Volume 1 issue 43

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MONDAY | NOVEMBER 03, 2014 Title Code: DELENG18579 • RNI NO: DELENG/2014/54666 • Postal Registration No.: DN/325/2014-2016 • VOL. 1 • NO. 43 • Page 12 • Price `10
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pg 04
pg 02 pg 03
Continued to page 03
pg 07
Z
ambian Vice-President Dr. Guy Scott has been named acting leader
following the death of President Michael Sata. Presidential elections to
choose a permanent successor will be held within 90 days.
Dr. Guy Scott, who is of Scottish ancestry, becomes Africa's first white
head of state for many years. Michael Sata died in the UK aged 77 after
getting treatment for an unrevealed sickness.
Dr. Guy Scott, who will serve for 90 days until a new election is held, said
that his sudden promotion was "a bit of a shock to the system", but added:
"I'm very proud to be entrusted with it."
Two opposition parties, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy,
which governed for 20 years until 2011, and the United Party for National
Development, will perhaps field candidates in the election.
Sata was being treated at London's King Edward VII hospital and the
sad demise of the President comes just days after Zambia fêted the 50th
anniversary of independence from the UK.
Sata, hardly seen in public since May, missed a speech at the
United Nations last month and the country’s 50-year independence
celebrations very recently.
He is the second Zambian leader to die in office after Levy
Mwanawasa in 2008.
Earlier this month intelligences in Zambia said that President Sata
had gone abroad for a medical check-up amongst tenacious hearsay
that he was extremely ill.
Sata came from a modest background and had a humble education.
He swept railway stations in Britain before becoming a train driver,
and later qualified as a pilot in Russia.
Gravelly-voiced as a consequence of years of chain-smoking,
Gabon:
ENTICING
FORIGN
COMPANIES
Lesotho:
A KINGDOM
IN THE SKY
Start a
Healthy &
Wealthy
Poultry
Business
Nigerian
President set
to announce
re-election bid
MEET AFRICA’S
FIRST WHITE
DEMOCRATIC
LEADER
Zambia’s
‘KING COBRA’ dies,
white Vice President takes
presidency
President
Compaoré
Refused to
Resign
Late Michael Sata
Dr. Guy Scott, Acting President of Zambia

Wassupafrica02
Nigeria President set to
announce re-election bid
Cameroon’s Big Question Mark is
Over Jobs.....
LESDEP Comes Up with a Solution!!
A
buja (AFP) - A source close
to Nigerian President
Goodluck Jonathan said the
leader of Africa's most populous
country has decided to run for
re-election in February.
Jonathan met with top officials
from the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and thanked them for
their unanimous endorsement as
the party's presidential candidate,
the source said.
"The president told them
he has accepted the offer and
assured them that he would pick
The jobless youth in Cameroon has
concerns that something horrible
might happen. The rising graph of
unemployment is one of the major
challenge. This big question mark
is over jobs.
There are so many gaps which
kills the youth even before he
managed to stand up on his own
ground. Here’s came Indocorp
to address all these gaps and to
assist the budding Cameroonian
businessmen to achieve what they
inspire to.
The Ministry of Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises,
Social Economy and Handicrafts,
AfDB approves US $82.7-million grant
to improve Batshamba-Tshikapa road
in the DRC
The Board of Directors of the
African Development Bank on
October 22 in Abidjan, Côte
d’Ivoire, approved a grant of
US $82.7 million (UA 55.56
million*) for the development
of a 56-kilometre portion of the
Batshamba-Tshikapa road in the
Democratic Republic of Congo,
between Lovua and Tshikapa
on the country’s NR1. The
grant supplements earlier Bank
interventions on the same road.
The works include
construction of a new bridge over
the Kasaï River which crosses
Tshikapa town.
It aims to improve the service
level of the transport logistics chain
on the Kinshasa-Tshikapa road
as well as the living conditions
of people in the area. The project
is also expected to help open up
the Bandundu and West Kasaï
Provinces.
Some of the targeted economic
benefits include lower vehicle
operating expenses and shorter
travel time and indirect benefits
linked to various social and
economic activities (job creation,
higher agricultural production,
development of marketing
activities, and better access of the
population to basic services).
In particular, the project is
expected to halt massive exodus
of youths towards mining
operations – prevalent in the
project area in permanently
insecure conditions – and keep
them in their homelands to
engage in profitable agricultural
activities.
The project aims ensure the
autonomyoflocalpopulations,and
contribute to poverty reduction,
mitigation of vulnerability to
external shocks (diseases, rise in
the prices of essential products,
climate change and instability of
seasons) and inclusive growth in
the target area.
AfDB
the nomination form before the
deadline expired next week," said
the source.
Jonathan's formal re-election
announcement will be made at a
public event between November 7
and November 15, according to the
presidential aide.
The news was widely expected,
especiallyafterPDPstategovernors
gave Jonathan their backing in
September.
Jonathan is a Christian from
the southern oil-producing Niger
Delta region, and had faced calls to
stand down in favour of a northern
Muslim.
The PDP has an unwritten
rule that calls for rotational power
aimed at appeasing voters across
the religiously divided country.
But Jonathan, 56,
outmanoeuvred his rivals, publicly
winning the backing of the northern
PDP stalwarts thought to have
opposed his nomination.
His job performance has been
widely criticised, especially over
his handling of the brutal Boko
Haram uprising.
Analysts also say he has
not done nearly enough to curb
galloping corruption, including in
Nigeria's oil sector, which is the
largest in Africa.
Jonathan will face an
emboldened opposition under
the banner of a new party, the All
Progressives Congress, a coalition
which groups all of Nigeria's
leading opposition groups.
But experts say the president's
strongest asset on Election Day
could be his status as the incumbent
in a country where the ruling party
has a track record of using vast
public resources for political aims.
Modern Ghana
Cameroon, no doubt, sees small
and medium-sized enterprises as
the engine of growth and decent
jobs creation.
Recently in Cameroon,
Indocorp, Afro Asian Consultants
have signed a partnership
agreement with the concerned
Ministry of Cameroon in a colourful
ceremony. Honourable Ministers
from the Cameroonian Ministries
like Minister of Economy, Minister
of Higher Education, Minister
of Employment, Minister of
Communication, Secretary General
of Vocational Training, Secretary
General of SME, Directors of the
Universities, General Manager
of ECO Bank, General Manager-
GMC amongst others graced the
occasion with their presence.
The objective of this
Partnership Agreement is to lay
down the collaboration rules
for the implementation of the
National Programme for
the Incubation and
Competitiveness of
SME/SMI (PNIC-
P M E / P M I ) ,
through an
Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria

Laurent Serge ETOUNDI, SME Minister, Cameroon

enterprises incubation procedure
intended to putting in place of
effective generators of growth and
average decent jobs from 2015;
The goal, indeed, is to
significantly contribute to
sustainably bring and maintain the
trade deficit of Cameroon excluding
oil, to an acceptable level and to
generate several decent jobs in 10
years, within a context highlighted
by competition between the global
economies.
“We should adopt the processes
of Indocorp to our Cameroonian
needs.WhattheyachievedinGhana
can be replicated in Cameroon,
said Laurent Serge ETOUNDI, SME
Minister.
“We went to Turkey, China,
and Tunisia in line with the vision
of our Head of State, H.E. Philemon
Yang. Believe me, our best match
is the Indian approach,” added the
Minister at the ceremony.
Indocorp has done extensive
feasibility study in the past one
year to look upon opportunities
available in Cameroon and now
they are focused on setting up
incubation centre under the banner
of skills centers.
LESDEP under the banner of
skill center sets up Incubation
Centres, offers training programs
for people aspiring for employment
inskilledindustrialoccupations.
MONDAY | NOVEMBER 03, 2014

Wassupafrica 03
FROM PAGE 01
Rwanda has welcomed the successful
conclusion of negotiations of the
Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPA) between Europe and the East
African Community (EAC) reached on
October 14, 2014.
Speakingduringapressconference
at the Ministry of East African Affairs,
Emmanuel Hategeka, Rwanda’s Trade
and Industry Permanent secretary said
the agreement reached in Brussels
last week, presents great trading
opportunities for Rwandan exporters.
“The EPA was negotiated largely
on EAC terms and the result of
those efforts is an agreement that
will benefit Rwanda and the region
at large, because we negotiated as a
bloc,” said Hategeka who has been
Rwanda’s team leader representing
senior government officials on the EAC
negotiation team.
The EAC-EU EPA is a trade
and development agreement that
Michael Sata rose to political
reputation in the 1980s. He swiftly
earned a repute as the hardest-
working governor while in charge
of Lusaka and as a populist man
of action. But he was also known
for his authoritarian tendencies, a
rough manner and a sharp tongue
- and his critics say his nickname
of "King Cobra" was well-earned.
He has had a mixed rapport
with Chinese investors in Zambian
mines and other infrastructure,
condemning them as manipulative
but toning down his bombast after
taking office.
Some critics say Sata became
progressively fanatical in the
presidency. An opposition leader,
Frank Bwalya, was acquitted this
year of slander charges after he
compared Sata to a local potato
whose name is slang for someone
who doesn't listen.
His supporters saw him more
as a no-nonsense man of action.
Until his death, the acting
president of Zambia was Edga
Lungu, the Defence Minister.
Lungu, the Defense Minister, is
understood as front-runner to be
the Patriotic Front’s presidential
candidate, with other probable
rivals including Finance Minister
Alexander Chikwanda and former
Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba,
sacked by Sata in August.
President Compaoré Refused to Resign
Rwanda welcomes new trade
deal with Europe
is concluded between
the five EAC partner
states and EU member
countries.
The main purpose
of the agreement is to
provide a contractual
framework that will
guide the cooperation
between the two parties
in the areas of trade and
development.
With the EPAs in
place, Rwandan exports
(including those from
other partner states) will
access the European
market without being
taxed.
EAC negotiators have been
engaging Europe since 2007 and with
the conclusion of negotiations; the
next step will be the final ratification
of the agreement by member states,
a process which is expected to be
completed in the next six months.
Rwanda’s trade with Europe
amounted to $570.4million in 2013
but the trade is imbalanced with
Rwandan exports to Europe only
returning $168.6million last year.
Speaking at the same conference
this morning, Gerald Mukubu, the
Acting CEO of the Private sector
Federation (PSF) said with the EPA,
will see Rwanda’s exports increase.
“That’s because of a clause in the
EPA which will see Europe helping
to develop the competitiveness and
capacity of EAC private sector,” said
Mukubu.
New Times
"I am the acting president at the
moment. It has just been passed by
cabinet," he said. This made him
Africa's first white president of
a democratic government ever
"except maybe the Venetians in the
days when they ran the world," he
added.
Sata had appointed Defense
Minister Edgar Lungu as acting
president before departing for
medical treatment in Britain.
Sata’s Patriotic Front, allegedly in
confusion, has been knocking over
the question of succession while
the president was put on the back
burner by poor health.
The constitution also says a
president must be born of Zambian
parents. Scott was born in the
southern city of Livingstone when
the country was still Northern
Rhodesia, the son of a Scotsman,
Alec Scott, who entered politics
and opposed colonial rule, and an
Englishwoman.
Scott, also famous in Zambia, is
a Cambridge University economics
graduate who went on to study
robotics at Oxford University. He
served as a minister in several
governments, including as
agricultural minister during a
severe drought in 1991-92.
Scott is
the first white
leader of an
African nation
since F.W.
de Klerk, the
last President
of apartheid,
South African
system of
white racist
rule that
ended in
1994.
P
residentBlaiseCompaoréhas
governed Burkina Faso since
1987, and has functioned
more efficiently for women's
rights, poverty reduction and good
governance. But something for
sure, is wrong enough.
A strategy to eliminate
presidential term limits by
modifying the constitution -
which would permit Compaoré to
possibly function additional terms
as president - was publicized in
October 2014 which has evidenced
to cause the most severe challenge
to his 27-year rule.
Anti-government activists in
Burkina Faso have set parliament
blazing in a flood of fierceness
that forced the government to at
least provisionally scrap a vote on
constitutional amendments.
Hundreds of people broke
through a full security cordon
and overmastered the National
Assembly building in the capital
Ouagadougou, raiding offices
and setting fire to cars, before
attacking the national television
headquarters.
At the presidential palace,
armed forces fired live rounds
and used tear gas to repel crowds
seeking to storm the building,
witnesses said. Several people were
killed by gunfire, news reports said.
But Burkina Faso's longtime
leader refused to resign, saying
instead he will lead a transitional
government after parliament was
BURKINA FASO SMELLED A RAT
dissolved.
On the other hand, opposition
leaders have stressed they want
Compaoré to step down. Elsewhere
in the city, opposition leaders
commanded the resignation of
President Compaoré, a former
soldier who detained power in a
coupandthenwonseveralelections,
the most recent in November 2010.
Zéphirin Diabré, the leader
of the opposition, told Radio
Omega: "The state of emergency is
unacceptable. We are calling on the
people to show that they are against
it. The resignation of President
Blaise Compaoré is the only thing
that can bring peace to the country."
However, it is still uncertain
whether the army would
allow Compaoré, often Africa's
peacemaker for several political
negotiations, to stick to power.
Though neighbouring nations
such as Mali and Guinea are
astounded by political instability
and crisis Burkina Faso, a former
French colony, has continued
comparatively steady all through
his years at the helm.
UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon has appealed for peace
in Burkina Faso. The UN Chief's
spokesperson said in a statement:
"He calls on all parties to end the
use of violence, exercise calm
and restraint, and use dialogue to
resolve all outstanding issues. The
Secretary-General is saddened over
the loss of life resulting from recent
events."
mONDAY | NOVEMBER 03, 2014

A Prosperous SME Sector
The number of SME in Gabon
has increased by 22.3% between
2010 and 2011. The IT and
commercial sectors have shown
the largest increases: 23.5% rise
in the number of IT related SMEs
and 21.3% in specialty retail and
wholesale trade and import. The
Government of Gabon is enhancing
the bonds between local SMEs and
foreign partners. H.E. Mr. Ali Bongo
has made it clear that he does not
want the economy to rely solely on
the oil and mining sectors which
accounts for close to 50% of GDP,
60% of the tax revenue and 80%
of the exports. Gabon is inviting
foreign investors to invest in this
prosperous sector.
A country investing for its future
12 billion USD for public
investment over the next six years
to support economic development:
» Development of competitive
CountryoftheWeek04
O
ne of the most naturally
exquisite and most
prosperous countries in
Sub-SaharanAfrica,Gabonistrulya
paradise on earth. Gabon is the talk
of the town when it comes to eco-
tourism, thanks to the government
designating 10 percent of the
country's land to national parks.
Gabon's economy is dominated by
oil. Oil revenues comprise roughly
46% of the government’s budget,
43% of gross domestic product
(GDP), and 81% of exports. The
chief products of Gabon's industrial
sector include refined petroleum,
chemicals, food and beverages,
textiles, and wood products.
Despite this economic activity, the
majority of Gabonese workers are
engaged in subsistence farming,
with sugarcane, cassava, plantains,
and taro the chief crops. H.E. Mr.
Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of
Gabon has made efforts to increase
transparency and is taking steps
to make Gabon a more attractive
investment destination to diversify
the economy. He has attempted
to boost growth by increasing
government investment in human
resources and infrastructure. GDP
grew more than 6% per year over
the 2010-12 period.
Emerging Gabon
Gabon’s government has
launched an ambitious public
investment and reform program
to transform the central African
country into a diversified emerging
market economy by 2025. Gabon’s
Special Economic Zones (SEZ’s)
play a key role in Emerging Gabon’s
industrial overhaul.
The creation of Special
Economic Zones offers a number of
fiscal benefits to investors:
» Nkok Special Economic Zone:
1,100 hectares near the capital,
Libreville.
» Mandji Tax-Free Zone: 1,500
hectares near Gabon’s business
capital, Port-Gentil.
The current and future Special
Economic Zones will make it
promising to build branched
out clusters, “New, specialist
cities”, with a noteworthy latent
for making direct and indirect
jobs. In this way, Emerging Gabon
will allow diversified investment
and foster the development of
enterprises that are champions
in their domain, with weight at
regional and international level,
which in turn will boost the
activity of the entire SME sector.
Tomorrow’s emerging Gabon will
be integrated into global economic
networks, no longer only through
its oil and mineral resources, but
also through its enterprises and the
influence of its citizens.
Advertisement
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GABON AT
A GLANCE
Country Official Name: Gabonese
Republic
Head of State: H.E. Ali Bongo
ONDIMBA, President of the Republic
Head of Government: Daniel
ONA ONDO
Capital: Libreville
Main Cities: Port Gentil, Franceville,
Oyem, Lambarene, Mouila,
Tchibanga, Makokou, Koulamoutou
Official Language: French
National Day: 17 August
Population Growth: 1,5m
Inhabitant (BEAC, 2012)
Life Expectancy: 65 years
Religions: Christianity, Animism
GDP: $22.54 billion (2010 est.)
Inflation: 1.3% (2010 est.)
Main Industries: Petroleum
extraction and refining; manganese,
gold; chemicals, ship repair, food
and beverages, textiles, lumbering
and plywood, cement.
Exports: $6.803 billion (2010 est.)
Export Goods: crude oil 70%, timber
,manganese,uranium
lmports: $2.433billion (2010 est.)
lmport Goods: machinery and
equipment ,foodstuffs ,chemicals
,construction materials
and integrated transport
infrastructure
Roads:
» Tarring of over 3,600 km of
roads carrying 80% of traffic
» Development of main north-
south and east-west national
roads
Ports:
» Modernisation and expansion
of two main ports
» Construction of a new deep-
water port in southwest Gabon
Waterways:
» Construction of river ports
» Development of a part of the
3,300km of inland waterways
» Improvement of electricity
generation capacity to reach
2,000 MW by 2020:
» Construction of three
hydroelectric dams
» Construction of a natural gas
fired power plant
» High-speed internet
connection from 2012 to the
underwater ACE fibre-optic
cable
A country open to investors
» Quality public administration
service for investors
» The Private Investment
Promotion Agency for
company registration
» The Chamber of Commerce
and Industry for business and
economic information
» The creation of special
economic zones offering a
number of fiscal benefits to
investors:
» Nkok Special Economic Zone:
1,100 hectares near the capital,
Libreville
» Mandji Tax-Free Zone: 1,500
hectares near Gabon’s business
capital, Port-Gentil
All in all this fascinating
country is one of the continent’s
most stable countries. Gabon is an
upper-middle income country with
per capita income four times the
sub-Saharan African average.
GabonThe Gabonese Republic is one of West Africa’s most stable countries and boasts one of the highest
incomes per capita thanks to its oil wealth. Abundant natural resources and foreign private investment
have combined to make Gabon as favoured investment destination. It is a mineral rich country which is
set to become one of the world’s leading producers of manganese.
ENTICING FORIGN COMPANIES
Advertiser's Index
Modern Agro
Engineering Works ..........0Page 02
Chadha Power .................0Page 02
PHEL ................................0Page 03
A. Nairsons Industries .....0Page 03
The Times of Africa ..........0Page 05
32nd International Fair of
Khartoum .........................0Page 08
Mill India Ltd. ...................0Page 10
Parnantham ....................0 Page 10
Laxmi Publications ..........0Page 11
Prakash Amusement .......0Page 11
ISIC ..................................0Page 11
The Times of Africa........... Page 12
LESDEP ........................... Page 12

BusinessBuzz 05
Vodafone grabs two awards @ CIMG awards
Samsung Donates 3,000
Smartphones for Ebola Fight
MTN cautions public against
con men
Airtel doubles commission for agents
Airtel partners with UNESCO for IT youth training in Gabon
Airtel has launched a promo where
airtel money agents will get double
commission for any transactions
made. The campaign dubbed ‘The
best things in life are free’ will
benefit the firm’s over 4,000 airtel
money agents across the country.
“An agent will get twice as much
commission compared to what
Samsung Electronics Company Ltd
has announced that the company -
through its global headquarters
in Seoul, Korea - will donate 3,000
smartphones, worth about $1
million to support the ongoing fight
against Ebola.
Thesmartphones,tobedonated
through the United Nations Office
for the Coordination of Human
Affairs (OCHA), will be used in
the Humanitarian Connectivity
Project, the UN's IT project that
utilises mobile devices to provide
humanitarian support in disaster
areas.
The donated Galaxy S3 Neo
smartphones will be used in 60
Ebola medical clinics in the three
worst-hit African countries, Guinea,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
By installing the UN's Smart
Health Pro mobile application,
medical staff can utilise the
smartphones to treat patients
and collect medical data, while
unmatched customer experiences,
as well as its unique strategic
marketing insights.
For the third year in a row,
Vodafone’s Healthline initiative has
won the CIMG TV Programme of the
Year award for its exemplary CSR
focus on health for all Ghanaians
T
his was at the 25th Chartered
Institute of Marketing Ghana
(CIMG) Awards held in Accra.
Vodafone outshined
its competitors to emerge
Telecommunications Company of
the Year, for its excellent customer
service, continuous innovation and
The public should beware of
con men who take advantage of
promotions by telecom firms to
cheat unsuspecting customers.
Annie Tabura, the MTN sales
and distribution general manager,
said unscrupulous people usually
use promotions to con customers of
money or other valuables.
“Watch out for impostors who
pretend to represent MTN and ask
you to first send them money to
give you the prize. We don’t ask
winners to pay any money to get
their prizes.”
Tabura was speaking during
the hand over of the first ‘Sharama’
promotion car prize in Kirehe
District.
they would ordinarily get from any
one transaction,” Teddy Bhullar,
the Airtel Rwanda managing
director, explained during the
launch at the firm’s headquarters
in Remera, Kigali. About 70 per
cent of the telecom’s over 1.1
million subscribers have airtel
money accounts, according to
Bhullar.
The campaign has been seen by
sector experts as yet another move
by the telecom firm to woo more
businesspeople to start retailing
its products, as well as attract
new subscribers. Competition
among local telecom players has
been growing, and firms are using
new techniques to
attract subscribers
or retailers.
Phillip Onzoma,
the head of
mobile commerce
and enterprise
business at Airtel
Rwanda, explained
that the offer
would, not only
benefit agents, but
customers as well
who will continue
to conduct
transactions on the
platform at no cost.
New Times
Libreville, Gabon, October 21st, 2014: Bharti Airtel,
a telecommunications services provider with
operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa,
has unveiled a new training programme targeting
to impart new technological skills to thousands of
youth in Gabon in partnership with UNESCO.
The three-year initiative - dubbed ‘’Train
My Generation: Gabon 5,000’’ - is the first of its
kind that UNESCO has partnered with a private
organisation in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims at
offering a scientific and entrepreneurial training
to 5,000 of people (aged 18- 35 years) and high-
school teachers in Gabon - through ICT.
Initially, cyber centres equipped with
laptops and servers will be created in schools in
Libreville, Port Gentil, Oyem, Franceville, Bitam
and Lambaréné. During the signing ceremony,
the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova,
welcomed the company’s Airtel’s gesture and
highlighted the importance of private firms
emulating the example in forging more partnerships
to empower young people in the region.
The African private sector is extremely
dynamic and I am very proud today to sign the
first UNESCO partnership with a company based
in Africa, said Bokova.
Mr. Hervé Olivier Njapoum, the CEO of Airtel
Gabon, on his part reiterated Airtel’s commitment
in the development of African youth, stating that
the company recognises them as a critical part of
and for endeavouring to close
the doctor-patient gap in Ghana.
HealthLine has also contributed to
demystifying supposed tabooed
diseases and empowering
Ghanaians to freely talk about
their health. The Vodafone
Healthline initiative enjoys massive
viewership nationwide as it
educates Ghanaians on important
health issues and sponsors medical
treatment for patients who need
urgentmedicalattentionbutcannot
afford the cost.
Commenting on the awards,
Harris Broumidis, Chief Executive
Officer of Vodafone Ghana,
expressed his appreciation to
Vodafone employees and all
consumers. He said “It’s certainly
great news that we have been
recognized for delivering on our
brand promise, empowering our
customers and giving them real
value.
He said the awards are a
manifestation of the hard work
put in by Vodafone employees in
satisfying customers, given how
competitive the Ghanaian telecom
industry has become over the past
few years.
Ghanian Chronicle
JeromeHitayezu,anagronomist,
was the first customer to win one of
the 12 Suzuku Alto 800 cars valued
at Rwf12 million that are up for
grabs.
“We contact winners using the
phone number 078400000 only to
give them details on how to redeem
the prizes. So, don’t be duped by
con men. If anyone calls you asking
for money, alert the Police and
MTN,” she advised.
Meanwhile, Hitayezu said the
vehicle will ease his work.
“It has been difficult to move
from one farm to another, this will
now be history,” Hitayesu said.
He said he sent over 100 text
messages daily, and spent about
Rwf170,000 on airtime. Claudine
Uwimana, a student, was one of
the subscribers who won T-shirts,
mobile phones and airtime.
To participate, a customer
sends the word “Tsinda” to 4100.
Besides cars and T-shirts, there are
cash prizes worth Rwf45 million
and airtime to be won.
New Times
the continent’s growth agenda, if well trained.
Through this partnership, Airtel is keen to help
build knowledge, taking advantage of the expertise of
oneofthemostimportantbodiesoftheUnitedNations:
UNESCO. In promoting technology-based innovation
and knowledge through programmes, this investment
is expected to enhance the Digital Gabon Plan - which
aims at countrywide digital infrastructure by 2016 -
and reinforce the government’s development agenda
of a wide range of e-services, potentially unlocking
of SMEs growth. The Gabonese Ambassador, Gisele
Marie-Hortense Ossakedjombo Ngoua Memiaghe,
welcomed the partnership, citing studies that have
shown a causal link between telecommunications
development and economic development.
The 5,000 young people targeted in the
programme will receive basic training in ICT during
the first phase of the project, which will also provide
online training to one hundred science teachers in
secondary school. Teachers will use their skills to
provide online assistance to 15,000 high school
students preparing for their final year examination. But
in view of the access to the platform used to support
this educational facility, the academic support should
reach a far greater number of students.
Small groups of students will learn how to
develop mobile applications, manage cyber cafes and
implement cooperative service centres throughout the
project Train My Generation: Gabon 5000.
BalancingAct-Africa
Vodafone Ghana was adjudged the Telecommunications
Company of the Year 2013, while its Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) programme, HealthLine, picked
the TV Programme of the Year 2013 award.
quarantined patients can contact
their families using the devices.
All donated smartphones
will be destroyed once the virus
outbreak has subsided.
Samsung is also supporting
various efforts to defeat Ebola
in Africa, including providing
financial support for the purchase
of hazmat suits in Ghana and
distribution of hand sanitizers in
the Democratic Republic of Congo,
as well as launching an Ebola SMS
text service in South Africa.
BalancingAct-Africa

Richard Acheampong General Manager, Marketing Services and Ms. Efua
Falconer Corporate Services receiving the award

FRANKLY SPEAKING06
By kirit sobti,
editor, iat
editor@indoafricatimes.com
F
or over the last few years since the end
of apartheid in South Africa in 1994, the
involvement of Agriculture sector to the national
economy of South Africa has documented a drastic
decrease passing from 9.1% over to 2.2% by the end of
2013, but this negative trend from farmers' standpoint
is seen by decision makers as optimistic signals that the
country's economy is touching maturity as the tertiary
sector become more significant.
Most recent statistics show that the country with
1.2-million square kilometers of land, around three
times less small than the size of India, only 13% of
its whole land can be used for crop production, while
water accessibility is labelled as single most imperative
factor limiting agricultural production.
While South Africa is without doubt food secure
as a country, experts say that agriculture's percentage
share in South Africa's economy is comparatively small
and is continuously dropping as the latter enlarges and
expands. According to the South African department
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, foremost
domestic crops grown in the country are mainly
avocados, mangoes, bananas, litchis, guavas, pawpaws,
granadillas, macadamia and pecan nuts, while the most
important plant export products are gladioli, proteas,
bulbs, chrysanthemum cuttings and roses.
South Africa is also a major producer of vegetables
such as potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbages and
carrots, it said
However, predictors argue the prevailing national
efforts oriented toward making agriculture a vivacious
sector as envisioned in the National Development Plan,
are facing a number of challenges. This is because with
the projected growth in terms of a million jobs creation
in this sector by the year 2050, the competing demand
between agriculture and mining for water resources
still remains a challenge to improve profitability and
competitiveness in the agriculture sector, experts said.
For the country being the ninth wine producer
in the world with over 110 000ha of land are under
cultivation, with over 300-million vines, this sector
employs today around 60 000 people, and this trend
has resulted in exporting a quantity of 314-million
litres between 2007 and 2008, outshining domestic
sales for the first time ever, according to the national
department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
A recent study released this year by the Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA), indicates within this
reform by shifting manpower from Agriculture to the
Service sector, South Africa was ranked among the few
African countries that have prospered in structurally
altering their economies.
However, it is said that in general when allied to
other countries across the continent, this structural
transformation has been delayed as labour is not
shifting from agriculture to other more productive
industrial or services sectors fast enough, while the
share of agriculture in GDP is also declining too fast.
With the newly initiative of massive infrastructure
development programme that was approved by the
South African government in 2012, with an investment
of around $ 827 billion USD in building new and
upgrading existing infrastructure, while enlightening
investment in agricultural and rural infrastructure in
a move to create significant numbers of new jobs, and
reinforce the delivery of basic services.
Currently farm land is described as the biggest
asset for farmers, but South African government is
Shifting labour forces from
agriculture to tertiary sector
A number of significant
leaders from the trade,
business and academic
fraternity having turned
up and partaken in the
mutual discussions, we are
looking forward to fulfil our
agenda to create lucrative
business and investment
opportunities with India.
Dr. Pieter Mulder
Deputy Minister of Agriculture
Forestry and Fisheries,
South Africa
Mr. Senzeni Zokwana
South Africa's Agriculture
Minister
One of its turnkey stakeholder
relationships in the sector is with the
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-SA).
By associating in numerous creativities
to spread agricultural operations across
the country Nedbank has extended
insight into on-the-ground challenges to
solutions for the formation of operative,
sustainable farming practices with
commercial deliberations in mind.
According to John Hudson, Nedbank
Business Banking divisional Manager of
Agriculture for the Coastal and Inland
Region As a bank for businesses whose
business values are entrenched in
sustainability, our interest in deepening
the relationship with agricultural
communities takes heed of the
environmental challenges that influence
their future success, says.
The bank's R8.3m investment in
the WWF-SA's Sustainable Agriculture
Programme has also assisted nurture
corporations with bulging role-players
to safeguard the advancement of this
energetic industry in the South African
economy. In almost 25 years Nedbank,
through the Nedbank Green Affinity
Programme, has donated over R150m to
The WWF Nedbank Green Trust towards
nature conservation.
Sponsorship of regional agricultural
shows, conferences and discussion events
such as the Eston Show has enhanced
the consciousness and sympathetic of
farming communities, emphasizing both
their challenges and occasions. This has
helped Nedbank in furnishing custom-
made offerings that present solutions,
rather than annoying headaches in a
farmer's budgetary planning.
Agrifinancing is not a paint-by-
numbers game, as each farming business
requires a different focus for its specific
lending, investment, transactional
banking and value-add requirements.
We therefore focus not only on the
operation's own banking business, but
also on its relationship with suppliers
and destination markets locally, on the
continent and abroad, he explains.
The global financial crisis six years
ago deepened our involvement in local
agriculture, commodities and fixed-asset
classes such as land and infrastructure. In
support of our agrifocus in South Africa
we have dedicated teams engaging with
commercial farmers and agribusinesses
across the country, says Hudson.
Managing
Agricultural Risk
with Holistic
Approach
It is important for the
government to create new
agricultural opportunities
in South Africa and for this
close cooperation between
farmers and business
sectors, the government and
foreign investors are needed.
It is also important that the
government creates the right
climate.
It is
anticipated
that this
agriculture
revolution
would
create more
jobs to join
the tertiary
sector.
desperately trying to create many more jobs in the
service sector as the issue of resolve the issue of
conflicts between former and new land owners because
of insecurity that goes with the current situation on
unemployment in remote rural areas
This is because, ownership in a market economy,
together with security of tenure, are defined by the
South African government as a decisive aspect for
investor confidence and basically for entrepreneurs
to be confident about what they are doing, to boot
agricultural productivity using modern methods.
According to current National Strategic plan in
agriculture sector, the South African government is
also looking to implement a number of pogrammes to
support the transition of agrarian reform beneficiaries
from subsistence to smallholder farmers as a move
to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods in
rural areas.
In the meanwhile, with additional strategy to
accepting crop of genetically modified (GM) crops,
debate is currently raging over the South African
government’s policy to promote a new bio-economy
strategy, after a total area of 2.9 million hectares; of GM
crops were grown in South Africa by both small-scale
and commercial farmers.
It is anticipated that this agriculture revolution
would also nurture the incomes of small-holding
farmers and create more jobs to join the tertiary sector.
According to the South African department of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, there main focus
will be on priority sectors that would decode into an
enhanced agricultural structure that would include,
among others, advanced research and industrialization.
Presently, Maize is the largest locally produced field
crop, and the most important source of carbohydrates
in the southern African region. South Africa is the chief
maize producer in the Southern African Development
Community (SADC).
According to official statistics, more than 9 000
commercial maize producers are responsible for the
major part of the South African crop, while the rest is
produced by thousands of small-scale producers.
Apart from these efforts, the South African
government also underlines to executing the Market
Identification Strategy to safeguard that products
produced by smallholder farmers have a market
domestically and to assimilate viable smallholders with
established commercial producers’ export networks.
Official figures show that South Africa is the world's
13th largest sugar producer, while an estimated 2.5
millions of tones are produced each season with some
50% of the whole quantity being exported to Africa, the
Middle East, North America and Asia.
Latest government approximations show that South
Africa's unemployment rate is alarming where by at
least 80 percent of unemployed youths have never
worked, or had been employed for only longer than a
year.
According to labor force survey conducted by the
government in 2012, approximately 3.2 million youths
were jobless among the total number of 9 million
young people in the country which accounts a general
population of 50.1 million people. Lacking of education
has been labelled the main driver behind the high
youth unemployment rate.
The South African government is presently
accentuating to permit this category of population to
build future careers by joining tertiary sector, it said.

TRAVELtourism 07
A KINGDOM IN
THE SKY
Tourist Attractions in Lesotho
L
esotho, surrounded
by the Republic of
South Africa gives it
a distinctive character,
is a self-ruled,
independent and
liberated country.
The Kingdom
of Lesotho is
among the
domains in
Africa. The
land area of
the country is
approximately
30, 555 km2. Frequently mentioned as the
Switzerland of Africa, it is blessed with
a striking, often a snow-capped range of
mountains, the Maluti.
The kingdom's central position in the
heart of Africa's most developed economy
of South Africa, is well served by air, rail and
road links to all its major commercial centers.
It takes one hour to go to Lesotho by air
and four hours by road from Johannesburg,
South Africa. Maseru is the capital of Lesotho
and also the largest city.
Visiting San rock art, dinosaur footprints
and cultural villages where the ironic
local culture of the Basotho people can be
experienced will give you a deep
knowledge of Lesotho's history.
Accommodation is very easily
available in Lesotho ranging from
Hotels, Lodges and Guest Houses to
enjoy the unique culture or hospitality.
The cuisine of Lesotho is directly
influenced by both African and British.
As surrounded by South Africa it do
share its culinary practices with it.
Potato, seafood, rice and vegetables
persist in Lesotho’s food culture. Mealie
pap, a maize porridge are the dishes
which are Corn based. There are also
simmers prepared from peanuts.
Desserts influenced from British can be
found.
Lesotho’s cuisine inclines to have
sauces, but comparatively less spicy
than other African countries. Beetroot
salad is a common side dish.
Lesotho, a place of divine
beauty, sharp territory,
interesting local culture and
traditions and is definitely a
place for gallant explorers.
As its land lies at heights
of more than 1500m above
sea-level, the country is a
land of elevations and limits.
It has magnificent mountain
panoramas and adventure
activities like skiing, pony
tracking, hiking and abseiling
for the fearless tourist.
Lesotho is for those who
are desiring a soothing and
energizing break comprising
bird watching, boating and
fishing.
It is the national park which is epitome for hiking,
bird-watching and also comprehends uncommon
rock formations and mountainous flora. The park
is in south eastern park of Lesotho which can
be worth viewing by vehicles. It is the first
designated National Park in Lesotho. The
park has a unique constructions in the
area, enormous rock extensions, small
lakes, rock sculpture, rock curvatures
and unique ecosystem of plants,
birds and animals. Dams and
rivers are a fisherman’s paradise
which clearly elucidates the
park’s presence.
Liphofung Nature Reserve, place of the eland is
a historical place which should be visited. This
is the smallest reserves of only 4 hectares. It
is a large overhang which make it a typical
feature of the Lesotho lowlands region.
A small visitor's center integrating a
presentation of Basotho culture and
San rock art has been established,
along with ablution facilities and a
small shop. The site is proving
to be a popular destination
with school groups and
tourists en route to
Oxbow.
It is positioned deep in the front range of the Maluti
Mountains, with headquarters at the foot of the
Holomo Pass. 5600 hectares of tremendously
rocky highland landscape is endangered within
this park, which is very unique feature in
Lesotho. The park is located peripherally
and is unrecognized as it is untapped.
Plants are very unique which
enhances the woodland feature.
The Royal Archives was recognized by the
Royal family and was validly itemized
in 2008. The Royal Palace is located
nearby homestead and dinosaur
footprints and the center delivers
guided tours to carcasses to
Paramount Chief Letsie I’s
settlement.
Snow skiing is done on the slopes of
Mahlasela Pass, New Oxbow Lodge
nearby and Afri Ski rents skis and
boots. Apart from three slopes
and snow skiing is done many
other activities are also
done in summer.
Sehlabathebe National Park
Liphofung Nature Reserve
Tse'hlanyane National Park
Royal Archives, Museum and
Information Centre
Lesotho Highlands
Other places which make
Lesotho a tourist place are:-
• Katse Dam and Botanical
Gardens
• Sani Pass and the Highest pub in
Africa
• Maletsunyane / Semonkong Falls
• Thaba-Bosiu
• Kome Cave Dwellings
• Dinosaur Footprints
• Rock Art
• Major Bell’s Tower and fort

TALKINGTECHNOLOGY08
I
ntroducing the ‘Do-It-Yourself’
Backyard Poultry (BYP) -
Sahyadri Industries Ltd. takes
a novel, giant and revolutionary
step forward to make the women
in the house become Self-reliant
by earning a good sum every
month, from the revenue earned
from poultry. At the same time,it
provides better health to the
chickens and hygiene for the
family and environment.
your house with a portable
housing that works better for you,
chickens and the environment
around your house. Moreover it
comes to you in a ‘Do-It-Yourself’
kit that is easy to install with the
help of couple of family members.
Swastik Kukdookoo brings
an opportunity to make women
financially Self-reliant; an
additional income for the family
and at the same time healthy
hygienic self- consumption.
Plus points with Swastik
Kukdookoo BYP
» Reliable income-generation
alternative
» Steady source of income
» Reasonable Investment, Better
Returns
» Feeds available from nearby
locations
» All weather-resistant
structure
» House can be used as a Storage
unit
» Durable and Long Lasting for
Years
Benefits with Swastik Kukdokoo
BYP
» Healthy self consumption
» High nutritional value
» Safety from predators
» Droppings can be easily
collected from the shed for
manure /fertilizer use
» Increased Protein Intake –
Deficiency is the common
phenomenon in the diet of
rural people as
» their diets are predominantly
based on cereals containing
high energy but low protein
About Sahyadri Industries Ltd.
Sahyadri Industries Ltd. - a group
that commenced 60 years back,
now boasts of infrastructural
capacities that can meet a colossal
demand of supply across the globe
at any given time. An ISO 9001-
2008 certified and BSE registered
Company, Sahyadri is consistently
reaching newer markets and
dynamically growing in size and
strength. In a six decade journey,
the company has brought to
the fore, a plethora of products
across different verticals: Roofing
- Swastik, Flat Sheets for all
weathers and mezzanine floor
applications - Cemply, Interior
and Exterior Building products -
Ecopro, Security enabled Main
Doors - Entasafe, Pre- Engineered
/ Hybrid building solutions and
Production for non-conventional
energy.
SAHYADRI INDUSTRIES LTD.
Registered Office:
Swastik House, 39/D, Gultekdi, J.N.
Marg, Pune - 411037, Maharashtra,
INDIA.
Tel: +91 20 2644 4625/26/27
Fax: +91 20 2644 4624, 2645 8888
Email: info@silworld.in
Website: www.silworld.in
CIN No.: L26956PN1994PLC078941
Sizes Particulars
Range – No. of Birds can be
accommodated
4'x 4' G+1 G+2
G+1 = approx 30-40 chicks
G + 2 = Approx 60-70 chicks
6' x 4' G+1 G+2
G + 2 = Approx 80-90 chicks
8' x 4' G+1 G+2
G + 2 = Approx 120-130chicks
Start a Healthy
Wealthy Poultry
Business

TRYSOMETHINGNEW 09
Ingredients
 1 (16 ounce) package dried black-eyed peas
 1/2 lb lean ham, pieces or 1 meaty ham bone
 3 cups water
 1 medium onion, chopped
 6 -8 green onions, chopped
 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
 2 -3 garlic cloves, minced
 1 -1 1/2 teaspoon salt
 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
 1 teaspoon black pepper
 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
upcoming
One's virtue is more praiseworthy when
he got the enough energy of being wicked
THOUGHT OF
THE WEEK
International
Conference On Technical
Textile And Non-Woven
It is organized by the Indian
Institute of Technology Delhi.
The conference will cover areas
like Development Of Technical
Textiles Industry Is Only
Possible In An Environment
That Supports Interdisciplinary
Networks Between Researchers,
Engineers, Technicians And
Industries.
Date: 06-08 Nov 2014
Venue: Indian Institute of
Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
International
Conference on
Condensed Matter
Physics
It is organized by the himachal
Pradesh University. The
conference will cover areas
like the main aim of the ICCMP
is to provide a platform to the
researchers, scientists from
R D wings of industry and
research laboratories working
in the field of condensed matter
physics all over the globe to
interact with each other and
share their ideas.
Date: 04-06 Nov 2014
Venue: Himachal Pradesh University,
Shimla, India
The International
Chemical Downstream
Conference
It is organized by the Tecnon
OrbiChem Ltd. The conference
will cover areas like Consumer
Resource, Coupled with
High Levels of Technical
Ability and Literacy Presents
an Opportunity for Business
Growth That Cannot Be Ignored.
Date: 04-05 Nov 2014
Venue: Hotel The Lalit, Mumbai,
India
National Systems
Conference
It is organized by the Jawaharlal
Nehru Technological University
Hyderabad, JNTUH. The
conference will cover areas like
Non-Linear Systems / Adaptive
Systems, - Intelligence Systems
/ Soft Computing, Techniques
/ Evolutionary Algorithms, -
Advances in Communication
Systems, - Biological System.
Date: 05-07 Nov 2014
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University Hyderabad,
Hyderabad, India
Conference on Shale Gas:
Critical Technologies for
Successful Projects
It is organized by the Infraline
Energy Research. The
conference will cover areas
like various issues and topics
related to shale development
industry and many more related
topics and issues.
Date: 05 Nov 2014
Venue: Hotel The Royal Plaza, New
Delhi, India
World Ayurveda
Congress and Arogya
Expo
It is organized by the World
Ayurveda Foundation. The
conference will cover areas like
Pharmaceuticals, Fundamentals,
Medicinal Plants, Pre-Clinical,
Others.
Date: 06-09 Nov 2014
Venue: Pragati Maidan, New Delhi,
India
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan meeting the Health Minister of South Africa,
Mr. Aaron Motsoaledi, at Barcelona, in Spain on October 28, 2014.

picture of the week
 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced (andouille is best)
 hot cooked rice
 green onion, fans (to garnish) (optional)
Prepration Method
1. Sort and wash peas. Place in a large pan, cover with
warm water and allow to soak overnight. Drain the peas
and place in large 4 quart crock pot.
2. Add ham or ham bone to peas along with 3 cups of
water. Stir in rest of ingredients except the cooked rice
and green onion fans. Turn crock pot to low and allow
to cook for 6 to 8 hours. Stir after 5 to 6 hours and
check to see if additional water may be needed. If peas
are too thick, add warm water to crock pot until desired
consistency.
3. Serve over cooked rice and garnished with green onion
fans.
The Natural Food Diet plan is a diet many
devised that facilitates weight loss,
promotes general well-being and also
helps your skin glow. Here’s what you
should do:
• Start your day with a big glass of
lemon juice with 2 teaspoon honey
or plain lemon juice and step out
for a 30 minute morning walk.
Once you return, have a fruit or
200ml vegetable juice. This will help
accelerate your metabolism.
• For breakfast have a bowl of fresh
seasonal fruits with dried fig and
currant soaked in water overnight.
• For lunch you could have salad,
sprouts and green chutney at noon
• At around 3 pm have about 200 ml
of fruit or vegetable juice
• Have another fruit at 5 pm
• Try and have dinner by 8 pm. Your
dinner should include salads, 100gm
almonds, cashew, walnuts, coconut
and peanuts soaked in water.
• Don’t add salt
• Cut down on cereals
• Avoid Cereals Pulses to live
Healthy
If you have hunger pangs between meals
you can have a banana or some sprouts
or some other veggies.
Q1. What three-dimensional shape has exactly two
surfaces? The answer is not a piece of paper (a piece
of paper actually has 6 surfaces as the edges are
technically surfaces as well).
Q2. You are a participant in a race. You pass the person in
second place. What position are you in?
Q3. Three fishermen are out fishing together and they each
bring their own bucket. The buckets are identical, the
only difference is the label on the bucket. The buckets
are labeled Salmon, Trout, and Salmon and Trout
and correspond to the fishing preference of each
fisherman. Shortly after coming ashore, one of the
fishermen realizes that they each put their fish in
the wrong bucket when they were fishing meaning
all three buckets were now labeled incorrectly!
Naturally, the lids of the buckets are all closed now.
How many bucket lids need to be opened and how
many fish need to be taken out at random in order to
properly label the buckets?
Creole Black-Eyes
Rice for the Crock Pot
China’s direct investment
in Africa exceeds $50
billion.
Diet
Traditional dish with a twist of taste
plan for
1. A cone or a hemisphere
2. Second Place
Weight Loss Q4. Sierra is standing behind Giselle and Giselle is
standing behind Sierra. This doesn't seem possible
but it is. How?
Q5. What is the fewest number of pitches that a pitcher
can pitch in a non-rain-shortened game without any
balks and still be credited with a complete game? Note
that a complete game is awarded to a pitcher when
he or she has pitched every inning played and faced
every batter in the game without the benefit of a relief
pitcher.
6. Poor people have it.
Rich people need it.
If you eat it you die.
What is it?
7. The more you take away from me, The bigger I get.
What am I?
8. It belongs to you. But others use it more than
you do. What is it?
3. One
4. Standing back to back
5. 25
6. Nothing
7. A hole
8. Your name
Answers
Interesting Riddles

THEFASHIONISTAS10
Eddie Coffie Is New President of Actors Guild
Encourage Ghanaian Film Producers -FIPAG Boss
Top FM Launches Top Talent Hunt
TV3 Rewards Beauty Queens
Veteran Ghanaian actor Rev
Eddie Coffie has been elected new
president of Ghana Actors Guild,
(GAG), and the umbrella body for
Ghanaian actors.
He takes over from Nii Odoi
Mensah who had been the guild's
president for several years.
Top FM has launched a novelty
reality show, aimed at unearthing
talents for the radio industry.
The show dubbed 'Top Star
2014 Reality Talent Show' seeks to
develop the hidden talent in young
aspiring presenters who want to
embark on the journey to stardom
with their unique presentations
ranging from sports, musical show,
talk show, news and preaching.
The reality show is hosted by
a couple of the station's prolific
presenters; and airs every
Saturday at 2:00pm.
The final three contestants to
D
ays after the grand finale of the
'Ghana's Most Beautiful' pageant at the
Accra International Conference Centre
(AICC), TV3 has presented the four finalists
with their prizes.
Other sponsors, ORS and Opanka,
presented hampers to each contestant.
During the durbar, the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) signed the
four contestants on to their year project in
their respective regions.
Field projects of the four contestants
centred on environmental protection,

Dookoom
improvement of girl-child education and
promotion of locally produced rice.
The Head of Brands at TV3, Felix
Dontoh, was happy the station has fulfilled
its promises to the contestants in record
time.
He explained that all contestants in the
Ghana's Most Beautiful (GMB) pageant are
made to sign on to three types of contracts
or agreements which protect their common
interests.
Mr Felix Dontoh mentioned the contracts
as a qualification to be a contestant, entry into
the Beauty Home/House and qualification
into the finals.
The CEO of TV3 Network, Augustus
Dickson, said TV3 lives by its niche to be the
'first and best in news coverage.'
He added that GMB, whose catch
phrase is 'Redefining Beauty to Promote
National Development', is a realty show set
to introduce the youth to important Ghanaian
traditional values and practices as well as
offer them a platform to unearth their talents
and rebrand themselves for the future.
New Times
Rev Coffie used to be the vice
president of the Guild during the
tenure of Odoi Mensah.
Veteran actress Vivian Achor, a
popular face in the movie industry,
was also elected the vice president
of the Guild.
During Nii Odoi's tenure of
Steve Asare Hackman, President
of the Film Producers Association
of Ghana (FIPAG), has asked
stakeholders in the film industry
to encourage upcoming producers
to churn out high quality movies
rather than criticising them.
In recent times, film critics have
been expressing worry about how
some films produced in Ghana have
low standards and are affecting
patronage.
office, one of his major problems
was getting current hot face actors
to be involved in the activities
of the Guild. He has complained
several times that majority of such
actors are not members in good
standing. Not every one of them
is a member. The few who are
members too don't pay their dues.
NEWS-ONE is yet to confirm
the number of the current big
name actors in the industry who
were at the congress.
There is however no doubt that
the new president's major task will
be uniting Ghanaian actors into a
strong voice in Ghana's creative
industry.
Modern Ghana
Abigail Baciara Bentie, aka Baci, the
winner of the competition, received
GH¢10, 000, a brand new Hyundai
Accent Saloon car, wardrobe worth
GH¢6,000, supply of fabric from
GTP, make-up products from Zaron
Cosmetics and grooming services from
2 nd Image, each lasting one year.
Solace Ekpedzor Ewoenam,
aka Ewoe, was first runner-
up and received a cash prize
of GH¢7,000, supply of
fabric from GTP and supply
of make-up products from
Zaron Cosmetics over the
next six months.
Nana Ama Odame Okyere,
aka Ama, was second
runner-up and received
an amount of GH¢6,000,
fabric from GTP and supply
of make-up products from
Zaron Cosmetics for three
months.
Carla Bongkoyire
Cornelius, aka Lamine,
was the fourth finalist
and received GH¢5,000,
a month's supply of
fabric from GTP and
make-up products from
Zaron Cosmetics.
Speaking to NEWS-ONE about
that situation, Mr Hackman stated
that the issue of falling standards in
the film industry has been of great
concern to the association.
Mr Hackman disclosed that
FIPAG was currently in talks with
the National Film and Television
Institute (NAFTI) and other
training institutions to design
curricular that will encourage
these producers to enrol and
upgrade themselves. 'When we had
our stakeholders' conference in
Kumasi, one of the things that came
up for discussion was the scripting.
We all concluded that for a film to
begood,theinitialthingisthestory.
We also spent a lot of time to find
out how we would train some of
our members. If a producer, who is
already a member of FIPAG, has his
money and interest in film and he
has started, what do we do? Do we
stop them? No we can't. What we
are doing now is to talk to NAFTI
and other training institutions and
see how best we can come out with
a curriculum which will suit that
requisite requirement to enter
these schools. FIPAG is working
tirelessly on this,' he said.
However Mr Hackman was
quick to add that rating a film as
high or low standard was mostly
discretionary.
'Not all Ghanaian films that are
produced are low standard. Rating
a movie as low standard is mostly
discretionary because there are so
many things one will have to use—
likethestoryline,acting,editingand
directing among others—before
arriving at such a conclusion. What
you term as a good film might be
termed as a bad film by another,' he
noted.
Modern Ghana

Abigail Baciara Bentie, aka Baci

Steve Asare Hackman
emerge after weeks of grilling and
eviction by a panel of judges and
listeners' votes would be offered
a contract of employment by the
station in addition to other mouth-
watering prizes.
Evicted participants of the
show would also be treated to an
eviction party at a notable night
club in Accra.
Speaking in an interview,
Managing Partner in-charge of
Programmes and Content at Top
Media Group (Top FM and Top TV
), Ekourba Gyasi, said, 'This is just
the beginning of better things to
come as the station plans to turn
events into a life experience as
we touch base with our cherished
listeners out there.'
He encouraged listeners to
make a date with the contestants
every Saturday from 2:00pm as
they refresh them with pleasant
and unique presentations on radio.
Ekourba Gyasi also took the
opportunity to encourage the
numerous fans of the show to vote
for their favourite contestants as
that is the only way to retain them
in the competition.
Modern Ghana

Rev Eddie Coffie

SPORTS2WATCH 11
Kiptoo leads Kenyan cleansweep in Frankfurt
Ferwacy boss optimistic ahead of
Tour du Rwanda
GFA impressed with Jimenez for Stars job
South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace wins
at China LPGA
M
ark Kiptoo put behind
him his second placed
finish in 2013 by winning
Sunday's Frankfurt Marathon and
leading a Kenyan cleansweep of
the podium places in the men's
race.
The 38-year-old, who won
5000m bronze at the 2010
Commonwealth Games, crossed
the line in an official time of two
hours, six minutes and 49 seconds
in an exciting race whose outcome
was decided only in the final
kilometre.
Mike Kigen was a close second
in 2:06:59 with Gilbert Yegon
third in 2:07:08 after defending
champion Vincent Kipruto, also
of Kenya, lost contact with the
lead group after around the 30
Rwanda Cycling Federation
Chairman, Aimable Bayingana is
in a buoyant mood ahead of the
2014 Tour du Rwanda slated for
November 16-23.
This year’s edition will cost an
estimated Rwf400 million. Like
in previous years, Rwanda will
field three teams-including Team
Akagera, Team Karisimbi and Team
Muhabura. Each team comprises of
five riders.
“Intermsofpreparations,Ithink
we are ready for the tournament,
and we want to challenge for the
top position this year because we
have been improving every year. I
am sure this time we will see many
surprises,” Bayingana said.
Sources within the Ghana Football
Association (GFA) have revealed
that Spanish coach Juan Ignacio
Jimenez was impressive with his
totalpresentationandhadfeasible
plans for the senior national
team during his interview for the
vacant Black Stars job.
It’s reported the Spaniard
came top with former Switzerland
assistant coach Michel Pont
coming close followed by former
Chelsea coach Avram Grant in
that order.
But the former Chelsea
boss was reported to demand a
whopping amount of $150,000 as
salary per month and moreover
questions have been raised
on his possession of an Israeli
Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa won
the rain-hit Blue Bay Championship
in China on Monday, wrapping up her
first LPGA Tour victory with a birdie on
the final hole.
The 33-year-old finished on 200
with a five-under 67 in the third and
final round, leaving her three strokes
ahead of Germany's Caroline Masson
overall.
Pace fired five birdies in her
bogey-free round, while Masson
ripped through four birdies in her final
six holes.
Americans Michelle Wie and
Jessica Korda finished in third on 205.
The pair both made two bogeys in
the final round as they lost touch with
the lead.
The Jian Lake club was hit by
heavy rains during the tournament,
kilometre mark.
The African domination
continued in the women's race
as Ethiopia's Aberu Kebede
comfortably took the 2014 title in
2:21:21 ahead of Kenya's Sharon
Chebet 2:23:44 with another
Ethiopian Ashetu Bekere third in
2:24:59.
Modern Ghana
with organisers being forced to
reduce the $2 million event from
four rounds to three and extend it to
Monday.
Pace claimed her ninth Ladies
European Tour victory at the South
African Women's Open last week.
She is the second South African-
born player to win on the LPGA Tour
after 15-time champion Sally Little.
Modern Ghana
Meanwhile, Jimenez
during the interview
promised the panel to
bring the best video
analyst in Spain who
aided the Spanish team
to win the World Cup in
2010 and promised to
hold courses for junior
national team coaches
in the country with a $
50,000 salary per month.
Again the interview
panel has forwarded a
report to the Executive
Committee for a decision
to be taken on who
deserves to handle the Black
Stars.
The Ghanaian Chronicle
Ferwacy is planning to organise
more local races to improve the
fitness levels of the cyclists ahead of
theelitetournamentthatisclassified
as a 2:2 race by the International
Cycling Union (UC1).
Riders will compete in seven
stagesincludingnewroutesofKigali-
Ngoma District (94 kilometres) and
the gruelling Rubavu to Nyanza
(173km). The tour will cover a total
distance of 911.6 kilometres. Last
year’s edition was won by South
African Dylan Girdlestone, while
Rwanda’s Valens Ndayisenga won
the most promising rider accolade
following his 11th place finish. The
event was first held in 1988.
New Times
passport which could prevent him
from travelling to Arab speaking
countries such as Morocco and
Egypt.

Mark Kiptoo

Lee Anne

Juan Ignacio Jimenez

ENCOUNTER WITH EDITOR12
Owner / Publisher / Editor: Mr. Kirit Sobti from 3rd Floor, Plot No. 3, Block PSP-IV, Service Centre Opp. Sector-11 (Extn.), Rohini, Delhi-85
Printed at LIPEE SCAN PVT. LTD. 89 DSIDC SHED Okhala Phase 1, New Delhi
Undoubtedly, the esteemed bank
has proved its mettle in Ghana by
furnishing a wide range of products
services to the people. What are
your future plans and how are you
planning to establish its branches in
other African countries?
GLOBAL ACCESS is one of the biggest
success stories in the micro-finances
company. GASL started business as
Global Access Services in 1998 and
was only into money transfer (Western
Union and MoneyGram). Ten years down
the lane “3rd June 2009” GASL was
granted the license to operate a savings
and loans. Global Access is now a one
–stop shop providing financial services to
Ghanaian and foreigners in Ghana. It is
a short term plan by 2018 Global Access
will have branches in part of West Africa
Ghana has emerged as a shining star
in the banking sector owing to its
continuous developments. What’s
your take on this?
Yes Ghana has really become a
shining star in the banking sector,
when you go around Ghana now we
have banks like UBA, ACCESS BANK,
ZENITH BANK etc… which all emerged
from Nigeria. This shows that there
are opportunities for banks in Ghana.
As it Is now there are 28 traditional
banks, 137 Rural Community banks
and 24 Savings Loans, the number
keeps growing this is a clearly sign of
the opportunities available for banks in
Ghana.
Briefly describe the amalgamations
with money transferring brands like
Western Union and how will they
prove to be beneficial to the citizens
of the country?
Money transfer brands like Western
Union, MoneyGram, and Vigo etc… are
brands which are here to stay and to
help make banking easy in Africa. The
world has become a global village and
technology has made life simple. Money
transfers has made sending money to
any party of the world very convenes,
reliable and simple. Apart from making
money transfer easy and quick they also
provide Corporate Social Responsibility.
Please outline the voyage of the bank
from its commencement till date
when it has concluded a tenancy of
five years?
Global Access Savings and Loans
Company Limited (GASL) formerly
Global Access Services Limited is a
wholly owned Ghanaian registered
Company established in 1998 and
started operations in 2000. It is owned
by PVI Group Inc.
GASL has thrived over the years
on high service quality delivery which
makes it outstanding both locally
and internationally within the Money
Transfer family.
In the early part of 2008, GASL
applied for a Non-Bank Financial
Institution License from Bank of Ghana
to operate as a Savings and Loans
Company. The Central Bank granted the
license on 3rd June, 2009. It commenced
full operations as a Savings and Loans
Company on 6th December 2010.
The company is now a one-stop
shop providing financial services such
as Western Union, Moneygram, Vigo
and Sika Ye Mogya savings loans. The
remittances business has now become
a delivery vehicle for the savings and
loans business since Management sees
it as a huge opportunity and potential
for turning the money transfer business
customers into instant customers of the
savings and loans business.
GASL now have 18 branches allover
Ghana with Best products and services
such as:
• Loan Products
• Deposit products
• Susu Savings
• Fixed Deposit
• International Money transfer
• Domestic Money transfer
• E-banking services like: Ezwich,
Mobile Money and SMS Alert
What is your opinion on Kpone
Independent Power Plant? What is
your stand when several banks are
investing into this project?
Kpone Independent Power Plant
is a wonderful project which when
completed will give a little boost to our
energy crises. So to me we need to give
all the support we can to help finish the
project and bring it to live.
I am 100% in support of banks
investing in to the Kpone power plant
projects. One key reason why I am
in support is the banks corporate
responsibility to provide for the
communities and the country as a whole.
It is another way of Job creations for
citizen of the country. It will also boost
industries and support local homes in
generating energy.
Banking sector of Ghana has added new shine in the crown of the country. The booming
sector has experienced extreme transformation in recent years and is a significant strength
for the development of the Ghanaian economy. In an exclusive interview to Indo Africa
Times, Mr. Kwafu Osafo, Chairman, Global Access Savings Loans painted the journey
of the bank from scratch to stature. He also spotted light on bank’s amalgamations with
various money transferring brands that will award advantage to the citizens of the country.
Ghana : A shining star in the banking sector
Mr. Kwafu Osafo
Chairman, Global
Access Savings Loans


Volume 1 issue 43

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Volume 1 issue 43