Ghana-Mali task experts to facilitate trade, economic ties
Gains in five equities keep stock index healthy
Maritime and Dockworkers Union form new company
Ministry releases money to sectors
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor and his Malian counterpart, President Alpha Oumar Konare, on Wednesday tasked their technical experts to work towards increased trade and co-operation in industry, transport and maritime transit.
A communiqué issued in Accra at the end of a three-day state visit by President Konare to Ghana, called for the convening of regular technical meetings to facilitate co-operation in energy, mines, livestock, investment and private sector participation. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang of Ghana, who also read it, and Modibo Sidibe of Mali, jointly signed the 29-page communiqué at a pre-departure press briefing.
It expressed the commitment of both leaders to working for the attainment of peace, security and socio-economic development at the bilateral, regional and international levels. At the Joint Permanent Commission negotiations, Ghana expressed its desire to export, particularly, aluminium and wood products, domestic and industrial salt to Mali, while importing Ndama and Zebu cattle for private sector operators for breeding and consumption.
To strengthen bilateral relations, Presidents Kufuor and Konare, charged their foreign ministers to take the requisite measures for effective and speedy implementation of decisions taken. Present were Vice President Aliu Mahama, Senior Minister Joseph Henry Mensah and other Ministers of State and officials of both sides.
President Konare arrived on Monday for a three-day visit at the invitation of President Kufuor. During the period, he participated in the Sahel and West Africa Club meeting in Accra, held bilateral talks with President Kufuor and attended a state banquet at which he was honoured with the highest state honour, "Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana".
President Konare also travelled to Kumasi and attended a mini-durbar held in his honour by the Asanteman Council and held private talks with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene. He also laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.
This was President Konare's second visit to Ghana since President Kufuor assumed office. The first was in October last year during which Ghana and Mali reviewed their political relations. President Konare, 56 was first elected President of the Third Republic of Mali in 1992 and was re-elected in 1997. He hands over power to a new government within the next 16 days.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - Gains by six equities during trading on Wednesday kept the GSE All Share Index, the main market gauge healthy, although only about 30,000 shares were traded. The GSE All-Share Index went up by 6.7 points to 1,072.74 points, thanks to gains by British American Tobacco, Enterprise Insurance Company, Fan Milk Limited, Ghana Commercial Bank, Patterson Zochonis and SSB Bank.
Change for the year also increased to 12.22 points from 11.52 per cent. Total shares traded dropped to 30,800 from 117,300 shares recorded on Monday. On the broader market, there were six price changes, all positive.
Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) gained 20 cedis at 2,020 cedis, British American Tobacco (BAT) was up by 54 cedis to 860, Enterprise Insurance Company gained 70 cedis to 3,671 cedis, Fan Milk Limited inched up by one cedi at 1,221 cedis; Patterson Zochonis (PZ) was higher by 180 cedis at 1,400 cedis and SSB Bank gained eight cedis at 3,016 cedis.
Market capitalisation was higher at 4,118.04 billion cedis from 4,105.02 billion cedis.
The following are the last prices of listed equities in cedis:
ABL 330
AGC 18,800
ALW 4,300
BAT 860 +54
CFAO 60
EIC 3,671 +70
FML 1,221 +1
GBL 900
GCB 2,020 +20
GGL 910
HFC 955
MGL 251
MLC 147
MOGL 18,820
PAF 750
PBC 450
PZ 1,400 +180
SCB 20,500
SPPC 370
SSB 3,016 +8
SWL 280
UNIL 2,919
CMLT 435
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - The Maritime and Dockworkers Union (MDU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in joint ventures with private dock companies have formed the The Ghana Dock Company.
Mr Kwabena Owusu Afriyie, General Secretary of the MDU, told the GNA in an interview on Wednesday in Accra that the union has 20 percent shares in the new company. The company would absorb 5,000 casual labourers affected by the on-going Restructuring and Reforms taking place within the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
Mr Afriyie said the union has struck an early retirement package deal with the Authority for workers between the ages of 57 years and 60 years. This group of workers would take home one-and-a-half months' salary multiplied by three remaining months of their retiring age.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - The Ministry of Finance on Wednesday said it has made the first quarter releases to the District Assembly Common Fund and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET Fund).
In addition releases have been made to clear substantial portions of existing roads and non-roads arrears, a statement issued in Accra and signed by J. A. Yamoah, Chief Director said. Mr Yamoah said 91.9 billion cedis representing 25 per cent of the budget provision of 367.9 million was released to the Common Fund on 6 May.
The statement said an amount of 82.3 billion cedis, being 25 per cent of the provision, was released to the GET fund on 5 May. The remaining allocations would be released on quarterly basis as programmed in the 2002 budget implementation measures. These releases, the statement said, would enable the District Assemblies and the GET fund to maintain and expand their social services and infrastructure.
Roads and non-roads arrears settled by Ministry of Finance in the current year up to this month totalled 143.4 billion cedis and 217 billion cedis respectively. The payment of part of the existing road and non-road arrears is to keep projects going and maintain reasonable liquidity in the system. "The ministry would continue to match in-flow of revenues with expenditure to maintain the necessary financial equilibrium," the statement added.
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