APA – Accra (Ghana)
The launch of the Power and Energy Ghana Expo 2023 in Accra to create a platform to showcase the latest power and energy technologies as well as electrical products is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Friday.
The Ghanaian Times reports that the Power and Energy Ghana Expo 2023 has been launched in Accra to create a platform to showcase the latest power and energy technologies as well as electrical products.
The three-day international exhibition scheduled for October 11-13, 2023, is expected to attract more than 100 exhibitors and 4000 participants from Ghana, India, China, Turkey, Nigeria, France, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The exhibition, the second to be organised by the BiG4Sure Events FZCO Company from the UAE in Ghana, is under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
It would also bring together manufacturers, exporters, whole¬salers, dealers and distributors of the power electrical energy equipment, gadgets and products including transformers, wires, solar panels, batteries, investors and generators.
Speaking at the launch in Accra yesterday, the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in remarks made on his behalf by the Deputy Director of Power at the Ministry, Sulemana Abubakari said the government was excited about the exhibition.
He said the exhibition was in line with the objectives of the government to find modern means of energy transmission to help reduce electricity prices in the country.
Dr Prempeh said the conference would create a platform for dialogue to discuss energy policies to improve power supply in the country.
The Project Director for BiG4sure Events, Thomas James said the exhibition was the second to be organised in the country and was to bring suppliers and manufacturers of electrical products and investors under one roof in the country, following the success the first exhibition chalked.
The newspaper says that the government says it has re-opened its invitation for the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) in relation to the February 2023 Exchange to enable holders of domestic bonds and notes who could not take part in the exercise to do so.
A statement issued by the Finance Ministry in Accra on Wednesday and copied to the Ghanaian Times said government was aware that a number of holders of eligible bonds did not participate in the February 2023 Exchange on time, and as a result were left with their holdings of eligible bonds.
It said mindful of that development, the government was proceeding with an administrative re-opening of the February 2023 Exchange, the statement said.
“We believe that there is value for bondholders to participate in this invitation. Indeed, the New Bonds (which will include the new tranches) are expected to be more liquid than the eligible bonds, considering the larger investment base and the benchmark size of the new bonds. In addition, the government could under certain circumstances prioritise payments on the new bonds over payment on the eligible bonds. Participation in this administrative reopening would also further improve the cash flow position of the government and further support debt sustainability,” the statement said.
The statement noted government was inviting holders of the domestic notes and bonds of the Republic of Ghana, E.S.L.A. Plc and Daakye Trust Plc, to tender their holdings of the eligible bonds in exchange for a package of new tranches.
The Ministry of Finance explained that the terms of that invitation were identical to the terms of the February 2023 Exchange.
The government last year, as part of the $3-billion three year Extended Credit Facility Programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), embarked on a DDEP programme as part of measures to ensure debt sustainability and restore macroeconomic stability.
The Graphic reports that the Central Bank’s assets have grown almost in tandem with the size of our financial sector and economy. From GH¢53b in 2016, the bank’s assets have grown by about 138 per cent to GH¢126b as of the end of 2022.
The foundation has never been conspicuous – our revenue has more than doubled since 2016, with total revenue increasing from GH¢32b in 2016 to GH¢96.7 (end-December 2022).
The size of our economy has also more than doubled from a GDP value of GH¢218.6b in 2016 to an estimated GH¢577.3 b by the end of 2022; and more pragmatically the number of active contributors on the SSNIT register has increased from 1.3 million in 2016 to over 1.8 million in 2022.
We can all attest to the progress made in digitisation, infrastructure, the armed forces and police, public spending on education, agriculture (cocoa and PFJ), health and school feeding among others.
The foundation has never been conspicuous – our revenue has more than doubled since 2016, with total revenue increasing from GH¢32b in 2016 to GH¢96.7 (end-December 2022).
The size of our economy has also more than doubled from a GDP value of GH¢218.6b in 2016 to an estimated GH¢577.3 b by the end of 2022; and more pragmatically the number of active contributors on the SSNIT register has increased from 1.3 million in 2016 to over 1.8 million in 2022.
We can all attest to the progress made in digitisation, infrastructure, the armed forces and police, public spending on education, agriculture (cocoa and PFJ), health and school feeding among others.
The newspaper says that Ghana has been chosen by the United States for the establishment of a Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) regional training hub and centre of excellence for the sub-Saharan Africa region.
The country was selected due to its strong cooperation, leadership and consistency in training nuclear engineers.
The new US commitment is to better position the country to develop a skilled nuclear workforce for the Africa region consistent with the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.
It comes with a $1.75 million funding support which will be aimed at expanding university partnerships and academic exchanges to prepare the country to serve as a regional training hub of nuclear power engineers, technicians, scientists and operators.
The funding is provided under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of SMR Technology (FIRST) capacity-building programme.
The FIRST programme offers capacity-building support to partner countries and explores the potential for small modular reactors to meet their clean energy needs.
The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), Ann Ganzer, announced this at a two-day FIRST Africa Regional Conference in Accra, yesterday.
It was co-hosted by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).
GIK/APA
Ghana: Press spotlights launch of Power, Energy Ghana Expo 2023, others
