Express Savings and Loans Company Limited (ESLC) has made strategic appointments intended to reposition and drive its business in the coming years -- aiming to be among the top players in the industry.  Those appointed have wide and varied experiences which they bring to facilitate the strategic re-engineering of the company. Mr. Ghapson Kwadwo Boakye has been appointed Head of Finance. Mr. Boakye is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a Chartered Banker with 19 years experience in both Europe and Ghana. He has held various positions within the banking and financial services sector -- including SG-SSB and Agricultural Development Bank in Ghana, and the Audit Commission in UK. Mr. Emmanuel Darko-Yeboah, a seasoned lawyer with 19 years working experience, has taken the helm as new Head of Human Resources and Legal. Until his appointment with ESLC, Mr. Darko-Yeboah held various positions in the erstwhile Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Mr. Abdul-Malik Bukari now takes over as the Business Development Manager (Northern Sector). He has 11 years of banking experience having worked with Barclays Bank Ghana and Fidelity Bank Ghana in various positions. Commenting on these appointments, the acting Managing Director Nana Osae Addo-Dankwa, emphasised that the appointments are in line with the Company’s repositioning strategy and assured current and potential customers that there is more in stock for them. He hinted that Express is currently offering very attractive promotional Fixed Deposit rates over and above the going T-bill rate for investors during this festive season.

A long-held dream for banks in Ghana to share each other’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM) has now become a reality and will be launched on Wednesday, officials of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) have disclosed. This will be a landmark achievement in the financial services sector in the country. So far, 13 banks have reconfigured their systems and can now accept each other’s ATM cards. This means customers of these banks can access their bank accounts and make withdrawals from the ATMs of any of these nine banks. Until now, only customers of banks which issued Visa branded cards could enjoy this service; but currently customers of these 13 banks can use their local ATM cards and access their accounts from the ATM outlets of the other banks. The banks, which include major financial institutions, are Ghana Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Agriculture Development Bank and Zenith Bank. Others are HFC Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Ut Bank, Prudential Bank, and the Bank of Africa.  The rest are Unibank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Stanbic Bank and Ecobank.  Access Bank is expected to be on board by the time the service is launched. The launch of the service known, as the Interbank ATM Switching Transaction, is expected to bring a lot of relief to bank customers. It is a project that has been in the hearts of many because of the frustration that bank customers go through in search of their specific banks’ ATMs when technology can allow them to use any ATM available to access their bank account. GhIPSS, which has led the reform of the country’s payment systems, acquired the National Electronic Platform (christened gh-link) to enable all banks to interconnect and ensure that Ghana moves away from the era when customers had to travel long distances to access their money from an ATM. Speaking ahead of the launch, the Chief Executive of GhIPSS Archie Hesse indicated that transactions monitored clearly show that the public is already using the ATMs of banks other than theirs, showing that they are already enjoying the service. “We notice that the take-up has been rising, and it is obvious that the public is on board” Mr. Hesse noted. The interbank ATM switching is the first phase of a series of new services that will be launched on the gh-link. Mr. Hesse said after the ATMs are linked, the next phase will be to enable the local ATM cards to be used in Point of Sale (POS) devices, so that bank customers can shop with their normal ATM cards -- another major feat that will soon be achieved.

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY New Horizon Special School, a school that provides basic education and vocational training to people with intellectual disabilities, needs GH¢56,000 to fully furnish an eight-unit classroom block recently commissioned by Kairo International, operators of La Palm Royal Casino. “We now have speech- and physio-therapists on full-time basis, but we lack the furniture and equipment to make them work efficiently; furnishing and equipping the facility will cost about GH¢56,000,” said the Principal, Vanessa Adu-Akorsah. She said this at the unveiling of a plaque for the GH¢161,000 new eight-unit classroom block at Cantonments, Accra. The Institute also provides education to people suffering from autism, cerebral palsy and the visually or hearing impaired. Mrs. Adu-Akorsah noted that with the new classroom block, they now can admit more students and are also able to run the normal Ghana Education Service curricula. The new classroom block houses the speech- and physio-therapy, sensory room and two rooms for cerebral palsy. The classrooms, according to the Principal, are very comfortable and totally disability-friendly. Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Kairo International, Juliet Quarcoo, said the gesture was in fulfillment of the company’s corporate social responsibility. “In fulfillment of our corporate social responsibility, we decided to help the institute by putting up this structure to enhance teaching and learning, and also to enable the institute admit more students with intellectually disability,” she said. The New Horizon School is a purpose-built establishment started 40 years ago by a mother who has a daughter with a disability, and supported by friends from the American Women Association and two mothers. The institute currently has about 156 children and adult pupils, from age four to 50.

By Juliet AGUIAR, Bogoso Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited (GSBPL) has presented packages to 143 employees of the company who have served for five years and 10 years respectively. They received certificates, packets of roofing-sheets and table-top fridges for their hard work, commitment and dedication to the sustainability and growth of the company. Mr. Neale Naffin, the General Manager of GSBPL speaking on the theme “Redefining labour’s contribution to the business”, pointed out that every company has two resources that it relies upon to be successful -- the first is the product and the other is the human resource. He noted that no company can be successful without the product and its human resource, therefore it is important for employees to perform to the best of their abilities and add value to what they do. “We must all play leadership roles in safety, production and ensuring effective cost-management practices” -- as we progress and get a firm grip on our challenges, the continuous  improvement of the business ultimately depends on efforts and contributions of our employees,” he added. He said since the implementation of the long-service awards six years ago, 980 employees have been beneficiaries and this constitutes about 94% of the workforce -- the amount spent to date on the long service awards is US$650,000. Mr. Francis Eduku, the Human Resource Manager of GSBPL, explained that employees’ strength, skills, abilities and knowledge as well as foresight and insight are the main driving force for organisational success. “We need to move toward fresh boundaries and initiate organisational breakthough by valuing our values, being ethical, innovating and simplifying our organisational processes,” he said. According to him, employees cannot afford to do what others are doing -- because if we continue to do what others are doing, we will get the same results; we have to do things differently to make a positive difference. “We need to be committed to what we do; succeed as business, grow the economy and create more jobs for current and future generations,” he said.

The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, has appealed to workers to maintain a safety culture at their workplace in order to reduce work-related accidents to the barest minimum. He stressed that the well-being of the ordinary worker is paramount to the success of any organisation, and making conscious effort to be safe at the working environment will promote productivity. Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah made the appeal in an interview with the press during a staff durbar, organised by the leading cement manufacturer at the forecourt of its Takoradi factory, to mark the week-long celebration of their annual safety week. The durbar, observed concurrently at both Tema and Takoradi factories, was aimed at raising awareness with regard to health and safety practices at the workplace. It was themed “Safety:Your Responsibility”. Various competitions on Safety at the workplace were held in both Tema and Takoradi Factories of the company and prizes were presented in two categories, which included the Technical and the Non-Technical departments as well as individuals who exhibited excellence in safety. In Takoradi, the Electrical and Marketing section of the Technical and Non-Technical departments respectively took the first position and was presented with a cash prize of GH¢800 and GH¢600 each. Meanwhile, the Mechanical and Human Resource of the technical and Non-technical department respectively occupied the second position, taking home GH¢500 and GH¢400 each. The Individual award went to Fred-Oboe Sam, as the best ‘Near-Miss Reporter’. He took home a cash prize of GH¢400. The competition at the Tema Factory was also keenly contested, with the Quality Assurance and Sales Office of the Technical and Non-Technical departments respectively taking the first position. They received a cash prize of GH¢800 and GH¢600 each. The second position was occupied by the Technical Support and the Marketing section of the Technical and Non-Technical departments respectively. They also took home a cash prize of GH¢500 and GH¢400 each. The Individual award went to Ebenezer Yeboah and Nicholas Kodjo as the best near-miss reporter and best first-aider respectively. They both received a GH¢400 cash prize each. Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah entreated the workers to obey lawful instructions at their workplace and also translate what was being witnessed that day into action wherever they found themselves, since safe work plus healthy living promotes productivity. Present at the event were some top Executives of the company including: the Managing Director, Mr. Morten Gade; the Environment Health and safety Manager, Mr. Joseph Mensah; the Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Evelyn Effie Quansah; and the Acting Works Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Asante. Mr. Morten Gade in his keynote address explained that the Durbar was an important step by Ghacem, since the company’s occupational health and safety goal is to achieve ‘zero lost time injuries’ and ensuring an accident-free working environment -- which he stressed should be of great concern to any organisation that is rooted in a strong safety culture. He expressed resolve by management of the company to continue focusing on building a set of behaviour not only in top- and middle-management, but also in heads of sections, engineers and supervisors to influence a safety culture throughout the organisation.

Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has been recognised for its sterling performance in Corporate Social Responsibility at the annual CSR awards held in Accra. The CSR Diary and Awards, launched last year by Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry under the auspices of the Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recognises companies which have implemented commendable social intervention programmes to impact the lives of Ghanaians across the country.    GGBL’s flagship Water of Life Programme was recognised for enabling sustainable access to safe drinking water to thousands of Ghanaians across all 10 regions of the country. The Water of Life programme is GGBL’s commitment in support of Diageo’s ambition to provide sustainable access to safe drinking water for 1 million additional people in Africa every year till 2015.  The programme contributes to and supports the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on water. Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Richard Ahiagble, Corporate Citizenship Manager, GGBL, said “As a business, we strongly believe that building strong communities is a sure way to building a strong business. Since 2007, GGBL’s flagship Water of Life programme has provided sustainable access to safe drinking water for more than 100,000 Ghanaians in vulnerable communities through an integrated community-based approach.  This recognition is testament to the fact that doing-good is good for business.” In September this year, GGBL was awarded as the second-best company in CSR at the Ghana Club 100 awards, and its parent company Diageo was also awarded Overall Winner of the ‘This is Africa Beyond Business’ Awards 2012 in the Large Company category in October. On his part, Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, Executive Director of the Association of Ghana Industries, said: “The annual CSR Diary and Awards is a platform to recognise socially responsible companies in the country.  All companies awarded today have demonstrated strong commitment to supporting and developing communities through their CSR initiatives. These initiatives, some of which have been showcased in the CSR Diary, are highly commendable and worthy of emulation by all well-meaning Corporate bodies.  On behalf of the CSR Diary and Awards Secretariat, the Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I want to congratulate these companies and urge them to continue to impact communities through CSR.”

By Benson AFFUL A nine-member working group from various countries in the sub-region have come together to lead a process to establish a regional grain network known as the West Africa Grain Network (WAGN) in Accra. The WAGN will be an organisation for cereal professionals across the value chain, which aims at creating a regional platform that is pertinent and beneficial to its members by advocating and structuring trade for producers, processors, traders and service providers of the sub-region. Mr. Tom Gambrah, Managing Director of Premium Foods Limited, said the network will enable free-trade in the region and create market access that will bring benefits to smallholder farmers. In addition, he said, this will make it possible for cereal farmers to transport their produce from one country to another without any difficulties -- hence reducong the risk of food insecurity in the sub-region. Mr. Gambrah, who is also the Chairman of the Ghana Grain Council, said there is need for every country in the region to establish a grain council that will coordinate with each other to make trade easier between them. He advised government to allow the private sector to participate in food transportation -- saying government should create the enabling environment for them. This, he said, will increase the general economic benefits to the country. According to him, there is need to establish a partnership between the actors in the regional cereal trade, government and financial partners for sustainable development of the cereal value-chain. Marjatta Eilitta, Chief of Party at USAID’s Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (ATP) office, said the need to establish the network was confirmed at a consultative workshop organised by USAID ATP in Ouagadougou in October this year.  She said the meeting highlighted the importance of cereals in regional trade and food security, and also discussed the many challenges in production, trading, transporting and marketing of cereals in the region. She said the cereals sub-sector in West Africa plays a very important role in the creation of wealth and contributes to food security and economic growth -- which is why establishing a network would enhance trade and production of cereals in the sub-region. The participants represent cereal value chains in nine West African countries: including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo among others.

Access Bank (Ghana) Limited under a build and transfer facility deal has handed over a modern five storey lecture theatre, valued at GHS 14 million to the University of Professional Studies, Accra (formerly IPS). The project, which was scheduled for completion in 2013, was finished about 7 months ahead of schedule. The Lecture Theatre Complex is a disability friendly facility which also comprises of over 35 lecture halls and 30 offices with meeting rooms for use by students and lecturers. This is the second time since 2008 that Access Bank has financed the expansion of educational facilities at the University of Professional Studies. The deal forms part of Access Bank’s Strategy of promoting education through expansion of infrastructure.  It is expected that the new complex will facilitate teaching and learning at the UPSA, to help train professionals in Ghana for the advancement and development of her economy. Commenting on the rationale of Access Bank’s support during a brief handing over ceremony held at the University, the Managing Director, Dolapo Ogundimu reiterated Access Bank’s commitment in supporting educational projects across the country. He said; “We supported the university to finance this project because we care about the future of this country, which is the youth. Over the years, Access Bank has developed a pipeline of talent for the banking industry by absorbing outstanding graduates from tertiary institutions in Ghana. Playing a key role in this sector, is thus, a step in the right direction to secure stable careers for our children, while at the same time reducing the large infrastructural deficit in the education sector”.

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanbic Bank, Alhassan Andani, has tasked Human Resources practitioners in organisations to take up the lead roles in their organisations because they are the central point of these institutions. “Human Resource (HR) Managers should not look at themselves as outsiders in organisations, but as the central part of the organisation. Whatever the long- or short-term plan of the organisation is, HR is part of it; be it the people or business,” he said. He advised HR managers to rise above just serving the short-term needs of employees and serve the interests of all stakeholders in the organisation: “So that your interventions are more acceptable and implementable.” Mr. Andani said these at the first breakfast meeting organised by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Forum Ghana in Accra, under the theme “HR’s Contribution to the Bottom Line -- Tactical or Strategic?” President of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Forum Ghana, Kojo Amissah, said the main aim of the breakfast meeting was to get HR people to know more about their profession. “HR is a business so HR Managers should network and set priorities and try to change the situations by writing business plans for the organizations -- and also they should not sit in their offices.  They must also attend international conference to learn what other HR practitioners have in the global environment, so they can make informed changes in their organisations,” he said. The Stanbic boss added that HR helps create a long, sustainable and productive organisation.  According to him, HR also puts together a very effective workforce that promotes growth in any business year on year to meet expectations of the stakeholders in every organisation. “HR is actually the part of the organisation that pulls together the critical Ms (money, machinery, material). The fact that some organisation have been in existence for centuries means HRs of those organisations have played very significant long-term roles,” he said. “If I have numbers to deal with, I expect HR to draw up a people-plan for my organisation to deliver the strategy of both short- and long-term goals, making sure we don’t over-emphasise the operational issues. “When we present financial results, those results can be traced back to how people behaved, conducted and performed within the organisation. HR can therefore take credit for good financial performance and blame for bad financial performance.”                  

By Evans Boah-Mensah Vodafone Ghana would on Friday launched its first Windows 8 phone onto the local market as the company expresses its readiness to offer solutions to consumers on the new windows platform. The Windows 8 phone from Vodafone, HTC 8X, would be the first Windows 8 phone on the market and it is expected to be sold for not more than GHC1,100.   Windows 8 is the current release of Microsoft’s Windows operating system for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs. The Head of Terminals at Vodafone Ghana, Ebeneser Ampadu explained that Vodafone collaborated with Microsoft to enable the windows platform to work seamlessly with devices sold by the company. This, he said, will allow Vodafone customers to sync effortlessly with laptops, tablets and mobile phones as there is a cloud services, Skydrive, set up by Microsoft to enable consumers to work with various devices. “Vodafone worked with Microsoft for six (6) months on the new Windows 8 operating system to enable us give solutions to consumers that best-fit their needs. What we seek to do is to enable our customers to use Vodafone’s devices without having to manually install software and drivers on their devices before they can use it. “The installation software for our dongles and Mifi devices is now embedded in the windows 8 operating system so that when our customers plug in their devices it automatically detects it and launches the Vodafone mobile broadband application. We have also developed a new web interface in Windows 8 that allows our customers to monitor their data usage, top up and generally give them better control of their browsing experience. “We ensure that our customers get first access to the best and most innovative devices. The Windows 8 HTC 8x gives a unique user experience because it is designed with people in mind and allows the user to personalize their device, giving the better control. “This technology coupled with the fastest network in Ghana, means that our customers get a mobile experience that is out of this world. We were first to bring the Samsung Galaxy S II, the Blackberry Torch and now the HTC 8x and our customers can always look to us to bring them the latest devices with cutting edge technology,” he said. Telecom operators and device manufacturers are hopeful that the release of Windows 8 would kick-start sales, which has flattened, and is forecasted to fall in the face of fierce competition from smartphones and tablets for customers’ money. The Corporate Communications Manager at Vodafone Ghana, Antoinette Atuah said the move by the company to bring Windows 8 to its local consumers is in line with the company’s commitment to lead in innovation and bring cutting edge technology to its customers.