Mobitel launches Star Call in Tamale
Mills on business relations with foreign investors
Market index falls in mid-week trading
Tema (Greater Accra) 6 Oct. '99
Officials of Standard Chartered Bank (STANCHART) are investigating how a fraudster was able to withdraw a total of 18,500 dollars from the foreign account of a Mauritius businessman at the Tema branch.
Mr Sadik Amantula Mohammed, the businessman who is in the country to transact coffee business went to the bank Tuesday with Mr Cosmos Ametiemu, his business partner, only to discover that the amount had been withdrawn from his account.
When newsmen went to the bank on Wednesday, Stanchart's investigators, the Branch Manager and the businessmen, were meeting behind closed doors to resolve the issue which is suspected to have originated from the bank's headquarters at the High Street in Accra.
According to Mr Ametiemu, preliminary investigations established that the fraudster used two cheque leaflets, which did not come from Mr Mohammed's cheque book but they bore the same serial numbers.
He said it was discovered that while page 23 of Mr Mohammed's cheque book was intact, the fraudster was able to withdraw 3,500 dollars using another page 23 which had the same serial number.
Secondly, the businessman's cheque book had only 25 pages but the second withdrawal of 15,000 dollars was done with cheque leaflet number 29. Both amounts were successfully cashed last month after Mr Mohammed's signature had been forged.
When newsmen contacted the Branch Manager, he declined to comment saying that nothing of such nature has been brought to his notice.
However, Mr Willing Vanderpuije, a senior official at the bank's headquarters said the bank was investigating the issue.
The bank recently complained about manipulation of its Moneylink Automated Teller Machine (ATM) by some customers to withdraw amounts far in excess of what they have in their account.
Mr Vanderpuije said other customers also manipulated the ATM to credit their accounts instead of debiting them when they withdraw moneys.
The amounts are later deducted from customers' accounts and the customers complain that they do not remember withdrawing such amounts.
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Mobitel launches Star Call in Tamale
Tamale (Northern Region) 6 Oct '99
The telecom sector reform programme is expected to increase availability of telephone lines from the present 170,000 lines to 500,000 lines by 2001, Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications announced in Tamale on Tuesday.
The objective is to ensure two telephones per every 100 people and improve telephone coverage of district capitals to about 80 per cent from the present 40 per cent within the next two years.
Mr Mahama who was speaking at the launch of "Mobitel Star Call" products, said the achievement of telecommunication operators has propel foreign investors' interest in the sector.
"Currently, not less than five enquiries, are made daily at the Ministry about investment opportunities which is evidence that the private sector participation in the Ghanaian economy can achieve success if given the chance".
Mr Mahama said, however, that considering the size of the Ghanaian market, no additional mobile cellular operators would be licensed to operate alongside the present five, - Mobitel, Celltel, Spacefon, Ghana Telecom and Westel.
He announced that feasibility studies for the implementation of rural telecommunication projects in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Brong Ahafo regions is under way.
Any community that can demonstrate adequate potential of telephone use will be provided with telephones under the programme, he said.
Hajia Fati Jawula, Member of the Council of State, who launched the product, said the arrival of Mobitel in Tamale was a positive sign that could herald the influx of investors into the northern sector of the country.
She expressed the hope that the vibrant communication industry will be given a further boost and promote efficiency within the business environment, saying that this can be possible if only the Star Call product is made affordable and easily accessible to all.
Mr Christopher Vicic, President of the Eastern Europe, Middle East and African regions of the Millicom International Cellular Group (MIC), said the group has invested two billion cedis in the Tamale project.
The group, he said, currently has over 1.6 million subscribers world-wide and more focus is now being placed on the emerging market in Africa.
He said with the launch of the services in Tamale, Mobitel has demonstrated its pioneering spirit of adventure, adding that within the last seven years, it has pursued a policy of network expansion covering more parts of Ghana than any other mobile phone operator.
Mr Vicic pledged five million cedis to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to assist in the settlement and rehabilitation of flood victims in the North.
Mr Mahama and Hajia Jawula later unveiled a plaque to mark the launch.
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Mills on business relations with foreign investors
Accra (Greater Accra) 7 Oct. '99
Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday appealed to Ghanaian officials and businessmen to exercise a high degree of transparency and honesty when dealing with foreign investors.
He said Ghana needs genuine business in its economic march and any attempt by any official or a Ghanaian partner to seek personal and parochial interest instead of national development would not only be tarnishing Ghana's image but also retarding its development.
"It is my prayer that all of us... Ministers of state, individuals, especially those in joint partnership with these (foreign) investors, to deal with them in a transparent manner by giving them easy access to information and other necessary tools."
Vice-President Mills was speaking during a courtesy call on him by a 19-member business group from some Latin American countries and the United States.
The group led by former Guatemala President, Jorge Serano, arrived in the country last Sunday on a trade and investment mission with a special focus on agriculture, education, health and environment.
Professor Mills was happy that the investors have earmarked agriculture as a priority area since Ghana's economy leans much on the sector.
Vice-President Mills recalled various policies adopted by the government to boost the economy, saying the government is working hard to create an enabling environment by removing impediments on the way of investors.
"But we'll reap nothing if after all these efforts the investors do not come and invest. "
He re-assured Ghanaians that the government would ensure a successful economic break through which would reflect in their lives, declaring "we've been hovering around for far too long."
The Vice-President also requested members of the group, mostly heads of business and financial concerns in Columbia, Bahamas, Panama and the United States, to be very candid when discussing their findings with the authorities.
Ex-President Serano who described their visit as a special mission, said members of the delegation would also act as agents of development for Ghana.
"We are ready to bring down improved and appropriate technology and establish joint partnerships with Ghanaians," the former Guatemalan President, now a businessman and a religious executive said.
He expressed satisfaction with the response of the Ghanaian authorities so far, saying it shows how serious the country is in its economic drive.
Mr Serano, however, said he had noticed some shortcomings in the economic development process which he would like to discuss in private with the presidency for improvement.
He assured Ghanaians that his group meant genuine business.
Members of the group took turns to seek clarifications on issues bordering on their respective sectors and made suggestions.
Since they arrived on Monday, they have met officials from the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, the ministries of Trade and Industry, and Agriculture, as well as some private entrepreneurs.
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