The COVID-19 pandemic could be a game changer for digital financial services. Low-income households and small firms can benefit greatly from advances in mobile money, fintech services, and online banking. Financial inclusion as a result of digital financial services can also boost economic growth. While the pandemic is set...
In 1933, the Glass-Steagall Act established the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to insure deposits of commercial banks. India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka all in Asia continent established their schemes in 1961, 1963 and 1987 respectively. In the Continental Europe, the German scheme which is administered by private...
The COVID-19 pandemic, one of the world’s most significant events, has resulted in cessation of economic activities that will lead to a significant decline in GDP, an unprecedented social disruption, and the loss of millions of jobs. According to estimates by the African Development Bank, the contraction of the...
The story is told of William Horman, a school principal at the Eton School in London, who released a book titled 'Vulgaria' - Latin for 'everyday adages' or 'common sayings'. In this masterpiece he captured the phrase 'Manners maketh man', which among others speaks to the subject of politeness...
“Every man’s character is good in his own eyes.” – Yoruba proverb
Collectively, we always invoke God to “Bless our homeland, Ghana”. The supplication is for our good. It is a deep-seated desire for truth and justice for ourselves; and then the good of the public interest. But in our...
The West African container trade covers some twenty-five countries, with twenty possessing direct access to a coastline. It is a market that has developed greatly in recent years and is home to some of Africa’s most vibrant, promising markets, such as Nigeria, now Africa’s most populous state and a...
Hiroshima after the US military dropped the atomic bomb on 6 August 1945. Peace Memorial Museum
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US in 1945, the only time in history that nuclear bombs have been used.
The atomic bombs killed tens of...
According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), measures of economic performance in the refining industry usually begin with the gross margin, referred to as crack spread. The gross refining margin is a simple, first approach to refinery profitability. It is computed as the total revenues from product sales minus...
Scents matter. We actually live in a world of scents. That enticing aroma of freshly-baked bread, that fresh scent of freshly-washed clothes, that exciting fragrance emanating from the interior of a new car, that inviting fragrance of fresh fruits are part of the human experience that adds some quality...