Ghana: Press zooms in on President’s appeal for collaboration in fight against terrorism, others

APA – Accra (Ghana)
The appeal by President Akufo-Addo for collaboration between countries in the sub-region in dealing with the raging menace of terrorism is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Tuesday.
The Ghanaian Times reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the crucial role of collaboration between countries in the sub-region in dealing with the raging menace of terrorism.
He, has therefore, appealed to member states in the sub-region to forge closer collaboration to deal with the menace.
“No single country can confront the terrorist threat on its own, rather it will take collaborative effort among nations facing this challenge and critical support from the partners in dealing with it,” he said.
The President disclosed this at the inauguration of the 105 militarialised vehicles and other assisted measures donated to Ghana by the European Union (EU) at a ceremony in Accra on Saturday.
The vehicles included; 13 Land Cruiser Pickups, 10 GMC, 82 Toyota Land Cruisers and Single Cabin Pickups.
President Akufo-Addo said “The latest attempt by terrorists and extremists groups to expand their scope of influence from the Sahel to Coastal West Africa are obvious. These actions pose a substantial security risk for the people and stability of Ghana.”
He said recent occurrences in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin underscored the need for Ghana to enhance its counter-terrorism measures.
“It is imperative to understand that no single country can confront the terrorist threat on its own. Collaborative efforts amongst nations facing this challenge and critical support from partners such as the EU which shared our security concerns remain crucial in mitigating the terrorist threats in the West African region,” he emphasised.
The newspaper says that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, says Ghana’s extractive sector is viable for investment.
He said the country had prioritised improvement of the business environment through regulatory reforms, to reduce bureaucracies and bottlenecks associated with doing business in Ghana.
“I urge you to be mindful of Ghana’s conducive investment climate, and take advantage of this enabling environment to invest in the country”, he said.
Mr Jinapor was speaking at the Country Promotion Session for Ghana at the 25th China Mining Conference and Exhibition, held in Tianjin, China, on Friday.
It was on the theme: “Leveraging a Century of Mining to Enhance Value Addition for the Development of Ghana.”
He said there are 16 large scale mining operations in the country, with 14 engaged in gold mining and the other two engaged in bauxite and manganese.
He said the country was endowed with diamonds, produced from artisanal and small scale mining, with the capacity to increase to large scale.
He said there was proven deposits of lithium, iron ore, nickel, zinc, chromium, copper, cobalt, lead, columbite and tantalite, as well as industrial minerals, such as clay, feldspar, limestone, salt, granites, silica sand and kaolin as well as the raw materials for the production of activated carbon, which is used in gold production.
“There are enormous oppor¬tunities for investment in all these minerals, throughout the entire value chain, as well as opportunities for investment in mine support services,” he said.
The Graphic reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given an assurance that the country’s economy will bounce back before he leaves office on January 7, 2025.
He said since he assumed office some six years ago, his goal had been to improve the well-being of all citizens.
The President said the country was on track to achieving that objective when COVID-19 struck and reversed all the gains that had been made.
He said the situation had been exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war.
That notwithstanding, President Akufo-Addo said the government was determined to return the economy onto the path of growth.
The President gave the assurance at a Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate the golden jubilee of the St Cyprian Anglican Church in Kumasi last Sunday.
He said the government’s decision to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support formed part of measures to resuscitate the economy.
President Akufo-Addo said coupled with other prudent measures by the government, there was a systematic reduction in inflation which would lead to improvement in the cost of living, adding that “indeed, today we see clear signs of strong recovery of the economy”.
Other measures include the expansion of the educational system, infrastructure development and improvement in agricultural productivity to guarantee food security.
President Akufo-Addo, however, urged the clergy to pray for him and the government for more wisdom, courage and strength to manage the affairs of the nation well to the benefit of all citizens.
The newspaper says that Access Bank has taken a significant step by securing an initial GH¢10m support from the Development Bank Ghana (DBG) to facilitate access to essential funding for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
This is in recognition of the indispensable role SMEs play by being the very backbone of thriving economies around the world, being pivotal in generating employment and fostering innovation.
This crucial support is earmarked to enhance Access Bank’s digital platform designed to provide SMEs with unprecedented access to funding.
The platform, built by Access, was crafted in collaboration with DBG to address the unique needs and challenges faced by SMEs in Ghana.
A statement issued by the bank, explained that the digital platform offered SMEs streamlined access to loans, with a cap of GH¢200,000 per transaction, ensuring broad accessibility for various business needs.
It said the support revolutionised the loan approval and disbursement process, promising a turnaround time of just 72 hours as opposed to the traditional timeframe of four to six weeks.
The statement said in a move to foster inclusivity, the platform was open to all SMEs, not just those currently banking with Access Bank.
“This inclusive approach significantly broadens the platform’s reach and impact.
“This collaboration between Access Bank and DBG unlocks a treasure trove of opportunities for SMEs in sectors like Agribusiness, Manufacturing, ICT, Tourism, and Healthcare,” it said.
The statement said the platform not only simplified the financing process but also acted as a catalyst for SMEs looking to scale and innovate in their respective sectors.
Commenting on the DBG funding, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Olumide Olatunji said, “This partnership with DBG is a testament to our commitment to SMEs in Ghana.
“By offering a streamlined digital solution, we aim to propel our SMEs to new heights, empowering them to compete and thrive in the global marketplace,” he said.
GIK/APA