The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ghana

  • ‘I’ll choose my career over marriage’

    IN this age and time when a number of celebrities are making efforts to settle down, Ghanaian actress, Leonora Okine, has declared that she will give priority to her career over marriage for now.

    Her reason, as she recently disclosed, is that she is yet to find true love. “It makes no sense to choose marriage over career, unless you’re moving away from where your career is, so you can be with your partner. You shouldn’t have to choose between marriage and career; you can have both. Depending on the kind of person you are, marriage alone by itself or career alone by itself cannot make you happy. Either one can make you happy for a long time, but your feelings about them may eventually change. I find it a dangerous thing to have to choose, and I wouldn’t.

    “The career comes first for me right now because I’m yet to find trustworthy love. When I do find it, it better not put me in the position to choose because I will choose my career over marriage. Marriage should be supportive of your career, if you can find a fairly satisfactory compromise. But if it can’t, I will choose my career,” she reportedly said.

  • ABTA to host forum in Ghana

    ABTA to host forum in Ghana

    THE African Business Travel Association (ABTA) has announced that they would be hosting a business travel industry forum in Accra, Ghana, on February25, 2014.

    The event will focus on opening the lines of communication between business travel buyers and clients, Travel Management Companies (TMC), travel agents, airlines, hotels and other industry suppliers.

    According to founder of ABTA, Monique Swart, “Communication is vital in order to build mutually beneficial and long lasting business relationships. When effective and honest communication between business sectors is not present, a lack of trust, respect and empathy is bred, leading to continuous battles and a lack of productivity, ultimately affecting the bottom line.”

    She goes on to say that globally, TMC’s and travel suppliers (air, hotel etc) work together to support each other, attain shared goals, increase revenue and ensure client satisfaction. But that this is often not the case in many of the emerging African markets where travel agents and suppliers often act in competition to each other without striving for the benefits of partnership, causing a lack of communication and trust.

    This ABTA event will address this lack of communication and give all delegates the opportunity to share, discuss and debate their concerns, challenges and wants in an open and honest industry forum. This will assist all sectors in better understanding the industry from all view points, in order to open lines of communication to improve business relationships and attain shared goals for all sectors.

    “This forum will represent a vital opportunity for all Corporate Travel Buyers and Clients, Travel Agents, TMC’s, Airlines, Hotels and other Suppliers within the business travel industry to get together in order to better understand each other and the industry challenges and opportunities as a whole. All business travel professionals and executives are urged to attend in order to show their support of a more unified industry and in order to gain tremendous value for themselves and their companies” said Swart.

  • Argentina seek Ghana friendly against Eagles

    Argentina seek Ghana friendly against Eagles

    World Cup favourites Argentina are considering a friendly against Ghana ahead of the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

    According to reports from Argentina, the country’s football federation believes the Black Stars can give them the needed test as they face Ghana’s West Africa neighbours, Nigeria.

    A home-based Black Stars side lost 1-0 to Argentina, also a locally based side, in Cordoba in 2009.

    If they fail to get Ghana, La Albiceleste have lined-up Ivory Coast as a replacement.

    At the World Cup finals, Argentina will also face Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran in Group F at the World Cup.

    Ghana have a tough task against USA, Germany and Portugal in Group D.

  • ABUAD to mentor Ghana varsity

    ABUAD to mentor Ghana varsity

    The University of Industrial Development (UID) Accra Ghana, has appointed the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), as its mentor-institution.

    The appointment was conveyed to ABUAD Founder, Aare Afe Babalola, in a letter signed by UID proprietor/founder Dr Shelley Amos.

    Amos said the partnership was anchored on Babalola’s faith in the continent as well as his massive investment in the nearly four-year-old ABUAD.

    The journey to the collaboration started when Shelley led the UID team to ABUAD during its first convocation in October.

    The letter reads in part: “It is our pleasure to formally convey to you the decision of the board of directors of the new University College Industrial Development (UID) Accra, Ghana, the appointment of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Nigeria, as the mentor tertiary institution for our new university.

    “We in UID believe you are one of the foremost believers in the need for us to save Africa from becoming a perpetual dumping ground for goods and products made in India, Korea, China, Brazil and other countries which were once ranked with Nigeria as Third World countries. From those profitable ventures we witnessed in your commercial farms during your first convocation in October, it is our fervent believe that Africans should start to develop her indigenous products, especially from agriculture, and our abundant natural resources. This is why you are more than qualified to be our mentor for this ambitious, intercontinental objective.

    “This appointment is in accordance with the rules and regulations set up by the National Accreditation Board (NAB), of Ghana to guide the setting up of new tertiary institutions in the Republic of Ghana. One of the initial conditions for accreditation of establishment of a new university college in Ghana is for the institution to seek for affiliation with a reputable, accredited university within or outside Ghana, to serve as mentor to the said institution.

    “The objective of such affiliation ‘is to ensure the attainment and maintenance of high standard for the promotion of academic quality’. The relationship is ‘for the mentoring institution to provide academic support and supervision to the university being mentored’. The mentored university in Ghana shall receive the certificates of the mentoring university (in this case ABUAD) until the accreditation board grants it the presidential charter.

    “You are aware that our proprietor visited ABUAD as guests. We were quite amazed by the overwhelming state of facilities and the relaxed conducive environment of learning which you provided for the students. We were particularly impressed by the high standard of the graduating students and the initiative to reward excellence both in academic and behaviours.

    “We have also taken our time to make adequate enquiries into the performance and delivery of quality education by ABUAD since its establishment, and we have noted, beyond reasonable doubt, that your university has met all the required qualification set up by NAB of Ghana for you to mentor our institution. Enclosed are the documents on the rules and guidelines of the National Accreditation Board of the Republic of Ghana to explain the details of the affiliation.”

    “Our proprietors will soon pay a visit to your university to discuss the details of the affiliation and mentorship with you and your management. Please accept our regards in the highest esteem for the anticipated acceptance and mentorship.

     

  • Ghana ref for Nigeria vs Tunisia tie

    Referee Ziga Shriseine from Ghana has been appointed to take charge of proceedings when Nigeria national U20 Women’s team host their counterpart from Tunisia today.

    The game is a second round, first leg tie of the 2014 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier.

    Shriseine will be assisted by Zulu Mercy from Zambia (1st Assistant), Ezodobe Ayawa Mana from Togo (2nd Assistant) and Aloreu Delight from Ghana (4th Official).

    The match commissioner is Pherese Manguele from Cameroon.

    The match kicks off by 4pm local time at the National stadium in Abuja.

  • Brazil 2014: Nigeria to meet Argentina again

    Brazil 2014: Nigeria to meet Argentina again

    … Ghana lands in tricky group

    … Brazil meets Croatia in opening match

     Nigeria and Argentina will square up again at next year FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    The African champions were paired in group F alongside the South American giants at a colourful ceremony held at Costa Do Sauipe Bahia, Salvador, Brazil, on Friday evening.

    Nigeria had confronted Argentina at three previous editions of the FIFA World Cup. The two countries met in 1994, 2002 and 2010 with the South Americans prevailing on each occasion.

    Other countries in the group are Iran and debutants Bosnia Herzegovina.

    Brazil and Croatia will play the opening match of the tournament on June 12 in Sao Paolo.

    The draw in full:

    Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

    Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

    Group C: Colombia, Greece, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan

    Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

    Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

    Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

    Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

    Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

     

     

  • 2014 FIVB WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP :Nigeria book final phase qualification ticket

    2014 FIVB WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP :Nigeria book final phase qualification ticket

    Nigeria’s national female volleyball team have clinched a ticket to the final phase of the 2014 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship after they finished in second position in Zone 3 (Pool O) of the African qualifier held at the Forum de l’Université de Cocody in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire last weekend.

    The zonal qualifiers had Nigeria playing against Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire for the two available final round tickets in Zone 3.

    Nigeria began her campaign on a losing note by falling to Ghana 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 24-26, 25-12) before rallying round to beat Togo 3-0 (12-25, 10-25, 19-25) in their second match.

    The Nigerian girls then overcame Cote d’Ivoire 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-12) to improve to 2-1 (6 points) to finish second and qualify for the final phase.

    Ghana defeated Togo 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-18) for their third consecutive victory in the four nations tournament. Ghana claimed the gold medal with a win-loss ratio of 3-0 (8 points).

    Nigeria and Ghana will now join the Pool 1of the final phase along with Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, RD Congo and Egypt.

    Pool 2 will comprise Kenya, Seychelles, Uganda, Tunisia, Senegal, Mozambique and Cape Verde.

    The format of the African qualification indicates that the top two teams from zone 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will join zone 1 and 7 champions in the final phase. The 12 teams will be joined by the top two African teams in the FIVB Ranking (Kenya and Algeria) for a total of 14 teams to be divided into two final pools. The champions of each pool will secure their tickets to the 2014 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Italy.

    Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Thailand as well as hosts Italy have secured their place in the 2014 FIVB Women’s World Championships, thus far.

  • Comparing Ghana with Nigeria

    SIR: The Ghanaian who picked me in Accra, when I arrived in August for the Masquerade festival in Cape Coast, Ghana, felt I was too positive about Ghana being a better country than Nigeria in corruption index, and so he refused to offer any opinion. He kept saying, “In course of time, you will discover things for yourself.” He agreed that the intention of the former President John Jerry Rawlings was to eradicate corruption, but did not succeed in doing so. Did he say the wife aided and abetted corruption? I asked in what positive way Ghana would remember Rawlings. Answer, “He helped to stabilize the polity.” Obviously, that remains Ghana’s greatest asset.

    I cannot say the Ghanaian government is focused as such. It made T-shirts on which the President’s picture was imprinted, in promotion of football, while too many African children in the country study under trees, and have nowhere to hide when rain comes. Secondly, the government sponsored some struggling secondary school students to go and watch international football involving the Black Stars. Which of the two actions indicate focus on mass poverty in Africa? The government is mortgaging Africa’s future, to be perpetual slaves to football idolatry. Ghana and Nigeria are very close in leadership insensitivity. The Ghanaian government is said to be seeking subtle ways of sapping the people, e.g. Value Added Tax (VAT), if not through utility tariffs of electricity and water.

    Some Ghanaians are saying that the President over-favours his northern people (nepotism?) in appointments, which may spell hazard for the future stability of Ghana. Jonathan’s presidency also over-favours South-east and South-south. Some Ghanaian Christian communities are as hostile to African Traditional Religion as in some Nigerian communities. For instance, in one community where a traditional religious festival forbids drumming for five days, the Christian community created an upheaval. Does five days of no drumming affect Christian pillars or mere intolerance in place of peaceful co-existence?

    Ghana is strong in these respects: she remains basically stable and peaceful. There is minimal religious rivalry. Both the government and its opponents explain themselves on state/private radio and television. Trade union leaders defend Ghanaians’ rights, seriously. Opposition parliamentarians are highly pro-people, and don’t mind walking-out. Finally, there is stable electricity in many parts of Ghana. Honestly, many Ghanaians are unhappy that Nigeria is failing; they fear Ghana’s derailment.

     

    • Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin.

  • Ghana adopts ‘no premium, no cover’ policy

    Ghana adopts ‘no premium, no cover’ policy

    • Begins implementation next year

    The new Ghanaian Commissioner for Insurance, Lydia Bawa has embraced the ‘no premium no cover policy’ of the insurance industry, saying it is the only way to end the menace of underwriting on credit.

    She said the Ghanaian industry has set January 2, as kick-off date for the implementation of the policy.

    Bawa, who was in the country for the just-concluded West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) Educational Conference in Lagos, said she came to tap from the experience of the regulatory agency, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and insurance operators in the country, particularly their experience since the enforcement of the policy in the country.

    She noted that the menace of granting insurance cover on credit had stemmed the growth of the industry as most operators find it difficult to pay claims due to lack of fund.

    She said:  ”The problem we have in Ghana is about payment of claims. Insurance companies are not paying claims, and that is giving us a bad name.  The insurers are not paying claims because they are underwriting on credit. So, they are not able to generate enough premiums, invest and make claims.

    “I have learnt from the industry. From discussion with Nigerian insurance Commissioner, Fola Daniel, I got to know that he introduced ‘no premium no cover policy’, to halt the sale of insurance on credit and it is working well for the industry.

    “With the policy, premiums are paid up front, underwriters collect their premiums, invest and pay claims and everybody is happy. So, I have decided to implement this effect from January 2, 2014. I have the government’s support to go ahead with it. At this stage, I have written to the industry players, for their comments, and after that, I would go ahead with the policy.

    “I believe it will restore the confidence that is already lost by policyholders and the general public. This is one major project I have taken as the new Commissioner. “

  • Ghana book World Cup place despite 2-1 defeat

    Ghana book World Cup place despite 2-1 defeat

    • Qualify 7-3 on aggregate

    Ghana secured a third successive World Cup finals appearance despite a 2-1 defeat by Egypt in the second leg of their playoff in Cairo on Tuesday.

    The Ghanaians triumphed 7-3 on aggregate, having done the hard work in the first leg in Kumasi last month, and will now get the opportunity to improve on their quarterfinal finish at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

    Egypt, playing in strife-torn Cairo for the first time in two years, restored some pride with victory on the night thanks to goals by former Wigan Athletic forward Amr Zaki, and Gedo. Kevin-Prince Boateng grabbed a late goal for Ghana.

    For Egypt, it is another heart-breaking qualification near-miss, having not appeared at the World Cup since Italia 90 despite winning an unmatched four African Nations Cup titles in the same period.