Connect with us

Business

Mahama’s 24-hour economy will revolutionize Ghana’s economic landscape – Fifi Kwetey

Published

on

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has noted that the 24-hour economy policy announced by former president John Dramani Mahama is a transformative initiative.

He explained that the policy aims to address Ghana’s increasing unemployment crisis and reshape its economic landscape.

The chief scribe of the umbrella family said the policy will resolve the crisis.

In his view, this transformative approach aims to not only reduce current unemployment figures but also to revolutionize Ghana’s economic landscape.

The 24-economy initiative envisions a strong partnership between the public and private sectors to maximize the potential of the country’s human resources, he said.

By creating a work environment that operates beyond traditional business hours, Ghana can enhance its capacity utilization, achieve greater economies of scale and scope, and align its industrial operations with the global economy, he added.

He went on to state that the policy represents a commitment to fostering a thriving, round-the-clock economic culture that meets the needs of every sector and empowers every Ghanaian to reach their full potential.

Read the full post below;

Continuing our conversation on the 24-hour economy, the recent Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey for Ghana paints a stark reality: unemployment rates have surged to 14.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2023.

Particularly concerning is the rise in jobless youth, with those aged between 15 and 35 increasing from approximately 1.2 million to over 1.3 million.

This critical issue, exacerbated for females where the unemployment rate surpasses that of males, underscores the urgent need for a radical change in our approach to job creation and economic empowerment.

In response, H.E. John Mahama proposes a dynamic shift with the 24-hour economy policy. This strategy isn’t merely aimed at reducing current unemployment figures but at fundamentally revolutionizing the fabric of our national economy.

The implementation of this policy stands to be a cornerstone of national progress, envisioning a robust partnership between the public and private sectors to unlock the full potential of our human resources. By fostering a work environment that thrives beyond traditional business hours, we can achieve greater economies of scale and scope, enhance capacity utilization, and align our industrial operations with the incessant pace of the global economy.

Crucial to the success of the 24-hour economy is a commitment to effective policy development, resource allocation, and leadership that understands the nuances of a nocturnal economy. This policy isn’t merely a campaign promise; it’s a pledge to foster a thriving, round-the-clock economic culture, ensuring that every sector’s needs are met and that every Ghanaian’s potential is realized.

The H.E. John Mahama and the NDC envision a Ghana where the constraint of time no longer hinders the daily lives of Ghanaians. Let’s embrace this vision for a future where progress is uninterrupted, and opportunities are boundless.
#Together4Change2024 #24HourEconomy

Business

Ghana Reports First Oil Output Increase in Five Years With Production Rising By 10.7%

Published

on

Ghana has recorded a 10.7% increase in crude oil production in the first half of 2024, marking a reversal in a five-year trend of declining output, according to a report by Ghana’s Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).

The growth was largely driven by the Jubilee South East (JSE) project, managed by Tullow Oil, which began production in late 2023. This addition to Ghana’s Jubilee oil field helped boost production to 24.86 million barrels by June 2024, compared to a 13.2% decline over the same period in 2023.

PIAC’s half-year report also highlighted a significant rise in petroleum revenue, which surged by 56% year-on-year to $840.8 million by mid-2024. Ghana, a country that began oil production in 2010, depends on petroleum revenue for around 7% of government income. The report further noted a 7.5% increase in gas output, reaching 139.86 million standard cubic feet by June.

Despite the positive trend, Isaac Dwamena, coordinator of PIAC, cautioned that Ghana’s petroleum sector faces both technical and financial challenges. Ghanaian law requires oil companies to allocate at least 12% of project shares to the state, a mandate Dwamena noted can deter investment due to the high cost. “The state can take 15%, 20% carried interest based on negotiations, and that has been a disincentive,” he explained.

To further drive production, Ghana is planning to sell more exploration rights, aiming to harness its fossil fuel resources while also generating funds to support its energy transition. Major oil companies operating in the country include Eni, Tullow Oil, Kosmos Energy, and PetroSA.

Continue Reading

Business

President urges universities to strengthen ties with industries

Published

on

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on universities in Ghana to strengthen ties with government, industries, and the communities they serve to ensure that researches are aligned with the needs of society.

That would contribute directly to the realisation of national development goals, he said.

The President made the call at Nyankpala during a ceremony to inaugurate a three-storey multi-purpose building for the University of Development Studies (UDS).

The building fulfills the President’s promise to the UDS during its 25 Anniversary celebrations.

It is named the “Silver Jubilee Building” in remembrance of the President.

The facility boasts of offices, conference halls, lecture theaters, and houses some faculties of the university.

President Akufo-Addo said universities were “breeding grounds” for ideas, researches and innovations that drove the nation’s progress and should remain actively engaged in the development process.

He said government believed in educating the population as the bedrock of a thriving democracy, a vibrant economy and a just society.

The President, thus, outlined some policies implemented aimed at improving access to education at all levels, which included the “no guarantor policy”.

He said the policy had improved access to tertiary education as it had eliminated financial barriers that historically prevented brilliant students from pursuing higher education.

The “no guarantor policy” for student loans increased the numbers of students seeking tertiary education from 443,978 in the 2016-2017 academic year to 711,695 in the 2020-2023 academic year, an increase of 60.3 per cent.

President Akufo-Addo said his government had extended considerable energy and resources to the education sector, recognising it as the most powerful tool to transforming the nation.

He said: “The considerable budgetary allocations within the period totaling some GH¢12.8 billion, amply demonstrates the shared determination of the Akufo-Addo government to ensure that education becomes a catalyst around which the transformation of our nation revolves.”

Source: GNA

Continue Reading

Business

We’ve learnt our lessons; we won’t borrow to finance 2024/2025 crop season

Published

on

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced that it will transition to self-financing for the 2024/2025 cocoa crop season, starting in September 2024.

For the past 32 years, COCOBOD has relied on offshore borrowing to finance cocoa purchases through its cocoa syndication programme. However, the organization is shifting its strategy to reduce dependency on external funds.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, August 20, COCOBOD’s CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, explained that this new approach is expected to save an estimated $150 million.

“Is it good that always COCOBOD should be heard going to borrow? Are we comfortable with that tag? Today, you have heard that COCOBOD is not going to borrow. It is quite a good time for any human being to learn his or her lessons.

“In 32 years, we have learned our lessons and we think that it is high time we wean ourselves from the offshore international financial markets and then finance the crop ourselves here and that is exactly what we are going to do. And I think it comes with a lot of projectory benefits.

“We are looking for $1.5 billion this crop season and looking at the interest rates last year, which were over 8 percent, plus the cost, it means that we can save more than $150 million by the decision not to go offshore.

He also denied assertions that COCOBOD was short-changing farmers with its pricing of cocoa.

“It is not true that COCOBOD is not giving the farmers a fair price. If you follow the narrative, you will notice that from 2017 on, COCOBOD has even been more than fair.

“The government had been more than fair to farmers because this was a time when prices had collapsed but the government and COCOBOD did not reduce the farmers’ price.”

Continue Reading

Trending