Telecom Namibia plans to complete the first phase of rolling out a national fibre optic network in the first quarter of 2015, connecting all 14 regional capitals. The $19 billion project will be funded through public-private partnerships and infrastructure funds. In other news, 10 people including a former real estate executive were arrested in Ghana for an alleged $33 million SIM box fraud. Additionally, the Communications Authority of Kenya is seeking a consultant to identify areas lacking ICT access.

1. www.indoafricatimes.com
MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015 Title Code: DELENG18579 • RNI NO: DELENG/2014/54666 • Postal Registration No.: DN/325/2014-2016 • VOL. 02 • NO. 06 • Page 12 • Price `10
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Bold steps
needed to place
the continent’s
growth on
recovery path
Climate Disruption
Development Disruption
15th
DELHI SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT
Chad: The
Heart of
Africa
Madagascar:
The Eighth
Continent
All the
scoop about
Katy Perry
India gives
Ghana
$150m line
of credit for
agriculture

2. Wassupafrica02
Telecom Namibia to complete phase
1 of fibre grid in Q1
Indian agro-processor eyes Rwandan market
Telecom Namibia has stated that
plans are at an advanced stage to
construct a fibre-based network
to connect all regional capitals in
the country. Telecom Namibia’s
senior manager of corporate
communications, Oiva Angula,
said that the construction of the
primary fibre route to connect
regional administrative capitals
is already completed. This is
according to The Namibian.
“Construction of a secondary
fibre route to 12 regional
administrative capitals is also
done. The outstanding link is
scheduled to be completed in
March. The secondary route is
Arjun Beeswax lndustries, an
India-based agro-processing firm,
will soon set up shop in Rwanda,
Arjun Bheda, the managing
partner, said in a statement.
Bheda said the firm was
attracted to Rawanda by the
country’s conducive investment
climate and the vast opportunities
it presents. He added that his
confidence in the country was
greatly boosted when he met
Emmanuel Hategeka , the Ministry
of Trade and lndustry permanent
secretary, and Ernest Rwamucyo,
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to
India, at the Rwanda Booth during
the recent Vibrant Gujarat 2015
Conference in Gandhinagar, India.
The Communications Authority of
Kenya is seeking a consultant to
identify regions facing challenges
in access to ICT services as it
prepares to implement the Universal
Service Fund’s functions. According
to the report, the CA received the
first contribution of $1 million
towards the Fund in August last
year, setting the stage for initiating
access programmes to bridge the
communication gap in the country.
“The authority is required to
ensure provision of universal services
to all parts of the country including
rural and other high cost areas,” said
CA in a published notice. “Towards
this, the authority is seeking services
of a consultant to carry out an ICT
access gaps study to identify gaps/
high cost areas and establish the
subsidy amount required from the
Universal Service Fund to facilitate
closing the voice and data services
gaps.” Mobile telephone companies,
radio and television stations and
other ICT related firms are expected
to contribute 0.5 per cent of their
gross revenue towards the Universal
Service Fund. According to CA’s
latest data, mobile phone service
subscriptions stood at 32.8 million
for the period July to September 2014
being the first quarter of financial year
2014/2015; translating to a mobile
penetration rate of 80.5 per cent.
However, the number of courier
outlets, which had stagnated
for more than a year, improved
significantly during the quarter to 788
outlets, from 707 outlets recorded
in the previous quarter. According
to The Star, CA said in the notice,
that the consultant will be expected
to propose a strategy to address the
identified communication gaps and
the time it will take to do so.
The state agency faced various
challenges for over two years prior
to receiving the first contribution
last year, the biggest being a
disagreement with telecom operators
over composition of the USF board.
ITNews Africa
A former boss of Ghana Real Estates
Developers Association (GREDA),
Dr Alexander Tweneboah, and
nine others have been arrested by
an Anti-Telecommunication Fraud
taskforce in collaboration with the
Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) of the Ghana Police Service
with support from SUBAH Info
Solutions Ghana Limited.
The other nine suspects are
Ebenezer Boateng, Victor Owusu,
Kwadwo Asare, Emmanuel Kofi
Essilfie, Edmond Essilfie, Kwaku
Appiah, Alvin Habib, Francis Abbey
and David Ayitsi. Dr Tweneboah
was arrested alongside others in
his house at Baatsona in Accra.
The suspects were said to have
caused financial loss to the state to
the tune of over $33 million. The
suspects, including two foreign
nationals, were arrested for
allegedly engaging in illegal SIM box
operations in various locations in
Accra, Tema, Koforidua and Kumasi
intheGreaterAccra,Easternandthe
Ashanti Regions respectively. The
arrests were made possible through
important to ensure that the
regional administrative capitals
remain connected in cases of
failures on the primary route,”
Angula told The Namibian.
Angula said planning for
Nkurenkuru as the administrative
capital for new Kavango West
region was finalised and work is
scheduled to start as soon as the
regional council premises have
been constructed.
The fibre-based network
project is being rolled out in phases
with the first phase involving the
establishment of the core network
to connect the central government
to the administrative capitals of all
14 regions.
“During this phase of the
project, Telecom Namibia has
invested about N$70 million.
This phase is scheduled to be
completed during the first quarter
of 2015, depending on a number of
factors outside Telecom Namibia’s
control,” this is according to
Angula.
Since inception, Telecom
has invested N$ 4.2 billion in
infrastructure, services and
business support systems, Angula
concluded.
ITNews Africa
CA seeks to
identify ICT
access gaps
Mobile subscriptions rise above 30
Million
According to latest statistics from
Ghana’s regulator the National
Communications Authority (NCA),
Ghana’s mobile phone subscriptions
grew by 0.47 percent in December 2014
to 30.6 million from 30.22 million in
November.
According to the report, MTN’s
subscriber base increased marginally
from 13,666,766 during the previous
month to 13,852,398 during the period
under review representing a 1.35%
increase. Their market share also
increased to 45.63% from 45.23% in
November.
Similarly, Tigo’s subscriber base
increased to 4,133,760 from 4,100,172
representing an increase of 0.81%.
For the same period, Tigo’s market
share increased likewise from 13.57%
in November to 13.62%. With their
market share increasing from 4.76% in
November to 4.78%, Glo’s subscriber
base also recorded a figure of 1,450,382
from 1,437,400, a decrease of 0.9%.
Vodafone’s subscriber base
decreased from 7,137,501 during the
previous month to 7,069,516 during the
period under review indicating a 0.95%
loss. Their market share also decreased
to 23.29% from 23.62% in the previous
month.
In the same line, Airtel’s subscriber
base also decreased to 3,735,656 from
3,756,656 representing a decrease of
0.55%. Airtel’s market share decreased
from 12.43% in November to 12.30%
marginally.
Expresso ended the year with a
subscriber base of 119,059, down from
the previous month’s figure of 120,667.
This represented a market share of
0.39% for the CDMA network.
ITNews Africa
Bheda noted that the ISO 9001:
2008 certified company would
trade under the Arjun Beeswax
Industries Rwanda Limited brand
once they set up shop in Kigali.
According to Clarence
Fernandes, the Rwanda
Development Board India
representative, the company is one
of the manufacturers, exporters
and suppliers of pharmaceutical,
cosmetic and industrial waxes.
Fernandes pitched to Bheda
about Rwanda’s attractive business
environment and the immense
opportunities in the country during
the recently-concluded business
conference in the Asian country.
New Times
GREDA Boss Arrested
Over $33m Sim Box Fraud
the Joint Anti-Telecom Fraud Task
force made up of detectives from
the CID Headquarters, officials
from the National Communications
Authority (NCA), the various
telecom service providers in
Ghana, and with technical support
from SUBAH. Subah deployed its
sophisticated gadgets to locate the
suspects from their hideouts where
they were caught red handed.
The operations started
on December 26, 2014 before
Subah Infosolutions brought
its sophisticated equipment on
Thursday, January 8, 2015 to
complement existing devices.
Items retrieved from the
suspects included thousands
of different SIM cards, SIM box
equipment, heavy duty batteries,
SIM Servers, 4G Modems, printers,
laptops and assorted scratched
cards. COP Agblor, while describing
the arrest as one of the biggest
and most successful operations
embarked upon by the taskforce as
far as SIM box fraud was concerned,
said, 'All the suspects arrested so far
in connection with the illegal SIM
box activities have been arraigned
before court and remanded into
police custody pending further
investigation.'
He said the taskforce was
determined to pursue SIM Box
fraudsters and other criminals
operating in the country, and
called on the general public to
co-operate with the police by
reporting activities of anyone
engaged in such a criminal act
within their communities. He said
the participation of Subah in the
all-important exercise was by
virtue of the fact that they had a
contract with the Ghana Revenue
Authority (GRA) to monitor both
local and foreign inbound calls for
the purposes of checking leakages
in national revenue. The Managing
Director of Subah Infosolutions,
Birenda Sasmal, disclosed that
'assisting regulatory and security
agencies to effect the arrest of these
fraudsters is one of the many ways
Subah is helping reduce revenue
loss to the Government and people
of Ghana. Subah remains committed
to facilitating effective telecom
resource mobilisation for national
development.'
ModernGhana
MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

3. Wassupafrica 03
FROM PAGE 01
In order to achieve Africa’s
socioeconomic transformation,
the continent’s leaders have to
embrace new thinking, and break
with the past, according to Donald
Kaberuka, President of the African
Development Bank.
Kaberuka urged leaders to
follow in the footsteps of Ethiopia’s
late Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi,
whose zeal to reform his land
saw him assess the country’s
experience, create a growth plan
while establishing viable policies
to enhance development.
“He had the determination
to build upon the country’s own
experience, assessing any outside
advice against that experience,
not vice-versa. He had the stamina
to see through a strategy, even if
unpopular in the short term. These
are all traits of a transformational
leader,” observed Kaberuka. The
Bank President was presenting his
inaugural lecture during the launch
of Meles Zenawi Foundation at the
sidelines of the just concluded
African in Addis Ababa.
Kaberuka noted Ethiopia’s
steady growth over the years,
a result of the radical steps
undertaken by its late leader. “In
1991, Ethiopia was one of Africa’s
least developed economies,
exhausted by communist ideology
Namibia will start tapping markets
and investors to finance a five-
year, N$223 billion($19 billion)
development plan as early as next
year as the country seeks to become
a regional transport hub.
The southwest African nation's
government has said it will finance
N$73 billion of the budget and use a
variety of methods to raise the rest of
the money for ports, railways, roads
and airport upgrades.
"The best way to address these
funding needs is to pursue various
alternatives including public-private
partnerships and listed infrastructure
funds, among others," Emma
Haiyambo, a spokeswoman for the
Bank of Namibia in Windhoek said.
The government will come
up with a way to "encourage the
participation of private financiers
and investors, both locally and
internationally," to participate in the
development fund raising, Haiyambo
said.
Namibia's economy will grow
by 5.6 percent in 2015, up from
5.3 percent this year, buoyed by
construction, retail trade, diamond
mining and manufacturing, the
central bank said on Dec. 12.
Namibia has started a 45 billion
Namibian dollar mass housing
program to provide homes to low-
income earners and increase energy
generation. Work on some of the
transportation projects is expected
to start next year, the central bank's
Haiyambo said.-Bloomberg
oshili24
Namibia eyes
N$223 billion
development plan
T
he 15th edition of
the Delhi Sustainable
Development Summit
structured by The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI) was
held at the Taj Palace Hotel, New
Delhi. The summit which was
held from February 5-7, 2015
was dedicated on deliberating
‘Sustainable Development Goals
and Dealing with Climate Change’.
The summit witnessed a pool
of distinguished speakers from
a wide gamut of backgrounds.
Politicians, Diplomats, Corporates,
Government Officials, media,
NGOs, activists and people
from the student community
marked their attendance at the
enlightening event.
The event kicked off with a
High Level Corporate Dialogue
titled “Delhi to Paris: Corporate
Vision on Climate Change”.
Leaders from around the world
came together to converse how
businesses can lead the way to
sustainable development.
The main event which
started on February 5th, 2015,
saw a number of prominent
personalities debating the issue
of sustainable development. Mr.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, former
Governor of California and who
was representing R20 Regions of
Climate Change, urged the world
community to “not just talk but
act”. He was full of praises for the
Lighting a Billion Lights initiative,
and also commended India’s Prime
Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for
his earnest efforts in bringing
about a solar revolution in
Gujarat. Other dignitaries present
at the event were HE Mr. Laurent
Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Development,
France and the future Chairman
of COP 21, Mr. Prakash Javadekar,
Hon’ble Minister of State for
Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, India, Nobel Laureate Mr.
Kailash Satyarthi and such others.
Issues like the need for
mitigation in Energy supply
sector, generating finances for
projects focusing on Sustainable
development, and educating
the youth about sustainable
development was discussed.
Stress was laid on collective action
of both public and private sectors
in achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
This event actually presented
an exceptional podium to further
the developmental discourse
on ‘Sustainable
Development Goals
and Dealing with
Climate Change’,
the theme this year.
The DSDS 2015
assumes significance
as the post-2015
development agenda
is being finalized -
the United Nations
General Assembly
(UNGA) is expected to
adopt the new set of
goals in September 2015 and the
climate negotiations (Conference
of Parties – CoP21) will be held
Paris later this year.
Dr R K Pachauri, Director-
General, TERI, said: “The IPCC
reports have proved beyond
doubt that if we don’t take
immediate measures, the future
will be catastrophic. But climate
change also offers an opportunity
of co-benefits – investing in clean
and affordable energy sources like
solar and wind power can curb
greenhouse gas emissions, and
clean transportation systems such
as trains and cycling can reduce air
pollution woes and improve public
health. DSDS is a reaffirmation
of the support that TERI receives
from across the globe.”
Said Mr Prakash Javadekar,
Hon’ble Minister of State for
Environment, Forest & Climate
Change, India: “Growth has
brought in a scenario where
inequities are growing. This has
to be taken up in the development
discourse. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has said that we
are suffering due to the pressures
created by climate change. We
have the responsibility to improve
the lives of the future generations.
We have already taken the
clean energy path – we have
enhanced our renewable energy
commitments and launched smart
cities.”
“All countries have been
affected by air pollution. Clean
air must be a birthright for all.
We need to work towards clean
air, water and energy for all,” Mr
Javadekar added.
SaidMrSureshPrabhu,Hon’ble
Minister for Railways, India:
“Climate change is a scientific
reality. If we delay action, the
repercussions will be disastrous.
We need to find a unified
solution to tackle climate change
innovatively. We need to move
towards a low carbon economy
and this has the potential to create
new employment opportunities.”
Delivering the special address,
Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Founding Chair, R20 – Regions
of Climate Change, & Former
Governor, California, said:
“Climate change is no science
fiction. We need both a bottom
up and a top down approaches.
India will be a major player in
the climate negotiations. We need
action, not hesitation.”
“We need to find innovative
solutions to problems such as
indoor air pollution. TERI’s
Lighting a Billion Lives campaign
has illustrated new solutions,
providing solar lanterns as a
clean alternative to the polluting
kerosene lamps,” added Mr
Schwarzenegger.
Delivering the
inaugural address,
HE Mr Laurent
Fabius, Minister
of Foreign Affairs
and International
D e v e l o p m e n t ,
France, & Former
Prime Minister,
France, & President,
COP 21, said: “2015
will be a decisive
milestone for
climate change and
sustainable development. The
scientific community has done its
job. Now governments and the
corporate sector must play its part.
If you accept climate disruption,
then there will be a development
disruption.”
Said Dr Annapurna
Vancheswaran, Director,
Sustainable Development
Outreach Division, TERI: “DSDS is
the foremost forum to deliberate
on critical environmental and
developmental problems. Having
been part of every edition of the
DSDS, I can say the journey has
been fascinating.”
At a special session ‘Leaders’
Speak’, Nobel Laureate Prof. Yuan
Tseh Lee, President Emeritus and
Distinguished Research Fellow,
after decades of feudal rule;
a poster child of poverty and
recurrent famines.” But by the
time Meles passed away in 2012,
Ethiopia was a net exporter of
food. It was already a net energy
exporter, attracting massive
investments and laying a basis for
industrialisation.
According to Kaberuka, Meles’
legacy is a challenge to other
leaders, illustrating what happens
when a country takes charge of its
own destiny.
“While we know what can
impede development, our
knowledge of how development
happens requires a deep level
of modesty not assisted by a
fundamentalist approach to
complex political economy issues,”
Kaberuka said.
AfDB
Bold steps needed to place the
continent’s growth on recovery
path, says Kaberuka
The government of India has
given Ghana a $150 million line
of credit to support the country's
agriculture sector, according to
a report by the Indo-Asian News
Service.
According to the report, the
fund would go to support the
implementation of an Agricultural
Mechanisation Service Centre
(AMSEC), and the projects are
intended to provide farmers in the
country with affordable and timely
access to farm machinery.
Ghana's Interior Minister,
Mark Owen Woyongo was cited
in the report to have said India
has also provided another $30
million line of credit to be used
for the rehabilitation and upgrade
of potable water in Yendi in the
northern region.
India gives Ghana $150m line
of credit for agriculture
Under the
AMSEC project,
farmers will
benefit in their
land preparation
with planters for
precision planting,
boom sprayers and
pumps for proper
crop maintenance,
and combine
harvesters for
effective harvesting.
Other goals of the
AMSEC programme
are to increase the low number
of tractor to farmer ratio as well
as reduce the drudgery and
tediousness associated with
manual farming operations, the
report noted. Agriculture is a very
important contributor to Ghana's
economy, offering employment to
about 60 percent of the population
and contributing 22 percent to
GDP in 2013, a drop in the 2009
figure of 31.8 percent.
Ghana-India bilateral relations
have been going on for nearly
sixty years. So far, the Indian
government has extended lines of
credit amounting to $224 million
to the Ghana government for
various developmental projects,
according to information available
from the Indian government.
Modern Ghana
Academia Sinica, said: “Climate
change is the biggest enemy of
the planet. It cannot be solved by
the scientific community, but by
everybody. To be successful, we
have to be organized and work
together. Population explosion
and consumption explosion has
overloaded the Earth with many
dangers. We need to wake up to
this crisis.”
Said Nobel Laureate Mr Kailash
Satyarthi, Founder of Bachpan
Bachao Andolan & Chairperson,
Global March Against Child Labour,
India: “A large number of girls have
been abducted and taken hostage
by the ISIS. Parents said that they
sent their girls in uniform, but they
returned in coffins.”
HeadedbyDrRKPachauri,also
the chairperson of the Nobel Peace
Prize winning climate change
body, the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC), TERI
has emerged as an institution of
excellence for its path-breaking
research, and is a global brand
widely respected by political
leaders, policymakers, corporate
entities as well as the civil society
at large.
Cultural programs followed
the panel discussions on Day
1 and Day 2 of the event. Two
Publications named, Global
Sustainable Development Report
and Energy Security Outlook were
also launched during the event.
HSH Albert II, Prince of Monaco
and UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban
Ki-moon, also addressed the event
through video messages.
The event was an outstanding
endeavor to bring together all the
communities and engage them in
dialogues to bring the world out of
the turmoil that is Climate Change.
Mark Owen Woyongo, Interior Minister, Ghana

President of the African
Development Donald Kaberuka

mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

4. financial assistance to Chad to
help build its sectors and stabilize
its economy.
Invest in Chad
Chad suffers from political
instability and the problem
of refugees. The country still
boasts of a promising future. A
significant oil and mining industry
is still waiting to be explored. The
government introduced various
economic reforms to promote
investments in the country.
Chad’s major export is
livestock herded to neighboring
countries. Cattle, sheep, goats, are
exported to neighboring countries.
Chad also exports smoked and
dried fish to some of its neighbors.
Besides million dollar worth of
gum Arabic is exported to US and
European nations.
Investment in the mining
sector and cotton industry could
prove beneficial for the economic
development of the country. Vast
reserves of uranium and gold
makes it an attractive sector for
investment. Easy availability of
raw material due to large scale
production of cotton will make it
easy to set up production units.
CountryoftheWeek04
S
ituated in central Africa,
Chad is a semi-desert
country bordered by Libya,
Sudan, The Central African
Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and
Niger. Chad has rich reserves
of gold and Uranium and also
benefits from the recent status of
oil-exporting state.
Divided into various
geographical zones, and housing
over 200 different ethnic and
linguistic groups, Chad faces
a number of issues including
inadequate infrastructure. Chad’s
main drawback is its geographical
location.
Traditional Farming
Agriculture is the mainstay
of Chad’s economy. The sector’s
contribution to the GDP of the
country is around 57%. The
population mainly practices
subsistence farming, with the
exception of cotton production,
small scale sugarcane and peanut
production. This sector provides
regular and seasonal employment
to more than 80% of the working
population.
Oil- Driving Chad’s
growth
The economy grew at an
estimated 3.4% in 2013, and was
expected to grow at a rate of 11.2%
in 2014 thanks to the upcoming
oil fields in the country, although
the fluctuating oil prices can
lead to stability problems in the
economic structure of the country.
The nation's total oil reserves are
estimated at 1.5 billion barrels. Oil
production came on stream in late
2003. Chad began to export oil in
2004.
International Organizations
like The International Monetary
Fund, World Bank and The African
Development Bank has provided
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The World Bank, IMF, AfDB
and many other international
organizations have provided
assistance to Chad to help develop
its economy. An oil pipeline
was set up under the Chad-
Cameroon Development Project
with the assistance of World
Bank, in return the two countries
promised to monitor environment
conditions which is a major issue
in both the areas.
Doing Business in Chad
A number of reforms by the
government of Chad has helped
improve the business scenario
of the country. The government
encourages Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI), thus there
are very less formal restrictions.
Infrastructure sector needs
investment in Chad.
The National Investment
Charter of 2008 offers incentives
forforeigncompaniesestablishing
operations in Chad, including
three years of tax-exempt status.
Chadian law guarantees the rights
of foreign and domestic entities
to establish and own business
enterprises and to engage in
remunerative activities, and the
National Investment Charter
offers the possibility of full foreign
ownership for all companies in
Chad, with the exception of those
affecting national security.
Transparency is encouraged
in the business environment,
for example tenders of foreign
investments in state-owned
enterprises are done through
open international bidding
process. The government has also
set up a one stop agency, National
Agency for Investment and Export
(ANIE), for filing all the legal
formalities needed to start a
business. Setting up of ANIE has
made setting up of business a less
time consuming task.
Chad has also partnered
with the GOC signing contracts
individually designed to facilitate
investment in various sectors.
Regionally,Chadissurrounded
by countries in conflict. The
government is however working
proactively towards changing
this scenario. Investments in all
the sectors are being encouraged
with a number of reforms and
programs aimed at assisting the
major sections of the economy.
The growth prospects for the
country looks good. To seize and
make best use of the economic
opportunities that global value
chains offer, Chad needs to create
structural policies around key
players and elements.
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ChadThe Heart of Africa
Chad AT A GLANCE
Official Name: The Republic of Chad
Capital: N’Djamena
Official Languages: French, Arabic
GDP growth (%): 9.6% (2014 estimate)
Time Zone: WAT (UTC +1)
Area: 1.28 million sq. km
Population: 11.8 million (2012 estimate)
MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

5. BusinessBuzz 05
Bank Group and JICA hold talks to push
co-financing programmes forward
Microfinance institution to expand beyond tea sector
The African Development Bank
Group, January 30, 2015 in Abidjan,
received Hiroshi Kato, Japan
International Cooperation Agency
Vice-President, on a courtesy visit
to the institution. Vice-President
Kato and his delegation – which
included JICA’s Representative in
Côte d’Ivoire, Yonezaki Eiro; and
Kojima Umi, Programme Director
for Côte d’Ivoire – held talks with
AfDB Infrastructure Vice-President
(OIVP) Solomon Asamoah.
The meeting explored areas of
cooperation and how best JICA and
theBankGroupwouldpushforward
co-financing of infrastructure,
transport, ICT projects through
private-sector operations.
“There are many private sector
opportunities and interests in
terms of financing projects in Africa,”
Vice-President Asamoah told
the delegation. “The sustainable
development of Africa is one of
the common concerns of the Bank
Group and JICA. It is thus imperative
for the two parties to join hands,
with a view to developing the
African private sector to accelerate
economic growth and create jobs.”
JICA Vice-President Kato, who
has recently moved from heading
JICA’s Research Institute to the Vice-
Presidency in charge of the Africa
Greenland Fedha Limited (GFL),
a microfinance institution for
small-scale tea farmers in Kenya,
has implemented a new software
solution to improve its efficiency
and remain
competitive in the
market. According
to the institution,
it had chosen
the Microsoft
Dynamics NAV
platform.
With the
system in place,
GFL revealed
that the system
had not only
automated its
processes, but
also enabled it to
develop a mobile
payment solution.
GFL is wholly
owned by the
Kenya Tea
D e v e l o p m e n t
Agency (KTDA)
Holdings and
provides financial
Department, recalled that he knows
Abidjan very well, having served in
Côte d’Ivoire earlier in his career.
“The Bank and JICA share a
long history of friendship and
partnership based on common
valuesandmutualinterests,”hesaid.
The Bank’s principal engagement
with JICA falls under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (EPSA)
Initiative. EPSA loan components
funded by JICA include the
Accelerated Co-financing Facility
(ACFA). Under ACFA, JICA
co-finances projects with the Bank’s
public sector, with the Transport
and Information Communication
Technologies (ICT) and the Energy,
Environment and Climate Change
departments, and in African
Development Fund (“green light”)
countries on ADF terms. JICA lends
T
he world’s leading
international express
services provider, has won a
record number of external awards
for its business in Sub Saharan
Africa in 2014 – almost triple
that of 2013 – demonstrating the
success from its 2014 strategy to
create greater service quality and
increase employee engagement.
In 2014, DHL Express Sub
Saharan Africa received a total of
61 awards from external parties
such as government bodies, trade
associations and the media.
The recognition from industry
leaders is a testament of the
business’ successes in customer
service delivery, employee
engagement, contribution to
corporate social responsibility,
as well as its commitment to
provide excellent service quality
in the region. This is an increase
of 178%, up from the 22 awards
received in 2013.
Charles Brewer, Managing
Director of DHL Express Sub-
Saharan Africa, says that the
company’s vision to be The
Logistics Company for the World is
not just about the strong network
and the number of countries
or territories DHL is present
in, but also how customers and
the general public perceive the
company.
DHL Express Sub Saharan
Africa was named Top Employer
2015 in Africa by the Top
DHL Express Sub Saharan
Africa wins a record
number of awards in 2014
Employers Institute for the
company’s outstanding employee
offerings across the region.
This is in addition to six
African countries – South Africa,
Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia
and Ghana that were also certified
as Top Employers in their local
markets.
When looking at the various
countries’ awards leader board,
Nigeria and South Africa ranked
in the majority of the awards with
13 and 12 awards respectively,
followed by Kenya (6), Uganda (5)
and Zimbabwe (4).
Other awards won in 2014
include the Visionaries of
Uganda Award bestowed by the
Government of Uganda for DHL’s
contribution to social-economic
transformation, Jobberman’s
100 best places to work Award
in Nigeria, Silver International
Business Stevie Award for their
PR success across the continent
and the South Africa Transport
and Logistics Award at the Topco
National Business Awards.
“At DHL, in an industry that
never sleeps, where we genuinely
believe in the pursuit of excellence,
we will continue our investment
and expansion in Africa, we will
continue to strive for excellence
for our people, our staff and our
environment, and ensure that
2015 is a truly great year for us,”
concludes Brewer.
African Herald Express
to the Bank Group on concessional
terms for on-lending through the
non-sovereign window.
In October 2014, the Bank
Group received a delegation, led by
the Japanese Finance Ministry, with
the specific objective of identifying
the pipeline of ACFA candidate
projects for 2015-2016, in order to
reach the $2 billion second-phase
target by year-end 2016. The
mission was successful for both
sides and in excess of $1 billion
of projects have been identified.
Friday’s technical meeting included
AfDB Private Sector Department
Director Kodeidja Diallo, Energy,
Environment and Climate Change
Director Alex Rugamba and OIVP
Adviser Alassane Ba, and their
respective teams.
AfDB
services to the tea sub sector in
the country. According to GFL,
the institution is unique in that it
offers its loan recipients the option
to apply for and repay their loans
using green leaf as collateral, with
specific formulas in place to work
out the interest and repayment
rate. The manual system it had in
place, prior to the installation of
the new system, was cumbersome
to log loans, work out interest
rates, manage inventory and run
the business effectively. This
made it challenging to compete
with commercial banks and other
microfinance lenders.
Most notably, GFL was able to
build a mobile payment solution
with the help of the latest system.
“This has changed the way we
operate because we are now
able to get money to farmers
regardless of whether they have a
bank account or how remote their
farms are – by simply paying the
money directly into their mobile
phones. It’s also now possible
for our customers to access the
system on the go and work out
their qualifying loan amount and
repayment installment,” explains
Waiharo. The mobile solution
has been such a success that GFL
has developed a separate mobile
sales unit. Kunle Awosika, Country
Manager, Microsoft Kenya says,
“A recent study from the Boston
Consulting Group states that SMEs
that embrace technology can
increase revenues 15 percentage
points faster and create jobs almost
twice as fast. SMEs like GFL are
contributing to a growing economy
across the world and especially an
economy like Kenya, where their
contribution adds about 40% to
the GDP”.
According to Waiharo, “Thanks
to GFL’s implementation of the
latest system, the MFI sales volume
has increased and its business
processes have become more
streamlined, flexible and efficient.
The software’s scalability also
means that GFL can progress with
its future plans to build its versatile
mobile banking platform that is
can expand beyond the tea sector.
ITNews Africa
mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

6. FRANKLY SPEAKING06
By kirit sobti,
editor, iat
editor@indoafricatimes.com
“With oil as a shot in the arm, we’re going to fly.”
These stimulating lines were said by John
Kufuor, former President of Ghana. This
statement was made with an anticipation
to develop the then almost non-existent
oil and gas sector of Ghana. The country
has since made huge strides in the
sector.
Ghana is among the first countries
to gain freedom in Africa. A moderately
stable political system and economy
is what makes Ghana a striking
destination for economic activities. Oil
was found in commercial quantities in
Ghana in the year 2007 and Oil production
was officially launched in 2010. The area where
the oil production started was named as “Jubilee
Field”. The country has since discovered other major
commercial oil developing sites as well.
The oil and gas sector has added enormously to
the economic well-being of Ghana. By the end of 2013
almost 110,000 barrels per day were produced in the
Jubilee Oil Field in Ghana. The expansion of Ghana’s oil
section has created a number of job opportunities thus
helping the Ghanaian population. The evolving of the
oil industry in Ghana has had an optimistic impression
on the economy.
The Italian group Eni, Vitol and Ghana National
Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) have recently signed
with the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Mr.
John Dramani Mahama, and the Minister of Petroleum,
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the agreement to
continue with the OCTP integrated oil & gas project in
Ghana.
The OCTP licence encompasses five fields:
Sankofa Main, Sankofa East, Gye Nyame,
Sankofa East Cenomanian, and Sankofa
East Campanian. The development is
located in the Offshore Cape Three
Points, (OCTP) licence covers around
60 km offshore of the Ghanaian coast.
Vitol, one of the world’s leading
commodities traders, is to ripen a $7bn
offshore oil and gas project in Ghana
with ENI, the Italian energy group.
The development, called Offshore Cap
Three Point, will produce 15 years’
worth of gas for Ghana’s
domestic power
stations
as well
as crude
oil for sale
on international
markets. It is the
largest project backed by foreign
investment in Ghana since the country gained
independence in the 1950s.
“Last year it was anticipated that foreign direct
investments into Africa amounted to some $53.3
billion. This current agreement that has been signed
for the investment in offshore Cape Three Points is to
the tune of $7 billion, “President John Mahama said.
“That’s about 12 percent of the total $53.3 billion.”
General Electric (GE) Ghana has also dedicated
$3.5m for capacity-building in the oil and gas industry
in Ghana. GE is anticipated to work in partnership
with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
(GNPC) and Ashesi University to build capacity for the
country’s nascent oil and gas sector.
Worth to mention, Yinson Holdings Bhd, Malaysia's
oil and gas services firm has secured a $2.54 billion
floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO)
vessel charter contract for oil and gas support
operations in Ghana. Yinson said it won the contract,
I am delighted that
Ghana’s next big oil project
is on track to achieve its
mid-2016 target for First Oil.
I commend Tullow and its
partners on progress to date
and implore them to maintain
this momentum for the second
half of the project.
Claudio Descalzi
CEO, Eni
Emmanuel
Armah-Kofi Buah
Minister of Energy and Petroleum,
Ghana
Climbing another step in the ladder,
the government of Ghana, ENI and Vitol
entered into a profitable partnership
endeavoring to initiate work on the
Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP),
oil and gas project offshore of Ghana.
Located at approximately 60 km (37
miles) from the Ghanaian Western
Region’s coast, the new project is
composed of oil and non-associated gas
fields, and will access nearly 1.45 Tcf of
gas and 5 MM barrels of oil in place.
Communicating their considerations
on the partnership, the government
of Ghana expressed that the project
would cost around $7 billion and
award an additional 1,100 megawatts
to the prevailing power infrastructure,
which has fought to meet the country’s
mounting demand. H.E. John Dramani
Mahama, President of Ghana conveyed
that the investment for the OCTP project
denoted 12% of the total Foreign Direct
Investment for Africa in 2015.
Worth mentioning, the five
unassociated gas fields connected to
the OCTP project contain sufficient
gas to continuously supply Ghana’s
thermal power sector until 2036. Vitol
articulated, the gas will supply both new
and current power plants, replacing
crude oil and fuel oil thereby providing
an environmentally cleaner and more
proficient fuel source for the country.
Initially, oil and gas production will
be phased through 2017 and beginning
of 2018, with oil production anticipated
to touch around 80 MBOEPD in 2019.
Bearing an endeavor to maximize the
effects of the project, Ghana’s Ministry of
Energy has committed to grow the gas
transmission system in the country with
compression stations and connections to
industrial users.
OCTP operates at a depth of 600-
1,000 meters (2,000-3,200 feet). The
fields will be shaped by way of sub-sea
production systems positioned on the
sea bed and the oil and gas are fetched
to the surface by flowlines and risers
connected to a floating production,
storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
Another Block added
to build Ghana’s Oil &
Gas sector
The OCTP development
is a robust integrated oil and
gas project that will provide the
reliable energy source needed
to accelerate the economic
growth of Ghana by delivering
a domestic solution to feed the
power sector. The sanction of
this significant project comes
after less than two years from
the completion of a successful
exploration campaign.
The oil and gas
sector has added
enormously to the
economic
well-being of
Ghana. The
expansion of
Ghana’s oil section
has created a
number of job
opportunities
thus helping
the Ghanaian
population.
for a firm charter period of 15 years with 5-yearly
extension options exercisable by the clients, from
ENI SpA's unit in Ghana, according to a local stock
exchange filing.
The contract would contribute to its revenue and
earnings beginning financial year ending Jan. 31, 2018,
it added.
Ghana’s second major oil development, the Tullow
Oil-led TEN Project has fruitfully passed the 50%
overall completion stage recently. The project, which
is developing the Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme
(TEN) oil fields off the coast of Ghana’s Western
Region, is on track for First Oil in mid-2016.
The floating production, storage and offloading
(FPSO) vessel, which will receive and store the oil,
is under construction in Singapore and remains on
schedule to arrive in Ghanaian waters in February
2016. Key parts of the FPSO were fabricated by various
Ghanaian companies and have been installed on the
FPSO. The TEN fields are expected to produce oil for
around 20 years.
Ghana produces oil of the highest quality. The
crude oil produced in Ghana has an API Gravity of
37.6 degrees and a sulphur content of 0.25% (weight).
Crude oils of this quality are attractive for world
market and can compete with the international price
reference oils.
Ghana’s oil and gas sector is steadily on the rise,
with it producing 115,000-200,000 barrels of crude
oil per day and 140 million-200 million cubic feet of
natural gas per day in the first and second quarters of
2013.
Jubilee fields is the largest oil field in Ghana.
Tullow, a UK based company
holds 36.05%
stake in
Jubilee, while
Ghana
National
Petroleum
Corporation
(GNPC)
holds
13.75%
stakes in
the oil field.
Tullow is
investing in a
number of other oil
development projects in
Ghana. By far, most of the oil
production in Ghana is done offshore.
GNPC expects oil production from the oil
fields that have already reached exploratory
and appraisal phase, to reach 600,000 bpd by
2018.
Legislation of Ghana’s oil and gas industry is
administered by the Petroleum, Exploration and
Production Law of 1984 (PNDCL 84) which authorizes
GNPC to operate in all open acreage of the country
on its own or in association with foreign partners.
GNPC is responsible for exploration and development
of the hydrocarbon resources of the nation and
also procurement, storage and bulk distribution of
petroleum products.
Ghana is also among the four West African
countries housing an oil refinery. The Tema Oil
Refinery has a capacity of 45,000 barrels per day.
Around 70% of commercial energy needs are met
by the oil-derived products, current consumption
being somewhere around 950,000 tons per annum.
Increasing power demand and domestic consumption
creates a need to produce more and more energy
which has led to the government setting up more
projects.
MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

7. TRAVEL&tourism 07
M
adagascar, also known as the Malagasy Republic, is positioned
in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa. Being one
of the last countries to be inhabited by humans, Madagascar is
recognized for its ecological exquisiteness and diversity. It is home to
thousands of exotic plants and animal species, which cannot be found
anywhere in the world. Its spectacular natural diversity has earned it
the label of the ‘eighth continent’.
It is true, Madagascar’s ecological diversity is what makes it diverse
from the rest of the world, 5% of plants and animals known can be
found in Madagascar and in Madagascar alone. The topography is also
praiseworthy, one can go from rainforest to desert in just 300 km. The
country is truly a natural phantasmagoria. Madagascar is a bliss for
nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.
The Enthralling Climatic Scenario
Madagascar experiences a hot rainy season (November to April) and
a cooler dry season (May-October). This is due to the combination of
southeastern trade winds and northwestern monsoons. Heavy rainfall
is responsible for the country’s survival and existence of country’s
rainforests.
Madagascar is particularly blessed with a wide diversity of flora and
fauna. Almost 90% of wildlife found in Madagascar is endemic, including
the lemurs. The island is also a biodiversity hotspot, thus making it all
the more importance in reference to the climatic scenario of the world.
In Madagascar…
Madagascar is a dreamland for tourists who love to spend their
vacations in the lap of nature. From national parks to beaches to
historical villages, Madagascar has it all.
1. Ranomafana National Park: It is the most popular national park in
Madagascar, located in the southeastern region of Madagascar, near
the village of Ranomafana. The eastern part of the park is spectacular
with many streams splashing through the park. The park is also
home to many endangered species, including the golden bamboo
lemur.
2. Masoala National Park: Spread over an area of 250 miles of
rainforests and consisting of three marine parks as well, Masoala
National Park is situated in northeastern Madagascar. The park
houses a large species of flora and fauna. Aye-aye, the world’s
largest nocturnal primate is also found in Masoala. The tomato frog,
distinctly known for its red color is also found in this park. The three
marine parks are an ideal place for snorkeling and kayaking.
3. Royal Hill of Ambohimanga: An historical village that is considered
very sacred by the people of Madagascar, Ambohimanga was once
home to the royal; family of Madagascar. The
village is surrounded by a wall made of
mortar, which was made of lime and egg
shells. The home of former king
Andrianampoinimerina
is made of solid
rosewood and
the compound
also houses
artifacts like drums,
weapons and talismans.
4. Avenue of the Baobabs: One of the most
visited tourist destinations in Madagascar, the avenue
of Baobabs is situated along a dirt road between Morondava
and Belon’i Tsiribihina in western Madagascar. It is a group of
trees, which have a strange shape. The Baobab trees originated some
800 years ago and were earlier found in dense forests, the clearing of
forests for agriculture has left only the Baobabs.
5. Nosy Be: If you are looking to spend some time in peace and tranquility
then Nosy Be is the place for you. The beaches of Nosy Be may not be
picture perfect but are still a favourite tourist spot known for their quite
environment, clear turquoise water and excellent seafood restaurants.
6. Tsingy de Bemaraha: Madagascar’s largest natural reserve, Tsingy de
Bemaraha is situated in the southern part of Madagascar. The park features
a broad range of mangrove forests. The word ‘tsingy’ means pinnacles in
reference to the peaks of the limestone plateau.
7. Ile Sainte Marie: The Island is one of the celebrated tourist attractions of
Madagascar. The island enticed pirates in the 17th and 18th century and the
wrecks of ships can still be seen in the waters of the Baie des Forbans. This
is an ideal spot for snorkeling and spotting migrating humpback whales
which visit the island during summers.
The Malagasy Food
Malagasy cuisine is inclined by Southeast Asian, Chinese, India, African
and European cuisines. Rice is the staple food all over Madagascar. Zebu or
beef steaks are famous in Madagascar and are usually served with a creamy
green peppercorn sauce. Seafood also dominates the cuisine of the region,
with lobster and shellfish being the most famous one. Pizza is a famous all
over the island country.
Street snacks include slices of coconut and peanuts in a sweet coconut or
toffee coating, koba (banana, peanuts and rice, ground to a paste, wrapped
in a banana leaf and served in slices), sambos (samosas) or nems (spring
rolls) are famous street snacks in Madagascar.
Romazava (a type of beef stew), Ravitoto (pork served with shredded
cassava leaves), Varanga (fried slivers of beef), Sesika (a sort of poultry
blood sausage), Vorivorin-kena (beef tripe), Smalona (stuffed eels), Lasary
(a colourful chutney usually made from lemon, mango or papaya - or
sometimes tomato, peanuts or vegetables), Khimo (curried ground beef
popular in Majunga), Kabaro (lima beans with curry or coconut, a speciality
in Morondava) are the special delicacies of the region.
Malagasy cuisine is not generally hot and spicy, but a local relish
known as sakay is always available to spice up the dish. Sakay ranges from
mildly hot to cataclysmically spicy, thus it is advised to be cautious before
testing it.
MadagascarThe Eighth Continent
mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

8. TALKINGTECHNOLOGY08
THE FOREMOST MEETING OF
AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADERS
The chief executives of Africa’s
largest companies have pledged
to meet again at the third AFRICA
CEO FORUM, to be held in Geneva,
Switzerland, on 16 and 17 March
2015. Since its creation in 2012,
the AFRICA CEO FORUM has
established itself as the foremost
international event devoted to
the African private sector and its
corporate growth strategies. 800
people, including over 500 CEOs
from all over Africa, 100 bankers
and financiers and 200 prominent
African and international figures
are expected to attend the
AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015, hosted
by Groupe Jeune Afrique, the
African Development Bank and
Rainbow Unlimited. The AFRICA
CEO FORUM 2015 is an excellent
opportunity for you to shape
your strategy in line with Africa’s
growth dynamic, to enhance
your company’s competitiveness
and to develop your business
in an unparalleled African and
international context.
THE ULTIMATE NETWORKING
SPACE FOR INVESTORS AND
CEOs
Specialists in banking, private
equity and financial markets,
as well as representatives of
the world’s leading financial
institutions, will gather at the
AFRICACEOFORUM,cementingits
reputation as a must-attend event
for top African business leaders
and the most influential players
in African and international
finance. What financing strategy
should you opt for? What can you
do to gain access to innovative
financing solutions? How can
you win the trust of international
investors? For the CEOs attending,
the AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015 is
an ideal opportunity to tackle
strategic issues and to network
with the most active banks and
investors in Africa.
GAIN STRATEGIC INSIGHTS AND
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES
The AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015
offers a unique programme of
plenary and knowledge sessions.
Developed in partnership with
business leaders and renowned
African and international experts,
it gives you the tools and the
means to keep abreast the latest
trends in your sector, sharpen
your company’s competitive
edge and facilitate its expansion
into new markets in Africa
and across the world. Whether
through debates, knowledge
sessions, BtoB meetings or
networking sessions, the AFRICA
CEO FORUM 2015 provides an
excellent opportunity to share
your experiences, build effective
business relationships and engage
with world-class experts on the
strategies and practices needed
to develop modern businesses.
The AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015
is committed to promoting the
African private sector, and as
such provides an unparalleled
opportunity to network with
public decision makers and to
voice your
opinions on
the economic
a n d
i n d u s t r i a l
p o l i c i e s
b e i n g
developed in your country, your
region or in Africa more generally.
THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM
FOR AFRICAN BUSINESS
LEADERS
The AFRICA CEO FORUM is
now the foremost international
meeting of top African business
leaders. It is a must-attend event
for anyone interested in the
strategic priorities of Africa’s
private sector. As such, it attracts
almost 800 participants every
year, including high-ranking
business people from Africa and
all over the world.
The 2015 AFRICA CEO FORUM
will take place on 16 and 17 March
at the state-of the-art facilities
of the InterContinental Hotel
in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva
enjoys an exceptional location
right in the heart of Europe and
is home to the headquarters of
many international organisations,
including the United Nations
Organisation, the World Trade
Organisation, the International
Organisation of Employers
and the International Labour
Organisation.
The 2015 AFRICA CEO FORUM
will provide an ideal arena for
discussion. It is designed to
facilitate networking and to
encourage participants to share
their experience, know-how and
best practices. Take part in the
2015 AFRICA CEO FORUM and
enjoy:
• outstanding networking
opportunities;
• an innovative and practical
conference programme which
addresses the issues that you
care about most;
• unprecedented visibility in
the African and international
media.
5 REASONS TO TAKE PART!!
• Expand your network of top-
level business contacts
• Find new financial partners
• Be a driving force in the
development of Africa’s
private sector
• Discover and share the best
practices of fast-growing
companies
• Promote your company in
Africa and abroad
INFORMATION
For any enquiries regarding
registration, please contact us at:
register@theafricaceoforum.com
For any enquiries regarding
sponsorship, please contact us
at: sponsors@theafricaceoforum.
com
AFRICA CEO FORUM
The Foremost Meeting for African CEO's, Bankers and Investors
MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

9. TRYSOMETHINGNEW 09
Ingredients
 5-6 small Fresh line sweet potatoes, washed
and cut into wedges
• 45ml (3 tbsp.) SPAR South African Olive Oil
+ extra, to serve. 45ml (3 tbsp.) SPAR butter
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 200g Fresh line baby salad leaves
• 2 rounds SPAR feta cheese
• 100g SPAR pistachio nuts, shelled
• SPAR balsamic glaze, to serve
upcoming
Problems are not stop signs, they
are guidelines….!!!
THOUGHT OF
THE WEEK
Assessor Training for
Business Excellence –
Mysore
This event is organized by
CII. This workshop will be very
useful for organizations, as
also for individual business
managers leading the change
process in their Organizations
to become globally competitive
and progress towards achieving
Business Excellence and for
those, who wish to contribute to
the Award Assessment Process
as Assessors, both within and
outside the organization.
Date: 18-21 February, 2015
Venue: Mysore, India
National Conference on
Road Construction in India
This event is organizing by PHD
Chamber. The main objective of
the conference is to discuss and
deliberate and offer solutions
to regulatory, financial and
technological issues concerning
road construction in India.
Date: 12 February, 2015
Venue: PHD House, New Delhi
India IT Show 2015
INDIASOFT would sharply focus
on major industry segments that
require software and services
such as Business Services,
Communications, Entertainment
IT, Finance, Banking
Insurance, Government
Public Services, Logistics
Distribution, Manufacturing, Oil,
Gas Mining, Retail Businesses,
Educational Scientific
Institutions, Travel Transport,
IT Training etc. Therefore, the
horizon of doing business at
INDIASOFT is fairly well-spread
and wide.
Date: 12-13 Feb, 2015
Venue: Hotel Kempinski Ambience,
New Delhi, India
World Petro Coal Congress
2015
World Petro Coal Congress
2015 is an international
exhibition. It will be a unique
platform where business
leaders, investors, technology
innovators, federal, state, and
local government officials and
university educators from across
the world to address today’s
most pressing issues and
opportunities facing Petroleum,
Coal, Gas and Unconventional
hydrocarbons like Shale Gas,
CBM and Gas hydrates sectors
of Energy Industry.
Date: 15-17 February, 2015
Venue: Convention Centre- NDCC,
Parliament Street, New Delhi, India
National Arogya 2015
Jaipur is being organized
with the objective to promote,
propagate and showcases
strengths and potential of
Indian Systems of Medicines
the research and development
efforts in this sector and create
awareness about remedies
available in AYUSH to the
general health problems and
integrate the India medicinal
systems with mainstream
healthcare delivery structure.
Date: 13– 16 February, 2015
Venue: SMS Investment Ground,
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Prepration Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Place the sweet potatoes in an oven tray.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and butter, and season.
4. Roast until caramelized and soft, 20 – 25
minutes.
5. Set aside to cool slightly.
6. Toss the salad leaves, feta, pistachios and
sweet potatoes together
7. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze.
Handy FrenchBrain Teasers
1. Is it nearby?
C’est près d’ici?
2. Take me to this address,
please.
Emmenez-moi à cette adresse,
s’il vous plaît.
3. On the menu.
À la carte.
4. In style/ trendy.
À la mode
5. I’m looking for an ATM / cash
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Tips to get rid of
Dark Circles
Victoria Falls is the
largest waterfall in
Africa; it is 355 feet
high and one mile
wide.
Mr Jayant SInha, Hon'ble Minister of State for Finance, GoI, releases the TERI-BCSD-Yes Bank report, Ganga:
An Inclusive Multi-Stakeholder Approach during High Level Corporate Dialogue, DSDS 2015

picture of the week
Almond Oil
Almond oil is a great natural ingredient
that is very beneficial for the delicate
skin around your eyes. Regular usage
of almond oil will help fade your under
eye circles.
1. Before going to bed, apply a little
almond oil over the dark circles
and gently massage it into the skin.
2. Leave it on overnight.
3. The next morning, wash it off with
cold water.
4. Follow this remedy daily until the
dark circles disappear.
Cucumber
Cucumbers have skin-lightening and
mild astringent properties that help
fix those raccoon eyes naturally. Plus,
they have a soothing and refreshing
effect.
• Cut a fresh cucumber into thick
slices and chill them in the
refrigerator for 30 minutes. Put the
slices onto the affected skin area
for about 10 minutes. Wash the
area with water.
• Another option is to mix cucumber
juice with lemon juice in equal
amounts. Use a cotton ball to
apply the mixture on the affected
skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes
and then wash it off with water.
Raw Potato
There are natural bleaching agents
present in potato that can help lighten
dark circles and get rid of puffiness
around the eyes.
• Grate one or two chilled potatoes
to extract the juice. Soak a cotton
ball in the juice and place it over
your closed eyes. Make sure the
juice covers the dark circles under
your eyes as well as the eyelids.
Allow the juice to sit for 10 to 15
minutes. Rinse your eyelids well
with cool water. Repeat once or
twice daily for a few weeks.
• Instead of potato juice, you can
also use thick potato slices to
remove dark circles.
Rose Water
Rose water has incredible ingredient
for skin care. It rejuvenates the skin
and has a soothing effect on tired eyes.
Due to its mild astringent properties, it
also works as a good skin toner.
• Soak cotton eye pads in pure rose
water for a few minutes.
• Put the soaked pads on your
closed eyelids.
• Leave them on for about 15
minutes.
• Follow this remedy twice daily for a
few weeks.
 When is 99 more than 100?
 What two things can you never eat
for breakfast?
 What tastes better than it smells?
 What asks but never answers?
 What is brown and sticky?
 What goes in the water black and
comes out red?
 During what month do people sleep
the least?
 What can you catch but not throw?
 What's orange and sounds like a
parrot?
 What is the center of gravity?
Answers: A microwave, Lunch and dinner, a tongue, an owl, a stick, a lobster,
February, cold, a carrot, “V”.
dispenser.
Je cherche un distributeur de
billets.
6. Would you take our/ my
picture, please?
Est-ce que vous prendriez
notre/ma photo, s'il vous
plaît?
7. The greatest thoughts come
from the heart.
Les grandes pensées viennent
du coeur.
mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

10. THEFASHIONISTAS10
From the inception of
contemporary music forms
influenced by hip culture, it is
rare to see artistes of African
origin make an impact and
receive the needed attention
from within the Scandinavian
region. If for anything at all, they
are only seen at little gigs within
the sparsely populated African
communities.
This is the jinx music group
of Ghanaian descent, Tripple 2,
vowed to break when the Afro
Hip Hop group was formed as
a professional music recording
group five years ago in the
Finnish capital of Vantaa.
Tripple 2 comprises of
Ghanaian twin brothers, Atsu
Akrong, with the stage name
Akrong and Etse Akrong, whose
stage name is CJ. The group has
the talented Veikko Kerman as
its official DJ. The group which
started with gospel music derived
its name from the Christian
principle of the Trinity – God the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Without a doubt, Tripple
2 is emerging as Europe’s
biggest music group of African
descent having toured with
internationally acclaimed music
superstars including Mario, Flo
Rida and Lil John across the
Scandinavian region, performing
Really, all eyes are on the West Africa
Fashion awards to be hosted in Lagos
at the Oriental Hotel on the 29th of
March, 2015. The West Africa Fashion
award is a ceremony to be held
annually in the West Africa to showcase
West African designers and present
awards to those who have made the
most outstanding contributions to the
fashion industry during the year. The
main awards include that of Menswear
Designer, womenswear Designer,
Fashion Event of the year, Style award
and Outstanding Contribution as well
as awards to the 'most-fashionable'
celebrities in various fields. The
ceremony is organized by the Fashion
Instinct and runs as part of West Africa
Style Week each March. The event
produced by Fame Mansions will see
18 categories awarded.
Modern Ghana
Participating in Vodafone Icons’ Divas Edition
with the 3-member group, Breeze, Asantewaa
believes a good album should have a touch of
most genres.
According to her, “the kind of music people
listen depends on their mood and basically,
that is I have always seeked to satisfy their
soul with my music.”
Although she is more of the Soul music
genre; Asantewaa does not sideline other
music genres, but rather displays her
versatility especially on Afro-pop/Dancehall
rhythms.
With the strong passion for music, she
released 2-singles titled ‘Konko’ and ‘Chinin
Chiga’ produced by Sammie Blacc and J-Bux
respectively last year.
Prodigy who has been a strong
force in the Nigerian music industry
having been affiliated with a
number of prominent entertainment
celebrities, Musicians and fellow
Music video director such as Paul
Gambit, he was undoubtedly the
brains behind MattMax and has also
worked with A list artists such as
D'banj, K'switch, Olamide, Danny
Yound, Weird Mc, J'Martins and a
host of others. The launch of Horizon
Point Entertainment comes as no
Ghanaian Music Duo, Tripple 2
Makes the Headlines in Europe
Meet Asantewaa of the Breeze group on Vodafone
Icons’ Divas Edition
back to back their hit tracks -
Shawty Gotta Move It, Funky
Flame and Alright.
Tripple 2 is currently
enjoying heavy rotation on radio
and television in Finland, Holland
and Estonia and was recently
featured in the prestigious and
highly respected African music
blog- www.africanhiphop.com as
the first group from Scandinavia
to be featured by the website.
About their motivation,
Akrong indicated that “we have
been inspired to become the
first African group from Finland
to be successful and break into
mainstream music on the global
platform to put ourselves and
country on the global map so far
as music is concerned”
On his part, CJ attributed
their motivation to the great
team they are working with. “we
cannot afford to disappoint our
team especially, Aleksi Nurmi,
who works the magic behind the
sounds and production and our
manager Richmond Ghansah”, he
added.
In the next five years, Tripple
2 is aspiring to be performing
at the biggest platforms
internationally and also be
recognized by winning top notch
awards schemes across the world.
Modern Ghana
surprise as it has been expected
and long overdue. Horizon Point
Entertainment is expected to be a
major music power house as Prodigy
has always been a multi-talented
individual with his music writing
skill, music video production as well
as talent management. Horizon Point
Entertainment is home to Musical
Diva Lamili on a management deal,
as well as talented music Producer
KillerTunes.
Modern Ghana
Prodigy Launches Horizon Point Entertainment
West African
Fashion Award 2015
W
ith only 13 minutes in-between a football game, Katy Perry's Super Bowl Halftime Show
blew a lot of people away and the internet has been buzzing since last night.
From her outfits to her guest performances – Missy Elliot Lenny Kravitz – to her
stage props and more, Katy Perry brought the house down.
Between the tiger, the flying star, the chess boards and Missy Elliot being on stage, Katy Perry's
performance was grander in scope than anything seen in recent Super Bowl halftime memory.
Live music is hard, especially when you're dealing with something of the magnitude of a Super
Bowl but Katy Perry stuck to her guns and gave a noteworthy performance.
Take a look at all the stage theatrics – bear in mind her performance was for 13 minutes in
from of about 113 million fans.
Katy Perry put on a colorful show, performing such hits as “California Girls” and “Teenage
Dreams” (with dancing sharks and beach balls) and closing the performance with “Firework,”
floating through the stadium.
Modern Ghana
All the scoop about
Katy Perry's 13-minute
Super Bowl Halftime
performance
The song ‘Konko’ focuses on a heart break
experience and has being on the digital radio stations
since its release. As at January 3, 2015, ‘Konko’ was
number 8 on the Top 50 RB Digital Radio Tracker
Chart and number 15 on Independent Chart.
‘Chinin Chiga’ video has also earned massive air
play on TV stations like 4Syte, UTV, GHOne, Adom TV
and Cine Afrik.
She has performed on couple of shows in Ghana
and beyond including the Urban 233 Tour; Glitz
Africa Fashion Week (August 2012), Miss Earth
(2012) and several others.
Born Anita Siaw Bamfo, she won the hearts of the
judges during the Divas Edition of Vodafone Icons,
and was called out of her group which was evicted to
perform with Stephanie Benson at the Finals.
Modern Ghana
MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

11. SPORTS2WATCH 11
Christian Atsu's match-winning
performance for Ghana over
Guinea in their African Nations
Cup quarter-final on Sunday will
likely only add fuel to the fire for
his detractors.
The speedy winger was
superb as he bagged a brace,
including a contender for goal of
the tournament, to show just how
devastating a player he can be.
But it has also left
commentators wondering why
he is only producing this type
of performance now after a
lacklustre last 12 months for club
and country.
Like the Black Stars, the
diminutive forward has got better
as the Nations Cup rolls on, but
must now keep performing at
this high level or face the same
Ghana and Everton dribbling
wizard Christian Atsu silences
his critics with excellent showing
Three Ghanaian Coaches seek
for honors in Sudan Football
accusations again that he can only
turn it on in patches and for the
rest provides mediocrity.
It is what separates the good
players from the greats, the ability
to perform at your best every
week. Atsu is on loan at English
Premiership Everton from table-
topping Chelsea this season, but
has made just four appearances for
the Merseyside club.
He did have an injury that
stunted his progress, but has
also sat out games after failing to
impress.
Everton coach Roberto
Martinez has been watching him
closely at the Nations Cup finals
though and is starting to see the
player he knows Atsu can be,
suggesting that when he returns
from Equatorial Guinea he will
have a much bigger role to play for
the club in the second half of the
season.
“It has always been the plan
that Christian Atsu will be an
important player for us in the
second-half of the season and so it
was great to see him doing so well,”
Martinez told reporters.
“He is a player who will come
back strong and ready to have a big
role.”
Atsu was named man of the
match in the 2-1 win over South
Africa in Ghana's final Group C
game, but failed to pick up the
award in the semifinals.
He has emerged as a key
weapon in the armoury of Coach
Avram Grant as the Black Stars
seek a first continental title since
1982. The 23-year-old Atuso was
born in the Ghanaian coastal town
of Ada Foah and was signed to the
Feyenoord youth academy just
outside Accra.
He moved to FC Porto in 2009,
before making his senior debut in
2011.
After two years in Portugal,
which included a loan spell with
Rio Ave, Atsu enormous promise
was spotted by Chelsea and he
arrived in 2013, spending the
next season on loan at Vitesse
in Holland, before being sent to
Everton in the 2014/15 campaign
to further his football education.
Modern Ghana
Three top Ghanaian coaches have
joined the exodus band wagon and
landed in Sudan where they say the
game is moving on very well.
Coaches Moses Cofie of Oly,
Hearts and Liberty fame, Abdul
Razak the Golden Boy of Asante
Koko fame and former Black Stars
handler Kwesi Appiah have all
been contracted by Sudanese sides
and they claim the atmosphere
and football temperature there is
good as players are willing to learn
and show a lot of respect to their
officials. Moses Cofie who coaches
El Nisoor said the players in Sudan
are much disciplined and tactically
good, so if they are taught some
skill and technics as well build on
their stamina and concentration,
they could be world beaters in the
near future. He expressed that the
AFCON 2015 has proved that there
are no longer small nations when
it comes to football, because it is
eleven versus eleven on the field,
and now many small nations have
their players plying their
trade of professional
football in Europe
with small and
big clubs,
in Cyprus,
A r m e n i a ,
Luxemburg,
S p a i n ,
P o r t u g a l ,
Greece, Italy,
Germany and
other places.
He named
the Gabonese
star Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang at Dortmund,
Congolese in France and the
Equatorial Guineans in Spain and
Portugal.
“African Football is developing
and we must accept that everybody
can play football. Some are born
with it, other learn and become
better” he said.
According to Moses Cofie
African Football would be better
if coaches move about from one
country to the other sharing ideas
and planning on how to make the
African game better. He called
on the Confederation of African
Football (CAF) to involve old stars
who are now administrators or
coaches in their programmes,
because they know the game and
knows how it must be done.
Kwesi Appiah is manager of
Sudanese club SC Khartoum. He
has sealed a two-year deal with
the military-owned team andwill
be assisted by former Medeama SC
coach and old buddy, Prince Owusu.
The 54-year-old Ghanaian
will be leading the
Sudanese side in the
Confederation Cup
next year after
placing fourth
in the domestic
top-flight this
year. Golden
Boy Abdul
Razak coaches
M e r r i e k h
Kasala and is also
looking forward for
a good season.
Modern Ghana
mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

12. With changing climate and effects
on the ecosystem, Sustainable
Development has become the need of
the hour. How far has Africa come in
achieving it and what all still need to
be done in this context?
Climate is indeed changing. Weather
patterns have become unpredictable
and farmers’ cropping seasons too.
Ecosystems are affected such as rivers
drying up and lakes as well with Lake
Chad as a frightening example, having
shrunk over ten times its original size.
Africa has established some
programmes targeting sustainable
development and with the aim of
poverty alleviation. Such programmes
include: Transboundary Water
Management under the implementation
of the Sharm El-Sheikh Commitment
on Water and Sanitation to accelerate
the achievements of the Millennium
Development Goals(MDGs) in line
with the African Water Vision 2025;
the Great Green Wall for the Sahara
and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) to
improve sustainable livelihood of the
rural populace, the Programme for
Infrastructural Development in Africa
(PIDA) to improve development of our
renewable energy and the Common
African Position on Climate Change
that is facilitating Africa to speak with
one voice in the global Climate Change
negotiations leading to the new Climate
Change Agreement to be adopted in
Paris in December this year.
Most African countries are majorly
agrarian economies. How would you
describe the agricultural scenario
in Africa? What areas need to be
focused upon and how is AU helping
to facilitate agriculture growth in
African nations?
Not only are African economies
predominantly agrarian but our
societies are too. Agriculture stands
out as the sector that occupies most
of Africa’s labour force. Agriculture
continues to contribute significantly, not
only to employment and food security
but also to the GDP of most African
countries. For a long time though,
agriculture has not been accorded
the attention it deserves but with the
adoption of the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme
(CAADP), AU Member States are
increasingly devoting more resources to
agricultural development and so are our
partners.
Food security is a major concern
in all parts of the world. What are
the major challenges Africa faces in
dealing with the dilemma that is Food
Security?
The fast growing world population
and the ever increasing and intensifying
impacts of climate change and climate
variability and the rapid urbanization
continue to exacerbate the state of
food security across the globe. Africa
considers these mega trends as
opportunities given the potential
that Africa has to feed itself and feed
the world and the increasing interest
the world is devoting to Africa as the
next frontier of the world’s prosperity.
It must be pointed out though that
despite the recent good performance
in agricultural production in Africa, the
Continent still faces hunger, including
food insecurity and undernourishment,
due to several factors linked to low
productivity, markets, access to food
and income among others. Numerous
programs across various sectors have
been implemented as part of national
investment plans – especially post the
2008 world food price crisis – but are
not efficient due to being uncoordinated,
lacking institutional coordination and
having weak monitoring and evaluation
systems.
2014 was announced as the Year of
Agriculture and Food Security. What
are the important accomplishments
that can be attributed to this?
The 2014 AU Year of Agriculture and
Food Security was aimed at drawing
lessons from the 10 years of the
implementation of the Comprehensive
Africa Agriculture Development
Programme (CAADP) and renewing
our collective resolve to sustain the
momentum towards realizing a food and
nutrition secure and poverty free Africa.
The Malabo Declaration on
Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth
and Transformation for shared
prosperity and improved livelihoods,
is a product of the 2014 AU Year of
Agriculture and Food Security. It was a
culmination of broad-based stakeholder
consultations in line with the principle
of people centeredness in generating
African defined solutions.
And, in respect of Africa Agenda
2063, The Africa We Want, the 2014 AU
Year of Agriculture enabed us to move
ahead of the rest of the sectors most
of which are just beginning to define
their implementation plan for the first
decade of Africa Agenda 2063. The
Malabo Declaration’s Implementation
Strategy and Roadmap does just that
for the attainment of the goal of ending
hunger by 2025. We are ready for
implementation phase.
What will be the agenda of the next
African Union Summit due in a few
weeks?
The theme of the last AU Summit
held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January
2015 is: “ Women’s Empowerment and
Development towards Africa’s Agenda
2063”.
There is immense need of
investments in agriculture sector in
Africa. What strategies and policies
have been devised to bring in more
investments in agriculture sector in
Africa?
Our Head of State and Government
recommitted in Malabo Summit in
2014 to allocate at least ten per cent
(10%) of their annual public budget
into agriculture as per the CAADP
principle adopted in Maputo 2003
Summit. The Public investment must be
an instrument to boost private sector
investment in an inclusive manner
(small holders, women and youth…)
in agriculture knowing that private
sector will allow greater agriculture
transformation in Africa.
One major issue that is ruling the minds of the Head of States, Minsters and Government officials of the African countries is rural
development and growth. Agriculture, being the backbone for most of the countries, the significant sector largely contributes
to the economic development of the continent. H.E. Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and
Agriculture, African Union Commission, Ethiopia in an insightful interview with Indo Africa Times brought into limelight the several
endeavors made to facilitate agricultural growth and projects undertaken contributing to the same.
Weather patterns have become unpredictable
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
H.E. Mrs. Tumusiime
Rhode Peace
Commissioner for Rural
Economy and Agriculture,
African Union Commission,
Ethiopia

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015