Business Mogul Macdan And Experts Share Insights On Transformation Of The SME Space Through Digitalisation
MTN Ghana has hosted seasoned business professionals in the SME and digital space as they shared valuable insights on how SMEs in Ghana and Africa can grow their businesses through the digitalisation of their operations. Speaking on the theme Accelerating SME Growth and Development, business mogul Dr. Daniel McKorley CEO of MacDan Group, Digital Expert, Eric Osiakwan Managing Partner of Chanzo Capital and Mariam Kaleem Agyeman-Buahin, Head of Digital Marketing at Letshego shared experiences in their specific industries. The session was held as part of a six-month SME campaign being run by MTN Business. Dr. Daniel McKorley indicated that going digital required a deliberate and insistent approach to changing operational efficiency especially within the value chain. He said, “digitalizing processes encourage honesty because technology does not lie”. He admonished entrepreneurs to avoid putting themselves ahead of their businesses. He encouraged them to exhibit humility and discipline in their dealings with people. Exploring the advantages of the usage of digital tools, he said, “digitalization has helped to close gaps which could lead to fraud”. It is easier to track and monitor activities and items through digital channels than through manual ones. ‘’Digital gives us an opportunity to instantly correct issues”, he said. Discussing how businesses can start digitalising their operations, the Head of Digital Marketing at Letshego Ghana Savings and Loans Plc”, Mariam Kaleem Agyeman-Buahin indicated that businesses need to do an experiment of the digital process with their employees to get them to understand the process. She advised businesses to be strategic and decide on which areas of their businesses they want to digitalise. She encouraged SMEs to embrace and embed digital tools in their operations and partner with other companies that can help them deliver better services. Eric Osiakwan who is a Managing Partner of Chanzo Capital gave some interesting insights into digitalisation at the intercontinental level. According to him, for intercontinental trade network to work, businesses need digital adoption as it combats corruption, provide wider reach, and promote integrity. He said digitalisation contributes to economic growth and as a result, governments need to create the enabling environment, incentives, and policy framework for innovation to thrive. He said, these are critical in attracting investors. He concluded with the hope that Africa’s digital youth will create a new Africa that will grow to dominate the world. This edition of the MTN breakfast meeting was organised as part of the MTN Business SME Campaign launched last month to support the growth of SMEs. The Campaign will last for six (6) months and features exciting activities and promotions designed for SMEs across the country. The MTN SME campaign is being held with the support of Hubtel Ghana, Atlantic Phones, E-solutions, Npontu Technologies and other partner banks. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
No evidence ‘stupid’, ‘irrelevant’; no media-ridiculing agenda – Ejura C’ttee
The three-member ministerial committee that found facts relating to the Ejura disturbances that led to the shooting to death of two protesters following the lynching of social media activist Ibrahim Kaaka Mohammed, has said neither did it have the intention of ridiculing the media during the hearing nor has it berated anybody’s testimony. Speaking to the media as it wrapped up its work today, Friday, 16 July 2021, the Chairman of the committee, Justice Kingsley Koomson, told the media that “we are a fact-finding committee and we have not come out to say anybody’s evidence is stupid or is irrelevant.” “So, whoever will describe a piece of evidence as stupid or irrelevant, it is their personal opinion”, he said. Commenting on the controversy that surrounded the testimony of Multimedia Group’s Erastus Asare Donkor, Justice Koomson said: “Erastus gave a lot of evidence, video and apart from that, he offered oral testimony”. “And I don’t think any of his evidence looks stupid.” He noted though that: “One thing I have observed is that in the Ghanaian media, when people question some of your acts, it does not mean they want to embarrass you or ridicule you, no”. “If a media man comes, he testifies, he’s asked questions, he should be subjected to some form of questioning.” “That doesn’t mean that you are being ridiculed. So, whoever thinks that the committee tried to ridicule any media personality, I would assure them we had no intention,” he added. He commended the media for airing the hearing. The committee sat for 12 days and had 22 witnesses appear before it – three of them testified in-camera. Some 117 videos, 555 pictures, one audio, and 3 documents were submitted tendered in evidence by the various witnesses. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Ken Agyapong calls Suhuyini ‘foolish’, ‘stupid’; dares to spill Joy FM ‘corruption’ info
Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has taken Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini to the cleaners for dragging him before the Privileges Committee of the legislature in connection with his threats on Kumasi-based Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor. Speaking on his radio station Oman FM, Mr Agyapong descended on his colleague MP and the Multimedia Group. “As for Suhuyini, the least said about him the better”, Mr Ayapong said, adding: “He goes ahead to drag me before the Privileges Committee? He is a foolish MP. So stupid”. “Left to him, the country would have burnt to ashes. I am so disappointed in him.” The Chairman of the parliamentary select committee on defence and the interior, said Mr Suhuyini “is always politicising issues”. He also expressed reservations with his own party for keeping quiet on certain issues about which the actions taken against him could have also been visited on others on the other side of the aisle. “I am also disappointed in NPP because when Muntaka alleged that the Supreme Court judges are corrupt, no one suggested that he should be dragged before the Privileges Committee”. “You all can go ahead to expel me from parliament if you so wish. Do you think I rely on what I make as an MP? No one can silence me,” he added, Mr Agyapong then turned his guns on Joy FM, saying: “I am surprised at how shameless Joy FM is”. “Before Joy FM will have the moral right to report me, it should first write an apology letter to the families that lost their relatives in the Ejura incident, as well as the individuals who sustained various degrees of injury.” “I stand by my words: they are all corrupt. Kwasi Twum claims he did not tell me in my office that the staff of Joy FM is threatening to sabotage the government because we no longer take care of them. I dare Kwesi Twum to come again.” “If Joy FM pushes me to the wall, I will expose all the information I have gathered about them. I’m going all out. You cannot use the media and police to silence me. I will continue to speak the truth. How can a media house be this corrupt at the detriment of its responsibility to relay the truth? If there will be any disturbances in the country, it’ll arise from Joy FM”, he said. —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Ghana Card not replacing passports – NIA
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has clarified that Ghana Card can be used as an alternative to the passport in travelling across West Africa, but is not a replacement for passports. This clarification was made following suggestions that Ghana could switch from a passport to the Ghana Card as a means of travelling. The Head of Corporate Affairs for the National Identification Authority, Abudu Abdul Ganiyu noted that “there is a portion for individual passport information on the Ghana Card that can facilitate the purpose of travel, but it doesn’t mean that the Ghana Card is going to replace the passport.” “Within the West African subregion at the moment, once you carry your Ghana passport, at every checking point, they can easily look at the Ghana card and once they are able to establish your identity, they will allow you to cross the border.” “That simply means the Card is being used at the borders,” Mr. Ganiyu explained. The Ghana Card has already replaced or is complementing some key government services and processes. The National Health Insurance Authority has linked the Scheme’s Card to the National Identification Authority’s database to allow Ghana Card holders to access healthcare services. Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) are also being phased out gradually as Ghana Card numbers officially take their place. Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) numbers are also being replaced with the Ghana Card numbers. There are currently over 15 million persons registered for the Ghana Card. —citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Ken Agyapong leads Parliamentary Committee to probe Wa military brutalities today
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior will today, Friday, July 16 commence a probe into military brutalities in the Upper West Regional Capital, Wa. Members of the Committee chaired by Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, visited the town on Thursday. They first had a closed-door meeting with the Upper West Regional Minister, as well as members of the Upper West Regional Security Council. The soldiers were seen in a viral video beating some residents of Wa, over claims that someone on a motorcycle had snatched a mobile phone belonging to one of them. Three of the soldiers have been demoted, while eight others have been charged, tried, and awarded 30 days each in detention by the disciplinary board of the Ghana Armed Forces according to the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul. The Defence and Interior Committee was sanctioned by the Speaker of Parliament to probe the issue and report to the plenary for subsequent actions to be taken. The Committee Chairman, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, coincidentally has a case before the Ashanti Regional Police Command, after he was reported by the Multimedia Group for allegedly threatening one of its journalists in Kumasi, by asking people to beat him up over his testimony before the Committee probing the Ejura disturbances. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
y ‘Who is Ablakwa trying to deceive? Where’s the principle in anti-car loan stance after taking it twice already?’ – Murtala
Tamale Central MP Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has questioned the principle behind his colleague National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s comments that government must stop giving legislators car loans after the North Tongu MP has benefitted from the tradition twice already. Mr Ablakwa recently urged his fellow lawmakers, to join forces to compel Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to withdraw the $28-million loan facility he tabled before parliament for approval as car loans for the 275 legislators, which got approved on Thursday, 15 July 2021. As MPs, Mr Ablakwa wrote on social media, “let us also boldly confront and discontinue the practice of government loans to purchase vehicles for MPs”. He said: “If the executive branch of government does not have the resources to provide duty vehicles for MPs, as it does for MMDCEs, CEOs of state institutions/SOEs, ministers, judges, civil servants, security services, and so on and so forth, then MPs, who need car loans should be allowed to make their own private car loan arrangements with the banks just as most private-sector workers do”. That will simply require, he noted, that the “government stop the monthly deductions from MPs’ salaries so we will be free to broker individual car loan deals based on our salary structure, constituency terrain and other personal preferences”. “I honestly hope many colleague MPs will agree with me so we join forces and get Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to withdraw his MPs’ car loan agreement from Parliament”, he noted. He bemoaned that “MPs have been deliberately thrown under the bus and subjected to needless opprobrium one too many”. Fortunately, he pointed out, Speaker Alban Bagbin “has been a longtime advocate for a uniform duty vehicle policy in the public sphere, which does not discriminate between Ministers, MMDCEs, CEOs, Judges and MPs”, adding: “I strongly believe we can count on his support as we pursue this mission”. Mr Ablakwa said “deep reflection is needed on just how long the political class can keep stoking the anger levels of the masses beyond a boiling point?” “We must not underestimate the people’s grave revulsion and its volcanic consequences on the stability and sustainability of our democracy”, he warned. “Time to adopt a totally new and sincere paradigm”, the MP suggested. Mr Murtala Mohammed is, however, not the least impressed with Mr Ablakwa’s comments. He told Joy Prime on Thursday: “He [Ablakwa] has gotten two cars, and a new MP, who is coming, who doesn’t even have a motorbike, whose constituency is farther than his, whose constituency is broader than his, who also needs to discharge his responsibilities by being mobile … should not be given a car? Let us get serious in this country.” “This is not a principle”, Mr Mohammed said, adding that if it were, “then he [Ablakwa] should return the other two cars.” “Okudzeto is not just a colleague Member of Parliament”, he noted, pointing out that the two of them “have come a very long way” but insisted: “He has taken the loan two times”. “I went to parliament with him [at] the same time when he took the car loan. In the Seventh Parliament, I wasn’t there but he took the loan”, Mr Mohammed said. “So, where is the principle in this? Since when did he realise that taking the car was unconscionable? Who is he trying to deceive?” he wondered. “This is not a principled position”, the opposition lawmaker emphasised, recounting: “I remember [being] in the Coffee Shop [when] he called me while he was standing with the contact person of one of the companies and he was asking me whether I will take my car from that company. So, where is the principle in this? Since when did he realise that taking the car is unconscionable?” Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093