeds must be transparent and democratic. The best way to do this is to actively involve all stakeholders including the people, the government, opposition parties, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), Church and all interest groups. Record must be kept by every institution that receives oil money and the release of those records to anyone with a genuine interest must be made mandatory.
All oil companies directly or indirectly involved in the drilling, marketing, distribution or export of oil must be made by law to publish what they pay. They must also indicate whether they have paid bribe to officials within or outside the country. Every ministry or department which receives oil money for project must publish in detail how it utilized it. The law must propose for stiffer penalties for officials and companies who will misconduct themselves.
In discussing the future prospects for Ghana’s oil, it is important that we recognize that Oil Money has to be the underlying reason why some foreign firms are in Ghana today. Many of these companies are here not because of the oil but the money that comes from the oil. If our leaders did not take care money will be pouring into our dear nation from all over the world to buy the Ghana’s little oil.
A lot has been said about Ghana's oil and the revenue that is supposed to come from the blessed but not the curse product by 2010 as the nation will be ready to witness major production.
Politicians and their allies in the country started jubilated and the announcement came that oil has been discovered and still some are singing praises simple because boom money will come from the sector.
But one may ask, are the people which lands the oil has been happy? Some of them are serious worry after getting to know the history oil in some rich nations in Africa. Example is Nigeria. They are also not happy because for some years now commodities like gold, diamond, cocoa and timber not brought any benefit to them especially those around the production areas rather they are still experiencing poverty with no access to water, healthcare, education, electricity among other things as well.
The question many Ghanaians are asking is that will the people benefit from the oil if they could not benefit from gold and other minerals? Is there any guarantee that the people will benefit from the oil proceeds when it begins to flow in 2010?
For several years foreign companies have taken billions of dollars from Ghana out of the sales of our rich gold, diamond, cocoa, timber, bauxite, you name them and living nothing to the benefit of the people of this country.
The only people who seem to have benefited from the revenue from these valuable assets are the corrupt politicians, their allies and the multinational companies and they are the very people who are likely to benefit from the oil come 2010.
Some are of the opinion that the only profit the people will have as is the case of gold and diamond, will be paying for the cost of environmental degradation, pollution of soil, rivers, wells, stream that will render many farmers and fishermen jobless.
Already, the previous government and the current government tried and trying to get Ghanaians involve in several seminars and forum to discuss where the revenue of the nation 2010 oil production should be channel into. But many believe that such effort has been taken over by the government and rather turn the beneficiaries to just lookers.
The question many Ghanaians are asking is that how different will the management of Ghana’s finding oil be from the countries like Nigeria, Libya, Guinea, Gabon and others who are not able to used the oil revenue to improved the lives of their citizenly.
In Nigeria for example 80 million people or even more still live on less than a dollar a day despite nation receiving over $400 billion from the sale of oil. All that Nigerian leaders can show for the billions they have received are the deep poverty, violence crimes, kidnappings, instability in oil producing areas, massive official corruption seen at all levels of government both federal and state as well as environmental degradation and pollution of rivers, wells, creeks and the soil which has rendered millions of farmers and fishermen jobless.
We should be very carefully that the flow of oil revenue will not lead to the collapse of other very important sectors of the economy like agriculture and tourism due to over dependence on oil revenue.
The Government of Ghana should be very carefully that the revenue from the 2010 oil production be use to build hospitals, long-lasting roads, irrigation projects, schools, sanitation, entertainment centers, playing grounds, housing facilities for poor people and take a keen interest investing in information and communication technology especially for the youth of this country.
The government should put in place proper laws that will make the exploitation of the oil sustainable, environmentally and eco-friendly. Therefore environmental impact assessment should be conducted for every project linked to the oil operation.
The laws must also seek to ensure that oil money will not end up in the pockets of the elite to the detriment of the people and the economy. Therefore, the utilization of the proceeds must be transparent and democratic. The best way to do this is to actively involve all stakeholders including the people, the government, opposition parties, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), Church and all interest groups. Record must be kept by every institution that receives oil money and the release of those records to anyone with a genuine interest must be made mandatory.
All oil companies directly or indirectly involved in the drilling, marketing, distribution or export of oil must be made by law to publish what they pay. They must also indicate whether they have paid bribe to officials within or outside the country. Every ministry or department which receives oil money for project must publish in detail how it utilized it. The law must propose for stiffer penalties for officials and companies who will misconduct themselves.
Revenue Authority Bill to go Cabinet
By Fred SARPONG
Revenue Authority Bill, which is to specify the details and functions of the new Ghana Revenue Authority will be sent to Cabinet by next month before Parliament resume in October for approval after which it will be presented to Parliament for its passage into an act or law.
This site has learnt that the drafted document has gone through Attorney General’s department for consideration and preparation is underway to be sent to Cabinet.
The current government fined it prudent to create an authority that will solely be responsible for the revenue generation in the country.
It is to this effect that the draft document has been drafted. Two names are been considered which the final one is expected to be approved by Parliament.
The new authority is expected to be called Ghana or National Revenue Authority (GRA). This authority will be a merger of Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Value Added Tax (VAT), and Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The introduction of this new bill and it passage by Parliament is to repeal the other relevant laws such as IRS Act, CEPS Act, VAT Act and as well as the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB) Act.
The Executive Secretary of RAGB, Sam Sallas-Mensah said this is to allow the tax administration to be performed in an integrated manner.
According to him the introduction of the authority will bring on board three new commissioners who will be in charge of various sectors under the authority. For instance, there will be a commissioner who will combine the activities of IRS and VAT. This commissioner will take care of domestic tax system in the country and will be solely responsible for Large Taxpayers Unit, Small Taxpayers Unit and Medium Taxpayers Unit among others.
Also is a commissioner to handle the activities of CEPS. He will be in charge of International Tax system while there will be also a Support Service commissioner to take care of information technology (IT), public relations (PR), human resource (HR) and among others services under the authority.
Apart from these three commissioners there will be Commissioner General who will act between the commissioners and the board. Currently, the three commissioners are board members but with the new concept the three are not part of the board.
He indicated that CEPS, which have a military background, will be given a special role to play as part of their revenue collection under the authority.
Hon. Sallas-Mensah said government has secured US$50 million from World Bank for the integration exercise. He noted that the integration will take about 18 to 24 months to complete.
He indicated that purpose of this integration is to have one pay master general, one tax education system, one customer relations and so on to serve the three under the authority. He cited example of Ghana Army Forces, Air force and the Navy having one pay master general serving them.
He noted that revenue administration in Ghana is currently on tax type basis. This results in tax evasion, high cost of compliance and administration. The current laws do not allow the creation of an integration tax administration.
For effective tax administration, he stated that the revenue agencies should be integrated into authority to ensure optimal productivity. The integration will therefore require a restructuring of the landscape for tax administration.
Revenue Authority Bill, which is to specify the details and functions of the new Ghana Revenue Authority will be sent to Cabinet by next month before Parliament resume in October for approval after which it will be presented to Parliament for its passage into an act or law.
This site has learnt that the drafted document has gone through Attorney General’s department for consideration and preparation is underway to be sent to Cabinet.
The current government fined it prudent to create an authority that will solely be responsible for the revenue generation in the country.
It is to this effect that the draft document has been drafted. Two names are been considered which the final one is expected to be approved by Parliament.
The new authority is expected to be called Ghana or National Revenue Authority (GRA). This authority will be a merger of Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Value Added Tax (VAT), and Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The introduction of this new bill and it passage by Parliament is to repeal the other relevant laws such as IRS Act, CEPS Act, VAT Act and as well as the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB) Act.
The Executive Secretary of RAGB, Sam Sallas-Mensah said this is to allow the tax administration to be performed in an integrated manner.
According to him the introduction of the authority will bring on board three new commissioners who will be in charge of various sectors under the authority. For instance, there will be a commissioner who will combine the activities of IRS and VAT. This commissioner will take care of domestic tax system in the country and will be solely responsible for Large Taxpayers Unit, Small Taxpayers Unit and Medium Taxpayers Unit among others.
Also is a commissioner to handle the activities of CEPS. He will be in charge of International Tax system while there will be also a Support Service commissioner to take care of information technology (IT), public relations (PR), human resource (HR) and among others services under the authority.
Apart from these three commissioners there will be Commissioner General who will act between the commissioners and the board. Currently, the three commissioners are board members but with the new concept the three are not part of the board.
He indicated that CEPS, which have a military background, will be given a special role to play as part of their revenue collection under the authority.
Hon. Sallas-Mensah said government has secured US$50 million from World Bank for the integration exercise. He noted that the integration will take about 18 to 24 months to complete.
He indicated that purpose of this integration is to have one pay master general, one tax education system, one customer relations and so on to serve the three under the authority. He cited example of Ghana Army Forces, Air force and the Navy having one pay master general serving them.
He noted that revenue administration in Ghana is currently on tax type basis. This results in tax evasion, high cost of compliance and administration. The current laws do not allow the creation of an integration tax administration.
For effective tax administration, he stated that the revenue agencies should be integrated into authority to ensure optimal productivity. The integration will therefore require a restructuring of the landscape for tax administration.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
WAGP will promote Regional Integration
…And will Ghana get away from the use of firewood?
By Fred SARPONG
Gas from the West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP) should have started flowing some months ago but due to a problem at the Niger Delta distribution was halted. The distribution of the gas through WAGP line is to fuel power-stations and industries in four West African countries namely Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.
Gas deliveries were expected by the end of 2009 after the commissioning of the Takoradi and Tema regulating and metering stations in Ghana, compressor station at Lagos Beach in Nigeria, and regulating and metering stations in Cotonou in Benin and Lome in Togo.
The Gas Pipeline Project aims at improving the competitiveness of the energy sectors in Ghana, Benin and Togo by promoting the use of cheaper and environmentally cleaner gas from Nigeria.
The flow of gas through the WAGP will strengthening trade relations among these countries where one will surely depend on other for investment opportunity.
Again, it is likely that these countries will exchange experts in area of engineering, technicians to help each on the exploration of the gas for their national use.
The WAGP is a 678 kilometres (421 mi) long pipeline from the gas reserves in Nigeria’s Esravos region of Niger Delta area to Benin, Togo and Ghana. It is the first regional natural gas transmission system in sub-Saharan Africa.
The pipeline is operated by WAGPCo, owned by the consortium of Chevron (36.7%), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (25%), Royal Dutch Shell (18%), Volta River Authority of Ghana (16.3%), Societe Togolaise de Gaz (SoToGaz - 2%) and Societe Beninoise de Gaz S.A. (SoBeGaz - 2%).
The gas will be used by the Volta River Authority's 330 MW combined cycle thermal plant at Aboadze near Takoradi and also the Takoradi International Company's (TICO) thermal power plant, which is being upgraded to a 330 MW combined cycle plant.
WAGP is commercially viable and will service a population of 250 million among the nations involve. It is expected to provide energy self sufficiency for the whole region for nearly three decades with over 80.000 jobs expected to be created within the region.
The production of this gas to the four nations is to give for the fact generation of progressive and sustained industrialization is assure in these countries while thousands of hectares of forests in the region will be preserved.
It also intended to provide cheaper, reliable energy supply from the WAGP to promote investment for strategic variety of industries in the region.
WAGP project would significantly ease the energy situation in the nations involved especially Ghana and breathe a new lease of life into the energy difficulty facing the countries while providing a sustainable energy pattern for industries.
Apart from this gas from WAGP, Ghana will be expecting additional gas inflow from nation’s Jubilee Field were oil has been discover possible from 2010.
Using LPG gas will surely substitute the use of firewood and charcoal and for that matter our forest will be save from destruction. However, if the people are not well educated, they tend to rely more on the land which they till all year round to support their family and provide income.
The campaign for the use of LPG gas, which is common in the urban areas, should be intensifying and be extended to the rural areas so that the rural folks will not rely more on the forest and vegetation as a means of producing firewood for cooking purposes.
Before Ghana will start getting huge quantity of gas from these two areas, the government can, for instance, provide subsidy on gas cylinders and LPG gas for the rural areas, so that they reduce the use of firewood.
The district assemblies must also rigidly enforce their bye laws on bush burning. Information gathered indicate that in certain parts of Brong Ahafo and Northern regions, people take delight in setting fire to the bush during the dry season to enable them trap animals, especially grass cutters.
This practice has been going on for years, but nobody seems to bother about it, even though it is causing more harm than good to the environment. The destiny of this country is in our own hands; therefore, if we sit idle to be overtaken by events, we cannot turn round and blame God for our woes.
By Fred SARPONG
Gas from the West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP) should have started flowing some months ago but due to a problem at the Niger Delta distribution was halted. The distribution of the gas through WAGP line is to fuel power-stations and industries in four West African countries namely Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.
Gas deliveries were expected by the end of 2009 after the commissioning of the Takoradi and Tema regulating and metering stations in Ghana, compressor station at Lagos Beach in Nigeria, and regulating and metering stations in Cotonou in Benin and Lome in Togo.
The Gas Pipeline Project aims at improving the competitiveness of the energy sectors in Ghana, Benin and Togo by promoting the use of cheaper and environmentally cleaner gas from Nigeria.
The flow of gas through the WAGP will strengthening trade relations among these countries where one will surely depend on other for investment opportunity.
Again, it is likely that these countries will exchange experts in area of engineering, technicians to help each on the exploration of the gas for their national use.
The WAGP is a 678 kilometres (421 mi) long pipeline from the gas reserves in Nigeria’s Esravos region of Niger Delta area to Benin, Togo and Ghana. It is the first regional natural gas transmission system in sub-Saharan Africa.
The pipeline is operated by WAGPCo, owned by the consortium of Chevron (36.7%), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (25%), Royal Dutch Shell (18%), Volta River Authority of Ghana (16.3%), Societe Togolaise de Gaz (SoToGaz - 2%) and Societe Beninoise de Gaz S.A. (SoBeGaz - 2%).
The gas will be used by the Volta River Authority's 330 MW combined cycle thermal plant at Aboadze near Takoradi and also the Takoradi International Company's (TICO) thermal power plant, which is being upgraded to a 330 MW combined cycle plant.
WAGP is commercially viable and will service a population of 250 million among the nations involve. It is expected to provide energy self sufficiency for the whole region for nearly three decades with over 80.000 jobs expected to be created within the region.
The production of this gas to the four nations is to give for the fact generation of progressive and sustained industrialization is assure in these countries while thousands of hectares of forests in the region will be preserved.
It also intended to provide cheaper, reliable energy supply from the WAGP to promote investment for strategic variety of industries in the region.
WAGP project would significantly ease the energy situation in the nations involved especially Ghana and breathe a new lease of life into the energy difficulty facing the countries while providing a sustainable energy pattern for industries.
Apart from this gas from WAGP, Ghana will be expecting additional gas inflow from nation’s Jubilee Field were oil has been discover possible from 2010.
Using LPG gas will surely substitute the use of firewood and charcoal and for that matter our forest will be save from destruction. However, if the people are not well educated, they tend to rely more on the land which they till all year round to support their family and provide income.
The campaign for the use of LPG gas, which is common in the urban areas, should be intensifying and be extended to the rural areas so that the rural folks will not rely more on the forest and vegetation as a means of producing firewood for cooking purposes.
Before Ghana will start getting huge quantity of gas from these two areas, the government can, for instance, provide subsidy on gas cylinders and LPG gas for the rural areas, so that they reduce the use of firewood.
The district assemblies must also rigidly enforce their bye laws on bush burning. Information gathered indicate that in certain parts of Brong Ahafo and Northern regions, people take delight in setting fire to the bush during the dry season to enable them trap animals, especially grass cutters.
This practice has been going on for years, but nobody seems to bother about it, even though it is causing more harm than good to the environment. The destiny of this country is in our own hands; therefore, if we sit idle to be overtaken by events, we cannot turn round and blame God for our woes.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
GIPC to Conduct 2009 Investor Survey
By Fred SARPONG
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and other investment centres in Africa is conducting investor survey aimed at providing African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) with up-to-date and accurate investor survey information.
The objective of the survey is to increase investment flow for both foreign and domestic investors into the more productive sectors; maximize the impact on employment; improve technological competitiveness; and ensure supply chain integration.
The project designed to aid African IPAs to promote and improve upon targeted investment promotion; analyse the characteristics of different categories on investors; discern emerging trends in investment flows; and strategise and provide incentives to reinforce the positive impacts and desired trends for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The survey is taking place in over 20 countries in Africa and it is been implemented by the Africa Investment Promotion Agency Network (AfriPANet), which is a UNIDO programme and it will take place from September till the end of October this year.
Leonardo Lamptey, UNIDO Country Team Leader for Investment Promotion Activities told BusinessWeek that about 800 local and foreign companies will be pick to get a good sample of a list of companies registered with GIPC, Association of Ghana Industry (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) and other business associations for the information.
According to him the idea is to determine trend, establish the impact and get the feedback of the company’s assessment after registering with such relevant bodies.
BusinessWeek learnt that three bi-annual surveys of investors were conducted in 2001, 2003 and 2005 to compile firm-level data and the core element of the current programme consists of two investor surveys to be conducted in 20 sub-African countries in 2009-2011.
AfriPANet was initiated in 2001 and currently comprises a forum of 40 investment promotion agencies (IPAs) in Africa, representatives of UNIDO ITPOs, academics, and Chief Executives Officers of companies in the Africa region.
An integral part of the AfriPANet programme is the execution of bi-annual surveys of foreign and domestic investors the results of which bring to the fore issues of relevance for investment promotion agencies.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and other investment centres in Africa is conducting investor survey aimed at providing African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) with up-to-date and accurate investor survey information.
The objective of the survey is to increase investment flow for both foreign and domestic investors into the more productive sectors; maximize the impact on employment; improve technological competitiveness; and ensure supply chain integration.
The project designed to aid African IPAs to promote and improve upon targeted investment promotion; analyse the characteristics of different categories on investors; discern emerging trends in investment flows; and strategise and provide incentives to reinforce the positive impacts and desired trends for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The survey is taking place in over 20 countries in Africa and it is been implemented by the Africa Investment Promotion Agency Network (AfriPANet), which is a UNIDO programme and it will take place from September till the end of October this year.
Leonardo Lamptey, UNIDO Country Team Leader for Investment Promotion Activities told BusinessWeek that about 800 local and foreign companies will be pick to get a good sample of a list of companies registered with GIPC, Association of Ghana Industry (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) and other business associations for the information.
According to him the idea is to determine trend, establish the impact and get the feedback of the company’s assessment after registering with such relevant bodies.
BusinessWeek learnt that three bi-annual surveys of investors were conducted in 2001, 2003 and 2005 to compile firm-level data and the core element of the current programme consists of two investor surveys to be conducted in 20 sub-African countries in 2009-2011.
AfriPANet was initiated in 2001 and currently comprises a forum of 40 investment promotion agencies (IPAs) in Africa, representatives of UNIDO ITPOs, academics, and Chief Executives Officers of companies in the Africa region.
An integral part of the AfriPANet programme is the execution of bi-annual surveys of foreign and domestic investors the results of which bring to the fore issues of relevance for investment promotion agencies.
Stakeholders discuss benefits in Agribusiness sector
By Fred SARPONG
Stakeholders in the agribusiness sector in Ghana met at a forum in Accra last week to brain storm on new opportunities for agro-enterprises in Ghana.
The forum was organized by the Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE).
The forum discussed and developed a business leadership and financial lending program with direct conversation and feedback from industry players.
The participants were taken through topic such as agribusiness executive education in Africa; global food retail trends and their implications for your business; new business opportunities and market for Ghanaian agro-enterprises; access to capital for agribusinesses in Ghana Standard Chartered Bank; and creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses in Ghana.
The event focused on the development of an integrated agro-lending program whereby the banks and firm partner in management of the agribusiness operations.
It was also to develop business leader skills with successful practices used by global corporations that improve profits. Examples are market strategic planning, fiscal management, B2B negations skills among others. This type of ‘coaching’ support service is used worldwide.
Also, marketing strategies for higher profits was discussed along with an overview on new market and product trends that Ghana agriculture firms should target.
Michael Brown, Chief of Party- TIPCEE called on the industry players to survey the potential market and take in charge of any opportunity they identify. He noted that there are market opportunities that exist in EU, America and Asia.
But he was of the view that Ghanaian industry players should take opportunities that exist in the Africa region, which has more potential for businesses.
Ralph Christy, from Market Matters- New York said there are the potential role of agribusiness in accelerated economic growth and the overall contribution of the agricultural sector to economic development.
“Unsatisfactory performance in global markets but growing opportunities in domestic and regional markets,” said Christy.
According to him political stability, regional integration, institutional capacity and business climate have significant influence on the performance of the agribusiness sector.
He indicated that are shaping agribusiness and agro-industries in Africa that are been affected by negative economic forces, political and legal forces, social forces, technological forces and the increasing urban populations.
Stakeholders in the agribusiness sector in Ghana met at a forum in Accra last week to brain storm on new opportunities for agro-enterprises in Ghana.
The forum was organized by the Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE).
The forum discussed and developed a business leadership and financial lending program with direct conversation and feedback from industry players.
The participants were taken through topic such as agribusiness executive education in Africa; global food retail trends and their implications for your business; new business opportunities and market for Ghanaian agro-enterprises; access to capital for agribusinesses in Ghana Standard Chartered Bank; and creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses in Ghana.
The event focused on the development of an integrated agro-lending program whereby the banks and firm partner in management of the agribusiness operations.
It was also to develop business leader skills with successful practices used by global corporations that improve profits. Examples are market strategic planning, fiscal management, B2B negations skills among others. This type of ‘coaching’ support service is used worldwide.
Also, marketing strategies for higher profits was discussed along with an overview on new market and product trends that Ghana agriculture firms should target.
Michael Brown, Chief of Party- TIPCEE called on the industry players to survey the potential market and take in charge of any opportunity they identify. He noted that there are market opportunities that exist in EU, America and Asia.
But he was of the view that Ghanaian industry players should take opportunities that exist in the Africa region, which has more potential for businesses.
Ralph Christy, from Market Matters- New York said there are the potential role of agribusiness in accelerated economic growth and the overall contribution of the agricultural sector to economic development.
“Unsatisfactory performance in global markets but growing opportunities in domestic and regional markets,” said Christy.
According to him political stability, regional integration, institutional capacity and business climate have significant influence on the performance of the agribusiness sector.
He indicated that are shaping agribusiness and agro-industries in Africa that are been affected by negative economic forces, political and legal forces, social forces, technological forces and the increasing urban populations.
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