Intellectual property act advocated
Akyempim Rural Bank to initiate package for poultry farmers
Success of rural banks depends on collective effort - Manager
Cocoa farmers commend Barclays Bank
Intellectual property act advocated
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 Dec. '99
Ms Sherry Ayittey, Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited (GDCL), on Wednesday called on the government to include an intellectual property act in its development programmes to protect local ingenuity and innovations associated with small scale entrepreneurship.
She made the call at a ceremony to commission two new bottling lines valued at 603 million cedis and a newly installed 132 million-cedi steam boiler at GDCL.
With the installation of the two new bottling lines, which replace three old ones, the company will increase the production of Castle Bridge Gin, Mandingo Bitters and Takai Liqueur from 200 cartons to 2,000 cartons each daily.
Ms Ayittey noted that the protection of intellectual property at all levels of the economy has become necessary with the emergence of the new information technology age.
"In an economy increasingly based on information and technology, ideas, creativity, patents, trade marks, formulae in areas such as pharmaceutical and food industries, and scientific research must be adequately protected under a proper legal framework."
She observed that due to the absence of such a legal framework or their equivalents in the statute books, local scientists, among others, have patented their findings with external agencies.
This has resulted in the loss of much revenue to the country.
Ms Ayittey said the enactment of such industrial and intellectual protection laws would safeguard the interest of the consumer.
"Such a law will also give locally manufactured goods the competitive and comparative urge at the international market place."
Ms Ayittey said the installation of the new equipment at GDCL is in pursuance of a policy to replace machinery and penetrate local and external markets with their products.
She announced that the company entered into firm trade agreements with San
Francisco-based Sunrise Company and Viridian International Products of Australia for the export of Takai Liqueur and Mandingo Bitters."
Ms Ayittey praised the Ghana Commercial Bank, Merchant Bank and National Investment Bank for their financial support in securing the new equipment and assured current and prospective customers of meeting their orders adequately and on time.
Mr Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism, who commissioned the new equipment, suggested that successful state-owned manufacturing companies should be encouraged to export their products, since it is now obvious that the country can no more rely on traditional exports.
He, however, urged local industries to ensure that their products meet international standards in terms of quality and value.
GRi../
Akyempim Rural Bank to initiate package for poultry farmers
Gomoa-Dawurampong (Central Region) 23 Dec. '99
The Akyempim Rural Bank in the Central Region has initiated a special package to promote poultry and small-scale businesses in its catchment area next year.
Mr Kingsley Kwame Owusu-Ansah, Senior Manager of the bank, announced this at a meeting with the staff of the bank at Gomoa-Dawurampong on Wednesday.
He advised poultry farmers and artisans to constitute themselves into strong co-operatives to facilitate the disbursement of the package.
Mr Owusu-Ansah said the bank recognises the important role poultry farmers, fishermen and small-scale industrialists play in nation building hence its determination to encourage them to make an impact on the national economy.
He commended people who had initiated moves to pay back the poverty alleviation loans they took but warned those who had not yet made any efforts to do so or face court action.
Mr Owusu-Ansah reaffirmed the bank's commitment to assist parents and guardians who save with the bank to pay their wards' school fees and cater for other needs.
He advised workers of the bank to offer efficient and dedicated service to their numerous customers in the next millennium.
On behalf of the workers, Mr M. K. Blankson, an official of the bank, thanked management and directors of the bank for their support and good guidance.
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Success of rural banks depends on collective effort - Manager
Brakwa (Central Region) 23 Dec. '99
The Senior Manager of Brakwa Rural Bank in the Central Regional, Mr P.C. Arthur, has said the success of rural banks is the collective responsibility of all.
He has, therefore, urged Ghanaians to patronise rural and community banks in their regions and districts.
Mr Arthur, who was addressing workers of the bank at Brakwa to round off activities for the year, said rural banks are bound to face serious liquidity problems in the next millennium.
It is, therefore, incumbent on people in their catchment areas to buy shares and save with the banks to make them viable.
He assured the numerous customers of the bank of the workers' determination to give them more efficient services next year.
Mr Arthur expressed the bank's appreciation to all who contributed to the success of its operations during the year and advised customers who have not settled their loans to do so immediately.
Mr Emmanuel Aryeh Obeng, Chairman of the bank's Board of Directors, asked the staff to work harder next year to enable them to fulfil their obligations to the people in the district.
Mr Obeng, who is also Deputy General Secretary of the Association of Rural Banks, asked officials of the bank to be prudent in the performance of their duties.
He announced a special millennium package for workers, traders, businessmen and businesswomen, farmers and artisans in the district.
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Cocoa farmers commend Barclays Bank
Akim Oda (Eastern Region) 23 Dec. '99
A number of cocoa farmers in the Birim South District have commended the Akim Oda branch of the Barclays Bank (Ghana) Limited on the prompt manner they had been honouring Akuafo cheques.
Mr Kwesi Boafo, a Spokesman for the farmers told the Ghana News Agency that, since the beginning of the current cocoa season, farmers who called at the bank with their cheques were paid immediately.
This, he said, was in sharp contrast to reports from other places that farmers were finding it difficult to cash their cheques.
Mr Boafo recalled that some years gone by, they spent days at the bank before they got their money but "this time round, things have changed for the better."
He praised the branch manager of the bank, Mr Mike Mukpati, for his good human relations, adding that "on days that the bank runs short of money supply, he talks to farmers politely and requests them to come the following day for their money".
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