Spacefon launches new slogan, logo
Spacefon launches new slogan, logo
Accra (Greater Accra) 12 Jan 2000
Spacefon, operators of GSM mobile phone under Scancom Limited, on Tuesday launched a new slogan and a logo to reflect their new face and commitment to the local subscriber and economy.
The slogan of the company, which used to be "Ghana's most advanced mobile phone network", is now "Communication for the Nation."
Mr Ahmed Faroukh, Managing Director of Spacefon, who announced this at a press launch in Accra, said in line with their new slogan, Spacefon hoped to expand their coverage area to include Akosombo, Ho, Koforidua, Nsawam, Sunyani and Aburi by March.
Already, the company covers Accra, Tema, Bibiani, Cape Coast, Tarkwa, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Obuasi.
Mr Faroukh said Spacefon is also adding 11 new sites to its current sites in the Accra Metropolis to accommodate more residents on its network at competitive cost.
"Our new look also mirrors our rededication to our responsibilities in order to help the government to achieve its lofty telecommunication goals in the Vision 2020 document."
He said the new logo "reflects our intention to have a more intimate relationship with our customers with the view to addressing their needs speedily in this millennium."
Mr Faroukh deplored "unfairness" in the local telecommunication industry, saying "out of 12 (E1) links we requested for from Ghana Telecom (GT) to ensure quality service and easy channelling of calls on our network, we have received only four."
He said there has not been any justifiable reason for GT's refusal to give them the remaining eight, adding that their customers are getting frustrated and "our patience is running out."
Mr Faroukh called for co-operation in the industry, saying that non-cooperation is not only frustrating and unethical, but is also damaging to the economy, the trade liberalisation drive and the image of Ghana before the international community.
He said currently Spacefon is being asked to forgo five of its 10 frequencies to enable a new mobile phone operator to come into the local market.
Mr Faroukh said Spacefon bought the frequencies for half a million dollars in 1994 and cannot just forgo five of them for nothing.
He therefore cautioned the authorities "to consider the economic implications of the demand and be ready to compensate Spacefon adequately if they must".
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Market records high trade
Accra (Greater Accra) 12 Jan 2000
The Accra bourse on Tuesday recorded the highest trade so far this year with more than one million shares changing hands, thanks to heavy trading in SSB Bank (SSB) shares.
SSB sold 1,002,700 shares to push the total shares traded to 1,008,700, up from 10,600 shares sold on Friday.
Total shares traded have since late last year recorded low volumes due to lack of interest by investors.
The All-Share Index continued its upward climb, gaining 0.53 points at 738.85, compared to 737.32 points on Friday. This has pushed the change in the year to 0.36 per cent.
The gains in the All-Share Index, the main market indicator, have been attributed to modest gains by a few equities, including Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), which dropped more than 3,000 cedis in 1999.
SCB shares have for the past two weeks registered some gains, which brokers said could bring its share price back to its former peak. SCB shares were priced as high as 24,000 cedis in January 1999.
Shares offered climbed from Friday's close of 474,030 to 1,487,320 with demand also finishing the day higher at 1,032,800 from 38,600.
Market capitalisation ended at 3,209.63 billion cedis as against 3,207.23 billion cedis registered at the previous trading session.
In the broader market, there were two price changes. SCB gained 100 cedis to close at 19,200 cedis while Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) finished the day richer by five cedis at 765 cedis.
The following are the last prices of listed equities in cedis:
ABL 460
AGC 18,700
ALW 2,489
BAT 469
CFAO 38
EIC 1,880
FML 920
GBL 1,450
GCB 765 +5
GGL 950
HFC 750
MGL 200
MLC 151
MOGL 13,800
PAF 300
PZ 800
SCB 19,200 +100
SPPC 150
SSB 1,985
UNIL 1,850
UTC-E 125
CMLT 420
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