THE Takoradi International Company (TICo) has awarded a scholarship package of US$ 20,000 to 100 brilliant needy students.
The scheme, which is the seventh under its Kramer Scholarship Awards, is for 2008-2009 and forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
The students were selected from the company’s operational communities in the Shama-Aboadze-Abuesi area of the Shama District.
The beneficiaries are pursuing programmes in first and second cycle schools as well as in tertiary institutions in the country.
Last year, the company spent about US$7,500 on 68 pupils and students from the area.
The scheme was introduced seven years ago with a personal donation of US$1,000 by the then General Manager of TICo, Mr Lawrence Kramer, who was then going on retirement.
The General Manager of TICo, Nana Osafo Kantanka, said the awards had come a long way in supporting the beneficiaries in the company’s catchment area.
“From a very humble beginning, we now have a well-structured process for the awards and we will ensure that it serves the purpose for which it was instituted,’’ he stated.
He expressed the company’s confidence in the beneficiaries using the opportunity to excel wherever they found themselves.
Nana Kantanka emphasised that the company was committed to the development and welfare of the communities located in its operational area.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mrs Angelina Baiden-Amissah, said the company had exhibited corporate social responsibility in the provision of library facilities, the institution of a scholarship scheme as well as the construction of drains for the communities.
Mrs Baiden-Amissah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Shama Constituency, commended the management of TICo for its support to the community.
She reminded the people that the educational reform made it mandatory for all children of school age to be in school by the year 2015.
The acting Director, Thermal Generation of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Richard N. A. Badger, said over the years, the two companies had sought to improve the social and economic lives of the people in the surrounding communities.
"With the Kramer scholarship programme, TICo has consistently displayed that it holds in high esteem the value of education of the youth in the communities", he said, adding that "it is the youth who will provide leadership in these communities as well as develop them".
He said VRA recognised that education was key to the development of any group of people and support in this area needed encouragement from all quarters.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr A. E. Amoah, commended the management of TICo for institutionalising the scholarship scheme.
He advised the beneficiaries to study hard to justify that they really deserved the awards.
Present at the ceremony was the President and Chief Executive of TAQA Energy, Mr Peter Barker-Homek.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
NGO DONATES LEARNING MATERIALS TO SCHOOL (PAGE 20)
ONE Small Step-Ghana Project, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has donated assorted learning materials worth US$1,000 to the Adjumako District Council basic school in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.
A transcriptionist at the Virginia Hospital Centre in the United States of America, Ms Loretta McDaniel, founded the NGO.
The donor explained to the Daily Graphic before the presentation that it was an on-going project and that she would continue to solicit for teaching and learning aids for the school on a regular basis.
"We are trying to supply this school more learning supplies," she said, adding: "We are asking some families and friends in America to purchase some items that would be shipped to the school".
Ms McDaniel said she would gather information on the needs of the school as well as the learning areas in relation to the school’s curriculum to be able to provide its actual needs.
A co-worker of Ms McDaniel and a native of Adjumako, Madam Mary Andoh, explained that about two years ago, Ms McDaniel accompanied her to the village during which some of the schoolchildren requested learning materials such as pencils, books and pens from her.
She further stated that Ms McDaniel took pictures of the pupils and that when she returned home, she showed them to her friends in America who were touched and decided to contribute to purchase the materials for the school through the project.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Director of Education in charge of second cycle schools in the Ahanta West District, Mr Benjamin Ofori, said the government, the district assembly and the community which were the major stakeholders in education, were to ensure that teachers were decently accommodated, while all children who were of school age were enrolled.
He also urged parents to provide the school with the needs of their children and ensure their orderly growth and development.
Mr Ofori said it was the duty of parents and members of the community to monitor the teaching activities of teachers by reporting them to their heads.
The Presiding Member of the Ahanta West District Assembly, Madam Georgina Sarah Yankey, expressed her appreciation at the donation and appealed to the benefactor to continue to help the school by donating more teaching and learning materials to the school.
She called on parents to ensure the proper education of their children.
The Head teacher of the Adjumako District Council basic school, Mr Edward Bordes, appealed to Ms McDaniel to provide the school with computers to help introduce the pupils to Information and Communication Technology.
The Assembly Member for the Adjumako-Mpatase Electoral Area, Mr Moses Andoh, commended Ms McDaniel for the gesture and said that she would be furnished with the needs of the school to enable her to contribute effectively towards the education of the pupils.
A transcriptionist at the Virginia Hospital Centre in the United States of America, Ms Loretta McDaniel, founded the NGO.
The donor explained to the Daily Graphic before the presentation that it was an on-going project and that she would continue to solicit for teaching and learning aids for the school on a regular basis.
"We are trying to supply this school more learning supplies," she said, adding: "We are asking some families and friends in America to purchase some items that would be shipped to the school".
Ms McDaniel said she would gather information on the needs of the school as well as the learning areas in relation to the school’s curriculum to be able to provide its actual needs.
A co-worker of Ms McDaniel and a native of Adjumako, Madam Mary Andoh, explained that about two years ago, Ms McDaniel accompanied her to the village during which some of the schoolchildren requested learning materials such as pencils, books and pens from her.
She further stated that Ms McDaniel took pictures of the pupils and that when she returned home, she showed them to her friends in America who were touched and decided to contribute to purchase the materials for the school through the project.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Director of Education in charge of second cycle schools in the Ahanta West District, Mr Benjamin Ofori, said the government, the district assembly and the community which were the major stakeholders in education, were to ensure that teachers were decently accommodated, while all children who were of school age were enrolled.
He also urged parents to provide the school with the needs of their children and ensure their orderly growth and development.
Mr Ofori said it was the duty of parents and members of the community to monitor the teaching activities of teachers by reporting them to their heads.
The Presiding Member of the Ahanta West District Assembly, Madam Georgina Sarah Yankey, expressed her appreciation at the donation and appealed to the benefactor to continue to help the school by donating more teaching and learning materials to the school.
She called on parents to ensure the proper education of their children.
The Head teacher of the Adjumako District Council basic school, Mr Edward Bordes, appealed to Ms McDaniel to provide the school with computers to help introduce the pupils to Information and Communication Technology.
The Assembly Member for the Adjumako-Mpatase Electoral Area, Mr Moses Andoh, commended Ms McDaniel for the gesture and said that she would be furnished with the needs of the school to enable her to contribute effectively towards the education of the pupils.
MINING COMPANY, NGO PROVIDE FREE MEDICAL CLINICS (PAGE 20)
GOLDEN Star Resources (GSR), a mining company, in collaboration with Project Cure, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) has organised free medical clinics for people in 11 communities in the operational areas of its two subsidiary companies in the Western Region.
The subsidiary companies are the Golden Star (Wassa Mines) Limited at Akyempim and Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mines) at Bogoso.
A total of 9,280 people, including schoolchildren and infants from Subri, Togbekrom, Ningo, Akyempim, Kubekro, Old Subri, Mbease Nsuta, Bondaye, Heman and Dumase benefited from the clinics, which were held for two weeks.
A medical team comprising 10 doctors from Project Cure in the United States of America who undertook the clinics, screened and conducted medical examinations on those who attended the clinics after which they were given free drugs.
Some of the diseases diagnosed were skin rashes, bodily pains, upper respiratory tract infections, malaria, eye problems and itching.
Those who attended were given drugs such as dewormers, multivite, antibiotics, anti-histamines, cough syrups, analgesics for pains and wound dressing packs.
The leader of the medical team, Dr Maurice Ankrah told the Daily Graphic during the last of the clinics at Togbekrom, located in the Wassa Mines that almost everybody, both old and young, complained of bodily pains, noting that "this may be due to the type of work they do, which is farming".
He said many people in the area, especially Old Subri, a farming community, also complained of eye problems and were advised to contact eye specialists at the hospitals.
Dr Ankrah suggested that the mining company should build a standard health facility for the communities within its operational areas to cater for their health needs, since the communities were far from the hospitals and other health facilities.
"Since the mining company is benefiting from the communities, they must also benefit from the mines," he said.
According to Dr Ankrah, the clinics would go a long way to improve the quality of life of the people in the beneficiary communities.
He explained that the viability and sustainability of the clinics, which were organised annually, would depend on the host mining company.
"We are willing to offer the services, if the host company will co-operate. What we need is a host which is co-operative," he stressed, adding that the project had targeted deprived communities.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Wassa Mines), Mr Richard Gray, commended the people who contributed to the success of the clinics, especially Project Cure and the medical team from the United States of America.
A representative of the Denver Office of Project Cure, Ms Judith Schwartz, explained that the project was instituted to support hospitals and clinics without adequate medical supplies and equipment.
She said the project collected medical supplies and equipment from 120 companies across the world and supplied them to needy hospitals and clinics.
The Human Resource and Administrative Manager of Golden Star (Wassa Mines) Limited, Mr Paul Essah, said it was the responsibility of the mining company to provide some facilities such as schools, potable water, electricity and roads for the communities within its operational areas.
He said the company would continue to support the organisation of the clinics annually to ensure that the people in the mining communities had good health and to enable them to increase productivity.
The subsidiary companies are the Golden Star (Wassa Mines) Limited at Akyempim and Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mines) at Bogoso.
A total of 9,280 people, including schoolchildren and infants from Subri, Togbekrom, Ningo, Akyempim, Kubekro, Old Subri, Mbease Nsuta, Bondaye, Heman and Dumase benefited from the clinics, which were held for two weeks.
A medical team comprising 10 doctors from Project Cure in the United States of America who undertook the clinics, screened and conducted medical examinations on those who attended the clinics after which they were given free drugs.
Some of the diseases diagnosed were skin rashes, bodily pains, upper respiratory tract infections, malaria, eye problems and itching.
Those who attended were given drugs such as dewormers, multivite, antibiotics, anti-histamines, cough syrups, analgesics for pains and wound dressing packs.
The leader of the medical team, Dr Maurice Ankrah told the Daily Graphic during the last of the clinics at Togbekrom, located in the Wassa Mines that almost everybody, both old and young, complained of bodily pains, noting that "this may be due to the type of work they do, which is farming".
He said many people in the area, especially Old Subri, a farming community, also complained of eye problems and were advised to contact eye specialists at the hospitals.
Dr Ankrah suggested that the mining company should build a standard health facility for the communities within its operational areas to cater for their health needs, since the communities were far from the hospitals and other health facilities.
"Since the mining company is benefiting from the communities, they must also benefit from the mines," he said.
According to Dr Ankrah, the clinics would go a long way to improve the quality of life of the people in the beneficiary communities.
He explained that the viability and sustainability of the clinics, which were organised annually, would depend on the host mining company.
"We are willing to offer the services, if the host company will co-operate. What we need is a host which is co-operative," he stressed, adding that the project had targeted deprived communities.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Wassa Mines), Mr Richard Gray, commended the people who contributed to the success of the clinics, especially Project Cure and the medical team from the United States of America.
A representative of the Denver Office of Project Cure, Ms Judith Schwartz, explained that the project was instituted to support hospitals and clinics without adequate medical supplies and equipment.
She said the project collected medical supplies and equipment from 120 companies across the world and supplied them to needy hospitals and clinics.
The Human Resource and Administrative Manager of Golden Star (Wassa Mines) Limited, Mr Paul Essah, said it was the responsibility of the mining company to provide some facilities such as schools, potable water, electricity and roads for the communities within its operational areas.
He said the company would continue to support the organisation of the clinics annually to ensure that the people in the mining communities had good health and to enable them to increase productivity.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
JUABOSO ASSEMBLY DEVELOPS WATER AND SANITATION PLAN (PAGE 21)
THE Juaboso District Assembly in the Western Region has developed a comprehensive five-year community water and sanitation development plan to provide water and sanitation facilities for schools and communities in the district.
The plan, which covers the period 2008 to 2012, will be sponsored by the World Bank, the International Development Agency (IDA) and the European Union. It was submitted to the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in Takoradi.
The Juaboso District Planning Officer, Mr Richard-Nixon Ziork, made this known to the Daily Graphic at Juaboso.
He said most educational institutions and six markets in the district which did not have toilet facilities and markets would be provided with the facilities.
Mr Ziork said household toilet facilities would also be provided, adding that the assembly was sensitising the people to the facilities to enable them to embrace the construction of the facilities in their houses.
According to Mr Ziork, water supply was a problem in some of the communities and so most of the rural communities depended on streams for their source of drinking water which had necessitated the provision of boreholes for the communities.
He said small town water systems, under which ground water would be pumped through mechanised boreholes, would also be provided for the communities.
The planning officer stated that any non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the district which wanted to assist in environmental issues had to consult the sanitation development plan.
The plan, which covers the period 2008 to 2012, will be sponsored by the World Bank, the International Development Agency (IDA) and the European Union. It was submitted to the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in Takoradi.
The Juaboso District Planning Officer, Mr Richard-Nixon Ziork, made this known to the Daily Graphic at Juaboso.
He said most educational institutions and six markets in the district which did not have toilet facilities and markets would be provided with the facilities.
Mr Ziork said household toilet facilities would also be provided, adding that the assembly was sensitising the people to the facilities to enable them to embrace the construction of the facilities in their houses.
According to Mr Ziork, water supply was a problem in some of the communities and so most of the rural communities depended on streams for their source of drinking water which had necessitated the provision of boreholes for the communities.
He said small town water systems, under which ground water would be pumped through mechanised boreholes, would also be provided for the communities.
The planning officer stated that any non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the district which wanted to assist in environmental issues had to consult the sanitation development plan.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
2 FIRE OFFICERS TO START PEACE WALK (PAGE 20)
TWO fire officers from the Western Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) will embark on “2008 Election Peaceful Walk” throughout the country to spread the message of peace before, during and after the December 7 general election.
Fireman John Dominic Dadzie, who is the main walker, is being supported by Station Officer Joseph C. Ampiah and will begin the walk on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from Wa in the Upper West Region through Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region to Tamale in the Northern Region to end the northern sector walk.
The Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and the Western regions will follow suit respectively while the walker will pass through the Central Region up to Agona Swedru, enter the Eastern and Volta regions and finally end up in Accra at the offices of the Electoral Commission in the Greater Accra Region on November 28, 2008.
Speaking at a press briefing on the peace walk at the regional headquarters of the GNFS, the Western Regional Commander of the service, Nana Ekow Abban, explained that the regional security task forces were taking the initiative to spread the message of peace before, during and after the general election.
"We believe that should there be any adversity, the security task forces may be called upon and it is in this purview that we are taking the first step to reach out to all, especially the general public and politicians, to educate their supporters to eschew bitterness and fighting," he stressed.
He emphasised that Ghana was for all of us, so there was the need for all and sundry to protect it, stressing, "we as a people must endeavour to hold our motherland together in trust for generations unborn".
Nana Abban prayed for God’s guidance throughout the walk and that the message might impact positively on all the people.
The Garrison Commander and Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Frank Daley, called on all Ghanaians to support the election to be peaceful and tranquil for the development of the country.
"Our wish and prayer are not only for the successful election in the Western Region alone, but throughout the length and breadth of Ghana," he emphasised, adding, "We shall overcome if we work at it diligently".
The Catholic Bishop of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Most Rev John Martin Darko, noted that peace had always been the principle guiding authentic religion and that it was not just a question of live and let live.
He explained that peace was the active and positive expression of goodwill towards others.
According to Bishop Darko, Ghanaians needed goodwill in abundance because of growing selfishness and indiscipline in spite of the call in the past to make the necessary sacrifices for the nation.
He stated that there were people who pretended to be fighting for the development of the nation, but actually had their own hidden agenda.
Bishop Darko noted that greed had swamped the society and that the clergy were not spared the infection, adding "this leads to violence".
"All the evils surrounding us, notably armed robbery, drug trafficking, terrorism and violence either by individuals or groups, or state organs, indiscipline by officials, individuals, gangs, bad and reckless drivers on the roads, are all caused by people who have no goodwill,” he said.
According to him, "the only driving force that motivates them is selfishness, misplaced pride and ‘bad will’ ".
Bishop Darko said the end result was suffering for all and stated that but all that we looked forward to was peace.
The walker, Fireman Dadzie, noted that the country had gone through a number of successful elections, be them unit committee, district, parliamentary or presidential.
He said it was a fact that democracy had come to stay in the country and stressed the need for all and sundry to diligently guide and guard the democracy.
"Our walk for peace before, during and after the general election is meant to educate all Ghanaians, including political parties, on the need to be tolerant and co-exist without rancour and bitterness," Fireman Dadzie stressed.
Fireman John Dominic Dadzie, who is the main walker, is being supported by Station Officer Joseph C. Ampiah and will begin the walk on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from Wa in the Upper West Region through Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region to Tamale in the Northern Region to end the northern sector walk.
The Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and the Western regions will follow suit respectively while the walker will pass through the Central Region up to Agona Swedru, enter the Eastern and Volta regions and finally end up in Accra at the offices of the Electoral Commission in the Greater Accra Region on November 28, 2008.
Speaking at a press briefing on the peace walk at the regional headquarters of the GNFS, the Western Regional Commander of the service, Nana Ekow Abban, explained that the regional security task forces were taking the initiative to spread the message of peace before, during and after the general election.
"We believe that should there be any adversity, the security task forces may be called upon and it is in this purview that we are taking the first step to reach out to all, especially the general public and politicians, to educate their supporters to eschew bitterness and fighting," he stressed.
He emphasised that Ghana was for all of us, so there was the need for all and sundry to protect it, stressing, "we as a people must endeavour to hold our motherland together in trust for generations unborn".
Nana Abban prayed for God’s guidance throughout the walk and that the message might impact positively on all the people.
The Garrison Commander and Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Frank Daley, called on all Ghanaians to support the election to be peaceful and tranquil for the development of the country.
"Our wish and prayer are not only for the successful election in the Western Region alone, but throughout the length and breadth of Ghana," he emphasised, adding, "We shall overcome if we work at it diligently".
The Catholic Bishop of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Most Rev John Martin Darko, noted that peace had always been the principle guiding authentic religion and that it was not just a question of live and let live.
He explained that peace was the active and positive expression of goodwill towards others.
According to Bishop Darko, Ghanaians needed goodwill in abundance because of growing selfishness and indiscipline in spite of the call in the past to make the necessary sacrifices for the nation.
He stated that there were people who pretended to be fighting for the development of the nation, but actually had their own hidden agenda.
Bishop Darko noted that greed had swamped the society and that the clergy were not spared the infection, adding "this leads to violence".
"All the evils surrounding us, notably armed robbery, drug trafficking, terrorism and violence either by individuals or groups, or state organs, indiscipline by officials, individuals, gangs, bad and reckless drivers on the roads, are all caused by people who have no goodwill,” he said.
According to him, "the only driving force that motivates them is selfishness, misplaced pride and ‘bad will’ ".
Bishop Darko said the end result was suffering for all and stated that but all that we looked forward to was peace.
The walker, Fireman Dadzie, noted that the country had gone through a number of successful elections, be them unit committee, district, parliamentary or presidential.
He said it was a fact that democracy had come to stay in the country and stressed the need for all and sundry to diligently guide and guard the democracy.
"Our walk for peace before, during and after the general election is meant to educate all Ghanaians, including political parties, on the need to be tolerant and co-exist without rancour and bitterness," Fireman Dadzie stressed.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
90 CANDIDATES FILE IN WESTERN REGION (PAGE 15)
NINETY parliamentary candidates, including eleven females, have filed their nominations to contest in the 22 constituencies of the Western Region in this year’s general election.
Two of the females each are contesting in the Jomoro and the Sekondi constituencies, while each of the remaining is contesting in the Evalue Gwira, Ahanta West, Shama, Mpohor Wassa East, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Amenfi West, and Bibiani Anhiawso Bekwai constituencies.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is contesting in all the 22 constituencies in the region, while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has filed nominations to contest in 21 of the constituencies with the exception of Ellembele.
With the exception of Sefwi Akontombra, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) is contesting in all the other 21 constituencies in the region, while the People’s National Convention (PNC) has filed nominations to contest in eight constituencies, with the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) contesting in two constituencies.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) is contesting in six constituencies, while eight people have filed their nominations to contest as independent candidates, with the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) contesting in two constituencies in the region.
The Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, said an aspiring parliamentary candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) for the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency could not process his nomination forms at the close of nominations.
He said with the completion of nominations, the parliamentary candidates and the party agents would be trained, after which the EC would train its election officials in the region.
Meanwhile, at the Evalue-Gwira Constituency in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, officially filed her nomination with the EC at Axim to contest the 2008 general election.
The CPP and NDC parliamentary candidates for the constituency, Mr Kojo Armah and Mr Peter Arde Kodwo respectively, also filed their nominations to contest the polls. They were followed by their party executives and supporters.
Two of the females each are contesting in the Jomoro and the Sekondi constituencies, while each of the remaining is contesting in the Evalue Gwira, Ahanta West, Shama, Mpohor Wassa East, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Amenfi West, and Bibiani Anhiawso Bekwai constituencies.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is contesting in all the 22 constituencies in the region, while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has filed nominations to contest in 21 of the constituencies with the exception of Ellembele.
With the exception of Sefwi Akontombra, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) is contesting in all the other 21 constituencies in the region, while the People’s National Convention (PNC) has filed nominations to contest in eight constituencies, with the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) contesting in two constituencies.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) is contesting in six constituencies, while eight people have filed their nominations to contest as independent candidates, with the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) contesting in two constituencies in the region.
The Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, said an aspiring parliamentary candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) for the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency could not process his nomination forms at the close of nominations.
He said with the completion of nominations, the parliamentary candidates and the party agents would be trained, after which the EC would train its election officials in the region.
Meanwhile, at the Evalue-Gwira Constituency in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, officially filed her nomination with the EC at Axim to contest the 2008 general election.
The CPP and NDC parliamentary candidates for the constituency, Mr Kojo Armah and Mr Peter Arde Kodwo respectively, also filed their nominations to contest the polls. They were followed by their party executives and supporters.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
BUSINESSES RUSH TO CAPITALISE ON OIL BOOM (PAGE 29)
The Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has received more than 20 applications from companies and businesses to construct ultra-modern office complexes within the metropolis to position themselves for the oil business.
The assembly is yet to approve the applications.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, announced this in an address read on his behalf by the Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Edwin Philips, at the launch of the e-zwich smart card national roadshow campaign in Takoradi.
Mr Nkrumah said Sekondi-Takoradi had been experiencing unprecedented influx of businesses since the announcement of the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Western Region.
"As a result, new office complexes and warehouses are being built, existing buildings are being refurbished and converted into offices, warehouses and stores," he said.
This development, he said, posed a great challenge to the banking and financial institutions in the metropolis and required of them to design a wide-range of products and services to meet the specific needs of the emerging businesses in the metropolis.
"The assembly has positioned itself to play the leading role in facilitating the provision of infrastructure in various sectors to further improve the investment climate within the metropolis," he said.
Mr Nkrumah gave the assurance that the assembly was ready to offer any possible assistance to all existing and new businesses.
He said the government had recognised the need to modernise the banking and financial sector as major catalysts to attract the needed foreign direct investment for rapid economic growth.
Before the introduction of the new currency, he explained, the economy was significantly over burdened with a note regime.
"The re-denomination has undoubtedly enhanced the way we do business today," he said.
He further explained that the re-denomination of the cedi had helped to reduce the burden of carrying large volumes of money, reduced time in transactions, made easy entries into accounting books and eased statistical records.
The metro chief executive said the launch of the e-zwich smart card was another innovative product from the Bank of Ghana.
Mr Nkrumah said the e-zwich smart card provided a common platform for various banking and retail functions such as cash withdrawals, payment for goods and services, money transfers and the payment of salary and wages.
"The e-zwich enables the public to benefit from a more convenient, safer and easier way to spend and receive money by using a smart card," he added.
He said it was the expectation of the government that the introduction of the e-zwich smart card would result in the transformation of the predominantly cash payment systems in the country and bring monetary transactions up to international standards.
Also, he said, it would bring major improvements in the financial and payment systems of the country with the domination of electronic transactions.
The assembly is yet to approve the applications.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, announced this in an address read on his behalf by the Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Edwin Philips, at the launch of the e-zwich smart card national roadshow campaign in Takoradi.
Mr Nkrumah said Sekondi-Takoradi had been experiencing unprecedented influx of businesses since the announcement of the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Western Region.
"As a result, new office complexes and warehouses are being built, existing buildings are being refurbished and converted into offices, warehouses and stores," he said.
This development, he said, posed a great challenge to the banking and financial institutions in the metropolis and required of them to design a wide-range of products and services to meet the specific needs of the emerging businesses in the metropolis.
"The assembly has positioned itself to play the leading role in facilitating the provision of infrastructure in various sectors to further improve the investment climate within the metropolis," he said.
Mr Nkrumah gave the assurance that the assembly was ready to offer any possible assistance to all existing and new businesses.
He said the government had recognised the need to modernise the banking and financial sector as major catalysts to attract the needed foreign direct investment for rapid economic growth.
Before the introduction of the new currency, he explained, the economy was significantly over burdened with a note regime.
"The re-denomination has undoubtedly enhanced the way we do business today," he said.
He further explained that the re-denomination of the cedi had helped to reduce the burden of carrying large volumes of money, reduced time in transactions, made easy entries into accounting books and eased statistical records.
The metro chief executive said the launch of the e-zwich smart card was another innovative product from the Bank of Ghana.
Mr Nkrumah said the e-zwich smart card provided a common platform for various banking and retail functions such as cash withdrawals, payment for goods and services, money transfers and the payment of salary and wages.
"The e-zwich enables the public to benefit from a more convenient, safer and easier way to spend and receive money by using a smart card," he added.
He said it was the expectation of the government that the introduction of the e-zwich smart card would result in the transformation of the predominantly cash payment systems in the country and bring monetary transactions up to international standards.
Also, he said, it would bring major improvements in the financial and payment systems of the country with the domination of electronic transactions.
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