GRi Business,
Economics & Finance 03 – 02 - 2003
Ho
(Volta Region) 03 February 2003- Samuel Adu-Boafo, General Manager in-charge of
Operations of the Ghana Postal Company (GPC) at the weekend said prudent and innovative
measures adopted by management to diversify the Company's revenue base have
begun to yield positive dividends.
He said
this had culminated in the Company paying about 200 million cedis to government
in 2001, as its dividend with prospects for improvement in 2002. Adu-Boafo was
addressing the third annual get-together of the management and staff of the
Company in the Volta Region at Ho, during which four members of staff due for
retirement were honoured for their meritorious services.
He said
the operation of the Western Union Money Transfer services through the Company,
collection of water and electricity bills on behalf of the Electricity Company
of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company have enhanced the revenue status of
the Company.
Adu-Boafo
announced that GPC in conjunction with the Post Solution Company Limited, a
British firm, would soon commence computerisation of its counter processes in
conformity with international standards to enhance efficiency, productivity.
He said
in view of the dwindling volume of mail in the country, "it was prudent to
look for alternative sources of revenue mobilisation and generation to
strengthen financial self-sufficiency.
Adu-Boafo
therefore, urged staff to be abreast with the Company's new transport and
material management policies towards reducing cost and promotion of higher
productivity. He pledged to supply the Ho, Regional Internet Cafe with
computers to start operations.
Godwin
Y. Tetteh, Volta Regional Head of GPC reminded staff of the arduous task ahead
due to the current developments within the global communication industry whose
advantages should be exploited to advantage.
“Remember,
we cannot afford to be left behind the “Golden Age of Business”. Ghana Post
must move within the prevailing economic environment with improved and
innovative services for a higher customer satisfaction”, he said.
He
urged staff to re-dedicate themselves to working harder this year. Douglas
Wagba,
GRi.../
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Agona Nkwanta
(Western Region)
Speaking
at the inauguration of the Rubber Out-growers and Agents Association (ROAA) and
the commissioning of its head office at Agona Nkwanta, Dr. Ofori said the World
Bank was deciding to support the sector towards the boosting of rubber, oil
palm and other tree crop production, particularly in the savannah areas of the
country.
The
Director of Crop Services, who was also Chairman of the Steering Committee of
the Rubber Out-growers Plantation Project (ROPP), said MOFA had been charged to
identify areas for immediate assistance.
He said
the Western Region, which was leading in tree crop production in the country,
would receive the bulk of the assistance. Dr. Ofori said the formation of ROAA
was a component of the second phase of the rubber out-growers' plantation project
being financed by the Agence Francaise developpenent (AFD), the French
Development Aid agency.
He said
the impressive performance of the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) in the
development or rubber in the region, led to the launching of the first rubber
out-growers project in 1995.
Dr.
Ofori said the project was financed by government, AFD and the World Bank at a
cost of about 1.5m Euros under GREL's management. He said under the first
phase, 1,400 farmers were assisted to plant 1,200 hectares of rubber and 41km
of road and other forms of infrastructure were provided.
Dr.
Ofori said government entered into another agreement with AFD for a credit
facility of 5.9m Euros for the second phase of the project, under which another
200,800 hectares of rubber would be cultivated to benefit 500 families over a
five-year period.
He said
at the end of the second phase, 4000 hectares of rubber would be planted for
900 families. At maturity, 6000 tonnes of exportable rubber valued at $3.5bn
were expected yearly from the 4, 000 hectares of the out-grower rubber project
and an additional 40km of road would be rehabilitated.
Dr.
Ofori urged ROAA to register as a farm-based organisation to enable it benefit
from the services of MOFA, under the Agricultural Services Sub-sector
Investment Programme (AGSSIP).
He said
under AGSSIP, farm based organisations would be considered as promising bodies
that could accelerate agricultural growth and development. John Asmah, Chairman
of the Forestry Commission, said rubber trees and bamboos could be used as
substitutes for timber.
Asmah
said Dupaul Wood Treatment Limited in Takoradi and BMK Limited in the Ahanta
West District has started using rubber trees for producing furniture. He said
the association has a crucial role to play in protecting the country's forest
resources, which were being destroyed through greed and indiscipline.
Patrick
Tarente, Managing Director of GREL, said the company would soon start
monitoring the progress of the rubber out-growers project. He assured the
association of the company's continued support and training of its members to
boost productivity.
Nana
Asaa Kofi III, Chief of Kyekyewere and Chairman of the association, said the
building of the association's head office cost about 300million cedis. He said
the Michelin Group; the main buyer of natural rubber in
Nana
Kofi III appealed to the Agricultural Development Bank to pay the farm maintenance
fee regularly to the out growers. Kasapreko Kwame Pafanyni III, President of
the Western Regional House presided.
GRi.../
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Currency Buying Selling
U.S.
Dollar 8,367.33 cedis 8,566.91 cedis
Pound
Swiss
Franc 6,168.42 6,313.54
Canadian
Dollar 5,476.08
5,603.64
Danish
Kroner 1,217.46
1,246.29
Japanese
Yen
70.29
71.95
South
African
Euro 9,049.84 9,265.94
CFA
Franc 13.80 14.13
GRi.../
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com