The call by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) for the country to establish an alumina processing plant to refine raw bauxite into ore and create an integrated aluminium industry and the disregard of the fashion industry and the creative industry by political parties despite their huge economic potential are some of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Thursday.
The Graphic reports that the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has underscored the need for the country to establish an alumina processing plant to refine raw bauxite into ore and create an integrated aluminium industry.
It said the establishment of the plant would raise the country’s earning from the mineral and also open up an industry that would create jobs, businesses and entrepreneurs.
It followed an observation by the export facilitation body that the country was earning less from its large deposits of bauxite materials due to the unavailability of a plant to process the material into ore for the local and export market.
In a strategy document that seeks to double export revenues from aluminium in the next four years, the authority noted that bauxite in its raw form was worth about $40 a tonne although the processed alumina cost $400 a tonne.
The GEPA added that refined aluminium raised the value to about US$2,100 per tonne, while tertiary processing helped the value rise to US$6,000 per tonne.
It, therefore, explained that the government needed to expedite negotiations with foreign investors, particularly Sinohydro of China, on the establishment of a bauxite refinery within the planned time frame to help add value to the bauxite and raise export earnings from the metal.
The newspaper says that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Glitz Africa Magazine, Mrs Claudia Lumor, has expressed her disappointment at political parties’ disregard for the fashion industry, in particular, and the creative industry in general, despite their huge economic potential.
She said that the fashion industry was a thriving business in Africa, saying that particularly for Ghana, it was the number one on the list of many foreign outlets, yet the least considered in the creative sector
“Fashion is a trillion-dollar business in Africa, and when it comes to clothing, Ghana is in the lead in Africa. Ghana is number one on the list of many foreign fashion outlets but, unfortunately, it is the least considered in the creative sector,” she said.
Mrs Lumor expressed the sentiment at the maiden Graphic Showbiz Forum on the Creative Industry, an event organised at TV3’s Executive Theatre last Monday evening.
The forum, held in partnership with Media General and Cheezy Pizza, brought together stakeholders in the creative industry to discuss political parties’ manifestos on the industry.
Moderated by Francis Doku, the forum, held on the theme: “Moving from promises to actions: A discussion of party manifestos on the creative industry”, featured various speakers who represented the various aspects of the industry.
The Times reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated the first phase of the US$135 million three-tier Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange Project in Accra.
The first phase of the project, which consists of a 550 metre overpass linking the Graphic Road and the Dr Busia Highway (Kaneshie Mallam Road) including storm drains, was completed five months ahead of schedule.
The storm drains drainage system is expected to help to address the flooding challenges experienced by residents and motorists during the rainy seasons.
The second phase of the interchange, which consists of the third tier of the interchange linking the Ring Road West (Awudome to Central Mosque at Abossey Okai) is expected to begin immediately.
President Akufo-Addo indicated that the completion of phase one of the Obetsebi Lamptey interchange showed the seriousness his administration attached to addressing the congestion in some of the major cities of the country.
President Akufo-Addo, who inaugurated the project as part of his two-day campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region said under his administration, five interchanges were being constructed simultaneously and urged Ghanaians to extend his mandate due to its commitment to building the country’s infrastructure.
“This is the first time in our nation’s history that more than five interchanges are being constructed within the first term of any government. So if there is any reason to give Nana four more to do more for you, this is one of them,” he said.
GIK/APA