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Energy Commission seeks legal backing to seize fake electrical products

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In a bid to rid the market of substandard and unlicensed electrical products, the Energy Commission has said it plans to present a bill to Parliament, which will give it powers to clean the market of illegal products.

The commission, which is the technical regulator of the electricity sector, wants to be able to, among other things, punish persons involved in import/handling of fake and unlicensed electrical products, as well as the power to go into the market and confiscate.

“There is a draft bill which will be put before Parliament to allow us to go into the markets and seize some of these fake products. But whiles we are working on that we are relying on those we have certified (certified electricians) to use the correct materials,” said Solomon Sarpong, Principal Programmes Officer at the commission.

He said this during a regional stakeholder conference for the Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals (CEWP) programme, in Accra.

His comments come in the wake of a recent survey by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), which revealed that more than 70 percent of electrical cables on the market are below safety and quality parameters.

“About three weeks ago, we carried out a survey in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. We bought and tested about 58 different type of cables and out of this, only seven passed all the critical parameters. Out of the seven, two of them are locally manufactured cables and the other five are imported,” a standards officer at GSA, Francis Mensah Akpaloo, told the B&FT.

Currently, the Energy Commission does not have the powers prosecute and seize products that do not meet safety requirements.

The bill, if pass into law, will therefore give it authority to take action against persons caught dealing in substandard and unlicensed electrical products.

Meanwhile, checks from the market show that, whereas locally made cables cost around GH¢130 to GH¢240 per coil, imported ones are sold for between GH¢30 and GH¢70.

This, officials of the regulatory agencies say, points to the fact that a lot of the imported ones are fake.

The use of substandard products come with several risks such as electrocution, fire outbreaks and unstable flow of current.

“You have invested so much into your facility; so, don’t allow fake electrical products or a quack electrician to burn down your building,” Mr. Sarpong, who is in charge of the commission’s electrician training programme, cautioned.

CEWP programme implementation

The Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals (CEWP) training programme, which begun in 2013 as part of the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 2011, (L.I. 2008), seeks to guide persons who engage in electrical wiring and installation in the country through regulation.

Following the award of certificates to over 5,000 electricians nationwide, full implementation of the law begun last October.

It requires that only persons certified by the commission undertake electrical wiring and installation before the facility can be connected to electricity.

“The law requires that if someone violates its provisions, the person can be taken to court where a penalty of 250 units, or two years imprisonment or both can be applied.

If the work is done by an uncertified electrician, the work would be inspected and tested by someone who is certified before electricity will be extended to the facility,” Mr. Sarpong further explained.

To ensure smooth implementation, the commission is collaborating with the Electricity Company of Ghana, as well as the security agencies.

“We also started inspection of existing public facilities which are 10 years old and above. Those that meet our criteria will be given certificate of compliance from the commission. Facilities which do not meet the criteria will be disconnected.

We have issued a public notice to all these facilities and we are giving them time to comply. Some have complied already, others have not. But beginning January next year, we will start with the full implementation; we will be visiting these hotels and restaurants for inspection and issuance of certificates. Those that do not meet the safety criteria will be disconnected and given time to correct the anomalies before being reconnected,” he stated.

Corruption may erode investor confidence — Lawyer Adagewine

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Godwin Adagewine

A Senior law lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Dr. Godwin Adagewine, has warned that investor confidence in the economy may erode if appropriate action is not taken to address the high rate and perception of corruption in the public sector.

His comments come in the wake of the 2017 Afrobarometer report which shows widespread perceptions of corruption in both government and private-sector leadership, with the police and judges most widely seen as being corrupt.

According to the report, citizens perceive 59 percent of all police to be corrupt; 38 percent of all judges to be corrupt; 35 percent of all national government officials to be corrupt; and 32 percent of all parliamentarians to be corrupt.

This, Dr. Adagewine said, creates a worrying business climate for any investor coming in, hence affecting his or her confidence in the economy.

“The police and the judiciary are two very important institutions in the country and they enforce the laws of the country, including business and investment laws. For example, when an investor is defrauded, he or she or if it is a company, will readily want to seek the intervention of the police or the court.

And the aggrieved investor will want to be sure that in the event of any such situation, there will be justice according to the law done. But if these institutions are corrupt, as the report suggests, then it will erode confidence in their ability to be fair and firm in enforcing the law,” he said in an interview with the B&FT.

“And you know investors want to put their monies where they know they can get their returns, and if disagreements arise in the process, and they cannot trust the system to resolve such disagreements fairly and according to the law, then they will not want to come.

They will look to places where the institution of the law can be trusted to be fair and firm. If they don’t trust that the system will protect their investment and interest, then they will not come. But if they are sure that their investment can be protected, then they will come,” he added.

To address the issue, Dr. Adagewine said, stiffer punishment must be meted out to officials caught in corrupt practices so that it will send a strong message to investors that the law enforcement agencies can be trusted and will protect their interest.

“We have to be seen dealing with it. If a police officer or judge is involved in corruption, the person must be punished and not transferred. If you transfer them all that it means is that they can go and continue their actions somewhere else, and investors may also be operating there too. But when we are seen to be punishing them, then the investors will know that the institution is doing justice,” he said.

Indeed, a number of diplomats, including US Ambassador Robert Porter Jackson, have, every now and then, raised concern about the high rate of corruption in the country, particularly so far government institutions are concerned.

The Afrobarometer report also states that almost two-thirds (64 percent) of Ghanaians want corrupt officials prosecuted and, if found guilty, forced to return stolen funds, jailed, and publicly named and shamed.

The much-awaited Special Prosecutor’s office is expected to help do that, if the powerplay between the two leading political parties – NDC and NPP – does not lead to accusations of witch-hunting, thereby effectively pouring cold water on the work of that office.

About one-fifth (22 percent) favour government retrieval of stolen funds without prosecution, while one in 10 (9 percent) would opt for prosecution without retrieval of stolen funds.

Again, the report adds, the proportion of Ghanaians who think the government has performed very well or fairly well in fighting corruption more than doubled between 2014 and 2017, from 25 percent to 60 percent.

 

Give hope to the youth to prevent migration- MP

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The Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma Central Constituency , Hon Ebenezer Gilbert Nii Narh Nartey,  has expressed dismay at the shameless sale of  African immigrants into slavery in Libya urging Ghanaian youth to channel their desires into maximising the opportunities created by the government in agriculture.

According to him the astonishing revelations calls for a collective effort among all nations in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation of Africans.

Hon Nartey  who is currently at the 53rd Session of the International Tropical Timber Council and Sessions of the Associated Committees in Peru said in an interview with the Parliamentary News Africa in a telephone interview  on Friday December 1 2017.

He said slave  trade in any form is condemnable adding that the revelation should serve as a reference point  to African governments to create jobs and give hope to millions on the continent.

He also urged ECOWAS and the African Union to intervene in the migration crisis and to combat human trafficking.

He touched on the Planting for Food and Jobs programme and urged the youth to embrace the programme to earn  a living.

He also congratulated all farmers and Fishermen for a good work done andencouraged all to support government initiative to support agriculture.

The grainy undercover video appears to show smugglers selling off a dozen men outside of the capital city Tripoli at a cost of $400 .

Libya is the main transit point for refugees and migrants trying to reach Europe by sea. In each of the last three years, 150,000 people have made the dangerous crossing across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya.

For four years in a row, 3,000 refugees have died while attempting the journey, according to figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the U.N.’s migration agency. 

The Libyan Coast Guard — supported with funds and resources from the E.U. and more specifically, Italy — has cracked down on boats smuggling refugees and migrants to Europe.

With estimates 400,000 to almost one million people now bottled up Libya, detention centers are overrun and there are mounting reports of robbery, rape, and murder among migrants, according to a September report by the U.N. human rights agency.

Conditions in the centers have been described “horrific,” and among other abuses, migrants are vulnerable to being sold off as laborers in slave auctions.

Shatta Wale is the face of Kasapreko’s Storm Energy Drink

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Shatta Wale with some Kasapreko Company Limited Officials

In front of a thousand fans who heeded to the call from his social media pages, Charles Nii Armah, or better still Shatta Wale, has been unveiled as the brand ambassador of Storm Energy Drink, Kasapreko Company Limited’s, latest addition to their growing beverage line.

Held at the Achimota Mall, Accra, with radio presenter, Abeiku Santana eloquently moderating affairs, Shatta Wale couldn’t help but bestow praises on Kasapreko as the model local business that is going international and thus, needs to be promoted and patronised by Ghanaians.

Under the tag, ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’, Shatta Wale, honoured to partner a local giant, is of the view that Storm Energy Drink indeed spurs him on to work harder and after every hard work, man must equally play hard.

“I want Ghanaians to be proud of things produced in the country. I accepted storm energy drink because it was made in Ghana. I would like Ghanaians to patronise the drink and products from Kasapreko even when they are outside the country,” he added.

He assured that he will utilise all available means to make Storm Energy Drink, outdoored in April, 2016, the leading and most sought after in the country and possibly beyond.

Richard Adjei, the Managing Director of Kasapreko Company Limited, said the company chose Shatta Wale to be the brand ambassador because of his hardworking, versatile and energetic attributes.

Storm Energy Drink on display

He added that the company was excited about their partnership with Shatta Wale and were looking forward to the great things ahead of the relationship.

“Our Storm Energy drink brand ambassador we are unveiling today is hardworking, multi-purpose, and active. No other artiste churned out as many songs as Shatta did last year. His songs always top the charts and bring life to any gathering. Shatta Wale is also authentic, original and has stayed true to his roots with his genre of music,” he said.

Mr. Adjei added that, the drink was the first energy drink produced by the company and was made under the strictest quality.

Eunice Adjei Boateng, the Director of Sales and Marketing of Water and Carbonated Soft Drinks for Kasapreko Company Limited, said the company chose Shatta Wale as the brand ambassador because of his passion for his music and his status as the biggest artiste in the country.

She stated that the drink was unique in every form like all products from Kasapreko and that the drink stood for creativity, uniqueness and passion just like its ambassador.

Fans presenting a gift to shatta wale

She urged Ghanaians to patronise it because of its functionality of energizing whoever drank it as well as its refreshing taste compared to other brands on the market. She reiterated that the drink was not to be drunk by pregnant women and persons below the ages of eighteen.

For the physically challenged, bamboo wheelchairs have arrived

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In the early weeks of November this year, a team of young enterprising engineers set off to do something unconventional. Their talents and dexterity would now be put to the test. Equipped with the idea and learning from the old success stories, they believed it could be done. Indeed, these engineers succeeded in building a bamboo wheelchair.

Working for Bright Generation Community Foundation with technological support from Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, Marjelle Scheffers, a Dutch Biomedical Engineer from University of Delaware and Asante Eric, an Engineer with Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, turned the idea from a concept to a physical prototype.

It all began with Solomon Owusu-Amankwaah and Bernice Dapaah (CEO/Founder) of Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, who had brainstormed about the possibility of extending the application of bamboo and creating an assistive device to support the many physically challenged in Ghana.

When they realized the severity of the current issue of lack of accessibility to wheelchairs, the idea of using bamboo to make wheelchair became more than just a passing thought.

Asante had built a rather complex model in the middle of 2016, which had undergone testing by Rhonda, a Canadian Paralympic official, and Raphael, an internationally renowned Paralympic winner of several medals and Founder of GoGet Them in Ghana.

Their expert suggestions helped to inform the mechanics of this successful prototype which became the star-of-the-show in the just ended international competition organized by the Greater Accra Wheelchair & Basketball Team.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 70 million people worldwide require wheelchairs. However, only 5-15percent of these people have access. The WHO describes the wheelchair as more than an assistive device.

“It is the means by which they can exercise their human rights and achieve inclusion and equal participation. A wheelchair provides mobility, ensures better health and quality of life, and assists people with disabilities to live full and active lives in their communities.”

It is important that people don’t have access to just any wheelchair, but an appropriate wheelchair. It is crucial for the individual’s health that a wheelchair is fitted to that person’s needs. Depending on their level of ability and their body dimensions, the wheelchair should be modified.

Wheelchairs that are not fitted to the individual cause other problems, like severe sores and stresses and strains on their muscles. The development of this bamboo wheelchair offers a sustainable solution to the lack of accessibility to appropriate wheelchairs, while also providing employment opportunities in Ghana.

Saturday, November 11th, was an exciting day for the bamboo wheelchair team. Two members of the team, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe and Maclean Atsu Dzidzienyo, invited them to bring their bamboo wheelchair to Accra. After their practice, the Greater Accra Wheelchair Basketball Team, tested the bamboo wheelchair; they did their wheelies, and rode it around. Based on their feedback, this very first prototype functioned safely and well.

The team was also excited about the idea of using bamboo. Especially the coach of the team, Ervis, who has much experience in the field of the mechanics of the wheelchair, provided the engineers with useful suggestions to further improve the design.

The next steps involve a fundraising project that Scheffers is going to set up. These funds will be used to make the necessary adjustments to the design and to produce a test series to further verify the bamboo wheelchair concept.

The next design will overcome the common barriers to exercise in persons with impairment which include cost, emotional and psychological concerns, fear of injury, and access and affordability of exercise equipment. These concerns are especially troubling to wheelchair users in low income and developing countries like Ghana, where affordability and access to equipment can be insurmountable obstacles.

 

  

It is envisaged that in 2018, the first batch of super-crafted bamboo wheelchair which combines the lightness and strength of bamboo, will be distributed at no cost to well over 100 beneficiaries in Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Federation for Disabilities, UNDP and USAID.

In the words of Solomon, “bamboo is rapidly emerging on the top-10 list of the world’s most treasured materials and will soon become the material of the 21st century”.

No single plant has given humanity so much than bamboo. When you think of bamboo, think green, think of a multipurpose, highly sustainable resource which holds the key to poverty reduction.

Kafui Dey: Public Speaking A to Z; D is for Desire

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Kafui Dey

Desire is a powerful urge to have or do something. It is far stronger than merely wanting or wishing. Desire is a state of mind. It is a key factor for success in every endeavor. To desire something means you yearn for it so intensely that you are prepared to hurdle over any obstacle and endure any discomfort to reach your goal.

When you desire someone, what happens to you? You hold a picture of the person in your mind. You think about that person. You are passionate about them. You want to listen to them and speak to them as often as possible. You want to be with the object of your strong feelings. So your behavior changes. You look for opportunities to be in contact with that person. If those opportunities are not available, you seek to create them so you can reach you goal. As it is with a loved one, so it is with public speaking.

See yourself succeed

How can desire help you become a masterful public speaker? In your mind’s eye, see yourself as a confident person with a useful message that you communicate in an interesting way to a receptive audience. Try and make your visualization as vivid as possible. See the audience smiling, hear the sound of their clapping at the end of your talk. These mind pictures will keep you focused on your aim and fuel your desire to excel.

Go to school

Success is not accidental. To become best, systematically feed your desire to learn from the best. Go to YouTube and search for ‘public speaking tips’ to find videos of speaking coaches. Watch the videos and ask questions in the comments box about anything you don’t understand. Remember, you are aspiring to be the best so the more you know, the better you will be.

Learn from the best

You must desire to listen to great speakers. Go to as many public talks as possible and observe the speakers. Watch how they begin their addresses, make transitions and end their speeches. If you get the opportunity to speak to them after their presentations, congratulate them and tell them what you liked about their delivery. If the opportunity presents itself, you can introduce yourself as an up and coming speaker and ask for a tip. People at the top of their game are often willing to share their success secrets with people who approach them respectfully.

Put family first

How do you create speaking opportunities for yourself to build your desire to be an effective public speaker? Start from your family. Volunteer to be the MC for social events like naming ceremonies, birthday parties, wedding receptions and even funerals. Masters of ceremony employ public speaking skills to communicate with other speakers and audiences. The more you deploy these skills, the better you become.

Grab work opportunities

Do you work in a corporate environment? Opportunities abound to encourage your desire to be a better public speaker. Put your name forward any time there is an official event being organized such as a launch, a workshop or an end of year party. Apart from honing your skills, you will be networking with the decision makers in your company which will put you in a good position for future advancement.

You have to earnestly want to be an effective speaker to be able to become one. It is not a question about mere wishes. Your desire will give provide you with the fuel to fire your efforts in spite of your fears of failure. Remember, with desire you create the feelings you need to make your goal a reality. Desire to be the best and watch yourself make it happen!

 

Kafui Dey is a journalist, event host and author.

Twitter: @KafuiDey

Web: kafuideygroup.com

Blog: blog.kafuideygroup.com

WhatsApp/SMS: +233 240 299 122

 For orders and delivery worldwide of his new book Public Speaking A to Z, call WALKING BOOKS on +233 242 808  031

 

Fashion & More with Faith Senam: ‘The Bride’ Collection by Nadrey Laurent

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Faith Senam

 

Weddings are for women. This is not to say that men don’t love weddings too, they do but not as much as women. It’s a whole journey for women once they start preparing to get married.From the choosing of the colors, bridal party, décor, food, venue, guests and all the other things that matters for the big event. One thing is always a nightmare; getting the right gown.

For many women, finding that perfect wedding dress for their body type which is similarly comfortable and is able to tell their happiness is what they yearn for. It’s also on this one day where it is socially acceptable for them to be surrounded with beauty and what better way to do this than to wear the most beautiful gown you will find in your search for what best to wear.

 

Accra based fashion houseNadrey Laurent recently launched its first ever bridal collection called “The Bride”. Brides are nearly the most important figure at weddings. Their arrival stalls everything and everyone as the groom waits eagerly at the altar.

The inspiration for “The Bride” Collection is to offer a wide range of possibilities for the modern bride to explore and feel cheerful about on her special day.

This stunning capsule collection is a perfect blend of traditional, sophisticated yet playful designs. The delicate embellished ivory and whites laces are intricately mixed with fresh turquoise lace, beautiful fuchsia satin, bold black guipure and even African prints.

“As we know, today’s brides are confident, dynamicand still very traditional. They are mostlyin search of this special yet timeless dress, that piece that will reveal their inner beauty (and happiness), embrace their femininity yetwill be practical because aside from being beautiful and posh they will have to dance and have fun.” Marie Kipre, Creative Director for Nadrey Laurent explains.

THE BRIDE Collection offer styles such as the traditionalwedding gowns, classy embellished jumpsuits, body-skimming crepe dresses, and lace capes. These styles mostly come with detachable trains to allow the Queen of the day to fullyenjoy her special day.

Nadrey Laurent formerly known as Totally Ethnik has since its establishment in 2013 been making exclusive and daring ready to wear pieces for the modern woman and now with the introduction of a bridal collection which will be available in a pre-order basis.

The brand is currently found in shops in Paris, Geneva, Accra, Lagos, Abidjan, and Kampala and have participated in key fashion shows in Belgium, France, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda.

The modern bride wants to be as dynamic and expressive on her wedding day. Understanding the different facets the modern bride goesthrough for herwedding day and finding that ideal gown which will make her day enjoyable and memorable is what simply what this collection offers.

Nungua Warehouse Ghana Ltd. to Receive ‘Golden Award for Quality & Business Prestige’ in Spain

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Mr. Collins Otoo Okley

The Global Trade Leaders’ Club (GTLC) based in Spain has chosen Nungua Warehouse Ghana Ltd to receive the Golden Award for Quality and Business Prestige, 2017.

The award which recognises organisational quality and image, is given to businesses from all sectors who have excelled in organizational quality over the year, allowing their brands to harness the award for promotional and marketing campaigns.

According to the Global Trade Leaders’ Club, the trophy is a title of quality and excellence and “a recognition of the trajectory of the enterprises and of the men and women leading them.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Nungua Warehouse Ghana Ltd, Mr. Collins Otoo Okley, is expected to receive the award on November 20, 2017, during a ceremony at the plush Melia Castilla hotel in the Spanish capital Madrid, which will be attended by business leaders, regulators and diplomats from many countries.

There will also be a business networking meeting at the awards ceremony during which award recipients will deliver presentations on their business and main activities to participants.

The Global Trade Leaders’ Club is an association of over 7,500 businessmen from 95 countries which promotes business and relationships among its members and also recognizes excellence from outstanding members.

Kweku Agyeman is 2017 National Best Farmer with $100,000 cash prize

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Philip Kweku Agyeman from the Brong Ahafo region has been declared the 2017 National Best Farmer.

The 50 year old becomes the first to walk away with $100,000 cash prize after the 2017 package was improved.

Mr. Agyeman from Dormaa West has farms that employ 205 workers, casual and permanent. He has been farming for 28 years.

He owns 280 acres of farmland which includes 120 acres of cocoa , more than three acres of fish pond, 95 acres of plantain, seven acres of cashew, five acres for orange farms, seven acres for coconut.

He also has 45,000 poultry and other livestock.

The first runner-up is Mabel Akoto Kudjoe from Hohoe in the Volta region.

The second runner-up is from the Ga South Municipal Assembly, Rebecca Anne Commey of the Greater Accra region. 

In all, 77 farmers and fishermen including women, were recognised for their hard work.

Other award-winners included Abdul-Rahman Mohammed from the Upper East region who was adjudged the National Best Crop farmer.

Other winners

The National Best Youth farmer was Richard Awombadek who comes from Builsa South in the Upper East region.

National Best Livestock Farmer was Yussif BunBaz.

National Best Cocoa farmer: Yakubu Osman from Sefwi the western region. 

National Best Fisheries Worker: Yaw Logo

National Best Aquaculture farmer, Joshua Anning.

Parliament approves $40m loan to improve SHS infrastructure

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A $40 million loan facility to improve some Senior High Schools in the country has been approved by Parliament 

This forms part of a financing agreement between the government of Ghana and the International Development Association of the World Bank.

This financial support is coming at a time government is implementing the ambitious Free Senior High School programme, which has been plagued with widespread infrastructure challenges.

President Nana Akufo-Addo had already hinted at this facility being a solution to the infrastructure challenges in secondary schools.

The loan would be used as additional financing for the Secondary Education Improvement Project, which would upgrade facilities in some existing 75 senior high schools.

The Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, said “75 senior high schools will have their facilities upgraded to improve academic performance. Also, there will be quality improvement support to 107 additional schools.”

He added that “the committee finds the project immensely important towards enhancing secondary education in Ghana, to help provide more secondary level graduates with the relevant skills to enter tertiary institutions and the labour market.”

Infrastructure relief for schools

This notwithstanding, the government has already put in place measures to alleviate these challenges as an amount of Ghc80 million cedis has been allocated to address the challenges relating to furniture and beds.

President Nana Akufo-Addo recently announced that contracts will soon be awarded for the provision of 69,500 single desks, and 13, 100 bunk beds to Senior High Schools across the country.

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