2006 Ghana Mission Team
Pictured: Front - Dr. Lauren Cobbs, Pastor Robin Kittrell, Rev. LaVerne Stevens, Eboni Bates, and Rev. Gwendolyn Young. Middle Row: Kimberly Daye, LaRhonda Dean and Tremika Parks. Top Row: Tanya Lee, Dr. Gwen Lee, Carla Johnsen and Rev. Tracy Clark.ANSWERING THE JOSEPH CALL!June 19-30, 2006
Dear Friends,
Your responses to The Joseph Alliance appeals were extraordinary! With your help, the 12-member Ghana Mission Team was able to address practical needs and touch the lives of numerous people! Here are some of the ways that your gifts were used:
The Joseph Alliance team prayed with many people who made new decisions for Christ and re- commitments to the Christian faith.
Provided the initial funding to launch 16 women into their own entrepreneurial ventures. Many are young widows and mothers of young children. Over the next 12 months, The Joseph Alliance will continue to work with Rev. Betty Coleman and All Women's Special Aide, (a nongovernmental organization in Ghana) to provide resources for training and business expansion.
Contributed $1,000 to Transformed Life Ministries and Bishop Dusan Pobee to assist with the development of a new ministry complex which will include a health center, school and worship center.
Provided medical services, health education, consultation and non-prescription medications to nearly 150 people in the village of Tabre.
Set up three vision ministry clinics and outfitted 375 people with reading glasses in the greater Accra and Jumasi areas.
Presented Sunday School curricula and teaching materials to Transformed Life Ministries.
Distributed approximately 200 Bibles.
Distributed personal care kits and toiletry items to over 150 people.
Donated cases of medical supplies and medications to the M.A.B. Medicare Centers and Dr. Akuamoah Boateng.
Supplied diapers, children's medications, vitamins, and other items to the Osu Children's Home for orphaned and abandoned children.
Hosted the Renewed Woman Conference in conjunction with Rev. Betty Coleman and the ladies of "Women Special" for 4 power-packed days of liberating messages.
FORGING A PARTNERSHIP On June 27, Ghana's Minister of Tourism, the Honorable J. O. Obetsebi Lamptey, and two members of his staff met with Rev. LaVerne Stevens and LaRhonda Dean to discuss ways that The Joseph Alliance, Inc. can help generate volunteer workers for future service projects and humanitarian aid when Ghana's Joseph Project commences next year. The Minister of Tourism asked The Joseph Alliance to serve as Ghana's major U.S. ally in bringing others to Ghana to serve.
This partnership has the potential to significantly expand the impact of The Joseph Alliance and opens the door for many other ministries and service organizations across the United States to answer the Joseph Call! To God be the GLORY!
THANK YOU!Thank you for your prayers, donations, financial support and words of encouragement to The Joseph Alliance team members. See the pictorial highlights of all of these ministry endeavors to the right. Please continue your support of The Joseph Alliance, as we forge ahead in obedience to the Great Commission.
Sincerely in Christ, LaVerne Hanes Stevens, Founder & Director
The Joseph Alliance, Inc.
email: josephalliance@renewalmin.com
phone: 770-774-0479
web: http://www.Renewalmin.com
OUR MISSION:The Joseph Alliance, Inc. is established to provide support for domestic and overseas Christian mission activities that promote the spiritual, educational, and material advancement of humanity, with an emphasis on the continent of Africa. The services of The Joseph Alliance include the facilitation of foreign mission travel; making distributions for religious, charitable, and educational purposes; and establishing on-going relational structures between Christian ministries in the United States and those overseas.
AIMS OF THE JOSEPH ALLIANCE:
Increased evangelization of unreached people groups on the continent of Africa
Increased involvement of African American churches on Africa's mission field
Increased number of children in underdeveloped African countries who complete formal education
Increased rates of gainful self employment on the continent of Africa
Improved health care and quality of life in African nations
The Joseph Alliance is a non-profit 501-c-3 organization, organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. All donations are tax deductible as allowable by law. Please make all contributions payable to The Joseph Alliance, Inc., P. O. Box. 692, Tyrone, GA 30290.

Launching Women in Business

These 16 women received funds to start their own businesses. It takes a gift of only $50 to help a woman begin this path of economic empowerment and self-sufficiency.
$1,000 Donated for Ministry Complex

Rev. LaVerne Stevens and members of The Joseph Alliance board of directors present $1,000 to Bishop Dusan Pobee and the officers of Transformed Life Ministries in Accra.
Medical Missions

People in the village of Tabre waited for medical services outside Grace Bible Baptist Church. The one-room church was literally transformed into a medical clinic.
Our Doctors

Dr. Lauren Cobbs (l) and Dr. Gwen Lee (r) served nearly 150 people in one day at the medical clinic in Tabre.
Waiting for Medical Services in Tabre

The public health nurses had been on strike for weeks, so for the sick and frail elderly in Tabre, a visit with our doctors was worth the wait, despite the scorching heat.
Consultation with a Doctor

Many villagers were advised on ways to manage hypertension and had glucose levels tested.
Renewed Women

Approximately 200 women attended Renewal Ministries' 2006 Renewed Woman Conference. They came from all walks of life to participate in workshops and worship services.
Theme: "No More Chains"

Four days of preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ were accompanied by signs and wonders, as people heard how to be raised by His power; saved by His blood; healed by His stripes; and loosed by His Spirit!
Vision Ministry

Carla Johnsen coordinated the vision ministry and provided reading glasses. This was one of the most requested services at the clinic.
"But Now I See!"

Christina Ofori wears her new reading glasses!
Life in the Village of Tabre

People in the village of Tabre live simply, and without the benefit of purified running water, underground sewage systems or reliable electricity. Health education is essential under these conditions.
Orphanage Visits

Rev. Tracy Clark and other team members embraced the orphans at the Osu Children's Home in Accra.
Individual Prayer Support

Pastor Robin Kittrell prays with the elderly father of Tabre's Queen Mother. Each person at the medical clinic received a Bible and individual prayer with one of the team members.
Altar Ministry

Rev. Gwendolyn Young prays with a young woman.
Bible Distribution

Hundreds of Bibles were given to the Ghanaians.
Medications Distributed

Surplus medications and supplies were donated to the M.A.B. Medicare Center and Dr. Akuamoah Boateng.
Medical Supplies Collected by SisterCare International

Many of the supplies used for the Tabre medical mission were donated bySisterCare International under the leadership of Elder Verlean Turner. It has been said that "It takes a village to raise a child," but this collaborative effort demonstrates what a sisterhood can do to help the entire village!
Pictured (l to r) are Rev. LaVerne, Mildred White and Elder Verlean, at the Refuge Center in Richmond, Virginia during one of two Joseph Alliance packing days in May and June.
Press Conference with Ghanaian Officials

At a June 29th press conference, the Ghana Ministry of Tourism announced a collaborative relationship with The Joseph Alliance, Inc. in preparation for the inauguration of Ghana's Joseph Project in 2007. Details will be released soon!
Pictured above (l to r) are LaRhonda Dean, Joseph Alliance Project Coordinator; Bishop Dusan Pobee, Senior Pastor of Transformed Life Ministries; Mr. E. V. Hagan, representing the Minister of Tourism; and Rev. LaVerne Stevens.
Ghana's Joseph Project

July 6, 2006
Newmont announces start of gold production in Ahafo
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited on Tuesday announced the start of gold operations at Ahafo in the Brong Ahafo Region following progress in ongoing testing and commissioning of the gold processing plant.
Ms Mawuena Dumor, Communication Manager of the Company, said it initially proposed July 4 2006 as the day to pour the first gold but this had to be postponed for two weeks to “tighten the bolts of the plant”.
She said the processing facility had an average capacity of 7.5 million tonnes of ore annually mentioning that it was the largest of it kind in Africa.“This is an exciting time for Newmont; producing gold in our first project on the Continent of Africa.
We are proud of the collective efforts of all those, who have enabled us to reach this milestone, particularly the local communities, the Government of Ghana as well as all our employees and contractors, who have worked very hard to bring this project to fruition,” Ms Dumor quoted Mr William Zisch, Vice President of Newmont Operations in Africa and Central Asia.
She said the current life of the Ahafo Project was about 20 years, noting that during the peak construction stage, the project employed more than 3,000 people, of whom 95 per cent were Ghanaians. The Ahafo Project, she said, had continued to record increase reserve for the last four years pointing out that four million ounces of gold were established as reserves in 2002 and 12 million ounces in reserve currently.
The capital expenditure for Ahafo Project was 450 million dollars and average annual gold sales were estimated at 500,000 to 550,000 ounces, Ms Dumor said Ms Dumor reinforced the Company’s commitment to use dialogue to solve problems especially in their encounter with people in the communities where they operated.
According to the Communications Manager, it was anticipated that the entire Project would be formally inaugurated in November 2006. “We are especially pleased to have brought best practices in social and environmental responsibility to our Ahafo Project. We acknowledge the support of all our stakeholders. They have worked with us to bring value to our shareholders while sustaining economic, intellectual and social value creation in the neighbouring communities,” Ms Dumor said. 4 July 06

July 6, 2006
Newmont announces start of gold production in Ahafo
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited on Tuesday announced the start of gold operations at Ahafo in the Brong Ahafo Region following progress in ongoing testing and commissioning of the gold processing plant.
Ms Mawuena Dumor, Communication Manager of the Company, said it initially proposed July 4 2006 as the day to pour the first gold but this had to be postponed for two weeks to “tighten the bolts of the plant”.
She said the processing facility had an average capacity of 7.5 million tonnes of ore annually mentioning that it was the largest of it kind in Africa.“This is an exciting time for Newmont; producing gold in our first project on the Continent of Africa.
We are proud of the collective efforts of all those, who have enabled us to reach this milestone, particularly the local communities, the Government of Ghana as well as all our employees and contractors, who have worked very hard to bring this project to fruition,” Ms Dumor quoted Mr William Zisch, Vice President of Newmont Operations in Africa and Central Asia.
She said the current life of the Ahafo Project was about 20 years, noting that during the peak construction stage, the project employed more than 3,000 people, of whom 95 per cent were Ghanaians. The Ahafo Project, she said, had continued to record increase reserve for the last four years pointing out that four million ounces of gold were established as reserves in 2002 and 12 million ounces in reserve currently.
The capital expenditure for Ahafo Project was 450 million dollars and average annual gold sales were estimated at 500,000 to 550,000 ounces, Ms Dumor said Ms Dumor reinforced the Company’s commitment to use dialogue to solve problems especially in their encounter with people in the communities where they operated.
According to the Communications Manager, it was anticipated that the entire Project would be formally inaugurated in November 2006. “We are especially pleased to have brought best practices in social and environmental responsibility to our Ahafo Project. We acknowledge the support of all our stakeholders. They have worked with us to bring value to our shareholders while sustaining economic, intellectual and social value creation in the neighbouring communities,” Ms Dumor said. 4 July 06

June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled

June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled
June 12, 2006
World Bank, IFC Awards 21 SMEs
By Adu KORANTENG & Fred SARPONG
The World Bank and its private sector promoting arm, the International Financial Corporation (IFC), have jointly rewarded the 21 Ghanaian small and medium entrepreneurs who were adjudged best during the 2005 market place innovative business ideas competitions that it organised.They have been given the remaining 50% of the amount they won last year as their entitlement, having already received 50% of the amount due. This was presented to them last year to enable them start their businesses. The total entitlement was between ¢100 million and ¢200 million for each entrepreneur.
At a ceremony in Accra last week to mark the ceremony, Imoni Akpofure, country manager of IFC said there is the need to support SMEs to enhance private sector growth and to also create employment.
She urged the award winners to endeavour to achieve success in their various business activities since the amounts donated were not given on charity basis.
Isaac Owusu Hemeng, MD of The Trust Bank (partners of the SME funding project), said TTB committed itself to sponsoring the business activities of selected award winners to the tune of US$30,000 and it was his desire and the company’s wish to see each one of the award winning business enterprises grow beyond SME status to become a giant business set-up in Ghana and beyond.
Some of the companies that received the awards include Biogas, Institute of Industrial Research, Ceremica Tamakloe and Ghana Society for the Physically disabled

June 12, 2006
TOR, SIC, GOIL, WESTEL for sale on GSE
By Edward Elorm DESEWU & Fred SARPONG
Government intends to list Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), State Insurance Company (SIC), Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) and Westel Telecommunications Limited (Westel) on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).Two of these – Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) and State Insurance Company (SIC) – are to be listed on the Ghanaian bourse by September this year.
Already Cabinet has given approval for the listing of TOR and Westel Telecommunications.
Government plans to float 30% of each company on the GSE where institutional and individual investors will have the opportunity to own part of them.
The Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Osei Akoto, told BusinessWeek that 35% of TOR, GOIL and SIC will be offloaded to a strategic investor while government will retain a 35% stake in them.
Currently, government has set up a technical team at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), which has been tasked to put the modalities in place.
With regard to a strategic partner for TOR, Dr. Akoto said a South Korean investor already involved in the refinery’s operations has expressed interest but said government will open up a competitive bidding process in selecting the strategic partner.
“To enable the process to take off, what we are now looking for is a transaction advisor to advise government about the whole deal.”
According to Dr. Akoto, Ghana Telecom (GT) and Westel will, however, go on the GSE next year.
Explaining the rationale behind these moves, Dr. Akoto said “government needs money to fulfill its development agenda.”
However, because of the timing, some of government’s critics see these sales as a ploy for government to finance 2008 elections

June 12, 2006
Is Ghana ready for EPA Agreement?
The European Union (EU) is about to enter into negotiations with ECOWAS to agree on a new trade agreement (economic partnership agreement, EPA) to replace the one in existence.Fred SARPONG takes a look at the new agreement and whether Ghana is ready for it.Between 1975 and 2000, trade between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries was governed by the Lome Conventions which granted ACP countries easier access to the European market than other developing countries.
The preferences remain in place until 31st December 2007 under a World Trade Organisation (WTO) waiver when they must begin to be replaced by another trade agreement or be extended by another waiver.
The preferences granted to ACP countries under those conventions were non-reciprocal. The ACP countries did not have to extend similar or other preferences to the EU in return. This was based on the recognition that, because of vast differences in economic development between the EU and ACP countries, any fair trade arrangement between them had to treat ACP countries differently.
With the expiration of the Lome preferences, the EU and ACP countries signed a cooperation accord known as the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) in 2000, which provides for the negotiation and establishment of new trade agreements between the EU and ACP by January 2008, which are the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
The EPAs are free trade areas negotiated between the EU and the 78 ACP countries and are to cover substantially all trade between the EU and the ACP.
“The EU has defined or interpreted substantially all trade to mean 90 percent of trade between the regions. This means after the EPAs, the ACP states can only protect 10 percent of their product lines from theEU market,” Mornah Dekuwmini at the Department of Economic, University of Ghana, Legon, observes.
Initially, the negotiations were to take place at the ACP level, but the EU managed to have them negotiated at regional levels. Even though negotiations are being done through Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), countries will have to individually append their signature to the EPAs with the EU.
The EU says the EPAs are justified on the grounds that the Lome trade regime is non-reciprocal. This created two problems within the WTO. These are violation of the WTO’s reciprocity requirement for regional trade agreements (RTAs) and the discrimination of the Lome regime as some developing countries are not part of it.
The EU also argues that free trade areas are good for development and EPAs will encourage investment from the EU.
To participate in the negotiations more effectively and efficiently, ACP states would like to know the outcome of implementation of the EPA for their economies, spanning both macro and micro-situations, and also in respect to their relations with their immediate regional economies and the global community.
Particularly, ACP negotiators need to understand the nature and benefits to be derived from an EPA through alternative EU preferential arrangements, existing and potential exports that can benefit from an EPA, the impact effects on the structure and amount of trade (mainly imports), customs duty revenue (hence fiscal resources), and welfare.
In view of the above effects, certain issues of interest need to be addressed. These include identifying areas of resource requirement and harmonising policies to address EPA-induced adverse effects on government revenues, balance of payments, adjustment in labour and product markets, and improving international competitiveness through measures that tackle supply constraints.
The ACP states that enter the agreement will be expected to have fully implemented an EPA by 2020.
Ghana imposes taxes on certain types of exports from EU. As the country is approaching an EPA, it needs to give incentives, not disincentives, to exporters in order not only to optimise export earnings - so much more needed in view of the potential increase in the structural trade imbalance with the EU - but also to attract foreign direct investment, among other things.
It has been asked whether Ghana participating in an EPA would be a better or worse option than replacement of the current trade regime by the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme, as the resulting change in tariff preferences could harm Ghana.
Experts have observed that the trade effects of the EPAs for Ghana are relatively high, with increases in preferred imports from the EU. Trade creation will exceed trade diversion and due to the preferential tariff elimination, government revenue will decline.
The negotiation of EPAs is said to pose a major challenge to Ghana. While there is little doubt that Ghana would benefit from improved or more secured access to the EU market, it is not clear whether it is in its interest to eliminate customs duties for almost all EU products until 2020.
This article is based on a presentation given in Accra recently by Professor Cletus Dodonu and Mornah Dekuwmini, both economists

May 22, 2006

Africa air transport generates $16bn in 2005

By Fred SARPONG

The President of the Africa Aeronautical Information Services Association (AISA), Titilayo Owola-Akerele, has told BusinessWeek that the air transport industry in Africa generated about US$16 billion in 2005, representing 4% of global air traffic revenues of US$400 billion for last year.

According to her, the global traffic revenues accounted for 11 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and nearly US$3 trillion was generated globally through the aviation industry’s economic activities in 2005.

Owolabi-Akerele disclosed this to BusinessWeek at this year’s aeronautical information services day held in Accra last week. The celebration was under the theme: “Efficient aeronautical information database management: the key to air safety in Africa”. The event brought together delegates from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Namibia, Angola as well as from the host country Ghana.

According to her, without a strong and vibrant air transport industry in Africa, the continent will not see much improvement in its economic activities.

She observed that the inability of the Africa transport industry to grow was caused by low load factors resulting in low aircraft utilization and small size of airlines flying to too many destinations.

In addition, she stated that inadequacy of trained personnel and overstaffing due to availability of cheap labour adds to the problems. Also, inadequate capital investment, infrastructural underdevelopment, unreliable navigational aids and under capitalization together with few flights within the continent compared to other parts of the world formed the factors that contributed to the low revenue generated by the industry in 2005.

Nii Adumansa-Baddoo, the acting Director General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) told the gathering that the authority is undergoing a major restructuring exercise. He said the objectives of the change exercise is to enable the authority re-focus on its core function as a regulatory body in line with the new Civil Aviation Law 2004 (Act 678), which fits in with international best practice.

May 22, 2006

E-Government Policy Document Drafted

By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communication, has drafted an electronic government (E-Government) policy that will facilitate the activities of the ministries, departments and agencies in order to achieve the vision set out by ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD).

To facilitate the implementation process, ministries and other public sector organizations serving as key implementation agencies, have detailed in the policy how they intend to develop their sectors in line with the ICT4AD programme.

The policy is expected to define the technical policies and specifications governing its implementation and use by the public sector. Areas such as interconnectivity, data integration, electronic services (e-services) access and content management are captured in the policy.

In addition, the e-government policy contains a set of agreed policies and standards to allow electronic information and transactions to operate seamlessly across agencies and jurisdictions.

The overall objective of the policy is to engineer an ICT-led socio-economic development process with the potential of transforming Ghana into a middle-income, information-rich, knowledge-based and technology driven economy and society.

The policy’s architects say that it takes full account of the aspirations and provisions of key socio-economic development framework documents, including the Vision 2020 socio-economic development framework, the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS), which took effect from 2002-2004 and the co-ordinated programme for the economic and social development of Ghana.

This blog belong to Mr Fred Sarpong, a Ghanaian journalist base in Accra,the capital of Ghana.He works with Business Week newspaper.His area of reporting are ICT and Tourism.E-mail:bethelreston@yahoo.com-----Mobile number +233-27-7834408-------Website-www.businessweekghana.com

New Telecommunication Bill in the Offing

By Fred SARPONG

This year, the Ministry of Communications will present to Parliament a new telecommunications bill for passage into law which seeks to provide for the regulation and control of telecommunications matters in the public interest.

The bill will seek to promote the development of the telecommunication sector for the growth of the economy as a whole and to provide for the needs of operators and service providers. Currently, stakeholders in the industry are deliberating on the bill and hopefully it will be presented to Parliament before the end of the third quarter of this year.

It also aims to promote competition among operators and service providers offering telecommunication service and ensure the efficiency of the provision of such services and the operations of related telecommunication networks in the country.

The bill states that the National Communication Authority (NCA) may revoke or suspend a licence or a frequency authorization if the licensee has repeatedly breached or failed to comply with one or more of the material licence conditions.

The bill empowers the Authority to revoke or suspend a license on the ground of national security or in the public interest as may be determined by the Authority.

In addition to the obligations contained in its licence or under this particular section every operator or service provider shall provide interconnection of their telecommunications network of any other telecommunications network of any other operator.

Also the operator or service provider shall provide for the transmission and routing of the services of other operators or service providers, at any technically feasible point, as may be specified by the Authority.

Subject to the provisions of access to facilities and public rights of way, an operator shall provide the operators with access to the facilities or public rights of way or statutory wayleaves that it owns or controls on a timely basis. The bill states that when requested such access shall not to be unreasonably withheld.

The bill specifies that tariffs for telecommunications services, except those regulated by the Authority in accordance with the law, shall be determined by providers in accordance with the principles of supply and demand in the market.

The authority may establish price regulation regimes, which may be specific in the regulations and which may include the setting, reviewing and approving of prices. This is to occur in any case where there is only one licensee operating a public telecommunications network or providing public telecommunications services, or where a licensee has a dominant position in the relevant market.

A service provider shall provide rates that are fair and reasonable and shall not discriminate unduly among similarly situated persons, including the service provider and any body corporate with which it is affiliated.

As a policy, the authority shall recommend the principle of special interconnection where rural communication is concerned. This basically means that a fair sharing mechanism will have to be established during negotiation of the interconnection agreement, which will ensure that rural communication operators are fairly compensated for the part they play in making the service reach its final destination in the rural areas.

With regard to fees the bill states that the authority may be subject to any other law that charges fees for any individual licence, class licence, special licence or frequency authorization or renewal and charge fees for any document that it makes available or any service that it provides.

Except as provided under this section, fees charged by the authority pursuant to subsection one shall be commensurate with the cost of carrying out functions of the authority under this act; administering licences, special licences or frequency authorization; and providing the services, with respect to the fees described in subsection 1 (b).

However, the bill specifies that when telecommunications services are being provided in Ghana by persons not located in Ghana, to the extent that such services jeopardize the provision of, or otherwise compete unfairly with, services licensed under this act, the authority may take such action as it deems appropriate.

Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.
Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.
Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.
Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.
Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.Ghana Telecom to be listed on GSE
By Fred SARPONG

The Government, through the Ministry of Communications, is seeking support from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to list 30% of Ghana Telecom (GT), operators of the state-owned fixed line and mobile networks on the stock market. It is anticipated that an Initial Public Offer will be made before the end of this year.

In 2005, the Government of Ghana concluded a settlement of agreement with Telekom Malaysia and re-purchased the 30 per cent shares the Malaysian investor had bought in 1997 during the partial privatization of GT.

Ghana Telecom is now owned by the Government of Ghana again. In order to allow the public to be part of the ownership of GT however, the government now plans to float 30 percent of GT’s shares on the stock market.

This is also to allow the government raise money to finance its own ambitious spending programmes.

BusinessWeek has learnt that all necessary documentation is being put for the Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Also, the government intends to sell 51 percent of the shares to a strategic investor while the remaining 19 percent will be retained by the government.

The latest plan is aimed at changing the face of the state-owned telecommunication firm after Telenor Management (TM) failed to achieve the target agreed on with government in terms of new line roll-out.

Last February, the government asked the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) to evaluate the performance of TM following last December expiration of its management contract with GT.

The evaluation performance was as a result the TM being unable to roll-out 750,000 mobile lines and also to put out 400,000 fixed lines by the end of 2005 as the contract demanded.

BusinessWeek gathered that these targets were not achieved as a result of conflicts between the then minority shareholders, Telekom Malaysia and the Government of Ghana over a loan contracted from Alcatel Shangai Bell of China.
BusinessWeek has been informed that the ministry is studying the evaluation report and will soon come out with the necessary recommendation.

NCA Amendment Act being revised
By Fred SARPONG

The National Communication Authority (NCA) Act 2005, which established the authority to regulate the provision of telecommunications services in Ghana and to provide for incidental and connected matters is currently under review.

Changing of the Act was as a result of numerous complaints from industry operators about the current regulatory environment in which Ghana’s ICT industry operates.

Stakeholders in the industry met in Accra last month to deliberate on several issues which they believe need to be addressed by the Act. BusinessWeek has learnt comments that were raised during the meeting are being compiled for consideration.

After the review the report will be presented to the Attorney-General’s Department for assessment, then to Parliament for passage into law.

The Act, which is under review is in five parts which include information on NCA, administrative and financial provisions, resolution of disputes, telecommunications tribunal and general issues.

Part one of the Act, which address the NCA itself states that the authority will be responsible for the regulation of licensees and authorization holders and for ensuring fair competition among licensees and all other operators of telecommunications networks or providers of public telecommunications services.

The Act empowers the regulator to maintain registries of licenses and licence applications, equipment approvals and applications and interconnection agreements and except where justified by reasons of commercial confidentiality, make the documents in the registry available to the general public.

The authority also determines which telecommunications services should be provided throughout Ghana and establishes and monitors the funding mechanisms.

It’s also empowered to acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of real and personal property or any interest.

Under the administrative and financial provisions, the Act specifies that divisions be created under the authority. These include Director-General, Deputy Director-General, Solicitor-Secretary, other staff of the authority. It also sets out the framework for funds and resources of the authority, accounts and audit, annual report, taxation and levies, payable to the authority.
NCA Amendment Act being revised
By Fred SARPONG

The National Communication Authority (NCA) Act 2005, which established the authority to regulate the provision of telecommunications services in Ghana and to provide for incidental and connected matters is currently under review.

Changing of the Act was as a result of numerous complaints from industry operators about the current regulatory environment in which Ghana’s ICT industry operates.

Stakeholders in the industry met in Accra last month to deliberate on several issues which they believe need to be addressed by the Act. BusinessWeek has learnt comments that were raised during the meeting are being compiled for consideration.

After the review the report will be presented to the Attorney-General’s Department for assessment, then to Parliament for passage into law.

The Act, which is under review is in five parts which include information on NCA, administrative and financial provisions, resolution of disputes, telecommunications tribunal and general issues.

Part one of the Act, which address the NCA itself states that the authority will be responsible for the regulation of licensees and authorization holders and for ensuring fair competition among licensees and all other operators of telecommunications networks or providers of public telecommunications services.

The Act empowers the regulator to maintain registries of licenses and licence applications, equipment approvals and applications and interconnection agreements and except where justified by reasons of commercial confidentiality, make the documents in the registry available to the general public.

The authority also determines which telecommunications services should be provided throughout Ghana and establishes and monitors the funding mechanisms.

It’s also empowered to acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of real and personal property or any interest.

Under the administrative and financial provisions, the Act specifies that divisions be created under the authority. These include Director-General, Deputy Director-General, Solicitor-Secretary, other staff of the authority. It also sets out the framework for funds and resources of the authority, accounts and audit, annual report, taxation and levies, payable to the authority.

The authority is also urged to establish a resolution process for the just determination of disputes as may be specified in the Telecommunications Act (TA) or in respect of any other matter that the authority considers appropriate for dispute resolution.

The authority shall not be a party to any dispute resolution process and the resolution of a dispute in accordance with this section shall be funded by the parties to the disputes in such manner as the authority considers just.
The authority is also empowered to establish an appeal tribunal called Telecommunication Tribunal for which the Chief Justice shall prescribe the rules of procedure for the tribunal with respect to proceedings before the tribunal.NCA Amendment Act being revised
By Fred SARPONG

The National Communication Authority (NCA) Act 2005, which established the authority to regulate the provision of telecommunications services in Ghana and to provide for incidental and connected matters is currently under review.

Changing of the Act was as a result of numerous complaints from industry operators about the current regulatory environment in which Ghana’s ICT industry operates.

Stakeholders in the industry met in Accra last month to deliberate on several issues which they believe need to be addressed by the Act. BusinessWeek has learnt comments that were raised during the meeting are being compiled for consideration.

After the review the report will be presented to the Attorney-General’s Department for assessment, then to Parliament for passage into law.

The Act, which is under review is in five parts which include information on NCA, administrative and financial provisions, resolution of disputes, telecommunications tribunal and general issues.

Part one of the Act, which address the NCA itself states that the authority will be responsible for the regulation of licensees and authorization holders and for ensuring fair competition among licensees and all other operators of telecommunications networks or providers of public telecommunications services.

The Act empowers the regulator to maintain registries of licenses and licence applications, equipment approvals and applications and interconnection agreements and except where justified by reasons of commercial confidentiality, make the documents in the registry available to the general public.

The authority also determines which telecommunications services should be provided throughout Ghana and establishes and monitors the funding mechanisms.

It’s also empowered to acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of real and personal property or any interest.

Under the administrative and financial provisions, the Act specifies that divisions be created under the authority. These include Director-General, Deputy Director-General, Solicitor-Secretary, other staff of the authority. It also sets out the framework for funds and resources of the authority, accounts and audit, annual report, taxation and levies, payable to the authority.

The authority is also urged to establish a resolution process for the just determination of disputes as may be specified in the Telecommunications Act (TA) or in respect of any other matter that the authority considers appropriate for dispute resolution.

The authority shall not be a party to any dispute resolution process and the resolution of a dispute in accordance with this section shall be funded by the parties to the disputes in such manner as the authority considers just.
The authority is also empowered to establish an appeal tribunal called Telecommunication Tribunal for which the Chief Justice shall prescribe the rules of procedure for the tribunal with respect to proceedings before the tribunal.
The authority is also urged to establish a resolution process for the just determination of disputes as may be specified in the Telecommunications Act (TA) or in respect of any other matter that the authority considers appropriate for dispute resolution.

The authority shall not be a party to any dispute resolution process and the resolution of a dispute in accordance with this section shall be funded by the parties to the disputes in such manner as the authority considers just.
The authority is also empowered to establish an appeal tribunal called Telecommunication Tribunal for which the Chief Justice shall prescribe the rules of procedure for the tribunal with respect to proceedings before the tribunal.

May 2, 2006
Ghana Earns $797m from Tourist Arrivals in 2005
By Fred SARPONG
Ghana’s tourism industry in 2005 earned about US$797 million from 408,187 tourists who visited the country. Information gathered by the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) at all entry points indicated that average tourist spending per visit was about US$1,950 as at last year, which is an increase from US$1,711 in 2004.Records at GTB show that 95,261 tourists arrived during the first quarter of 2005 with total expenditure of US$185.8 million while 87,799 tourists spent US$171.21 million for the second quarter.
The third quarter in the year also recorded 126,109 tourists with expenditure of US$245.91 million while 99,018 tourists arriving during the fourth quarter spent US$193.09 million. All the expenditure was said to be on food and beverages, accommodation, shopping, local transportation and entertainment.
International tourist arrivals and receipts for this year are projected to generate about US$1.0 billion from an anticipated 880,000 tourists. This is expected to increase to US$1.2 billion in receipts from one million tourist arrivals in 2007.
Average tourist spending is also expected to increase from US$1,950 in 2005 to about US$2,000 over an average period of 11 days.
The tourists are expected to spend more on accommodation than transport, shopping, food and beverages because most of the hotels will be located in the cities while the other tourist sites are mostly outside cities.
Meanwhile, the over all hotel room capacity is projected to improve from the current28,445 to 33,566 this year.

May 2, 2006
New IT Firm Opens in Accra
Fred SARPONG
Technologies Distributions (TD) Limited, one of West Africa’s leading bulk distributor of information technology products officially opened a branch in Accra last week. The company commenced business about seven years ago as a modest distributor of information technology products in Nigeria.The chairman of the board of directors of TD, Prof. Anya O. Anya at the launch noted that the company has since evolved into a truly international world-class institution with branches in some European countries (The Netherlands and United Kingdom).
In order to consolidate its position as a leading information technology distributor in West Africa, Anya indicated that the company took the decision recently to establish effective presence in other national markets.
According to him, Ghana being a strategic market with great promise, became a national first choice in their regional expansion projection.
BusinessWeek learnt that TD’s remarkable success within a relative short period derives from a number of factors, including demonstrated ability over the years to match the peculiarities and changing needs of each local market with appropriate products.
These include availability of large stocks as well as wide ranging up to date product models and competitive pricing; including discounts, credit facilities and flexible payments terms.
Anya said, specifically, TD’s presence in Ghana will benefit the local economy through increasing the range of choice available to consumers, boosting competition to enhance consumer value, contributing to national revenue through tax payments.
The managing director of the company, Chioma C. Ekeh, on his part said that the company is currently the sub-region’s major distributor of hardware, software and consumables for leading global brands such as Hewlett Packard (HP), Microsoft, APC, Epson and Zinox.
TD has won various international awards in the past six years. These include HP’s Top Performer Awards for the West Africa sub-region. In 2004, TD clinched the awards in two categories of revenue and growth and was nominated in 2005 for Microsoft’s Best Partner and Outstanding Performance Awards for the West, East and Central Africa regions.

A three-day training workshop to improve the capacity of Ghanaian journalists on Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) is currently underway in Accra. The International Institute of ICT Journalism training programme is designed to introduce the journalists to new ICT tools and make maximum use of the tools that local media practitioners are already familiar with.
A three-day training workshop to improve the capacity of Ghanaian journalists on Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) is currently underway in Accra. The International Institute of ICT Journalism training programme is designed to introduce the journalists to new ICT tools and make maximum use of the tools that local media practitioners are already familiar with.Launching the workshop themed Training Ghanaian Journalists for the Information Society, the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Pierre Jacquemot, said ICTs have become a powerful means of development and social change for the economic and social development of the world. It is thus critical, Mr. Jacquemot added, for local journalists to acquire knowledge of trends and developments in ICTs to improve the quality of their work and to help accelerate Ghana's development as well as its integration into the global Information Society. The course is being attended by 30 print and electronic journalists from all over Ghana.The course outline for the programme which started on Wednesday, April 26 includes topics such as Ghana's ICT for Accelerated Development Policy, Knowledge Management for the Media, Afrocentric Content on the Internet and ICT Journalism. Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, out-going President of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) said the training programme was timely because many of the country's media houses have prioritized ICT development and staff training but are hampered by a lack of the necessary resources including funds. Ms Yeboah-Afari also noted that the national desire for accelerated development and its achievement is intricately linked to how well journalists understand and use these technologies in their work. If we are to quicken the pace of our country's development then we need to build the capacity of Ghanaian journalists in this very important sector (ICT)Mr. D.A. Kwapong, Acting Director, Ministry of Information, speaking on behalf of the Minister said, the globalized world demands that the journalist is a leader in Information Society issues. It is in this light that I consider this course as invaluable. It also confirms the complementarity of private sector initiatives to the achievements of one of the three policy areas of government Human Resource Development.Indeed, although Ghana is one of the most wired countries in Africa, there is a noticeable low use of new media technologies and poor reporting of ICTs in general. Presently not all Ghanaian media houses are connected to the internet for example. Even those connected are under-utilizing the ICTs to enhance their work.Mr. Kwami Ahiabenu II, the president of PenPlusBytes, expressed the hope that participants will acquire new essential tools and skills to improve the quality, content and the relevance of their work to the public.The Accra workshop is being sponsored by the French Embassy in Ghana and Ghana Information Network for knowledge Sharing. The training programme for journalists is the sixth of such training courses designed and delivered by PenPlusBytes across sub-Saharan Africa over the last three years.PenPlusBytes is currently pioneering the first ever online course on Introduction to ICT Journalism in Africa. 43 journalists are from nine countries spread across three continents (Africa, Asia and Europe) are attending the eight week course which started on March 20, 2006. In 2005 PenPluBytes organized two regional training programmes for journalists in West Africa and East Africa. The West Africa regional programme in January 2005 attracted sixteen (16) participants from seven countries including Ghana. The rest were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Gambia and Togo.The East African training programme held in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 25-26 attracted seventeen (17) participants from the region.
Source: PenPlusBytes

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE MUST BE A FOCUS

By FRED SARPONG-BUSINESS WEEK

In some parts of the developing world, people having access to information technology networks are very limited as compared to those in the developed world.

Ghana, as one of the developing countries, for the past years trying to provide information technologies infrastructure to the door step of every citizens.
It is believed that the social gaps that exist between the urban and rural is greater and action must be taking to address such situation.

Internet has ushered in the greatest period of wealth creation in history. Its affects the way we deliver and receive information and the way we do business. For many it is easy to accept but to others it is difficult. The internet is also bringing about a brave new world replete with an electronic system.

For every citizens of this country to become a computer friendly user then it has to take the effort of somebody to take action to address the situation. Most of the rural folks will continue to be in poverty if effort is not taking to solve this issue. In order to make this much more reality, both the government and those expertise in the private sector have to undertake the effort of bridging the digital divide between the urban folks and rural folks by providing them telecommunication gargets.

It also believes that a greater proportion of people in Ghana have never even heard a dial tone, let alone surfed the Web. And the gap between the information knowledge people and those lacking information knowledge is widening. The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan said in Telecom 99 in Geneva, Switzerland that people lack many things such as jobs, shelter, food, health care and drinkable water. Today, being cut off from basic telecommunications services is a hardship almost as acute as these other deprivation, and May indeed reduce the chances of finding remedies to them.

The government effort to make computer more affordable to every citizen is a step in a right direction. This will help bring technology to some of the folks, most disadvantaged people because it will give hope for a better future.

In Ghana it is also believe that there are only three computers for every 100 people and increasingly employers are demanding computer skills as a condition for employment. The poorest of the poor, earning about a dollar a day, are at a terrible disadvantage.

Computer access and training of technology centres improves the opportunity for employment, increases the access to information and brings the power of networking with others. There is the need to increase the penetration of computers down the costs and setting up community based computer centres. Mechanisms for donation of lower-version computers need to be explored. Telecommunications operators in this country, that include Kasapa, Millicom, Scancom,Westel, and Ghana Telecom company have a duty to provide telecommunication infrastructure to every community in the country as it demand in their contract. This is to enable them solve their backbone network. This will certainly help bridge the digital divide in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Ghana to Lose EU Grants
By Fred SARPONG
The European Union and its partners are currently reviewing the state of Ghana’s performance with regard to the EU 300 million euros grants allocated to Ghana between 2002 and 2007.
The outcome of the review will indicate whether Ghana was able to utilize the previous grants and whether the country qualifies for more grants between 2008 and 2013.
At a review meeting in Accra last week, Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, the Head of Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana and Togo told BusinessWeek that the review was necessary because the 9th European Development Fund expires on December 31, 2007, and implementation of the new country and regional strategy papers should commence on January 1, 2008.
In addition, he noted this means that CSPs and RSPs should be signed in the first quarter of 2007 for implementation to start on January 1, 2008.
According to him Ghana stands to benefit from the next EU grants if the European Commission is satisfied with recent past performance. Business Week gathered that, EU assessment so far has revealed that government has been able to make use of 70% of the 300 million euros through focal areas like micro economic support, transport and infrastructure as well as rural developmental projects.
Ghana will have to access the remaining 30% grant left before it accesses the 2008-2013 grant. The non-focal areas which the EU will be consider in future include health, education, civil society and culture.
Last year 67.3 million euros was disbursed under EDF funded projects against a disbursement of 46.5 million euros in 2004.
The EDFs are financed directly by the member states of the European Union outside the usual European Commission budgetary mechanisms