Published in the Daily Graphic on 19/03/2010, pg 33
Story: Matilda Attram
THE Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekper, has called on all professional bodies in all fields to exhibit professional integrity to promote public accountability and transparency in the affairs of the country.
The minister stated that there was the need for professional institutions to hold their members accountable to ethical and professional standards as well as collaborate as major stakeholders in public sector reforms
Speaking at the 2010 induction service for members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) Mr Tekper said it was members of the institute who would prepare the corporate and public records that would give confidence to Ghanaians that the resources were being used in a transparent manner.
He told the 258 newly qualified chartered accountants of the institute that the Government would continue to promote and facilitate programmes that would enhance high quality professional education at all levels in the country.
The course which was to equip members with requisite knowledge, skill and abilities of the profession was to train and provide vital information on the acts on which the institute was established, the profession’s code of ethics as well as managerial responsibilities that would constitute the success of the profession.
It is also expected to enable the new members to enhance the amount of efficiency executed in their work to promote accountability and transparency.
With a number of about 2,500 membership and 11 governing council members, it also bears the responsibility of providing accounting standards in both private and public organisations to promote efficiency, accountability and transparency in the delivery of services.
Mr Tekper commended the management and the council of the institute for its pioneering role in the support of human resource development and urged inductees to be honest, discipline and dedicated to their profession to promote the institute’s motto of integrity.
The President of the institute, Mrs Cecilia Nyann indicated that the course was designed to expose members to the structure and discourse on the legal framework of the profession that would keep members mindful of the ethical concerns involved to ensure transparency and accountability.
She said it included an exposition on career guidance and development to equip members with the necessary tools for effective career development and advancement.
“It is essential for a professional accountant to have a firm grasp of the Ghanaian business environment”, she stated.
She encouraged members to make reference to standards adopted by the institute that would help refresh their knowledge acquired to enable them to contribute effectively towards the country’s economic growth.
The Chairman for the occasion, Mr John Klinogo also urged members to be part of all managerial processes of their organisations as well as accept and face challenges in the professional manner.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Gender Equality: A cornerstone of dev't
Published in the Daily Graphic on 20/03/2010, pg 11
Story: Matilda Attram
Gender equality (also known as gender equity, gender egalitarianism, or sexual equality) is the goal of attaining equality of the genders or the sexes. This stems from a belief in the injustice of the myriad of gender inequalities.
World bodies have defined gender equality as related to human rights, especially women's rights and economic development. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) defines gender equality as "levelling the playing field for girls and women by ensuring that all children have equal opportunity to develop their talents.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) declared gender equality "first and foremost, a human right”. The importance of gender equality is underscored by its inclusion as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals. Gender equality is acknowledged as being a key to achieving the other seven goals. Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right.
Women are entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and to improved prospects for the next generation. Every single goal is directly related to women's rights, and societies where women are not afforded equal rights as men can never achieve development in a sustainable manner.
Yet discrimination against women and girls - including gender-based violence, economic discrimination, reproductive health inequities, and harmful traditional practices - remains the most pervasive and persistent form of inequality. Women and girls bear enormous hardship during and after humanitarian emergencies, especially armed conflicts.
Over the years, a number of organisations, both national and international, have been at the forefront of advocating for women, promoting legal and policy reforms and supporting projects that improve women's health and expand their choices in life.
In line with these objectives the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (G-rap), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Accra, has organised a national gender forum to promote gender equality in the country.
It was on the theme ‘Civic Engagement for Gender Equality and Good Governance in Ghana: Sharing Experiences, Contesting Spaces, Renewing Commitments’.
The two-day forum provided participants the opportunity to share ideas on key issues pertaining to gender equality and the challenges involved, as well as to find measures to help solve gender problems.
They discussed issues on gender and climate change, gender equality, contesting media space, advocating women’s economic justice, and men as partners in promoting gender equality and using good governance to encourage pro-poor policy formation and advocacy that would create a platform to engage stakeholders in gender issues.
The Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, stressed the need to factor gender issues in every nation’s governance programme to enhance national development.
She said realising the need to make governance gender responsive in order to cater effectively for the different needs of men, women, children and underprivileged people, a national women’s machinery had been established to support women's participation in decision-making.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah said the government had also embarked on programmes and activities that contributed to increasing women's participation in local governance in the country.
She, however mentioned inadequate human and financial resources, inadequate capacity for gender policy analysis and the continuous low level of participation of women in governance and other levels of public decision-making as some of the challenges facing the country in making governance gender responsive.
A Reviewer and Lecturer of the University for Development Studies, Dr Agnes Apusigah, explained that the relationship between men and women in the allocation of resources without discrimination was a step toward gender equality, adding that the G-rap was involved in the promotion of gender equality due to the limited attention given to gender issues in the country.
She said G-rap promoted gender equality programmes to support the advocacy on poverty reduction as its contribution towards national development.
Dr Apusigah called on stakeholders to help strengthen structures that promoted gender equality to enhance diverse ideas that would promote the country’s development.
Story: Matilda Attram
Gender equality (also known as gender equity, gender egalitarianism, or sexual equality) is the goal of attaining equality of the genders or the sexes. This stems from a belief in the injustice of the myriad of gender inequalities.
World bodies have defined gender equality as related to human rights, especially women's rights and economic development. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) defines gender equality as "levelling the playing field for girls and women by ensuring that all children have equal opportunity to develop their talents.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) declared gender equality "first and foremost, a human right”. The importance of gender equality is underscored by its inclusion as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals. Gender equality is acknowledged as being a key to achieving the other seven goals. Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right.
Women are entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and to improved prospects for the next generation. Every single goal is directly related to women's rights, and societies where women are not afforded equal rights as men can never achieve development in a sustainable manner.
Yet discrimination against women and girls - including gender-based violence, economic discrimination, reproductive health inequities, and harmful traditional practices - remains the most pervasive and persistent form of inequality. Women and girls bear enormous hardship during and after humanitarian emergencies, especially armed conflicts.
Over the years, a number of organisations, both national and international, have been at the forefront of advocating for women, promoting legal and policy reforms and supporting projects that improve women's health and expand their choices in life.
In line with these objectives the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (G-rap), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Accra, has organised a national gender forum to promote gender equality in the country.
It was on the theme ‘Civic Engagement for Gender Equality and Good Governance in Ghana: Sharing Experiences, Contesting Spaces, Renewing Commitments’.
The two-day forum provided participants the opportunity to share ideas on key issues pertaining to gender equality and the challenges involved, as well as to find measures to help solve gender problems.
They discussed issues on gender and climate change, gender equality, contesting media space, advocating women’s economic justice, and men as partners in promoting gender equality and using good governance to encourage pro-poor policy formation and advocacy that would create a platform to engage stakeholders in gender issues.
The Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, stressed the need to factor gender issues in every nation’s governance programme to enhance national development.
She said realising the need to make governance gender responsive in order to cater effectively for the different needs of men, women, children and underprivileged people, a national women’s machinery had been established to support women's participation in decision-making.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah said the government had also embarked on programmes and activities that contributed to increasing women's participation in local governance in the country.
She, however mentioned inadequate human and financial resources, inadequate capacity for gender policy analysis and the continuous low level of participation of women in governance and other levels of public decision-making as some of the challenges facing the country in making governance gender responsive.
A Reviewer and Lecturer of the University for Development Studies, Dr Agnes Apusigah, explained that the relationship between men and women in the allocation of resources without discrimination was a step toward gender equality, adding that the G-rap was involved in the promotion of gender equality due to the limited attention given to gender issues in the country.
She said G-rap promoted gender equality programmes to support the advocacy on poverty reduction as its contribution towards national development.
Dr Apusigah called on stakeholders to help strengthen structures that promoted gender equality to enhance diverse ideas that would promote the country’s development.
PRO-LINK, others address gender issues
Published in the Daily Graphic on 18/03/2010 pg 11
Story: Matilda Attram
PRO-LINK Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to educating women on health issues, in collaboration with the Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre and the Ghana AIDS Commission, has underlined the need for intensive public education on negative traditional practices and social norms that lead to sexual violence and sexual abuse against women and children.
The organisations have, therefore, made a presentation to the Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs on the issue. That was after they embarked on a walk to educate the public on the negative effects of sexual abuse and the possible increase in HIV infection, in commemoration of the celebration of International Women’s Day marked on March 8.
It also formed part of PRO-LINK’s project drawn to address gender issues in the country.
Issues raised in the statement to the ministry touched on inhuman widowhood rites in some areas of the country, the need to review the age for the performance of puberty rights, since underage girls were regarded as matured for marriage after undergoing such rites and the need for traditional leaders and family heads to reduce the cost of dowry to enable would-be couples to maintain a cordial relationship that would help them cater for their children and enhance family cohesion.
Others are the need to make Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medical services available at all levels to all survivors of sexual violence within 72 hours of the incident, the need to effectively enforce Child’s Policies and the Children’s Act relating to age limits for persons who patronise nightclubs, drinking bars, game and video centres, and the sale of alcoholic beverages to children under 18 years.
The rest are the need to review the time for showing obscene films that make use of strong language and violence on television, which has created problems for parents in the guidance and control of their children, and the need to review and intensify moral and life skills education in basic schools.
The Deputy Director of PRO-LINK Ghana, Madam Getrude Nunoo, said the HIV pandemic in Ghana had a significant gender dimension which must be addressed, and pointed out that about 58 per cent of women constituted the HIV population in the country.
She stated that in Ghana it was estimated that two out of every 10 women had their first experience of sexual intercourse by force, while gender inequality left women with less opportunities to negotiate for safe sex.
She said for that reason the organisation had embarked on the implementation of innovative and aggressive initiatives in HIV high prevalent communities in the country, and mentioned some of these communities as the Fanteakwah and Lower Manya districts in the Eastern Region, Kumasi metropolis and Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti Region, as well as the Damgbe East and West districts in the Greater Accra Region.
The Head of Programmes for PRO-LINK Ghana, Madam Ethel Sackitey, said even though advocacy activities were ongoing in the various communities, some of the issues required government intervention in terms of the enforcement of existing laws.
The Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Madam Hawa Boya Gariba, who received the statement on behalf of the sector minister, commended the organisations for their public educational programmes.
Story: Matilda Attram
PRO-LINK Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to educating women on health issues, in collaboration with the Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre and the Ghana AIDS Commission, has underlined the need for intensive public education on negative traditional practices and social norms that lead to sexual violence and sexual abuse against women and children.
The organisations have, therefore, made a presentation to the Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs on the issue. That was after they embarked on a walk to educate the public on the negative effects of sexual abuse and the possible increase in HIV infection, in commemoration of the celebration of International Women’s Day marked on March 8.
It also formed part of PRO-LINK’s project drawn to address gender issues in the country.
Issues raised in the statement to the ministry touched on inhuman widowhood rites in some areas of the country, the need to review the age for the performance of puberty rights, since underage girls were regarded as matured for marriage after undergoing such rites and the need for traditional leaders and family heads to reduce the cost of dowry to enable would-be couples to maintain a cordial relationship that would help them cater for their children and enhance family cohesion.
Others are the need to make Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medical services available at all levels to all survivors of sexual violence within 72 hours of the incident, the need to effectively enforce Child’s Policies and the Children’s Act relating to age limits for persons who patronise nightclubs, drinking bars, game and video centres, and the sale of alcoholic beverages to children under 18 years.
The rest are the need to review the time for showing obscene films that make use of strong language and violence on television, which has created problems for parents in the guidance and control of their children, and the need to review and intensify moral and life skills education in basic schools.
The Deputy Director of PRO-LINK Ghana, Madam Getrude Nunoo, said the HIV pandemic in Ghana had a significant gender dimension which must be addressed, and pointed out that about 58 per cent of women constituted the HIV population in the country.
She stated that in Ghana it was estimated that two out of every 10 women had their first experience of sexual intercourse by force, while gender inequality left women with less opportunities to negotiate for safe sex.
She said for that reason the organisation had embarked on the implementation of innovative and aggressive initiatives in HIV high prevalent communities in the country, and mentioned some of these communities as the Fanteakwah and Lower Manya districts in the Eastern Region, Kumasi metropolis and Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti Region, as well as the Damgbe East and West districts in the Greater Accra Region.
The Head of Programmes for PRO-LINK Ghana, Madam Ethel Sackitey, said even though advocacy activities were ongoing in the various communities, some of the issues required government intervention in terms of the enforcement of existing laws.
The Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Madam Hawa Boya Gariba, who received the statement on behalf of the sector minister, commended the organisations for their public educational programmes.
Students receive Australian scholarships
Published in the Daily Graphic on 15/03/2010 pg 55
Story: Matilda Attram
Forty-three students from five West African countries have received scholarships under the Australian Development Scholarship to further their education in that country.
They include 11 each from Ghana and Nigeria, seven from Liberia, six from Sierra Leone and eight from The Gambia.
The 43 are to undertake their masters degree programmes and postgraduate studies in the fields of food and agriculture, security, mining and natural resource management, public sector reform and child and maternal health within two years.
The objective is to help developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia's national interest.
At a pre-departure briefing ceremony in Accra, the Australian High Commissioner, Mr William Billy Williams, said the initiative was aimed at maximising the benefits of Australia's extensive scholarship programmes to support enduring ties between Australia and other countries.
He said the programme would be extended to offer awards to students from 25 countries in Africa by 2011, at which time it would extend the award to 1,000 students per year across the continent.
He explained that the Australian government was helping countries in the West African sub-region achieve the Millennium Development Goals agreement set out between developing and developed countries.
Mr Williams said the Australian government, through AusAID, an Australian government agency that manages its overseas aid programme, provided official development assistance for 75 countries, with a strong focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
The Programmes Manager of Gunn Rural Management of the Australian Development Scholarship (GRM-ADS), Mr Matthew Pritchard, took participants through the process of their stay and study in Australia.
Story: Matilda Attram
Forty-three students from five West African countries have received scholarships under the Australian Development Scholarship to further their education in that country.
They include 11 each from Ghana and Nigeria, seven from Liberia, six from Sierra Leone and eight from The Gambia.
The 43 are to undertake their masters degree programmes and postgraduate studies in the fields of food and agriculture, security, mining and natural resource management, public sector reform and child and maternal health within two years.
The objective is to help developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia's national interest.
At a pre-departure briefing ceremony in Accra, the Australian High Commissioner, Mr William Billy Williams, said the initiative was aimed at maximising the benefits of Australia's extensive scholarship programmes to support enduring ties between Australia and other countries.
He said the programme would be extended to offer awards to students from 25 countries in Africa by 2011, at which time it would extend the award to 1,000 students per year across the continent.
He explained that the Australian government was helping countries in the West African sub-region achieve the Millennium Development Goals agreement set out between developing and developed countries.
Mr Williams said the Australian government, through AusAID, an Australian government agency that manages its overseas aid programme, provided official development assistance for 75 countries, with a strong focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
The Programmes Manager of Gunn Rural Management of the Australian Development Scholarship (GRM-ADS), Mr Matthew Pritchard, took participants through the process of their stay and study in Australia.
Tema Lube assists Korle-Bu ENT
Published in the Daily Graphic on 11/03/2010 pg 38
Story: Matilda Attram
The Tema Lube Oil Company Limited has donated medical instruments worth GH¢20,000 to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The items include sets of mini scissors, micro forceps, telescopes, punch, an electrical cable system and accessories.
They will be used to diagnose and detect diseases of the ear, nose and throat to support the operations of the unit, as well as improve the skills of doctors at the unit.
Presenting the instruments in Accra yesterday, the Director of the company, Mr Richard Adu Poku, stated that the donation was in line with its good corporate citizenship objective.
He said the company was aware of the plight of the ENT Unit, which is in dire need of vital equipment for quick diagnoses and treatment as a result of a recent fire outbreak which destroyed a number of equipment.
“We, therefore, deem it an honour and as part of our social responsibility to favourably respond to an appeal to contribute our quota in re-equipping the centre,” he stated.
Mr Poku added that the company believed that the instruments would effectively assist in the accurate and prompt diagnoses and treatment of ENT cases that were brought there.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Nii Otu Nartey, who received the instruments, said they would enable the hospital to offer quality healthcare services to Ghanaians.
He expressed his gratitude to the management and staff of Tema Lube Company Limited for their gesture and gave the assurance that the items would be used for the purposes for which they were donated.
Story: Matilda Attram
The Tema Lube Oil Company Limited has donated medical instruments worth GH¢20,000 to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The items include sets of mini scissors, micro forceps, telescopes, punch, an electrical cable system and accessories.
They will be used to diagnose and detect diseases of the ear, nose and throat to support the operations of the unit, as well as improve the skills of doctors at the unit.
Presenting the instruments in Accra yesterday, the Director of the company, Mr Richard Adu Poku, stated that the donation was in line with its good corporate citizenship objective.
He said the company was aware of the plight of the ENT Unit, which is in dire need of vital equipment for quick diagnoses and treatment as a result of a recent fire outbreak which destroyed a number of equipment.
“We, therefore, deem it an honour and as part of our social responsibility to favourably respond to an appeal to contribute our quota in re-equipping the centre,” he stated.
Mr Poku added that the company believed that the instruments would effectively assist in the accurate and prompt diagnoses and treatment of ENT cases that were brought there.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Nii Otu Nartey, who received the instruments, said they would enable the hospital to offer quality healthcare services to Ghanaians.
He expressed his gratitude to the management and staff of Tema Lube Company Limited for their gesture and gave the assurance that the items would be used for the purposes for which they were donated.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Call on youth to get right attitude
Published in the Daily Graphic on 6/03/2010, pg 6
Story: Matilda Attram
THE right attitude is not only a requisite for successful leadership but also an essential factor in the success of any field of human endeavour, says the former Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor.
He said although a right attitude was required from a leader, it was only an ingredient to success, as wisdom was the main key to all fields.
“There are those who are of the opinion that Ghana has not done as well as expected over the years because many people in leadership positions lack the correct attitude,” he stated.
Dr Kufuor was speaking at a memorial lecture organised by the Accra Diocesan Council of the Anglican Young People’s Association (AYPA) in Accra.
It was on the theme, ‘Good Attitude: A Requisite for Successful Leadership’.
It was part of the association’s annual week celebration in honour of the Founder of the association, Bishop Aruna Kojo Nelson.
It was to portray the founder’s values for the Anglican Church to the youth.
Dr Kufuor, who was the guest speaker for the occasion, said one needed more than the correct attitude to succeed as a leader, adding “You need wisdom; the attribute Solomon asked of the Lord at the beginning of his reign as King of Israel.”
According to him, leadership connoted power, authority, honour, financial well-being, prestige and personal advantage.
He stated that one also needed intelligence, as well as a focused life, with the application of selflessness in a chosen career to reach the top in the world of politics, business, academia, among other professions.
“At the heart of every successful leadership is the spirit of sacrifice. A leader must learn to ‘give up’ in order to ‘go up’ and must set good examples too,” stated Dr Kufuor.
The National President of AYPA, Mr Emmanuel Nii Armah Tackie, said the celebration allowed Anglican youth to unite, as well as socialise, to enhance the development of the Anglican Church in the country.
He said the youth, through the association, had acquired leadership skills to take up responsibilities in the church and the country as a whole.
“Most AYPA members have lived up to expectations. We have some as Parochial Church Council members, Synod members, Chalice assistants and priests,” he stated.
Reacting to the purpose of the theme for the celebration, Mr Tackie pointed out that there was the need to support the youth to transform into good leaders who could face the challenges of the future.
Bishop Aruna Nelson was said to be a committed, hardworking member of the Anglican Church in the country and beyond.
Story: Matilda Attram
THE right attitude is not only a requisite for successful leadership but also an essential factor in the success of any field of human endeavour, says the former Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor.
He said although a right attitude was required from a leader, it was only an ingredient to success, as wisdom was the main key to all fields.
“There are those who are of the opinion that Ghana has not done as well as expected over the years because many people in leadership positions lack the correct attitude,” he stated.
Dr Kufuor was speaking at a memorial lecture organised by the Accra Diocesan Council of the Anglican Young People’s Association (AYPA) in Accra.
It was on the theme, ‘Good Attitude: A Requisite for Successful Leadership’.
It was part of the association’s annual week celebration in honour of the Founder of the association, Bishop Aruna Kojo Nelson.
It was to portray the founder’s values for the Anglican Church to the youth.
Dr Kufuor, who was the guest speaker for the occasion, said one needed more than the correct attitude to succeed as a leader, adding “You need wisdom; the attribute Solomon asked of the Lord at the beginning of his reign as King of Israel.”
According to him, leadership connoted power, authority, honour, financial well-being, prestige and personal advantage.
He stated that one also needed intelligence, as well as a focused life, with the application of selflessness in a chosen career to reach the top in the world of politics, business, academia, among other professions.
“At the heart of every successful leadership is the spirit of sacrifice. A leader must learn to ‘give up’ in order to ‘go up’ and must set good examples too,” stated Dr Kufuor.
The National President of AYPA, Mr Emmanuel Nii Armah Tackie, said the celebration allowed Anglican youth to unite, as well as socialise, to enhance the development of the Anglican Church in the country.
He said the youth, through the association, had acquired leadership skills to take up responsibilities in the church and the country as a whole.
“Most AYPA members have lived up to expectations. We have some as Parochial Church Council members, Synod members, Chalice assistants and priests,” he stated.
Reacting to the purpose of the theme for the celebration, Mr Tackie pointed out that there was the need to support the youth to transform into good leaders who could face the challenges of the future.
Bishop Aruna Nelson was said to be a committed, hardworking member of the Anglican Church in the country and beyond.
MTN launches newsletter
Published in the Daily Graphic on 4/03/2010, pg 24 (spread, middle pg)
Story: Matilda Attram
MTN Ghana yesterday launched its first external newsletter to serve as the company's official corporate magazine.
The newsletter, dubbed Y'ello! Ghana and MTN Ghana Government and Regulatory Newsletter (GOVREL), is a quarterly publication which will contain stories on various issues concerning the company to keep subscribers and stakeholders informed on the operations of the organisation.
It will provide information on the executives of the organisation, as well as its corporate responsibilities to national development.
It is also expected to solicit a feedback from subscribers and stakeholders on the various activities, products and services of the company.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, stated that the organisation believed in the importance of an external newsletter as part of a corporate responsibility that could help improve on its customer care services.
She explained that an external newsletter was a powerful tool for effective communication with the external public.
"We are confident that in addition to the media as a channel for informing our major stakeholders about our activities, we have a responsibility to provide details of our activities from a corporate perspective," she said.
She used the opportunity to thank the media for their support in improving the company's activities, adding, "You have been our voice and a major channel for communicating with our stakeholders and customers."
The Minister for Information, Mr John Tia Akologu, in an address, pointed out that the sharing of information which provided a well informed and better educated public was a great asset to national development.
"MTN Ghana has chosen not only to educate its own staff on the activities of the company but also extended the facility to the Ghanaian public as a whole," he said.
He emphasised the government's commitment to the passage of the Right to Information Bill to motivate developmental aspirations.
Mr Akologu congratulated MTN Ghana on its achievements and urged it to explore avenues that would help enrich the magazine through collaboration.
"I hope that the birth of this newsletter will afford subscribers the opportunity to explore all possible avenues in maximising the benefits provided," he added.
The Deputy Minister for Communications, Mr Gideon Quarcoo, observed that MTN Ghana was involved in socio-economic activities that had contributed to the development of the nation and congratulated it on its efforts.
A representative of the production team of the newsletter, Mr Philip Mensah, explained that the publication focused mainly on sports, since the company was the main sponsor of the 2010 World Cup.
He expressed the hope that the publication would enhance the operations and services of the company.
The newsletter has stories on the MTN group profile, activities and services, Y'ello dairy, government and regulatory relations, events and the organisation's social responsibility projects.
Story: Matilda Attram
MTN Ghana yesterday launched its first external newsletter to serve as the company's official corporate magazine.
The newsletter, dubbed Y'ello! Ghana and MTN Ghana Government and Regulatory Newsletter (GOVREL), is a quarterly publication which will contain stories on various issues concerning the company to keep subscribers and stakeholders informed on the operations of the organisation.
It will provide information on the executives of the organisation, as well as its corporate responsibilities to national development.
It is also expected to solicit a feedback from subscribers and stakeholders on the various activities, products and services of the company.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, stated that the organisation believed in the importance of an external newsletter as part of a corporate responsibility that could help improve on its customer care services.
She explained that an external newsletter was a powerful tool for effective communication with the external public.
"We are confident that in addition to the media as a channel for informing our major stakeholders about our activities, we have a responsibility to provide details of our activities from a corporate perspective," she said.
She used the opportunity to thank the media for their support in improving the company's activities, adding, "You have been our voice and a major channel for communicating with our stakeholders and customers."
The Minister for Information, Mr John Tia Akologu, in an address, pointed out that the sharing of information which provided a well informed and better educated public was a great asset to national development.
"MTN Ghana has chosen not only to educate its own staff on the activities of the company but also extended the facility to the Ghanaian public as a whole," he said.
He emphasised the government's commitment to the passage of the Right to Information Bill to motivate developmental aspirations.
Mr Akologu congratulated MTN Ghana on its achievements and urged it to explore avenues that would help enrich the magazine through collaboration.
"I hope that the birth of this newsletter will afford subscribers the opportunity to explore all possible avenues in maximising the benefits provided," he added.
The Deputy Minister for Communications, Mr Gideon Quarcoo, observed that MTN Ghana was involved in socio-economic activities that had contributed to the development of the nation and congratulated it on its efforts.
A representative of the production team of the newsletter, Mr Philip Mensah, explained that the publication focused mainly on sports, since the company was the main sponsor of the 2010 World Cup.
He expressed the hope that the publication would enhance the operations and services of the company.
The newsletter has stories on the MTN group profile, activities and services, Y'ello dairy, government and regulatory relations, events and the organisation's social responsibility projects.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
