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$9million Grant Scheme launched for SMEs in toursim sector

The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, has launched a $9million Grant Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism and leisure sector.

The grant scheme which is under the Ghana Tourism Development Project (GTD), is aimed at supporting indigenous businesses to overcome challenges in the tourism sector.

The grant scheme is in three categories, thus, Site Upgrade Grant, SMEs Grant for companies within the tourism sector, and Capacity Building for emerging companies and individuals with ideas.

To be eligible for the scheme, one needs to register his or her company with the appropriate state entities and the company should be majority Ghanaian ownership.

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Addressing the press on Wednesday at the Ministry of Information conference room, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, said, the sector had been identified as a strategic pillar for the economy, and Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

She said in the country’s quest to improve leisure tourism, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, solicited for a facility from the World Bank to implement the Ghana Tourism Development Project for which an aspect, known as the ‘Grant Scheme’ had been launched.

The minister revealed that the project comprised four main components, namely, Strengthening Tourism Enabling Environment, Developing Tourism Sites and Destinations, Tourism Enterprise Support, and the final component would be a support for the Ministry’s Management and Coordination efforts.

She added that as part of the project, some tourist sites have been identified and currently under renovation at various stages of completion, adding that very soon, a plan for the establishment of a state-of-the-art tourism and hospitality training institutions at different parts of the country would be outdoored.

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It was her hope that beneficiaries would utilise the funds to achieve the purpose of the project, adding that her outfit would undertake rigorous evaluation programmes.

Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo, who supervised the launch, expressed government’s commitment to improve the tourism sector, adding that the move demonstrated the vision for the sector.

He said, if the players in the sector utilised the funds successfully, other financial support would follow, because tourism played a key role in the preservation of culture and creating employment opportunities.

The Senior Minister urged stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunities the Grant Scheme presented to revitalise and improve the sector despite the negative effect of COVID-19.

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By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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Mahama scales down celebration of independence anniversary

President John Dramani Mahama has suspended the rotational celebration of the Independence Anniversary across various regions to save cost. 

The president has also directed the National Planning Committee to revise the programme of activities for the national celebration in Accra to scale down the scope of the celebration and reduce the amount of money spent annually.

Addressing a press conference, Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the government in 2024 spent almost fifteen million Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 15,000,000) on the celebration in Koforidua.

“For that reason, he has decided that this year’s celebration will not take on the spectacular form that we have been used to over the years. Rather than a major event at the Independence Square, where there are contingents of men from the various security agencies and hundreds of schoolchildren, there will be a scaled-down commemoration at the forecourt of the Presidency,” the Minister said.

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PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON 68TH INDEPENDENCE DAY COMMEMORATION

1. There’ll be a scaled-down commemoration of this year’s commemoration at the National & District Levels ONLY.

2. There’ll be no commemoration at the Regional Level.

3. The scaled-down National Celebration will take place at the forecourt of the Presidency.

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4. ⁠There will be no parade or match past of security agencies and school children during the National Celebration.

5. The Regional Ministers are to ensure that MMDAs scale down the commemoration in their Districts.

6. Other activities approved by the President are the 28th February Crossroads Shooting Incident and the President’s Special Awards for Children.

REVISED ACTIVITIES FOR THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION

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1. Mounting of a Guard of Honour by the Security Agencies

2. ⁠Cultural Performances & Recitals

3. National Address by the President and Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

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EC to re-run Council of State Elections in North East and Ashanti Regions

The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to re-run Council of State Elections in North East and Ashanti Regions.

In a press statement issued yesterday,  they stated that “The Electoral Commission wishes to inform the General Public that, the Council

ofState Elections in two regions, namely North East and Ashanti, willbe re-run on

Monday, 17th of February, 2025.”

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According to them, this is because there was a tie in the Election in the North East Region. 

The top two candidates each had six (6) votes. As such, the Election has to be re-run.

However, in the Ashanti Region, the Election was disrupted by thugs and could therefore not be concluded.

The Commission has therefore written to the Ghana Police Service and copied the National Election Security Taskforce to heighten security at the venues of the elections to prevent any disruptions.

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By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme 

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