Omni Bank has introduced executive banking accounts aimed at attracting high earners as well as offer stress-free banking services to customers.
Head of Corporate and Group Banking Ohenwaa Sakyi Bekoe told Starr Business’ Osei Owusu Amankwaah that the bank will establish an Executive Account for all clients who are in managerial position in various corporate institutions.
This will offer them the opportunity to enjoy free cheque book on the accounts being a member of an executive club for networking, free gym sessions among others.
The move is to create a pool of executives to support each other in their various endeavors, she said.
The club will also schedule quarterly workshops to deliberate over topical national conversation and suggest ways it can be addressed per their professional acumen.
“We are all Ghanaians and we want to build business that will support our nation. So it is not about competition, it’s about sharing ideas and it’s about working together to make sure that our businesses grow,” Bekoe said.
MTN Ghana is offering customers airtime/data as a “token of appreciation for their patience during the service disruption that occurred on the night of 14 December 2016”.
According to the network, the disruption was the result of a technical problem related to Internet Protocol that affected many MTN sites.
“MTN Engineers worked quickly to resolve the problem and were able to fully restore the affected sites in less than two hours.
“MTN will offer customers a choice of free 30 minutes MTN-to-MTN airtime or free 20MB of data. Customers will have the freedom to select their preferred option via short code. The Company states it is currently in the process of setting up the short codes that customers will use to make their selection and will announce the short code numbers as soon as set up is complete,” a statement from MTN said.
Customers started activating their choice of free airtime or data from 17th December till 11:59PM on 23rd December, 2016. Once the selection is made the package will be activated immediately and the customer will have 24 hours within which to use the package.
Mrs Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Services Executive, said “we are aware the disruption inconvenienced our valued subscribers, and we regret that. Although this was something that was beyond our control and not anticipated we believe it is important to offer free airtime or data as a token of our appreciation to our customers for the patience they exercised as we worked to resolve the problem.”
Mohammed Rufai, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Ghana also assured customers that MTN has stringent measures in place to curb the recurrence of the incident.
“Our critical core network elements have redundancy, meaning we have at least two of each critical core network element. We have invested significantly to make sure that there is always a spare critical element to carry traffic in the unlikely event of a network failure,” he stated
GN Health Insurance Company Ltd, one of the 75 companies of Groupe Nduom has begun operating Ambulance Services in Ghana.
It is expected to among other tasks offer emergency medical service and administer emergency care to those with acute medical problems.
The GN Health Ambulance Service shall also provide a 24-hour response to medical and trauma related emergencies and interventions.
The chairman of GN Health Issah Adam noted “once again the President and CEO of Groupe Nduom, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, as well as the Senior Vice President, Mrs Yvonne Nduom and all the Directors are once more setting the pace in terms of providing improved welfare services to employees of the Group”.
He told the gathering of health professionals “this marks yet another milestone in the annals of Groupe Nduom. In addition to providing free medical services, they are adding this Ambulance Service to complete the bouquet of Medical Services for the benefit of employees of the group in Greater Accra and Central Regions”.
Over 60% of deaths in Ghana, according to available statistics, are as a result of unavailable ambulance service to transport women in labour and accident victims to the appropriate medical facility. Experts believe the conditions leading to deaths can be addressed by appropriate and timely emergency care like what GN Health Ambulance Service seeks to achieve.
“GN Health will make sure that we have well trained EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) and Ambulance Drivers who are well trained and know exactly what to do in emergency situations.
“The Ford 350 ambulances, are well equipped with modern equipment and consumables needed for emergency situations and pre-hospital care to patients. Please take note that these are not just ambulances to provide transport services that cannot provide proper pre-hospital care,” he added.
The Ambulances have a more robust set of equipment for pre-hospital care. They are equipped with tools necessary for multiple types of emergencies, from respiratory assistance machines and defibrillators to items as simple as bandages and disinfectant solution.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/Papisdaff Abdullah
Sometime after January 7, 2017, my two and a half years tour of duty as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Namibia and Botswana would come to an end and I will head back to my homeland Ghana to pursue the other chapters of my life.
Kweku Baako, speaking on Randy Abbey’s programme on Metro TV recently, in illustrating the posts that would be up for grabs for members and supporters of the incoming administration mentioned specifically our Namibia and South Africa missions as examples. By the Presidential Transition Act 2012, all political appointees, including non-career Ambassadors and High Commissioners like myself, will have their appointments terminated as soon as a new administration is sworn in. It is a rather neat way of doing things and represents another high point of our maturing democracy.
To set the records straight, when President Mahama proposed me, he did not predicate it on NDC membership, neither did the top hierarchy of the party demand a party card from me before okaying the President’s nomination.
Similarly at the Council of State, I was not subjected to any party yardstick before approval was given. My marching orders were unequivocal: Service to Country. And because of the “Diaspora Engagement” policy of our Foreign Policy, there is very little room for any Ghanaian Head of Mission to engage in open partisan politics with compatriots abroad…
I arrived in Windhoek on a cold July 2014 morning. Though I had been warned to expect very low temperatures, it being winter in southern Africa, I had completely underrated the warning and so was hit hard in the face by a chill that nearly flew me back to Accra! There was no frost but the dry cold I felt was more biting than many of the winters I had experienced before in freezing Europe. This was Africa and yet the temperature was telling me a different story.
With diplomatic efficiency, the staff from the Mission whisked me through the airport formalities and in no time, I was on my way to take up residence in Windhoek on Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, to represent the interests of my country and the voice of my Head of State.
It all seemed so unreal. A few hours earlier, I had been in Accra, another ordinary Ghanaian citizen and here I was, now representing the honour and dignity of my country, and being accorded all the privileges reserved for very important people, representing my President.
I squirmed inwardly, not finding the words to exactly describe my emotions: fright and pride jostling for supremacy within me all the while. But the vast expanses of hills and open fields soon engaged my interest and I spent much of the drive enjoying the un-spoilt landscape of the outskirts of Windhoek…
Many people do not know that there are rules to the conduct of diplomatic representation, which have to be strictly observed to the letter. I remember when President Mahama’s nominations became public and my name was included in the list, many people kept asking me when I would be leaving. Very little is known of the Vienna Conventions, the international agreements regulating diplomatic relations among states parties. From the time of a government’s nomination of an envoy, to the time that envoy assumes office it can take anything from two to twelve months! I had to wait for about three months for my clearance to take up residence in Windhoek. In fact the host country can turn down a nominee.
My presentation of the Letters of Commission was preceded by meetings with the Namibian Chief of Protocol, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs followed by rehearsals for the presentation. Before the presentation, one is not “recognized”. You cannot drive about with your country’s flag on the car, and neither can you attend official functions.
The meeting with the Foreign Minister is meant to lighten some of these restrictions with the presentation of your “Open Letters”. With that you can be reporting to your own Mission and work in the office, but nothing more; and that is why an early presentation is most desirable. Propitiously for me, I arrived on the 20th of July and on the 23rd, the presentation ceremony took place.
State ceremonies are often very solemn and dignified affairs and none more so than the Presentation of Credentials or Commissions. One may note the slight difference between the two here: An envoy from a Commonwealth country accredited to another Commonwealth country is a High Commissioner and presents Letters of Commission, whereas the rest are Ambassadors and present Letters of Credentials.
I therefore went with my Letters of Commission, duly signed by President John Dramani Mahama and presented them to his Namibian counterpart, President Hifikepunye Pohamba. Another important document is the Letter of Recall, which officially terminates the tour of a predecessor – in my case, H.E. Major General S.A. Odotei.
Six other envoys were presenting their letters that day: from The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, The Kingdom of Thailand, The Kingdom of Lesotho, The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, The Republic of Sudan and the Republic of Burkina Faso.
These were all seasoned diplomats with residence in Pretoria, South Africa, but it fell on me, the novice, to present my letters first and also respond to the President’s remarks/toast – again, another manifestation of the rules… Because I am resident, I take precedence over the others, no matter how senior they are to me in diplomatic practice.
The presentation went very well, without any hitch but as I approached him with my Letters of Commission and my predecessor’s Letter of Recall, President Pohamba looked at me and said ‘Akwaaba’. I was so taken by surprise that my tongue could not come up with the correct Twi Akan response and all I could manage was ‘Medaase’!”
Diplomatic postings, even for career diplomats, are fairly transient. What is of permanence is the service delivered and the knowledge, the experience and networking gained during the posting. Within the two and half years of my arrival in Windhoek over ten Heads of Mission had completed their tours of duty and left for home; one left to stand elections as an MP and won her seat and so is now serving in her country’s legislature and one, like me, was recalled when the President who appointed him lost an election.
The role of a Head of Mission is no joking matter to be glossed over flippantly on radio or television. It is serious and whether at the bilateral or multilateral level, you are carrying the interest, honour and dignity of your country; it is backbreaking business. I thank President Mahama for giving me the opportunity to serve and I am very privileged to have served my country in the capacity I did these past two and a half years…I return home with pride knowing I stood well by God and Country.
PS
And oh this little post script: Non-career diplomats with media backgrounds have left their footprints in Ghana’s Foreign Service. Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere served with distinction under President Kufuor, I am about to wind up my little bit under President Mahama. Before that our senior, Ambassador David Anaglate (GBC) served in Togo during the final administration of President Rawlings and even much earlier on, Ambassador Nicholas Alando (The Mirror) was in Saudi Arabia… By A Harruna Attah. P.O. Box CT 4910. Cantonments, Accra. arhattah@hotmail.com. December 2016
The process to choose a new Speaker of Parliament for the 7th Parliament commences on Monday as the 275 MPs register to enable them vote for the names that would be put forward.
According to a statement issued by the acting Public Affairs Director of Parliament, Kate Addo, the new MPs will be issued with identification cards that will “enable them to vote for the selection of a speaker and other officials of the 7th Parliament.”
The President elect, Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to nominate two persons for the speakership position and the first deputy speaker.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will nominate their choice for the second Deputy Speaker’s position.
Professor Mike Ocquaye, Joe Ghartey, Papa Owusu-Ankomah and Freddie Blay are tipped to replace the current Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho, who indicated that he was ready to leave.
Congratulating Akufo-Addo for winning the 2016 presidential race in the just ended December 7 polls he noted that his belongings were packed out of his office already.
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Mohammed Awal
The 2016 vice presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, says Ghanaians no longer want a ‘dead goat’ for a President – a President who is and will remain “indifferent to their hardships and sufferings” they go through on a daily basis.
Addressing thousands of residents of Aflao, who turned up at the NPP’s Volta Regional Rally, on Sunday, November 20, 2016, Dr. Bawumia stated that the government of President Mahama has worsened the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian, leaving in its wake an unprecedented level of unemployment.
Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate indicated that with more revenue, in the form of loans and taxes, than all governments in Ghana’s history put together, the government of President Mahama has been unable to pay nursing and teacher training allowances, as well as several months of NHIS claims owed hospitals.
“They cannot pay for School Feeding, they cannot pay for Mass Cocoa Spraying. The National Youth Employment Programme has collapsed under their watch and they cannot pay contractors. That is why we are saying they are an incompetent government,” he said.
According to Dr. Bawumia, with Ghanaians desperately yearning for their problems to be solved, “he (President Mahama) tells us he’s not a magician. He says he’s not a magician to solve the problem of unemployment. But, he’s a very good magician when it comes to the disappearance of Ghana’s money under create, loot and share schemes like SADA, Woyome, Ameri, Karpower, GYEEDA, Waterville, ISOFOTON, etc.”
He continued, “President Mahama is a very good magician at making our money disappear. We want change. We want to elect a new President. We don’t want a dead goat as a president. A dead goat is a dead goat, whether in Ashanti, Volta, Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Upper West, Upper East, Western, Central or Northern. We don’t want to vote for a dead goat.”
Dr. Bawumia was confident that the people of Ghana “don’t want to vote for a president who cannot think far. Of what use is a president who cannot think far be to this country? We want a farsighted President. We don’t want to vote for a president whose government is corrupt, and we definitely don’t want to vote for an incompetent President.”
He assured the people of the Volta Region that “in 18 days’ time a new Ghana will be born, and we will begin to see the restoration of a leadership of vision, integrity and incorruptibility under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. In 18 days’ time, we will have a new President-Elect of the Republic of Ghana. We will replace this corrupt and incompetent government of President Mahama.”
Dr. Bawumia added that “in 18 days’ time, you will begin to see the process of the restoration of the teacher training and nursing allowances. We will begin the process of transformation of the economy which brings down unemployment and brings jobs to our people.”
He therefore urged residents of Aflao and the populace of the Volta Region to unite and ignore the tribal and ethnocentric politics being waged by President Mahama.
“Let us all come together as one country, and let us not allow President Mahama to divide us. He has no message, he has lost the argument. You cannot govern with propaganda and tribalism. Away with tribalism and let’s get together with unity under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” he appealed.
Thanking the people of Aflao who turned out in their thousands to attend the rally, Dr. Bawumia stated that “from what I am seeing today, I can see why some people are panicking. I can see why they are making nonsensical statements, and I can see why, Insha Allah, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be the next President of Ghana.”
Supporters of the ruling NDC and main opposition New Patriotic Party who were on a separate health walk Sunday clashed in the New Juaben Municipality leading to the injury of five, Starr News’ Kojo Ansah has reported from Koforidua.
Vehicles were also smarshed in the chaos while firearms were shot by the Police to separate the feuding supporters.
Five people who sustained severe injuries were rushed to the St. Joseph hospital for treatment.
Samira Bawumia, the wife of the Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called on Ghanaians voting in the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections not to renew the mandate of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Addressing supporters of the party at Seketia in the Jaman North constituency of the Brong Ahafo region, Mrs. Bawumia tore into the eight years performance of the NDC, stating that Ghanaians are suffering due to the latter’s terrible policies.
The NDC under the leadership of president John Mahama, she continued, has destroyed the country’s economic fortunes as a result of unbridled corruption, hence the need to reject them on December 7, for the NPP.
The NPP, argued Mrs. Bawumia, boasts of well-defined policies and if given the mandate would bring about unprecedented economic and infrastructural growth and transform the country.
“We gave someone eight years and the person could not perform. What can the person do in four years? They would have done it if they are capable of doing it. They are not capable — that’s why they could not perform. The hardships is too much in Ghana. At this moment, we need someone who has a good heart, who is God fearing and humble, who’d not support corruption in Ghana and that person is Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” said Mrs. Bawumia.
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Mohammed Awal
Bobby Brown says his daughter, Bobbi Kristina, had unlimited earning potential before her bf helped take her life and a judge put a very high dollar amount on those prospects.
Nick Gordon was ordered to fork over $36 million to Bobbi’s estate Thursday after he was earlier found liable for her death.
Here’s a partial list:
— Conversion (stealing funds/assets) at $1.5 mil with punitive damages of $250k
— Assault and battery/medical damages at $1.3 mil, plus $4.2 mil because Gordon was under the influence of drugs and alcohol
— Pain and suffering at $13 mil
— Loss of life at $15 mil, including her net worth and future potential income
The final tally came after tearful testimony from BK’s family. The estate had originally sought $40 million in its wrongful death suit against Gordon. The obvious issue now will be when and if the estate gets a dime out of him.
