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Bold steps needed to place the continent’s

growth on recovery path

Climate Disruption Development Disruption15th DELHI SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

Chad: The hearT of afriCa

MadagasCar:The eighTh ConTinenT

all The sCoop aBouT KaTy perry

india gives ghana $150m line of credit for agriculture

Wassupafrica02

Telecom Namibia to complete phase 1 of fibre grid in Q1

Indian agro-processor eyes Rwandan market

Telecom Namibia has stated that plans are at an advanced stage to construct a fibre-based network to connect all regional capitals in the country. Telecom Namibia’s senior manager of corporate communications, Oiva Angula, said that the construction of the primary fibre route to connect regional administrative capitals is already completed. This is according to The Namibian.

“Construction of a secondary fibre route to 12 regional administrative capitals is also done. The outstanding link is scheduled to be completed in March. The secondary route is

Arjun Beeswax lndustries, an India-based agro-processing firm, will soon set up shop in Rwanda, Arjun Bheda, the managing partner, said in a statement.

Bheda said the firm was attracted to Rawanda by the country’s conducive investment climate and the vast opportunities it presents. He added that his confidence in the country was greatly boosted when he met Emmanuel Hategeka , the Ministry of Trade and lndustry permanent secretary, and Ernest Rwamucyo, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to India, at the Rwanda Booth during the recent Vibrant Gujarat 2015 Conference in Gandhinagar, India.

The Communications Authority of Kenya is seeking a consultant to identify regions facing challenges in access to ICT services as it prepares to implement the Universal Service Fund’s functions. According to the report, the CA received the first contribution of $1 million towards the Fund in August last year, setting the stage for initiating access programmes to bridge the communication gap in the country.

“The authority is required to ensure provision of universal services to all parts of the country including rural and other high cost areas,” said CA in a published notice. “Towards this, the authority is seeking services of a consultant to carry out an ICT access gaps study to identify gaps/high cost areas and establish the subsidy amount required from the Universal Service Fund to facilitate closing the voice and data services gaps.” Mobile telephone companies, radio and television stations and other ICT related firms are expected to contribute 0.5 per cent of their gross revenue towards the Universal Service Fund. According to CA’s latest data, mobile phone service subscriptions stood at 32.8 million for the period July to September 2014 being the first quarter of financial year 2014/2015; translating to a mobile penetration rate of 80.5 per cent.

However, the number of courier outlets, which had stagnated for more than a year, improved significantly during the quarter to 788 outlets, from 707 outlets recorded in the previous quarter. According to The Star, CA said in the notice, that the consultant will be expected to propose a strategy to address the identified communication gaps and the time it will take to do so.

The state agency faced various challenges for over two years prior to receiving the first contribution last year, the biggest being a disagreement with telecom operators over composition of the USF board.

ITNews Africa

A former boss of Ghana Real Estates Developers Association (GREDA), Dr Alexander Tweneboah, and nine others have been arrested by an Anti-Telecommunication Fraud taskforce in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service with support from SUBAH Info Solutions Ghana Limited.

The other nine suspects are Ebenezer Boateng, Victor Owusu, Kwadwo Asare, Emmanuel Kofi Essilfie, Edmond Essilfie, Kwaku Appiah, Alvin Habib, Francis Abbey and David Ayitsi. Dr Tweneboah was arrested alongside others in his house at Baatsona in Accra. The suspects were said to have caused financial loss to the state to the tune of over $33 million. The suspects, including two foreign nationals, were arrested for allegedly engaging in illegal SIM box operations in various locations in Accra, Tema, Koforidua and Kumasi in the Greater Accra, Eastern and the Ashanti Regions respectively. The arrests were made possible through

important to ensure that the regional administrative capitals remain connected in cases of failures on the primary route,” Angula told The Namibian.

Angula said planning for Nkurenkuru as the administrative capital for new Kavango West region was finalised and work is scheduled to start as soon as the regional council premises have been constructed.

The fibre-based network project is being rolled out in phases with the first phase involving the establishment of the core network to connect the central government to the administrative capitals of all 14 regions.

“During this phase of the project, Telecom Namibia has invested about N$70 million. This phase is scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2015, depending on a number of factors outside Telecom Namibia’s control,” this is according to Angula.

Since inception, Telecom has invested N$ 4.2 billion in infrastructure, services and business support systems, Angula concluded.

ITNews Africa

CA seeks to identify ICT access gaps

Mobile subscriptions rise above 30 Million

According to latest statistics from Ghana’s regulator the National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana’s mobile phone subscriptions grew by 0.47 percent in December 2014 to 30.6 million from 30.22 million in November.

According to the report, MTN’s subscriber base increased marginally from 13,666,766 during the previous month to 13,852,398 during the period under review representing a 1.35%

increase. Their market share also increased to 45.63% from 45.23% in November.

Similarly, Tigo’s subscriber base increased to 4,133,760 from 4,100,172 representing an increase of 0.81%. For the same period, Tigo’s market share increased likewise from 13.57% in November to 13.62%. With their market share increasing from 4.76% in

November to 4.78%, Glo’s subscriber base also recorded a figure of 1,450,382 from 1,437,400, a decrease of 0.9%.

Vodafone’s subscriber base decreased from 7,137,501 during the previous month to 7,069,516 during the period under review indicating a 0.95% loss. Their market share also decreased to 23.29% from 23.62% in the previous month.

In the same line, Airtel’s subscriber base also decreased to 3,735,656 from

3,756,656 representing a decrease of 0.55%. Airtel’s market share decreased from 12.43% in November to 12.30% marginally.

Expresso ended the year with a subscriber base of 119,059, down from the previous month’s figure of 120,667. This represented a market share of 0.39% for the CDMA network.

ITNews Africa

Bheda noted that the ISO 9001: 2008 certified company would trade under the Arjun Beeswax Industries Rwanda Limited brand once they set up shop in Kigali.

According to Clarence Fernandes, the Rwanda Development Board India representative, the company is one of the manufacturers, exporters and suppliers of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and industrial waxes.

Fernandes pitched to Bheda about Rwanda’s attractive business environment and the immense opportunities in the country during the recently-concluded business conference in the Asian country.

New Times

GREDA Boss Arrested Over $33m Sim Box Fraud

the Joint Anti-Telecom Fraud Task force made up of detectives from the CID Headquarters, officials from the National Communications Authority (NCA), the various telecom service providers in Ghana, and with technical support from SUBAH. Subah deployed its sophisticated gadgets to locate the suspects from their hideouts where they were caught red handed.

The operations started on December 26, 2014 before Subah Infosolutions brought its sophisticated equipment on Thursday, January 8, 2015 to complement existing devices.

Items retrieved from the suspects included thousands of different SIM cards, SIM box equipment, heavy duty batteries, SIM Servers, 4G Modems, printers, laptops and assorted scratched cards. COP Agblor, while describing the arrest as one of the biggest and most successful operations embarked upon by the taskforce as far as SIM box fraud was concerned, said, 'All the suspects arrested so far

in connection with the illegal SIM box activities have been arraigned before court and remanded into police custody pending further investigation.'

He said the taskforce was determined to pursue SIM Box fraudsters and other criminals operating in the country, and called on the general public to co-operate with the police by reporting activities of anyone engaged in such a criminal act within their communities. He said the participation of Subah in the all-important exercise was by virtue of the fact that they had a contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to monitor both local and foreign inbound calls for the purposes of checking leakages in national revenue. The Managing Director of Subah Infosolutions, Birenda Sasmal, disclosed that 'assisting regulatory and security agencies to effect the arrest of these fraudsters is one of the many ways Subah is helping reduce revenue loss to the Government and people of Ghana. Subah remains committed to facilitating effective telecom resource mobilisation for national development.'

ModernGhana

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

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In order to achieve Africa’s socioeconomic transformation, the continent’s leaders have to embrace new thinking, and break with the past, according to Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank.

Kaberuka urged leaders to follow in the footsteps of Ethiopia’s late Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, whose zeal to reform his land saw him assess the country’s experience, create a growth plan while establishing viable policies to enhance development.

“He had the determination to build upon the country’s own experience, assessing any outside advice against that experience, not vice-versa. He had the stamina to see through a strategy, even if unpopular in the short term. These are all traits of a transformational leader,” observed Kaberuka. The Bank President was presenting his inaugural lecture during the launch of Meles Zenawi Foundation at the sidelines of the just concluded African in Addis Ababa.

Kaberuka noted Ethiopia’s steady growth over the years, a result of the radical steps undertaken by its late leader. “In 1991, Ethiopia was one of Africa’s least developed economies, exhausted by communist ideology

Namibia will start tapping markets and investors to finance a five-year, N$223 billion($19 billion) development plan as early as next year as the country seeks to become a regional transport hub.

The southwest African nation's government has said it will finance N$73 billion of the budget and use a variety of methods to raise the rest of the money for ports, railways, roads and airport upgrades.

"The best way to address these funding needs is to pursue various alternatives including public-private partnerships and listed infrastructure funds, among others," Emma Haiyambo, a spokeswoman for the Bank of Namibia in Windhoek said.

The government will come up with a way to "encourage the participation of private financiers and investors, both locally and internationally," to participate in the development fund raising, Haiyambo said.

Namibia's economy will grow by 5.6 percent in 2015, up from 5.3 percent this year, buoyed by construction, retail trade, diamond mining and manufacturing, the central bank said on Dec. 12.

Namibia has started a 45 billion Namibian dollar mass housing program to provide homes to low-income earners and increase energy generation. Work on some of the transportation projects is expected to start next year, the central bank's Haiyambo said.-Bloomberg

oshili24

Namibia eyes N$223 billion development plan

The 15th edition of the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit

structured by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) was held at the Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi. The summit which was held from February 5-7, 2015 was dedicated on deliberating ‘Sustainable Development Goals and Dealing with Climate Change’. The summit witnessed a pool of distinguished speakers from a wide gamut of backgrounds. Politicians, Diplomats, Corporates, Government Officials, media, NGOs, activists and people from the student community marked their attendance at the enlightening event.

The event kicked off with a High Level Corporate Dialogue titled “Delhi to Paris: Corporate Vision on Climate Change”. Leaders from around the world came together to converse how businesses can lead the way to sustainable development.

The main event which started on February 5th, 2015, saw a number of prominent personalities debating the issue of sustainable development. Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California and who was representing R20 Regions of Climate Change, urged the world community to “not just talk but act”. He was full of praises for the Lighting a Billion Lights initiative, and also commended India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for his earnest efforts in bringing about a solar revolution in Gujarat. Other dignitaries present at the event were HE Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, France and the future Chairman of COP 21, Mr. Prakash Javadekar, Hon’ble Minister of State for

Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India, Nobel Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi and such others.

Issues like the need for mitigation in Energy supply sector, generating finances for projects focusing on Sustainable development, and educating the youth about sustainable development was discussed. Stress was laid on collective action of both public and private sectors in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This event actually presented an exceptional podium to further the developmental discourse on ‘Sustainable Development Goals and Dealing with Climate Change’, the theme this year. The DSDS 2015 assumes significance as the post-2015 development agenda is being finalized - the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is expected to adopt the new set of goals in September 2015 and the climate negotiations (Conference of Parties – CoP21) will be held Paris later this year.

Dr R K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI, said: “The IPCC reports have proved beyond doubt that if we don’t take immediate measures, the future will be catastrophic. But climate change also offers an opportunity of co-benefits – investing in clean and affordable energy sources like solar and wind power can curb greenhouse gas emissions, and clean transportation systems such as trains and cycling can reduce air pollution woes and improve public health. DSDS is a reaffirmation of the support that TERI receives from across the globe.”

Said Mr Prakash Javadekar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, India: “Growth has brought in a scenario where inequities are growing. This has to be taken up in the development discourse. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that we are suffering due to the pressures created by climate change. We have the responsibility to improve the lives of the future generations. We have already taken the clean energy path – we have enhanced our renewable energy commitments and launched smart

cities.”“All countries have been

affected by air pollution. Clean air must be a birthright for all. We need to work towards clean air, water and energy for all,” Mr Javadekar added.

Said Mr Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Railways, India: “Climate change is a scientific reality. If we delay action, the repercussions will be disastrous. We need to find a unified solution to tackle climate change innovatively. We need to move towards a low carbon economy and this has the potential to create new employment opportunities.”

Delivering the special address, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger, Founding Chair, R20 – Regions

of Climate Change, & Former Governor, California, said: “Climate change is no science fiction. We need both a bottom up and a top down approaches. India will be a major player in the climate negotiations. We need action, not hesitation.”

“We need to find innovative solutions to problems such as indoor air pollution. TERI’s Lighting a Billion Lives campaign has illustrated new solutions, providing solar lanterns as a clean alternative to the polluting kerosene lamps,” added Mr Schwarzenegger.

Delivering the inaugural address, HE Mr Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International D e v e l o p m e n t , France, & Former Prime Minister, France, & President, COP 21, said: “2015 will be a decisive milestone for climate change and

sustainable development. The scientific community has done its job. Now governments and the corporate sector must play its part. If you accept climate disruption, then there will be a development disruption.”

Said Dr Annapurna Vancheswaran, Director, Sustainable Development Outreach Division, TERI: “DSDS is the foremost forum to deliberate on critical environmental and developmental problems. Having been part of every edition of the DSDS, I can say the journey has been fascinating.”

At a special session ‘Leaders’ Speak’, Nobel Laureate Prof. Yuan Tseh Lee, President Emeritus and Distinguished Research Fellow,

after decades of feudal rule; a poster child of poverty and recurrent famines.” But by the time Meles passed away in 2012, Ethiopia was a net exporter of food. It was already a net energy exporter, attracting massive investments and laying a basis for industrialisation.

According to Kaberuka, Meles’ legacy is a challenge to other leaders, illustrating what happens when a country takes charge of its own destiny.

“While we know what can impede development, our knowledge of how development happens requires a deep level of modesty not assisted by a fundamentalist approach to complex political economy issues,” Kaberuka said.

AfDB

Bold steps needed to place the continent’s growth on recovery path, says Kaberuka

The government of India has given Ghana a $150 million line of credit to support the country's agriculture sector, according to a report by the Indo-Asian News Service.

According to the report, the fund would go to support the implementation of an Agricultural Mechanisation Service Centre (AMSEC), and the projects are intended to provide farmers in the country with affordable and timely access to farm machinery.

Ghana's Interior Minister, Mark Owen Woyongo was cited in the report to have said India has also provided another $30 million line of credit to be used for the rehabilitation and upgrade of potable water in Yendi in the northern region.

India gives Ghana $150m line of credit for agriculture

Under the AMSEC project, farmers will benefit in their land preparation with planters for precision planting, boom sprayers and pumps for proper crop maintenance, and combine harvesters for effective harvesting. Other goals of the AMSEC programme

are to increase the low number of tractor to farmer ratio as well as reduce the drudgery and tediousness associated with manual farming operations, the report noted. Agriculture is a very important contributor to Ghana's economy, offering employment to about 60 percent of the population and contributing 22 percent to GDP in 2013, a drop in the 2009 figure of 31.8 percent.

Ghana-India bilateral relations have been going on for nearly sixty years. So far, the Indian government has extended lines of credit amounting to $224 million to the Ghana government for various developmental projects, according to information available from the Indian government.

Modern Ghana

Academia Sinica, said: “Climate change is the biggest enemy of the planet. It cannot be solved by the scientific community, but by everybody. To be successful, we have to be organized and work together. Population explosion and consumption explosion has overloaded the Earth with many dangers. We need to wake up to this crisis.”

Said Nobel Laureate Mr Kailash Satyarthi, Founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan & Chairperson, Global March Against Child Labour, India: “A large number of girls have been abducted and taken hostage by the ISIS. Parents said that they sent their girls in uniform, but they returned in coffins.”

Headed by Dr R K Pachauri, also the chairperson of the Nobel Peace Prize winning climate change body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), TERI has emerged as an institution of excellence for its path-breaking research, and is a global brand widely respected by political leaders, policymakers, corporate entities as well as the civil society at large.

Cultural programs followed the panel discussions on Day 1 and Day 2 of the event. Two Publications named, Global Sustainable Development Report and Energy Security Outlook were also launched during the event.

HSH Albert II, Prince of Monaco and UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, also addressed the event through video messages.

The event was an outstanding endeavor to bring together all the communities and engage them in dialogues to bring the world out of the turmoil that is Climate Change.

Mark Owen Woyongo, Interior Minister, Ghana

President of the African Development Donald Kaberuka

mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

financial assistance to Chad to help build its sectors and stabilize its economy.

Invest in ChadChad suffers from political

instability and the problem of refugees. The country still boasts of a promising future. A significant oil and mining industry is still waiting to be explored. The government introduced various economic reforms to promote investments in the country.

Chad’s major export is livestock herded to neighboring countries. Cattle, sheep, goats, are exported to neighboring countries. Chad also exports smoked and dried fish to some of its neighbors. Besides million dollar worth of gum Arabic is exported to US and European nations.

Investment in the mining sector and cotton industry could prove beneficial for the economic development of the country. Vast reserves of uranium and gold makes it an attractive sector for investment. Easy availability of raw material due to large scale production of cotton will make it easy to set up production units.

countryoftheWeek04

Situated in central Africa, Chad is a semi-desert country bordered by Libya,

Sudan, The Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger. Chad has rich reserves of gold and Uranium and also benefits from the recent status of oil-exporting state.

Divided into various geographical zones, and housing over 200 different ethnic and linguistic groups, Chad faces a number of issues including inadequate infrastructure. Chad’s main drawback is its geographical location.

Traditional FarmingAgriculture is the mainstay

of Chad’s economy. The sector’s contribution to the GDP of the country is around 57%. The population mainly practices subsistence farming, with the exception of cotton production, small scale sugarcane and peanut production. This sector provides regular and seasonal employment to more than 80% of the working population.

Oil- Driving Chad’s growth

The economy grew at an estimated 3.4% in 2013, and was expected to grow at a rate of 11.2% in 2014 thanks to the upcoming oil fields in the country, although the fluctuating oil prices can lead to stability problems in the economic structure of the country. The nation's total oil reserves are estimated at 1.5 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004.

International Organizations like The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and The African Development Bank has provided

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The World Bank, IMF, AfDB and many other international organizations have provided assistance to Chad to help develop its economy. An oil pipeline was set up under the Chad-Cameroon Development Project with the assistance of World Bank, in return the two countries promised to monitor environment conditions which is a major issue in both the areas.

Doing Business in ChadA number of reforms by the

government of Chad has helped improve the business scenario of the country. The government encourages Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), thus there are very less formal restrictions. Infrastructure sector needs investment in Chad.

The National Investment Charter of 2008 offers incentives for foreign companies establishing operations in Chad, including three years of tax-exempt status. Chadian law guarantees the rights of foreign and domestic entities to establish and own business enterprises and to engage in remunerative activities, and the

National Investment Charter offers the possibility of full foreign ownership for all companies in Chad, with the exception of those affecting national security.

Transparency is encouraged in the business environment, for example tenders of foreign investments in state-owned enterprises are done through

open international bidding process. The government has also set up a one stop agency, National Agency for Investment and Export (ANIE), for filing all the legal formalities needed to start a business. Setting up of ANIE has made setting up of business a less time consuming task.

Chad has also partnered with the GOC signing contracts individually designed to facilitate investment in various sectors.

Regionally, Chad is surrounded by countries in conflict. The government is however working proactively towards changing this scenario. Investments in all the sectors are being encouraged with a number of reforms and programs aimed at assisting the major sections of the economy. The growth prospects for the country looks good. To seize and make best use of the economic opportunities that global value chains offer, Chad needs to create structural policies around key players and elements.

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ChADThe Heart of Africa

Chad aT a GLaNCEOfficial Name: The Republic of ChadCapital: N’DjamenaOfficial Languages: French, ArabicGDP growth (%): 9.6% (2014 estimate) Time Zone: WAT (UTC +1)Area: 1.28 million sq. kmPopulation: 11.8 million (2012 estimate)

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

BusinessBuzz 05Bank Group and JICA hold talks to push co-financing programmes forward

Microfinance institution to expand beyond tea sector

The African Development Bank Group, January 30, 2015 in Abidjan, received Hiroshi Kato, Japan International Cooperation Agency Vice-President, on a courtesy visit to the institution. Vice-President Kato and his delegation – which included JICA’s Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Yonezaki Eiro; and Kojima Umi, Programme Director for Côte d’Ivoire – held talks with AfDB Infrastructure Vice-President (OIVP) Solomon Asamoah.

The meeting explored areas of cooperation and how best JICA and the Bank Group would push forward co-financing of infrastructure, transport, ICT projects through private-sector operations.

“There are many private sector opportunities and interests in terms of financing projects in Africa,” Vice-President Asamoah told the delegation. “The sustainable development of Africa is one of the common concerns of the Bank Group and JICA. It is thus imperative for the two parties to join hands, with a view to developing the African private sector to accelerate economic growth and create jobs.”

JICA Vice-President Kato, who has recently moved from heading JICA’s Research Institute to the Vice-Presidency in charge of the Africa

Greenland Fedha Limited (GFL), a microfinance institution for small-scale tea farmers in Kenya, has implemented a new software solution to improve its efficiency

and remain competitive in the market. According to the institution, it had chosen the Microsoft Dynamics NAV platform.

With the system in place, GFL revealed that the system had not only automated its processes, but also enabled it to develop a mobile payment solution.

GFL is wholly owned by the Kenya Tea D e v e l o p m e n t Agency (KTDA) Holdings and provides financial

Department, recalled that he knows Abidjan very well, having served in Côte d’Ivoire earlier in his career.

“The Bank and JICA share a long history of friendship and partnership based on common values and mutual interests,” he said. The Bank’s principal engagement with JICA falls under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA) Initiative. EPSA loan components funded by JICA include the Accelerated Co-financing Facility (ACFA). Under ACFA, JICA co-finances projects with the Bank’s public sector, with the Transport and Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and the Energy, Environment and Climate Change departments, and in African Development Fund (“green light”) countries on ADF terms. JICA lends

The world’s leading international express services provider, has won a

record number of external awards for its business in Sub Saharan Africa in 2014 – almost triple that of 2013 – demonstrating the success from its 2014 strategy to create greater service quality and increase employee engagement.

In 2014, DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa received a total of 61 awards from external parties such as government bodies, trade associations and the media.

The recognition from industry leaders is a testament of the business’ successes in customer service delivery, employee engagement, contribution to corporate social responsibility, as well as its commitment to provide excellent service quality in the region. This is an increase of 178%, up from the 22 awards received in 2013.

Charles Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, says that the company’s vision to be The Logistics Company for the World is not just about the strong network and the number of countries or territories DHL is present in, but also how customers and the general public perceive the company.

DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa was named Top Employer 2015 in Africa by the Top

DhL Express Sub Saharan Africa wins a record number of awards in 2014

Employers Institute for the company’s outstanding employee offerings across the region.

This is in addition to six African countries – South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Ghana that were also certified as Top Employers in their local markets.

When looking at the various countries’ awards leader board, Nigeria and South Africa ranked in the majority of the awards with 13 and 12 awards respectively, followed by Kenya (6), Uganda (5) and Zimbabwe (4).

Other awards won in 2014 include the Visionaries of Uganda Award bestowed by the Government of Uganda for DHL’s contribution to social-economic transformation, Jobberman’s 100 best places to work Award in Nigeria, Silver International Business Stevie Award for their PR success across the continent and the South Africa Transport and Logistics Award at the Topco National Business Awards.

“At DHL, in an industry that never sleeps, where we genuinely believe in the pursuit of excellence, we will continue our investment and expansion in Africa, we will continue to strive for excellence for our people, our staff and our environment, and ensure that 2015 is a truly great year for us,” concludes Brewer.

African Herald Express

to the Bank Group on concessional terms for on-lending through the non-sovereign window.

In October 2014, the Bank Group received a delegation, led by the Japanese Finance Ministry, with the specific objective of identifying the pipeline of ACFA candidate projects for 2015-2016, in order to reach the $2 billion second-phase target by year-end 2016. The mission was successful for both sides and in excess of $1 billion of projects have been identified. Friday’s technical meeting included AfDB Private Sector Department Director Kodeidja Diallo, Energy, Environment and Climate Change Director Alex Rugamba and OIVP Adviser Alassane Ba, and their respective teams.

AfDB

services to the tea sub sector in the country. According to GFL, the institution is unique in that it offers its loan recipients the option to apply for and repay their loans using green leaf as collateral, with specific formulas in place to work out the interest and repayment rate. The manual system it had in place, prior to the installation of the new system, was cumbersome to log loans, work out interest rates, manage inventory and run the business effectively. This made it challenging to compete with commercial banks and other microfinance lenders.

Most notably, GFL was able to build a mobile payment solution with the help of the latest system.

“This has changed the way we operate because we are now able to get money to farmers regardless of whether they have a bank account or how remote their farms are – by simply paying the money directly into their mobile phones. It’s also now possible for our customers to access the system on the go and work out

their qualifying loan amount and repayment installment,” explains Waiharo. The mobile solution has been such a success that GFL has developed a separate mobile sales unit. Kunle Awosika, Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya says,

“A recent study from the Boston Consulting Group states that SMEs that embrace technology can increase revenues 15 percentage points faster and create jobs almost twice as fast. SMEs like GFL are contributing to a growing economy across the world and especially an economy like Kenya, where their contribution adds about 40% to the GDP”.

According to Waiharo, “Thanks to GFL’s implementation of the latest system, the MFI sales volume has increased and its business processes have become more streamlined, flexible and efficient. The software’s scalability also means that GFL can progress with its future plans to build its versatile mobile banking platform that is can expand beyond the tea sector.

ITNews Africa

mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

fRaNkLY sPeaKinG06

By kirit soBti, editor, iateditor@indoafricatimes.com

“With oil as a shot in the arm, we’re going to fly.” These stimulating lines were said by John

Kufuor, former President of Ghana. This statement was made with an anticipation

to develop the then almost non-existent oil and gas sector of Ghana. The country has since made huge strides in the sector.

Ghana is among the first countries to gain freedom in Africa. A moderately stable political system and economy

is what makes Ghana a striking destination for economic activities. Oil

was found in commercial quantities in Ghana in the year 2007 and Oil production

was officially launched in 2010. The area where the oil production started was named as “Jubilee

Field”. The country has since discovered other major commercial oil developing sites as well.

The oil and gas sector has added enormously to the economic well-being of Ghana. By the end of 2013 almost 110,000 barrels per day were produced in the Jubilee Oil Field in Ghana. The expansion of Ghana’s oil section has created a number of job opportunities thus helping the Ghanaian population. The evolving of the oil industry in Ghana has had an optimistic impression on the economy.

The Italian group Eni, Vitol and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) have recently signed with the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, and the Minister of Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the agreement to continue with the OCTP integrated oil & gas project in Ghana.

The OCTP licence encompasses five fields: Sankofa Main, Sankofa East, Gye Nyame, Sankofa East Cenomanian, and Sankofa East Campanian. The development is located in the Offshore Cape Three Points, (OCTP) licence covers around 60 km offshore of the Ghanaian coast.

Vitol, one of the world’s leading commodities traders, is to ripen a $7bn offshore oil and gas project in Ghana with ENI, the Italian energy group. The development, called Offshore Cap Three Point, will produce 15 years’ worth of gas for Ghana’s domestic power stations as well as crude oil for sale on international markets. It is the largest project backed by foreign investment in Ghana since the country gained independence in the 1950s.

“Last year it was anticipated that foreign direct investments into Africa amounted to some $53.3 billion. This current agreement that has been signed for the investment in offshore Cape Three Points is to the tune of $7 billion, “President John Mahama said.

“That’s about 12 percent of the total $53.3 billion.”General Electric (GE) Ghana has also dedicated

$3.5m for capacity-building in the oil and gas industry in Ghana. GE is anticipated to work in partnership with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Ashesi University to build capacity for the country’s nascent oil and gas sector.

Worth to mention, Yinson Holdings Bhd, Malaysia's oil and gas services firm has secured a $2.54 billion floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel charter contract for oil and gas support operations in Ghana. Yinson said it won the contract,

I am delighted that Ghana’s next big oil project is on track to achieve its mid-2016 target for First Oil. I commend Tullow and its partners on progress to date and implore them to maintain this momentum for the second half of the project.

Claudio desCalzi CEO, ENI

emmanuel armah-Kofi BuahMinister of Energy and Petroleum, Ghana

Climbing another step in the ladder, the government of Ghana, ENI and Vitol entered into a profitable partnership endeavoring to initiate work on the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP), oil and gas project offshore of Ghana. Located at approximately 60 km (37 miles) from the Ghanaian Western Region’s coast, the new project is composed of oil and non-associated gas fields, and will access nearly 1.45 Tcf of gas and 5 MM barrels of oil in place.

Communicating their considerations on the partnership, the government of Ghana expressed that the project would cost around $7 billion and award an additional 1,100 megawatts to the prevailing power infrastructure, which has fought to meet the country’s mounting demand. H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana conveyed that the investment for the OCTP project denoted 12% of the total Foreign Direct Investment for Africa in 2015.

Worth mentioning, the five unassociated gas fields connected to the OCTP project contain sufficient gas to continuously supply Ghana’s thermal power sector until 2036. Vitol articulated, the gas will supply both new and current power plants, replacing crude oil and fuel oil thereby providing an environmentally cleaner and more proficient fuel source for the country.

Initially, oil and gas production will be phased through 2017 and beginning of 2018, with oil production anticipated to touch around 80 MBOEPD in 2019. Bearing an endeavor to maximize the effects of the project, Ghana’s Ministry of Energy has committed to grow the gas transmission system in the country with compression stations and connections to industrial users.

OCTP operates at a depth of 600-1,000 meters (2,000-3,200 feet). The fields will be shaped by way of sub-sea production systems positioned on the sea bed and the oil and gas are fetched to the surface by flowlines and risers connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Another Block added to build Ghana’s Oil & Gas sector

The OCTP development is a robust integrated oil and gas project that will provide the reliable energy source needed to accelerate the economic growth of Ghana by delivering a domestic solution to feed the power sector. The sanction of this significant project comes after less than two years from the completion of a successful exploration campaign.

The oil and gas sector has added enormously to the economic well-being of Ghana. The expansion of Ghana’s oil section has created a number of job opportunities thus helping the Ghanaian population.

for a firm charter period of 15 years with 5-yearly extension options exercisable by the clients, from ENI SpA's unit in Ghana, according to a local stock exchange filing.

The contract would contribute to its revenue and earnings beginning financial year ending Jan. 31, 2018, it added.

Ghana’s second major oil development, the Tullow Oil-led TEN Project has fruitfully passed the 50% overall completion stage recently. The project, which is developing the Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) oil fields off the coast of Ghana’s Western Region, is on track for First Oil in mid-2016.

The floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which will receive and store the oil, is under construction in Singapore and remains on schedule to arrive in Ghanaian waters in February 2016. Key parts of the FPSO were fabricated by various Ghanaian companies and have been installed on the FPSO. The TEN fields are expected to produce oil for around 20 years.

Ghana produces oil of the highest quality. The crude oil produced in Ghana has an API Gravity of 37.6 degrees and a sulphur content of 0.25% (weight). Crude oils of this quality are attractive for world market and can compete with the international price reference oils.

Ghana’s oil and gas sector is steadily on the rise, with it producing 115,000-200,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 140 million-200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day in the first and second quarters of 2013.

Jubilee fields is the largest oil field in Ghana. Tullow, a UK based company

holds 36.05% stake in

Jubilee, while Ghana

National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) holds 13.75% stakes in

the oil field. Tullow is

investing in a number of other oil

development projects in Ghana. By far, most of the oil

production in Ghana is done offshore. GNPC expects oil production from the oil

fields that have already reached exploratory and appraisal phase, to reach 600,000 bpd by

2018.Legislation of Ghana’s oil and gas industry is

administered by the Petroleum, Exploration and Production Law of 1984 (PNDCL 84) which authorizes GNPC to operate in all open acreage of the country on its own or in association with foreign partners. GNPC is responsible for exploration and development of the hydrocarbon resources of the nation and also procurement, storage and bulk distribution of petroleum products.

Ghana is also among the four West African countries housing an oil refinery. The Tema Oil Refinery has a capacity of 45,000 barrels per day. Around 70% of commercial energy needs are met by the oil-derived products, current consumption being somewhere around 950,000 tons per annum. Increasing power demand and domestic consumption creates a need to produce more and more energy which has led to the government setting up more projects.

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

traVeL&touRism 07

Madagascar, also known as the Malagasy Republic, is positioned in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa. Being one of the last countries to be inhabited by humans, Madagascar is

recognized for its ecological exquisiteness and diversity. It is home to thousands of exotic plants and animal species, which cannot be found anywhere in the world. Its spectacular natural diversity has earned it the label of the ‘eighth continent’.

It is true, Madagascar’s ecological diversity is what makes it diverse from the rest of the world, 5% of plants and animals known can be found in Madagascar and in Madagascar alone. The topography is also praiseworthy, one can go from rainforest to desert in just 300 km. The country is truly a natural phantasmagoria. Madagascar is a bliss for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.

The Enthralling Climatic ScenarioMadagascar experiences a hot rainy season (November to April) and

a cooler dry season (May-October). This is due to the combination of southeastern trade winds and northwestern monsoons. Heavy rainfall is responsible for the country’s survival and existence of country’s rainforests.

Madagascar is particularly blessed with a wide diversity of flora and fauna. Almost 90% of wildlife found in Madagascar is endemic, including the lemurs. The island is also a biodiversity hotspot, thus making it all the more importance in reference to the climatic scenario of the world.

In Madagascar…Madagascar is a dreamland for tourists who love to spend their

vacations in the lap of nature. From national parks to beaches to historical villages, Madagascar has it all. 1. Ranomafana National Park: It is the most popular national park in

Madagascar, located in the southeastern region of Madagascar, near the village of Ranomafana. The eastern part of the park is spectacular with many streams splashing through the park. The park is also home to many endangered species, including the golden bamboo lemur.

2. Masoala National Park: Spread over an area of 250 miles of rainforests and consisting of three marine parks as well, Masoala National Park is situated in northeastern Madagascar. The park houses a large species of flora and fauna. Aye-aye, the world’s largest nocturnal primate is also found in Masoala. The tomato frog, distinctly known for its red color is also found in this park. The three marine parks are an ideal place for snorkeling and kayaking.

3. Royal Hill of Ambohimanga: An historical village that is considered very sacred by the people of Madagascar, Ambohimanga was once

home to the royal; family of Madagascar. The village is surrounded by a wall made of mortar, which was made of lime and egg shells. The home of former king Andrianampoinimerina is made of solid rosewood and the compound also houses artifacts like drums, weapons and talismans.

4. Avenue of the Baobabs: One of the most visited tourist destinations in Madagascar, the avenue of Baobabs is situated along a dirt road between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina in western Madagascar. It is a group of trees, which have a strange shape. The Baobab trees originated some 800 years ago and were earlier found in dense forests, the clearing of forests for agriculture has left only the Baobabs.

5. Nosy Be: If you are looking to spend some time in peace and tranquility then Nosy Be is the place for you. The beaches of Nosy Be may not be picture perfect but are still a favourite tourist spot known for their quite environment, clear turquoise water and excellent seafood restaurants.

6. Tsingy de Bemaraha: Madagascar’s largest natural reserve, Tsingy de Bemaraha is situated in the southern part of Madagascar. The park features a broad range of mangrove forests. The word ‘tsingy’ means pinnacles in reference to the peaks of the limestone plateau.

7. Ile Sainte Marie: The Island is one of the celebrated tourist attractions of Madagascar. The island enticed pirates in the 17th and 18th century and the wrecks of ships can still be seen in the waters of the Baie des Forbans. This is an ideal spot for snorkeling and spotting migrating humpback whales which visit the island during summers.

The Malagasy FoodMalagasy cuisine is inclined by Southeast Asian, Chinese, India, African

and European cuisines. Rice is the staple food all over Madagascar. Zebu or beef steaks are famous in Madagascar and are usually served with a creamy green peppercorn sauce. Seafood also dominates the cuisine of the region, with lobster and shellfish being the most famous one. Pizza is a famous all over the island country.

Street snacks include slices of coconut and peanuts in a sweet coconut or toffee coating, koba (banana, peanuts and rice, ground to a paste, wrapped in a banana leaf and served in slices), sambos (samosas) or nems (spring rolls) are famous street snacks in Madagascar.

Romazava (a type of beef stew), Ravitoto (pork served with shredded cassava leaves), Varanga (fried slivers of beef), Sesika (a sort of poultry blood sausage), Vorivorin-kena (beef tripe), Smalona (stuffed eels), Lasary (a colourful chutney usually made from lemon, mango or papaya - or sometimes tomato, peanuts or vegetables), Khimo (curried ground beef popular in Majunga), Kabaro (lima beans with curry or coconut, a speciality in Morondava) are the special delicacies of the region.

Malagasy cuisine is not generally hot and spicy, but a local relish known as sakay is always available to spice up the dish. Sakay ranges from mildly hot to cataclysmically spicy, thus it is advised to be cautious before testing it.

MadagascarThe Eighth Continent

mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

taLkiNGtecHnoLoGy08

THE FOREMOST MEETING OF AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADERS

The chief executives of Africa’s largest companies have pledged to meet again at the third AFRICA CEO FORUM, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 16 and 17 March 2015. Since its creation in 2012, the AFRICA CEO FORUM has established itself as the foremost international event devoted to the African private sector and its corporate growth strategies. 800 people, including over 500 CEOs from all over Africa, 100 bankers and financiers and 200 prominent African and international figures are expected to attend the AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015, hosted by Groupe Jeune Afrique, the African Development Bank and Rainbow Unlimited. The AFRICA

CEO FORUM 2015 is an excellent opportunity for you to shape your strategy in line with Africa’s growth dynamic, to enhance your company’s competitiveness and to develop your business in an unparalleled African and international context.

THE ULTIMATE NETWORKING SPACE FOR INVESTORS AND CEOs

Specialists in banking, private equity and financial markets, as well as representatives of the world’s leading financial institutions, will gather at the AFRICA CEO FORUM, cementing its reputation as a must-attend event for top African business leaders and the most influential players in African and international

finance. What financing strategy should you opt for? What can you do to gain access to innovative financing solutions? How can you win the trust of international investors? For the CEOs attending, the AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015 is an ideal opportunity to tackle strategic issues and to network with the most active banks and investors in Africa.

GAIN STRATEGIC INSIGHTS AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

The AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015 offers a unique programme of plenary and knowledge sessions. Developed in partnership with business leaders and renowned African and international experts, it gives you the tools and the means to keep abreast the latest trends in your sector, sharpen your company’s competitive edge and facilitate its expansion into new markets in Africa and across the world. Whether through debates, knowledge sessions, BtoB meetings or networking sessions, the AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015 provides an excellent opportunity to share your experiences, build effective business relationships and engage with world-class experts on the strategies and practices needed to develop modern businesses. The AFRICA CEO FORUM 2015 is committed to promoting the African private sector, and as such provides an unparalleled opportunity to network with public decision makers and to

voice your opinions on the economic a n d i n d u s t r i a l p o l i c i e s b e i n g developed in your country, your region or in Africa more generally.

THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADERS

The AFRICA CEO FORUM is now the foremost international meeting of top African business leaders. It is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the strategic priorities of Africa’s private sector. As such, it attracts almost 800 participants every year, including high-ranking business people from Africa and all over the world.

The 2015 AFRICA CEO FORUM will take place on 16 and 17 March at the state-of the-art facilities of the InterContinental Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva enjoys an exceptional location right in the heart of Europe and is home to the headquarters of many international organisations, including the United Nations Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, the International Organisation of Employers and the International Labour Organisation.

The 2015 AFRICA CEO FORUM will provide an ideal arena for discussion. It is designed to facilitate networking and to

encourage participants to share their experience, know-how and best practices. Take part in the 2015 AFRICA CEO FORUM and enjoy:• outstanding networking

opportunities;• an innovative and practical

conference programme which addresses the issues that you care about most;

• unprecedented visibility in the African and international media.

5 REASONS TO TAKE PART!!• Expand your network of top-

level business contacts• Find new financial partners• Be a driving force in the

development of Africa’s private sector

• Discover and share the best practices of fast-growing companies

• Promote your company in Africa and abroad

INFORMATIONFor any enquiries regarding registration, please contact us at: register@theafricaceoforum.com For any enquiries regarding sponsorship, please contact us at: sponsors@theafricaceoforum.com

AFRICA CEO FORUMThe Foremost Meeting for African CEO's, Bankers and Investors

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

trysomethiNGNeW 09

ingredients 5-6 small Fresh line sweet potatoes, washed

and cut into wedges

• 45ml(3tbsp.)SPARSouthAfricanOliveOil +extra,toserve.45ml(3tbsp.)SPARbutter

• Saltandfreshlygroundblackpepper

• 200gFreshlinebabysaladleaves

• 2roundsSPARfetacheese

• 100gSPARpistachionuts,shelled

• SPARbalsamicglaze,toserve

UPCOMING

Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines….!!!

tHougHt oFtHe WeeK

Assessor Training for Business Excellence – Mysore

This event is organized by CII. This workshop will be very useful for organizations, as also for individual business managers leading the change process in their Organizations to become globally competitive and progress towards achieving Business Excellence and for those, who wish to contribute to the Award Assessment Process as Assessors, both within and outside the organization.

date: 18-21 February, 2015 Venue: Mysore, India

National Conference on Road Construction in India

This event is organizing by PHD Chamber. The main objective of the conference is to discuss and deliberate and offer solutions to regulatory, financial and technological issues concerning road construction in India.

date: 12 February, 2015 Venue: PHD House, New Delhi

India IT Show 2015

INDIASOFT would sharply focus on major industry segments that require software and services such as Business Services, Communications, Entertainment & IT, Finance, Banking & Insurance, Government & Public Services, Logistics & Distribution, Manufacturing, Oil, Gas & Mining, Retail Businesses, Educational & Scientific Institutions, Travel & Transport, IT Training etc. Therefore, the horizon of doing business at INDIASOFT is fairly well-spread and wide.

date: 12-13 Feb, 2015 Venue: Hotel Kempinski Ambience, New Delhi, India

World Petro Coal Congress 2015

World Petro Coal Congress 2015 is an international exhibition. It will be a unique platform where business leaders, investors, technology innovators, federal, state, and local government officials and university educators from across the world to address today’s most pressing issues and opportunities facing Petroleum, Coal, Gas and Unconventional hydrocarbons like Shale Gas, CBM and Gas hydrates sectors of Energy Industry.

date: 15-17 February, 2015 Venue: Convention Centre- NDCC, Parliament Street, New Delhi, India

National Arogya 2015

Jaipur is being organized with the objective to promote, propagate and showcases strengths and potential of Indian Systems of Medicines the research and development efforts in this sector and create awareness about remedies available in AYUSH to the general health problems and integrate the India medicinal systems with mainstream healthcare delivery structure.

date: 13– 16 February, 2015 Venue: SMS Investment Ground, Jaipur,Rajasthan,India.

prepration Method1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

2. Place the sweet potatoes in an oven tray.

3. Drizzlewitholiveoilandbutter,andseason.

4. Roastuntilcaramelizedandsoft,20–25minutes.

5. Set aside to cool slightly.

6. Toss the salad leaves, feta, pistachios and sweet potatoes together

7. Drizzlewitholiveoilandbalsamicglaze.

handy frenchBrain Teasers1. is it nearby? C’est près d’ici?2. Take me to this address,

please. Emmenez-moiàcetteadresse,

s’il vous plaît.3. on the menu. À la carte.4. in style/ trendy. À la mode5. i’m looking for an aTm / cash

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Tips To geT rid of Dark CirCles

Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in Africa; it is 355 feet high and one mile wide. Mr Jayant SInha, Hon'ble Minister of State for Finance, GoI, releases the TERI-BCSD-Yes Bank report, Ganga:

An Inclusive Multi-Stakeholder Approach during High Level Corporate Dialogue, DSDS 2015

piCTure of The weeK

almond oilAlmond oil is a great natural ingredient that is very beneficial for the delicate skinaroundyoureyes.Regularusageof almond oil will help fade your under eye circles.

1. Before going to bed, apply a little almond oil over the dark circles and gently massage it into the skin.

2. Leave it on overnight.

3. The next morning, wash it off with cold water.

4. Follow this remedy daily until the dark circles disappear.

CucumberCucumbers have skin-lightening and mild astringent properties that help fix those raccoon eyes naturally. Plus, they have a soothing and refreshing effect.

• Cut a fresh cucumber into thickslices and chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Put the slices onto the affected skin area for about 10 minutes. Wash the area with water.

• Anotheroptionistomixcucumberjuice with lemon juice in equal amounts. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture on the affected skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash it off with water.

raw potatoThere are natural bleaching agents present in potato that can help lighten dark circles and get rid of puffiness around the eyes.

• Grateoneor twochilledpotatoesto extract the juice. Soak a cotton ball in the juice and place it over your closed eyes. Make sure the juice covers the dark circles under your eyes as well as the eyelids. Allow the juice to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse your eyelids wellwith cool water. Repeat once ortwice daily for a few weeks.

• Instead of potato juice, you canalso use thick potato slices to remove dark circles.

rose waterRose water has incredible ingredientfor skin care. It rejuvenates the skin and has a soothing effect on tired eyes. Due to its mild astringent properties, it also works as a good skin toner.

• Soak cotton eye pads in pure rose water for a few minutes.

• Put the soaked pads on your closed eyelids.

• Leave them on for about 15 minutes.

• Follow this remedy twice daily for a few weeks.

When is 99 more than 100?

What two things can you never eat

for breakfast?

What tastes better than it smells?

What asks but never answers?

What is brown and sticky?

What goes in the water black and

comes out red?

During what month do people sleep

the least?

What can you catch but not throw?

What's orange and sounds like a

parrot?

What is the center of gravity?

Answers: A microwave, Lunch and dinner, a tongue, an owl, a stick, a lobster, February, cold, a carrot, “V”.

dispenser. Je cherche un distributeur de

billets.6. would you take our/ my

picture, please? Est-cequevousprendriez

notre/ma photo, s'il vous plaît?

7. The greatest thoughts come from the heart.

Les grandes pensées viennent du coeur.

mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

thefasHionistas10

From the inception of contemporary music forms influenced by hip culture, it is rare to see artistes of African origin make an impact and receive the needed attention from within the Scandinavian region. If for anything at all, they are only seen at little gigs within the sparsely populated African communities.

This is the jinx music group of Ghanaian descent, Tripple 2, vowed to break when the Afro Hip Hop group was formed as a professional music recording group five years ago in the Finnish capital of Vantaa.

Tripple 2 comprises of Ghanaian twin brothers, Atsu Akrong, with the stage name Akrong and Etse Akrong, whose stage name is CJ. The group has the talented Veikko Kerman as its official DJ. The group which started with gospel music derived its name from the Christian principle of the Trinity – God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Without a doubt, Tripple 2 is emerging as Europe’s biggest music group of African descent having toured with internationally acclaimed music superstars including Mario, Flo Rida and Lil John across the Scandinavian region, performing

Really,alleyesareontheWestAfricaFashion awards to be hosted in Lagos at the Oriental Hotel on the 29th of March, 2015. The "West Africa Fashion award" is a ceremony to be held annually in the West Africa to showcase West African designers and present awards to those who have made the most outstanding contributions to the fashion industry during the year. The main awards include that of Menswear Designer, womenswear Designer, Fashion Event of the year, Style award and Outstanding Contribution as well as awards to the 'most-fashionable' celebrities in various fields. TheceremonyisorganizedbytheFashionInstinct and runs as part of West Africa Style Week each March. The event produced by Fame Mansions will see 18 categories awarded.

Modern Ghana

Participating in Vodafone Icons’ Divas Edition with the 3-member group, Breeze, Asantewaa believes a good album should have a touch of most genres.

According to her, “the kind of music people listen depends on their mood and basically, that is I have always seeked to satisfy their soul with my music.”

Although she is more of the Soul music genre; Asantewaa does not sideline other music genres, but rather displays her versatility especially on Afro-pop/Dancehall rhythms.

With the strong passion for music, she released 2-singles titled ‘Konko’ and ‘Chinin Chiga’ produced by Sammie Blacc and J-Bux respectively last year.

Prodigy who has been a strong force in the Nigerian music industry having been affiliated with a number of prominent entertainment celebrities, Musicians and fellow Music video director such as Paul Gambit, he was undoubtedly the brains behind MattMax and has also worked with A list artists such as D'banj, K'switch, Olamide, Danny Yound, Weird Mc, J'Martins and a host of others. The launch of Horizon Point Entertainment comes as no

Ghanaian music duo, Tripple 2 makes the headlines in europe

Meet Asantewaa of the Breeze group on Vodafone Icons’ Divas Edition

back to back their hit tracks - Shawty Gotta Move It, Funky Flame and Alright.

Tripple 2 is currently enjoying heavy rotation on radio and television in Finland, Holland and Estonia and was recently featured in the prestigious and highly respected African music blog- www.africanhiphop.com as the first group from Scandinavia to be featured by the website.

About their motivation, Akrong indicated that “we have been inspired to become the first African group from Finland to be successful and break into mainstream music on the global platform to put ourselves and country on the global map so far as music is concerned”

On his part, CJ attributed their motivation to the great team they are working with. “we cannot afford to disappoint our team especially, Aleksi Nurmi, who works the magic behind the sounds and production and our manager Richmond Ghansah”, he added.

In the next five years, Tripple 2 is aspiring to be performing at the biggest platforms internationally and also be recognized by winning top notch awards schemes across the world.

Modern Ghana

surprise as it has been expected and long overdue. Horizon Point Entertainment is expected to be a major music power house as Prodigy has always been a multi-talented individual with his music writing skill, music video production as well as talent management. Horizon Point Entertainment is home to Musical Diva Lamili on a management deal, as well as talented music Producer KillerTunes.

Modern Ghana

Prodigy Launches "Horizon Point Entertainment"

West African Fashion Award 2015

With only 13 minutes in-between a football game, Katy Perry's Super Bowl Halftime Show blew a lot of people away and the internet has been buzzing since last night.

From her outfits to her guest performances – Missy Elliot & Lenny Kravitz – to her stage props and more, Katy Perry brought the house down.

Between the tiger, the flying star, the chess boards and Missy Elliot being on stage, Katy Perry's performance was grander in scope than anything seen in recent Super Bowl halftime memory.

Live music is hard, especially when you're dealing with something of the magnitude of a Super Bowl but Katy Perry stuck to her guns and gave a noteworthy performance.

Take a look at all the stage theatrics – bear in mind her performance was for 13 minutes in from of about 113 million fans.

Katy Perry put on a colorful show, performing such hits as “California Girls” and “Teenage Dreams” (with dancing sharks and beach balls) and closing the performance with “Firework,” floating through the stadium.

Modern Ghana

all the scoop about Katy Perry's 13-minute

super Bowl Halftime performance

The song ‘Konko’ focuses on a heart break experience and has being on the digital radio stations since its release. As at January 3, 2015, ‘Konko’ was number 8 on the Top 50 R&B Digital Radio Tracker Chart and number 15 on Independent Chart.

‘Chinin Chiga’ video has also earned massive air play on TV stations like 4Syte, UTV, GHOne, Adom TV and Cine Afrik.

She has performed on couple of shows in Ghana and beyond including the Urban 233 Tour; Glitz Africa Fashion Week (August 2012), Miss Earth (2012) and several others.

Born Anita Siaw Bamfo, she won the hearts of the judges during the Divas Edition of Vodafone Icons, and was called out of her group which was evicted to perform with Stephanie Benson at the Finals.

Modern Ghana

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

sPorts2WatCh 11

Christian Atsu's match-winning performance for Ghana over Guinea in their African Nations Cup quarter-final on Sunday will likely only add fuel to the fire for his detractors.

The speedy winger was superb as he bagged a brace, including a contender for goal of the tournament, to show just how devastating a player he can be.

But it has also left commentators wondering why he is only producing this type of performance now after a lacklustre last 12 months for club and country.

Like the Black Stars, the diminutive forward has got better as the Nations Cup rolls on, but must now keep performing at this high level or face the same

Ghana and Everton dribbling wizard Christian Atsu silences his critics with excellent showing

Three Ghanaian Coaches seek for honors in Sudan Football

accusations again that he can only turn it on in patches and for the rest provides mediocrity.

It is what separates the good players from the greats, the ability to perform at your best every week. Atsu is on loan at English Premiership Everton from table-topping Chelsea this season, but has made just four appearances for the Merseyside club.

He did have an injury that stunted his progress, but has also sat out games after failing to impress.

Everton coach Roberto Martinez has been watching him closely at the Nations Cup finals though and is starting to see the player he knows Atsu can be, suggesting that when he returns from Equatorial Guinea he will

have a much bigger role to play for the club in the second half of the season.

“It has always been the plan that Christian Atsu will be an important player for us in the second-half of the season and so it was great to see him doing so well,” Martinez told reporters.

“He is a player who will come back strong and ready to have a big role.”

Atsu was named man of the match in the 2-1 win over South Africa in Ghana's final Group C game, but failed to pick up the award in the semifinals.

He has emerged as a key weapon in the armoury of Coach Avram Grant as the Black Stars seek a first continental title since 1982. The 23-year-old Atuso was born in the Ghanaian coastal town of Ada Foah and was signed to the Feyenoord youth academy just outside Accra.

He moved to FC Porto in 2009, before making his senior debut in 2011.

After two years in Portugal, which included a loan spell with Rio Ave, Atsu enormous promise was spotted by Chelsea and he arrived in 2013, spending the next season on loan at Vitesse in Holland, before being sent to Everton in the 2014/15 campaign to further his football education.

Modern Ghana

Three top Ghanaian coaches have joined the exodus band wagon and landed in Sudan where they say the game is moving on very well.

Coaches Moses Cofie of Oly, Hearts and Liberty fame, Abdul Razak the Golden Boy of Asante Koko fame and former Black Stars handler Kwesi Appiah have all been contracted by Sudanese sides and they claim the atmosphere and football temperature there is good as players are willing to learn and show a lot of respect to their officials. Moses Cofie who coaches El Nisoor said the players in Sudan are much disciplined and tactically good, so if they are taught some skill and technics as well build on their stamina and concentration, they could be world beaters in the near future. He expressed that the AFCON 2015 has proved that there are no longer small nations when it comes to football, because it is eleven versus eleven on the field, and now many small nations have their players plying their trade of professional football in Europe with small and big clubs, in Cyprus, A r m e n i a , Luxemburg, S p a i n , P o r t u g a l , Greece, Italy, Germany and other places.

He named the Gabonese star Pierre-Emerick

Aubameyang at Dortmund, Congolese in France and the Equatorial Guineans in Spain and Portugal.

“African Football is developing and we must accept that everybody can play football. Some are born with it, other learn and become better” he said.

According to Moses Cofie African Football would be better if coaches move about from one country to the other sharing ideas and planning on how to make the African game better. He called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to involve old stars who are now administrators or coaches in their programmes, because they know the game and knows how it must be done.

Kwesi Appiah is manager of Sudanese club SC Khartoum. He has sealed a two-year deal with the military-owned team andwill be assisted by former Medeama SC coach and old buddy, Prince Owusu.

The 54-year-old Ghanaian will be leading the

Sudanese side in the Confederation Cup

next year after placing fourth in the domestic top-flight this year. Golden Boy Abdul

Razak coaches M e r r i e k h

Kasala and is also looking forward for

a good season.Modern Ghana

mONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015

With changing climate and effects on the ecosystem, Sustainable Development has become the need of the hour. How far has Africa come in achieving it and what all still need to be done in this context?

Climate is indeed changing. Weather patterns have become unpredictable and farmers’ cropping seasons too. Ecosystems are affected such as rivers drying up and lakes as well with Lake Chad as a frightening example, having shrunk over ten times its original size.

Africa has established some programmes targeting sustainable development and with the aim of poverty alleviation. Such programmes include: Transboundary Water Management under the implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh Commitment on Water and Sanitation to accelerate the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) in line with the African Water Vision 2025; the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) to improve sustainable livelihood of the rural populace, the Programme for Infrastructural Development in Africa (PIDA) to improve development of our renewable energy and the Common African Position on Climate Change that is facilitating Africa to speak with one voice in the global Climate Change negotiations leading to the new Climate Change Agreement to be adopted in Paris in December this year. Most African countries are majorly agrarian economies. How would you describe the agricultural scenario

in Africa? What areas need to be focused upon and how is AU helping to facilitate agriculture growth in African nations?

Not only are African economies predominantly agrarian but our societies are too. Agriculture stands out as the sector that occupies most of Africa’s labour force. Agriculture continues to contribute significantly, not only to employment and food security but also to the GDP of most African countries. For a long time though, agriculture has not been accorded the attention it deserves but with the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), AU Member States are increasingly devoting more resources to agricultural development and so are our partners.

Food security is a major concern in all parts of the world. What are the major challenges Africa faces in dealing with the dilemma that is Food Security?

The fast growing world population and the ever increasing and intensifying impacts of climate change and climate variability and the rapid urbanization continue to exacerbate the state of food security across the globe. Africa considers these mega trends as opportunities given the potential that Africa has to feed itself and feed the world and the increasing interest the world is devoting to Africa as the next frontier of the world’s prosperity. It must be pointed out though that

despite the recent good performance in agricultural production in Africa, the Continent still faces hunger, including food insecurity and undernourishment, due to several factors linked to low productivity, markets, access to food and income among others. Numerous programs across various sectors have been implemented as part of national investment plans – especially post the 2008 world food price crisis – but are not efficient due to being uncoordinated, lacking institutional coordination and having weak monitoring and evaluation systems.

2014 was announced as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security. What are the important accomplishments that can be attributed to this?

The 2014 AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security was aimed at drawing lessons from the 10 years of the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and renewing our collective resolve to sustain the momentum towards realizing a food and nutrition secure and poverty free Africa.

The Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods, is a product of the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security. It was a culmination of broad-based stakeholder consultations in line with the principle of people centeredness in generating African defined solutions.

And, in respect of Africa Agenda

2063, The Africa We Want, the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture enabed us to move ahead of the rest of the sectors most of which are just beginning to define their implementation plan for the first decade of Africa Agenda 2063. The Malabo Declaration’s Implementation Strategy and Roadmap does just that for the attainment of the goal of ending hunger by 2025. We are ready for implementation phase.

What will be the agenda of the next African Union Summit due in a few weeks?

The theme of the last AU Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2015 is: “ Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”.

There is immense need of investments in agriculture sector in Africa. What strategies and policies have been devised to bring in more investments in agriculture sector in Africa?

Our Head of State and Government recommitted in Malabo Summit in 2014 to allocate at least ten per cent (10%) of their annual public budget into agriculture as per the CAADP principle adopted in Maputo 2003 Summit. The Public investment must be an instrument to boost private sector investment in an inclusive manner (small holders, women and youth…) in agriculture knowing that private sector will allow greater agriculture transformation in Africa.

One major issue that is ruling the minds of the Head of States, Minsters and Government officials of the African countries is rural development and growth. Agriculture, being the backbone for most of the countries, the significant sector largely contributes totheeconomicdevelopmentofthecontinent.H.E.Mrs.TumusiimeRhodaPeace,CommissionerforRuralEconomyandAgriculture, African Union Commission, Ethiopia in an insightful interview with Indo Africa Times brought into limelight the several endeavors made to facilitate agricultural growth and projects undertaken contributing to the same.

"Weather patterns have become unpredictable"

eNCouNteR WitH eDitor12

Owner / Publisher / Editor: Mr. Kirit Sobti from 3rd Floor, Plot No. 3, Block PSP-IV, Service Centre Opp. Sector-11 (Extn.), Rohini, Delhi-85Printed at LIPEE SCAN PVT. LTD. 89 DSIDC SHED Okhala Phase 1, New Delhi

H.E. Mrs. tumusiime rhode PeaceCommissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, Ethiopia

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 09, 2015