Sabtu, 22 September 2012

WONDER WHY A COMPANY LIKE COCA COLA CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE? READ THIS!

WHY A COMPANY LIKE COCA COLA CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE.

 BY: ZAINABU ISSAH
TOPWKND300


AN OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENT OF COCA COLA
 First of all, the American Marketing Association (AMA) made up of  Canada and the United States of America, defined advertising as any paid form  of non personal  presentation and promotion of  ides, goods and services by an identifies sponsor.

Belch and Belch also defines advertising as any paid form of non personal communication about an organizations product, service or idea sponsor.

Bovee 1992 in the article, “How Advertising Works” also defined it as the non personal communication of information usually paid for  and persuasive in nature about a product, services or idea by identifies sponsors the rough the various media.

Form these various definitions, advertising in plain terms allows an organization to provide a certain form of information about a product to its various groups of customers.

It also allows a company or an organization to continue to crease the awareness of its product, enhance sales promotion, sustain the interest of its consumers, create employment, establish the image of the product, and create new outlooks of the existing brand, among other importance of advertising.

Therefore a company like Cocoa Cola since its existence in 1886 has become a home brand among other forms of soft drinks in the world.

Even though  the first year sales of the product was a loss, by the late 1890’s, Coca Cola became one of America’s most popular fountain drinks largely due to aggressive marketing  and advertisement of the product.

SOME OTHER BRANDS OF COCA COLA
Continues advertising , therefore, allows Coca Cola as a brand to continue to maintain their leadership positions in their various respective markets so that their position in consumer consideration  would not wear away.

Also, advertising helps the company to keep a strong brand presence which is crucial to their larger business operations so that the brand equity that they have built over the years is used as credibility collateral to launch new products to their portfolio.

Furthermore, Coca Cola is everyday competing with the market share of all fluids consumed in a day by an individual. They therefore have to continue to persuade their  consumers about why Cocoa Cola is still the best choice of drink amidst other drinks, thereby retaining the continues interest of the consumer.

Additionally, because brand loyalty isn't free, Coca Cola needs to constantly keep reminding consumers why they should keep choosing your brand and avoid experimenting with other brands.

During advertising, there are sales promotions which involves people to help advertise the product and sell them with the aim of getting commissions to the quantities sold. This therefore, creates employment among the people .

Every product has a lifecycle. This includes the introduction stage, the growth stage, the maturity stage and the decline stage. During the maturity stage, there is slowdown in sales because the product has achieved acceptance from most potential buyers hence profit level may decline as it competes with other brands. Continues advertising therefore helps to keep Coca Cola on top of the market so that it does not lose its consumer share entirely.



Selasa, 11 September 2012

EDUCATION MINISTRY TO REDUCE ILLITRACY RATE

THE  Minister of Education, Mr Lee Ocran, has reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensure that the country’s illiteracy rate is reduced to single digits.

That, he said, would be done by ensuring that non-formal education programmes remained on the priority list of the ministry’s plans.

He said although much had been achieved in the adult literacy service provision in the country, more still needed to be done.

“With such a high adult illiteracy rate of 46.3 per cent, high rural rate of 59.9 per cent and a high female illiteracy rate of 57.5 per cent (2000 Population Census), the achievement of the target set will demand critical reflection and re-strategising,” he explained.

Mr Ocran made the remark in a speech read on his behalf during the launch of the International Literacy Day in Accra on the theme: “Cultivating Peace—the Role of Literacy.”

The day is celebrated every year as a constant reminder of the need to increase efforts towards curbing illiteracy.

According to Mr Ocran, an enlightened populace helps facilitate peace and development as many people tend to understand the tenets of peaceful co-existence and strive towards its achievement.

He said it also facilitated easy resolution of conflicts which was distinctive to individual survival, community empowerment and national development and added that the need to cultivate peace in the country was very urgent.

Additionally, the role of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) and other literacy providers in the creation of peace and sustainable development is very crucial to the country as peace is indispensible for socio-economic and political development.

Also, it is clear that poverty, disease, ignorance and squalor are all ramifications of illiteracy and essential ingredients of underdevelopment.

Mr Ocran added that one of the cardinal causes of conflicts in most African countries, especially south of the Sahara, was poverty.

He explained further that people with low level of literacy were easily swayed away from the truth and manipulated to take part in conflicts.

“It is, therefore, important for all Ghanaians, especially non-literates, to be equipped with knowledge through functional literacy, as this will make them more discerning and independent minded, thereby enhancing meaningful decisions that will lead to progress,” he said.

He, however, said the successful implementation of the National Functional Literacy Programme (NFLP) depended on the involvement of all relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations, since the tentacles of the programme were broad and covered all areas of society.

Mr Ocran, therefore, called on Ghanaians to support efforts to rid the country of illiteracy.
In his address, the acting Director of the NFED, Mr Charles Darlington Afare, advised that there was the need to have divergent approaches on how to educate non-literate adults, youth and children.

He said the ultimate was to work in harmony to achieve the set goal of ensuring a literate Ghana.

He added that non-formal education had moved beyond just providing adult literacy to empowering communities and individuals to contribute towards good citizenship, economic productivity, social stability and peaceful co-existence, among others.

“It has also provided skills, knowledge and attitudes that enable learners to comprehend the world around them and dialogue over potentially volatile issues to maintain peace within their communities,” he stated.

He also called for support for the non-literate community to make them understand the issues that would be discussed and also educate them on the harmful effects of conflicts and violence.

In a speech read on her behalf, the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Ms Irina Bokova, called on stakeholders at all levels to strengthen partnerships that would accelerate quality literacy provision.

“It is essential that literacy programmes incorporate the values of peace, human rights and civic values, if literacy is to become a true means of empowerment,” she added.

COMMITTTEE INAUGURATED TO CHECK ILLICIT TRADE IN ACCRA

A 12-MEMBER National Maritime Facilitation Committee to check illicit trade including drugs has been inaugurated in Accra.

The committee would also see to the effective implementation of maritime traffic facilitation measures that would enhance the competitiveness of ports and promote international trade in the country.

Other functions of the committee are to prevent and suppress unlawful acts in the ports, promote quick clearance of ships, cargo and passengers in the ports, prevent unnecessary delays in maritime traffic in ports by aiding co-operation between governments, and establish procedures for the training of users of the Eelectronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Single Window.

Others are to liaise with other national facilitation committees in various countries to speed up the process of change, promote electronic means of the clearing ships and do any other matters relevant to the work.

Inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said Ghana, as a contracting member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) convention on the facilitation of International

Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), was to simplify and minimise formalities, documentary requirements and procedures associated with the arrival, stay and departure of ships that were engaged in international voyages.

He said International Maritime Transport also required considerable amount of information and documentation pertaining to ships for clearance but those procedures led to bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary delays in ports.

Alhaji Dauda, expressed optimism that the work of the committee would provide an opportunity for the various stakeholders to harmonise their procedures and requirements in line with international best practice.

“Doing business at the ports is becoming very difficult because of congestion. It is also a positive sign that the economy is booming but if you are not able to clear your goods in time, it delays work process”, he said.

He said, if the country was able to facilitate the clearance of ships at the port, it would attract more businesses into the country and international trade businesses would flourish and revenue would come into the country for socioeconomic development.

Alhaji Dauda also urged the committee to embark on periodic field visits and critically assess the status of the ports in terms of service delivery and operational bottlenecks.

This, he said, would help propose practical measures to reduce ships and cargo delays at the ports.

He also expressed confidence that the committee would come out with requisite recommendations to facilitate international trade and reduce the cost of doing business at the ports.

The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr Peter Issaka Azuma, in his address, said the queue of ships at the ports had adverse port costs and maritime security implications.

He said while it was acknowledged  that the current port congestion was due to lack of adequate capacity and increased traffic, the  reduction of red-tape and efficient  service delivery at the various segments of the ports’ corridor could improve facility availability, reduce port cost and enhance maritime security.

“There is the need to optimise the use of intrinsic port capacity by promoting synchronised operations for the seamless flow of cargo and traffic through the ports,” he said.

Mr Azuma, however, reaffirmed the GMA’s commitment to providing the requisite secretarial services and logistics support for the effective performance of the work of the committee.

Members of the committee include the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr Peter Issaka Azuma, Ms Perpetual Osei Bonsu from the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana, Ms Sylvia Asana Owu from the Ghana Shipper’s Authority, Mr Samuel Ntow-Kummi form the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Mr Paul Asare-Bediako from the Customers Exercise and Preventive Services and Mr
 David Nutakor from the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders.



Others are Mr Ntim Donkor from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Octchere Boakye from the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Prosper Amewode from the Ministry of Transport, Nii Sowah Adjetey-Tormpu from the United Fish Stevedore Contactors Association, Mr Jonathan Forson from the Ghana Customs and Inspections and the secretary of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr Samuel Quaye.

CHINA MEETS AFRICA

A two-day forum designed to explore trade and investment opportunities in Africa and China opened in


Accra yesterday with a call by former President John Agyekum Kufuor  on African countries to focus more on technological development.

Addressing the opening session of the forum, former President Kufuor said unless Africa developed technologically, its capacity to negotiate fairly with its partners would be limited.

The forum was organised by China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) on the theme:“Exploring Trade and Investment Opportunities: How Africa Can Benefit from China’s Experience”.

Dubbed Chengwei Capital ‘China Meets Africa’ Forum in Accra, the event provided the platform for thought-provoking exchanges between business and political leaders, eminent academics, students, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and multilateral and bilateral institutions to discuss the economic partnership between China and Africa.

Mr Kufuor said in view of the challenges of globalisation, it was important that African countries forged closer cooperation and stand united in their quest to achieve excellence in their development endeavours.

He said unity was a factor in Africa’s efforts to strengthen partnership with China.

He thanked China for investing and providing funds for Africa’s growth and development and called on the participants to take advantage of the forum to effectively discuss the future relationship between China and Africa.

Speaking on the contribution of China to the economic development of Africa, the Chinese Ambassador to
 Ghana, Mr Gong Jianzhong, said the Chinese government had fulfilled its bid of providing US$15 billion preferential loans to Africa.

Additionally, he said China had encouraged its financial institutions to increase commercial loans to African countries.

By the end of June, this year, he said, China had invested US$45 billion in Africa, including over US$15 billion as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Furthermore, more than 2,000 Chinese companies, he said, were operating in 50 African countries with more than 85 per cent of their employees being Africans.

That, he said, was evidence of China-Africa trade and economic cooperation designed to drive Africa’s industrial growth.

Mr Jianzhong affirmed China’s commitment to increase assistance to Africa and also bring the benefits of development to the African countries.

“China will build more agricultural technology demonstration centres as necessary to help African countries to improve food production, processing, storage and distribution,” he said.

MUSLIMS MARK THE END OF RAMADAN IN ACCRA





Hundreds of Muslims and non-Muslims celebrated Sallafest on the Nima Highway  to mark the end of the month of Ramadan  on Sunday.

The festival, the brainchild of the Nima community, was on the theme, “Sing for Peace”.

This year’s event  was sponsored  by EXP Ghana, event organisers, with support from Chapter O and the Vision In Progress (VIP) music group.

The celebration started with the laying of  of a 600-metre table displayed with food and drinks  prepared by the women of the community.

A number of non-Muslims took part in the meals, a development which signified unity among the people of the community.

There was also the display of culture among the various ethnic groups in the community.

The highest point of the celebration was horse riding, traditional drumming and dancing, music, among others.
Politics was, however, not left out as party colours were displayed amidst cheers from the crowd and party faithful.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Head of Sponsorship and Media of EXP Ghana, Mr Elloeny Amande, expressed joy over the outcome of the event and pledged to continue in the coming years.

He, however, called on the youth to maintain the peace at all times and also abstain from electoral violence.

“Let us use the celebrations today to serve as a wake-up call to maintain peace and order at all times,” he said

The celebration was crowned later in the evening with a chain of performances from musicians such as Bandana, 4 X 4, Sarkodie, Raquel, Iwan, D-Black, D-Cryme, D-Flex, Edem, EL, Ruff and Smooth, among others. The musicians were hosted by VIP.

SALLAHFEST LAUNCHED IN NIMA COMMUNITY

Sallah Fest, a festival to bring Muslim communities together on a common platform, has been launched in Accra on the theme; “Sing For Peace”.

The festival, which is a concept created by the Nima Community and powered by EXP Ghana with support from Chapter O and the Vision In Progress (VIP) music group, is to celebrate the end of the 29 or 30-day fasting in the month of Ramadan.

Speaking at the launch, the Chief of Nima, Nii Futa, expressed his appreciation for the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Christians in the community and the country as a whole.

He expressed concern about the challenges in Nigeria and emphasised that Ghana should serve as a role model for all Muslims and Christians nationwide by maintaining the mutual relationship that had existed over the years.

Nii Futa explained that this year’s festival would bring more Christians and Muslims together to strengthen the long-standing relationship they had.

He, however, urged all who would be involved in the celebration to give selflessly and ensure that the festival is successful.

Nii Futa also thanked the organisers for making it possible for the people in the Muslim communities to share the festive celebrations with neighbours.

For his part, the Head of Sponsorship and Media of EXP Ghana, Mr Elloeny Amande, explained that this year’s event would introduce the longest feast table ever in the country with a range of activities.

“As part of the celebrations there would be music, traditional drumming and dancing, horse riding activities and networking throughout the day and then it would be crowned with a concert in the evening hosted by VIP”, he said.

Mr Amande, said a 600-metre table which will feed about 10,000 on the Nima-Mamobi Highway would afford companies and individuals the opportunity to give back to the community.

He emphasised that the festival would demonstrate the commendable synergy that exists between the sectors in the varied and dynamic Muslim community.

He said the food would be cooked and served by women from the community with security being handled by the able-bodied young men in the community and  commended the untiring efforts of the elders and people of Nima in supporting the upcoming activities.

The Manager of VIP, Mr Bull Dog, said he was humbled by the support that the people of Nima had given to the group. He added that hosting the festive celebrations was their corporate social responsibility and promised to put up a good concert on the day of the celebrations.

The General Manager of Wilmar Africa Limited, Madam Fatima Alima Mohammed, in her address expressed optimism that this year’s celebrations would add to the exciting tourist attractions in the country.

She, however, urged the organisers to do their best to ensure that the celebration promoted the importance of co-existence and peace in the country.

MTN GHANA FOUNDATION AWARDS FIVE WINNERS OF ESSAY COMPETITION

THE MTN Ghana Foundation yesterday awarded scholarships valued at  GH¢50,000 to five deserving winners of the MTN 10 million Merit Award Essay Competition.



This merit award scheme formed part of the package to acknowledge subscribers for their loyalty to the MTN brand following MTN’s 10 million subscriber feat attained in 2011.

The winners included Ms Ishak Ngmenensoa from the Upper East Region and a student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ms Doreen Agyeiwaa and Mr John Afrifa Brobbey from the Greater Accra Region, who are students of the University of Development Studies (UDS) and the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) respectively.

The rest are Ms Sandra Obimpeh Quayson from the Western Region and a student of the University of Ghana (UG) and Mr Shawn Martey from the Volta Region and a student of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

They each received a cheque for GH¢10,000.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Mr Micheal Ikpoki, urged the winners to take their education seriously and that the award should help in opening other avenues for them in their academic lives.

 “Putting this award to good use not only helps you, but could also serve as a motivation for assisting more students who deserve such financial support”, he added.

He said all over the world, thousands of students strived very hard to obtain scholarships to support their education of which Ghana was no exception.

However, to meet the needs of students, scholarships have been instituted by private companies, governments and foundations which may be need based, merit based, college based or career specific.

“Whatever form they take, it is always helpful when additional assistance is provided to support one’s education, ” he stressed.

Mr Ikpoki further acknowledged the judges for their tireless efforts at reviewing all the 472 entries to the competition to help identify the winners. He also commended the efforts of the board members of the MTN Ghana Foundation for their insightful guidance.

He said the foundation had been able to embark on life enriching projects all over the country.

“In 2012 alone, critical interventions have been made through the provision of schools books, medical equipment, Information and Communication Technology centres and infrastructure to bring about quality healthcare that had and continues to impact millions of Ghanaians,” he said.

Also, an amount of GH¢9.38 million has, since 2007, been invested in health, education and economic empowerment projects which have impacted positively on Ghanaians.

In his remarks, the President of the Ghana Association of Writers, Mr Kwesi Gyan Apenteng, who was the head judge of the competition,lauded the efforts of MTN for recognising the need to train young writers.

He expressed optimism that the competition would serve as a source of review for policy makers in the country.

He also noted that over 95 per cent of the students who applied admitted to enjoying reading as a hobby, but could not remember the last book that they read during the interview.

Mr Apenteng, therefore, called on the youth to cultivate the habit of reading at all times as it would bear them fruit in the near future.

The  Executive Director of MTN Ghana Foundation, Mrs Cynthia Lumor, said, “MTN is committed to the promotion of academic excellence and is delighted to offer this scholarship package to the students”.

GHANA REGUIRES USD 314.1 MILLION FOR MITIGATION MEASURES

A RESEARCH by the World Bank and collaborated by other studies in Ghana, estimates that the country would need nearly USD314.1million and USD 420million by 2020 and 2050 respectively to execute its mitigation measures. The country will also need between USD$300 and USD$400 per annum to meet  the expected costs.

The country is, therefore, challenged by its firm resolve to pursue policies to integrate climate change into its national development processes, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Madam Sherry Ayitey has said.

She made this known in a speech read on her behalf  at the opening ceremony of a five-day hands-on training workshop for the African Region on Climate Change Mitigation Assessment organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Accra.

The workshop brought together representatives from 30 African countries including Ghana, Gabon, Togo, Nigeria, Egypt, Madagascar, Uganda, and Rwanda.

It sought to provide technical advice, support and enhance the capacity of developing countries to use software to prepare their national communications systems.

Madam Ayitey, however, said  Ghana had taken very important steps both at the national and international levels to translate its commitments into concrete actions.

She said in pursuing the commitment, Ghana was currently finalising its national climate change policy, which was expected to provide a broad vision for addressing climate change consistent with its medium-term development plan.

The low carbon development component of the national climate change policy provides specific policy statements on Ghana’s aspiration to align itself to low carbon development pathway.

Furthermore, Ghana has responded to the United Nations’ declaration for “Sustainable Energy for All by 2030”, by preparing a national action plan on sustainable energy for 2030.

That, she said, would help to provide a concrete road map for ensuring greater access to clean energy and improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.

Mrs Ayitey, however, expressed optimism that participants would be able to use the skills they acquired at the workshop to influence and design appropriate policies and measures for economic development in their various countries.

In his address, the acting Executive Director of the EPA, Mr Daniel S. Amlalo, lauded the commitment of the government  to pursue a climate-compatible economy while achieving sustainable development and equitable low carbon economic growth.

“Not only does our commitment to pursue this vision signify the priority of climate change to the government; it also demonstrates our resolution to contribute to the global efforts to combat climate change,” he added.

He appealed to the participants  to make efforts to derive the best out of the workshop in order to ensure that accurate analysis on climate change mitigation is made reliable, defensible, robust and useful for policy and implementation.

PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE VISIT RLG OFFICE IN ACCRA


THE MOBLE PHONE ASSEMBLING POINT
THE Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho, has called for the expansion of facilities at the rlg Communication Institute of Technology across the country.

That, he said, would help accommodate the increasing number of youth seeking to acquire training in Information Communication Technology (ICT) programmes.

He said equipping as many youth with ICT skills would also help Ghana meet the change in new technological advancements.

Alhaji Sorogho made the call yesterday when he led a 20-member Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade Industry and Tourism to visit the rlg assembling point in Accra.

The visit was also to help the members of the committee acquaint themselves with some of the challenges facing the technological industry and how best the committee could help solve them.

He said with the continuous change in technological advancement, there was the need to get more of the youth to acquire ICT knowledge.

According to him, if Ghana was to appear on the charts as one of the most technologically advanced countries, then it was necessary that many more youths were enrolled in ICT centres to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills.

Alhaji Sorogho, who is also the Member of Parliament for Abokobi Madina, affirmed the government’s support to ensure the proper development of the private sector and ICT in general.

He applauded the effort of rlg Communications to equip and train the youth in the area of ICT.

SOME OF THE YOUTH BEING ENGAGED IN THE TRAINING
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of rlg Communications, Mr Roland Agambiri, thanked the  members of the committee for their visit and assured them of quality ICT for the youth.

He also announced the construction of a Cyber City to assemble raw materials here in Ghana instead of importing them.

He said the Cyber City project when completed, would host a hospital, a software development centre, and a technological institute, among others, and employ 30,000 people.

STA COMPANY SUPPORTS HOMOWO

STA Company Limited, producers of Triple Plus Condoms yesterday presented 10 boxes of condoms valued at GHC500, to the Osu Traditional Council.

The presentation was in support of  ongoing activities marking the end of the Homowo festival.
It also offered a plateform to educate the youth and other people of Osu on how to live healthy sexual lives.

The Head of Marketing of STA Company Limited, Mr Kodjo Botchway (right), presenting the condoms to the Assistant and Personal Secretary to the Chief of Osu, Mr Ike Appiah (left).
Presenting the condoms, the Head of Marketing of STA Company Limited, Mr Kodjo Botchway, explained that it was important for Ghanaians to live healthy lifestyles, especially when it involves sex.

“Sex is inevitable and everyone would want to engage in it at a point in time but this must be done in a careful and convenient way in order not to contract sexually transmitted diseases,”he said.

He explained that the Triple Plus condoms felt like a second skin  so it added  extra sensation when being used.

Mr Botchway, however, advised the youth to always play it safe with their sexual lives in order to live longer and have better benefits of their lives.

Receiving the items, the Assistant and Personal Secretary to the Chief of Osu, Mr Ike Appiah, thanked STA Company Limited for recognizing the need to be part of the Homowo festival.

He pledged to distribute the condoms to the youth and also educate them on the need to live healthy lifestyles during the festive seasons.

Mr Appiah also called on organisations and individuals to provide support to festivals in order to make them successful.

BANK OF AFRICA INTRODUCES ELITE BANKING.

INRODUCING THE ELITE BANKING TEAM
THE Bank of Africa (BOA) has launched its elite banking services with a call on clients and customers to step into a new world of sheer delight that comes with being an elite customer.

The elite banking services will provide customers with serene, secure and private ambiance to transact businesses with handpicked professional on-demand relationship managers.



SOME DIGNITRIES PRESENT AT THE LAUNCH IN ACCRA
Speaking at the launch, the Chairman for the occasion, Dr Ken Kwaku, lauded the effort of the bank to improve upon its client services in the country.

He explained that with greater transparency in economic development, including the banking and financial service sector, there would be greater demand for elite banking services and other products.

Furthermore, with the rapid increase in the number of banks and the banking services in the country, there was the serious need to ensure that competent skills were developed to support the various specialised products being introduced.

The Head of Elite Banking of the Bank of Africa (BOA), Madam Sharon Bansa (middle), addressing the audience at the launch of the Elite Banking Services of BOA in Accra.
“Ghana needs to train and develop skills in our service sector including banking where future growth prospects appear to be most promising”, he said.

Dr Kwaku, who is also a Development and Investment Banker, encouraged the bank  to critically consider expanding  into parts of the country where  it did not currently operate, which includes the Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Volta, Upper East, Upper West and the Central regions.

He also advised the bank to review its commercial viability of not only expanding internet banking services but also providing services that pay credit card, school fees, utilities, among others, for elite banking clients.

He was, however, optimistic that the launch of the product and services  would attract more ideas including how to provide complementary services such as tax advisory, assets management, estate planning, discount shopping and financial market research, among others.

These, he said, were elite banking and services features that eligible clients demand and are willing to pay for, when professionally provided.

The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Kobby Andah, in his address said the launch of the elite banking services  was part of several unique initiatives that  the bank  had lined up to unveil between now and the second  quarter  of next year.

That, he said, would ease the stress of banking for all customers, adding that the bank would provide all levels of convenience and comfort to clients.

“ We at BOA are however certain that you have come to the end of the road in deciding who to bank with because you will find in us a partner who offers you a win-win relationship based on integrity, confidentiality and an insatiable quest for excellence”, he added.

Launching the services, the Head of Elite Banking, Madam Sharon Bansa, assured clients of a new world of banking experience.

She explained that BOA had a segment of high-profile customers with high deposits, adding that these customers compete with other customers for attention.

“These customers should enjoy a value proposition matching with their status and their profitability with the bank and will be managed through the dedicated elite banking centres and receive superior relationship management”, she explained.

Also, elite clients would have all access lifestyle cards that give them preferential treatment and special discounts with partner institutions such as airlines, supermarkets, hotels, spa and gyms.

ACCRA MAYOR INSPECTS PROJECT SITES IN ACCRA

THE MAYOR INPECTING THE LEGON PUMP SITE
 Work on the construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on the Graphic Road expected to be opened to motorists in August, this year, has been delayed due to  problems with relocating cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

The BRT is a bus-based mass transit system expected to deliver fast, comfortable and cost-effective urban mobility, through the provision of exclusive right-of-way lanes.

“We needed to relocate the ECG cables to a more suitable place in order not to interrupt the construction and the finishing process of the road and this took a while,” the Resident Engineer, Mr Michael Lear, explained.

THE MAYOR SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA
He made this remark when the Accra Mayor, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, together with some staff of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), yesterday inspected work on the BRT and the Legon Treatment Plant and Pump Station in Accra.

The visit was to inspect the work done on the projects and to also know when it would be appropriate to open the sites for public use.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS ALREADY BEING USED
Mr Lear, however, said work on the BRT was 94 per cent complete and was expected to be opened by October, this year.

“The only thing left for us to do now is to erect street lights, complete the drainage systems and pedestrian walkway, fix rails to support the edges of the road and lay the asphalt,” he said.

 Mr Vanderpuije in his remarks urged them to quicken the process of construction and also put in place some management activities to help control the traffic on the road.

At the Legon Treatment Plant, work was 94 per cent complete and was being used to collect sewage from the University of Ghana (UG), Legon.

The Project Director, Mr Oben Nyarko, expressed optimism that the plant would be opened and handed over to the AMA by the end of September this year to serve other communities in the area.

“We are now left with the planting of grasses along the sewage in order to contain the odour and also produce fresh air around the area,” he added.

HOW UNWANTED WASTE ARE TREATED AT THE LRP.
Mr Vanderpuije for his part said he was impressed with the progress of the plant and urged the workers to do well to put the finishing equipment in place so as to implement its full usage in other communities.

PATEINTS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT TO CALL OF PHARMACIST STRIKE

STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH

THE RIDGE PHARMACY CLOSED TO PATIENTS
The ongoing strike by government hospital pharmacists in the country has brought activities to a halt as patients are left stranded following the closure of dispensaries.

The strike which began last Monday and has lasted for about a week has rendered the delivery of health care services incomplete as patients do not have access to prescribed drugs from the hospitals.

During a visit to the Ridge Hospital in Accra today, Daily Graphic discovered that notices were pasted on the entrance to the pharmacy to inform patients about the ongoing strike.

The notice read, “ Please Note: Due to the ongoing strike by the Government and Hospital Pharmacist, we regret to inform you  that our services  has been suspended until further notice, We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.”

The hospital pharmacy was also locked to prevent access by any means into it.
Some patients told the Daily Graphic that their only access to medications was to visit the nearby pharmacies like the Asylum Down pharmacy in order to buy medications for treatment.

THE LA HOSPITAL PHARMACY CLOSED
“I had to go to the asylum down pharmacy  today in order to get some medications prescribed by the doctor for the treatment of my sick sister who is being admitted here for sever malaria,” Madam Okyere, a sister of a sick patient  at the Ridge Hospital  said.

She said, the current access to medications at the government hospitals was very poor and pleaded on the government to do well in resolving the situation before it gets out of hand.

The government pharmacists abandoned their post last monday for an indefinite nationwide strike over their migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

According to the executives of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists’ Association (GHOSPA), they were the only medical professionals yet to be moved onto the new salary structure.

A similar scene was observed at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as two patients returned from the hospital’s pharmarcy dissappointed after being told that there were no drugs available as the pharmacists were on strike.

THE KORLE-BU PHARMACY CLOSED.
The door of the pharmacy  was locked with chairs arranged infornt of it  to sho no sign of work. A notice was also boldly pasted on the door  of the pharmacy to inform patients of the ongoing strike.

At the La General Hospital, patients were  seen holding their prescriptions, not knowing where to get drugs from. Some of the patients who had come for treatment sat on the corridors in the hope that something would be done about the situation.

Both the in-patient and out-patient pharmacy were also  locked.

In an interview with Daily Graphic, the Medical Superintendent of the La General Hospital, Dr Patrick Frimpong expressed his dissappointment in seeing patients stranded on the corridors in the hospital.

He said the Hospital had to purchase medications from the open market to make basic drugs available to patients who could not afford private pharmacies.

He however stressed that the hospital had little money and so purchasing drugs from the open market was not a good idea.

SOME OF THE NOTICES PLACED AT THE PHARMACY.
He therefore appealed to pharmacists to reconsider their decision and also urged the necessary authorities to engage pharmacists in a dialogue to agree on how things could be made better.

Senin, 10 September 2012

CONFERENCE ON CHALLENGES OF WOMEN OF FAITH OPENS IN ACCRA.


STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH
THERESIAN International, a contemporary organisation for women in the Catholic Church, has opened its annual conference in Accra.

The conference is designed to offer a holistic education for women who seek to balance complex challenges of contemporary living with their gospel values in order to achieve their set goals.

It is also to provide an opportunity for lay women in the Catholic church and other Christan women to come together as one community in order to experience total growth and enrichment of other women.

The four-day conference is on the theme: “Challenges of Women of Faith in the 21st Century”.

Speaking at the conference, the President of Theresian International, Mrs Ellen Moreaux, said with the advancement in modern technology, some women were tempted to fall for material and worldly things which makes it difficult for them to secure their faith in God.

She said there was the need for women to muster the strength to resist the distraction of the attraction.
“As we live in the midst of this modern culture, the sweet deceit of secular humanism attracts us with an ever-increasing intensity and you need to fight it,” she said.

Mrs Moreaux, however, called on the women to explore new avenues to communicate the gospel values in ways that would demonstrate the relevance of Catholicism to the modern lifestyle.

In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Madam Juliana Azumah-Mensah, lauded the organisation for reaching out with gospel values to women who are into prostitution, sexually abused and ravaged as instruments of sexual torture.

She said women continued to be marginalised and abused; their fundamental human rights were also frowned upon even though there were laws which frowned on the negative practices.

She, however, urged the delegates to always bring Christian values and principle to whatever they do in their homes, community and society.

The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Reverend Joseph Osei Bonsu, who was the guest speaker for the occasion, advised the women to achieve spirituality at all times no matter the circumstances.

He said even though some women in Ghana were faced with so many problems which were found in their cultural and religious beliefs, there was the need for them to rise above them at all times in order to achieve victory.

He listed some of the problems which included Female Genetal Mutilation (FGM), widowhood rites, trokosi, sexual harassment, domestic violence among others.

“Some of these problems are ongoing and others will take a while to fade away but you need to be strong in the Lord and fight it away at all times”, he encouraged.

Adding his voice, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Reverend Leon Kalenga, urged the women to rise above their challenges  so as to thrive despite them.

The opening ceremony was preceded with a mass which was officiated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle.

Other dignitaries present included the Executive Director of TI, Madam Victoria Schmidt, President of the National Council of Catholic Women, Rev Fr Andrew Campbell, Mrs Afua Amo-Adare and Professor Brigid Sackey, who was the Chairperson for the occasion.

The Theresian Ministry is a contemporary women’s organisation in the Catholic Church and was founded by Monsignor Elwood C. Voss in Pueblo, Colorado in 1961.

Msgr Voss founded Theresians because “there were few organisations, if any, that existed for women themselves.  Women were very accustomed to giving themselves in church and society, but were not often provided with in-depth opportunities for self-enrichment leading to personal growth."  He envisioned an organisation that would provide an opportunity for lay women in the church to come together in the community to experience intellectual and spiritual enrichment.

The group is under the patronage of St Therese of Lisieux.

The Theresian membership of Catholic and Christian lay women and Catholic sisters has now expanded to eight countries namely Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand and the United States of America with nearly 2,000 members.

This year’s conference comprised 34 members from Brazil, Philippines, Thailand and the United States participating. The host country, Ghana, has about 150 members participating.

The Theresians pledged their support by prayerfully nurturing, affirming and empowering one another to become the women God wanted them to be by living according to five dimension — Spirituality; Education; Community; Vocation and Ministry to grow in gospel values.

SAMSUNG LAUNCHES GALAXY 10.1 IN ACCRA-GHANA

MR RYAN NAH DISPLAYING THE NEW GALAXY TAB
Samsung Electronics in Ghana has launched the latest extension of the Galaxy Note category, Galaxy Note 10.1 to the Ghanaian market.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 is outfitted with the functionality and precision of a pen and paper on a 10.1-inch large display, providing possibilities to elevate a user’s creativity, productivity and learning abilities.

Speaking at the launch in Accra yesterday, the Senior Manager of Marketing Sales at Samsung Electronics in Ghana, Mr Ryan Nah explained that the new Galaxy Note 10.1 featured an intuitive user experience.

He said the device was armed with a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 2GB RAM for enhanced performance, and was designed to simplify idea capture, information access, and multi-tasking, making each easier and faster.

“Galaxy Note 10.1 further demonstrates Samsung’s dedication to delivering products that offer a complete mobile experience for creating personalised and expressive content,”

“History has shown that taking notes, capturing ideas immediately, and sketching to realise them is the most personal and natural way to be more productive and creative. The advanced technology and features included in Galaxy Note 10.1 give users the power to produce, create and customise communications,” he explained.

Mr Nah, further said, several other features have been added to Galaxy Note 10.1 including Smart Stay, which tracks the user’s eyes to ensure that the screen is always on while being looked at, and a Pop Up Play, which allows the user to watch a video anywhere on their screen while simultaneously running other tasks.

Additionally, with AllShare Play, users can share content with a large group in real-time by connecting Galaxy Note 10.1 to Samsung HD TVs, mobile tablets, laptops, and other consumer electronic devices on the same network.

“With AllShare Group Cast, users can also share and collaborate on documents, presentations, or images without loading the files separately”, he said.

ROLAND AGAMBIRE WINS MARKETING MAN OF THE YEAR 2011

STORY: ZAINABU ISSAH

THE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of rlg Communications, Mr Roland Agambire, has been adjudged the Marketing Man of the Year 2011.

The award, which was conferred on him last Saturday at the 23rd Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Awards Night held at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra, was in recognition of his untiring efforts to build a business empire in information and communication technology (ICT).

The CEO of L’aine Services, Mrs Ellen Hagan, was also selected as the Marketing Woman of the Year 2011 in recognition of her efforts to nurture a human resource company with a staff strength of about 3,000 to provide jobs for unemployed graduates. 

The prestigious Marketing Man of the Year and Marketing Woman of the Year awards are conferred on persons who distinguish themselves in the field of marketing.

The awards event seeks among other things, to promote high professional standards in the marketing fraternity and encourage excellence among marketing practitioners.
It also aims to promote awareness of the marketing concept and its importance to the success of businesses.

This year’s event was on the theme: “The Role of Marketing for Sustainable Multiparty Politics” and it highlighted the institute’s ability to promote the sustainability of party politics in the country.

Mr Agambire, who is currently the youngest person to receive the prestigious award, has provided over 5,000 jobs for the youth of the country.
 He received a plaque, a citation, a sketch photo of himself and a certificate.

The Commercial Director of PZ Cussons Ghana, Mr  Kwame A. B. Asante, was also handed the CIMG Marketing Practitioner of the Year Award for successfully  re-branding some of the top products  of the company.

The Commercial Training Manager of Crown Agents Ghana Limited, Mr Victor Nii Tettey Mac-Cathy, received the Marketing Student of the Year Award while  the Executive Director and Founder of  New Horizon Special School, Mrs Salome Francois, received the Special CIMG award  for providing support and care to children with autism in society.

Addressing the gathering, the National President of CIMG, Mrs Shola Safo-Duodu, explained that politics just like marketing was an integrated system in which sets of activities interacted and worked with each other in order to achieve an ultimate goal.

She noted with concern that political parties in recent times had adopted marketing methods and techniques to promote their candidates and sway public opinion.

She said there was the need for politicians to focus on the emerging needs of Ghanaians, develop products and services to meet their needs, inform citizens about the product and also make the products and services easily assessable to the public.

“We have come to a point where we should apply marketing concepts to the strategic process of politicians and their parties selling themselves and ideas to voters,” she said.

Additionally, appealing to people and winning their votes  should be achieved  not by coercion  but by the ability to convince  them about the candidate’s character, his/her leadership potentials, and his/her passion for work for the common good of the country and not for his or her selfish interests.

“As we approach the national elections, we need to conduct our affairs with politicking with the outmost care and with deep respect for each other,” she added.

She, therefore, called on Ghanaians to not only look inward, but focus on the political frontier and offer the necessary help that would guarantee a successful election process.

In his keynote address, the Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Rev Professor Emmanuel Asante, lauded the institute’s ability to use the expertise of members to promote the sustainability of party politics in the country.

He urged the institute to  make available and push for implementation marketing concepts that were relevant for promoting democracy.

“When we adopt such acceptable professional and transparent means of engagements in our politics, we will be promoting understanding and trust in the process,” he said.
Reverend Asante called on Ghanaians especially the elite class to continue working for peace through engagement and the practice of their vocations.

“Let us make dedicated sacrifices to help in the process of peace building and progressing our democratic institution building,” he added.

Other categories of the awards included the CIMG Hall of Fame Retainers, which was categorised into the Insurance Company of the Year received by the SIC Insurance Company Limited; the Motor Firm of the Year taken by Toyota Ghana Company Limited; and the Retail Outlet of the Year, which went to the Melcom Group of Companies.

The Media Awards Category include the Outdoor Advert of the Year taken by Dalex Finance (Pampering), Print Advert of the Year  awarded to L’aine Services (Bending Over), Television Advert of the Year received by the Ghana Aids Commission Aids Campaign (Azonto), and Radio Advert of the Year won by Devtraco - Master Planned Gated Communal Living.

The rest are the Television Programme of the Year 2011 awarded to Vodafone Health Line, the Radio Programme of the Year  2011 won by Citi FM’s Eye Witness News, and Brand Activation of the Year 2011 received by Lifebuoy Hand wash by Unilever.

The Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC FUND) took the Non for Profit Organisation of the Year 2011 under the Community category.

Under the Business Category, Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Metropolitan Insurance Company, Golden Tulip, Kumasi, and Global Media Alliance took the Insurance Company - Life of Year 2011, Insurance Company - General of the Year 2011, Hospitality Facility of the Year 2011, and Media Organisation of the Year 2011 respectively.

Others are Auto Plaza Limited, Agricultural Development Bank, Busy Internet, Vodafone Ghana, Tobinco Pharmacy, and KLM, which received the Motor Firm of the Year 2011, Bank of the Year 2011, Internet Service Provider of the Year 2011, Telecom Company of the Year 2011, Marketing-Oriented Organisation of the Year 2011 and Airline of the Year 2011 respectively.

The rest are Somovision Ghana Limited, Asadtek Group Limited,  Akate Farms and Yaa Serwa, Kumasi, which were awarded with Retail Outlet of the Year 2011, Manufacturing Company of the Year 2011, Agro-Based Product of the Year 2011 and Indigenous Catering Facility of the Year 2011 respectively.

Rlg phones and Bel-Aqua received the Product of the Year 2011 and Emerging Brand of the Year 2011 respectively under the Product category of the CIMG awards.

BABY DIES IN FIRE OUTBREAK AT PIG FARM IN ACCRA

STORY AND PICTURE: ZAINABU ISSAH
THE ROOM IN WHICH ZAKIYA DIED



A FOURTEEN-MONTH old baby was yesterday burnt to death in a fire outbreak that engulfed a compound house at Pig Farm, an Accra suburb.

The charred body of Zakiya Anaba, had since been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary.

SOME OF THE ITEMS BURNT IN THE FIRE
A male tenant of the house, who went to the rescue of his daughter from the inferno, sustained severe burns and is currently on admission at the 37 Military Hospital.
The fire, which started around 5 a.m., was suspected to have been caused by a water heater being used by Zakiya’s aunt in the room where the baby was sleeping.


At the time Daily Graphic got to the scene, fire personnel had managed to control the fire from spreading to the other parts of the house, with a number of onlookers watching the debris left.

CLOTHING BURNT TO THE GROUND
 Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, the aunt of the deceased, Madam Hajara Mohammed, said she got up at dawn to prepare food when she felt cold and asked her husband to heat some water for her.

She said the husband heeded to her request and subsequently informed her that the water was being heated and that she, Hajara, should check on it when it isready.

ON OF THE BUILDING WALLS IN THE HOUSE BURNT
During this time, the victim’s mother who was also awake to help with the chores laid the deceased in the room to go and offer prayers at the mosque.

Some few minutes later, the entire room caught fire stretching almost immediately to the other rooms in the house burning items worth hundreds of Ghana cedis to the ground.

THE ROOM WHERE LITTLE ZAKIYA DIED
Tenants in the house could not immediately tell whether the baby was with the mother or not until she came back from the mosque to confirm that the baby was left in the room.

SOME ITEMS ARE OF NO USE NOW

Four other rooms in the house got burnt totally beyond repair while some other two rooms had parts of their items burnt.

THE ROOM OF ONE OF THE TENANTS IN THE HOUSE BURNT TO THE GROUND
A tenant in the house, Mr Sampson Antwi, whose room was also burnt, said the fire spread so fast that he could not retrieve any of his items.

“I am now left with nothing but my shorts and slippers. The dress I am wearing now was borrowed from a friend. I have lost everything,” he said sobbing.
He, however, lauded the timely intervention of the Fire Service saying, “If not for the Fire Service, the whole compound house would have been burnt.”

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Dogbe, who was at the scene said the extent of damage was being assessed in order to bring in relief items to support the victims.

ZONGO FOR MAHAMA LAUNCHED

Story and Picture :Zainabu Issah

A GROUP calling itself Zongo For Mahama (ZFM) has been launched in Nima with the objective to ensure that President John Dramani Mahama secures an overwhelming mandate from the people of Ghana, come December 7, 2012.

The group draws its membership from 338 Zongo communities across the country who share in the vision of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its agenda for the coming years.

SOME OF THE NDC SUPPORTERS AT THE GATHERING
Launching the group, the leading member of ZFM, Mr Yussif Jajah, said the group was formed in response to the clarion call by compatriots across the length and breadth of the country to demonstrate their appreciation to the NDC.

He  recalled that the party over the years  had proven beyond reasonable doubt , through the numerous social interventions in the Zongo Communities, infrastructural developments, improved health care delivery among other things that it was a party for all and not for a few.

He said the group would ensure an effective mobilisation of the rank and file of its members and also educate them on matters relating to the elections.

This, he said, would help market NDC candidates both in the presidential and parliamentary elections. He added that when the Parliamentary candidates do well in the polls, it would naturally catapult the flag bearer to victory.

SOME DIGNITRIES PRESENT AT THE LAUNCH
“Key to our campaign is to tell our story as it is. The story of the NDC is an undisputed fact of history, as far as the welfare of the Zongo and the Muslim community is concerned”, he added.

Mr Jajah further recalled that  it was the NDC, under the leadership of the Former President Rawlings, that amended the Public holiday Act to legislate two public holidays for Muslims in the country.

“We cannot forget the tireless effort that the NDC government has made to smoothen the operations of the annual Hajj program, which at best could be described as a mess during the NPP era,” he explained.

Additionally, the Hajj village which was out up by the NDC government has provided comfort and dignity  to would be pilgrims over the past three years as they wait for their flight.

THE YOUTH AT THE GATHERING
He further lauded the effort of the NDC government to introduce circular education into the Arabic schools in order to provide education to the teeming youth which was earlier not available.

Furthermore, for the first time in the history of the country, the government of the NDC has put in place a guarantee price for shea nuts as is done for cocoa hence expected to improve the livelihood of the women who are into the shea nut business.

ALHAJI SOFO JAJAH.
“These laudable achievements have resonated with our people, lifted thousands of people out of poverty, and we can only say thank you to the NDC government,” he said.

Mr Jajah, however, urged the members of the Zongo communities to be committed to peace and ensure that the community would not be cowed into any diabolical agenda of any cheap and war mongering politician during the upcoming elections.

Present at the launch of the group was the Ghana Ambassador to Egypt, Alhaji Saeed Sinare, the Special Aide to the President, Alhaji Baba Laami, the Member of Parliament of Ayawaso East, Dr Ahmed Mustapha, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Collins Dawuda, the Chairman of ZFM, Alhaji  Sofo Jaja and the Executives of the NDC Zongo Caucus.

He, however, urged all Ghanaians especially those in the Zongo communities to come out in their numbers and vote during the upcoming elections.

“The victory of the NDC would help create jobs for the youth, promote the welfare of Muslims, strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cope with the high demand of patronage with a view of providing quality health care to the people,” he added.