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#EIBQatar2022: “Be measured in your expectations” – Akonnor to Ghanaians
Ghana is one of 5 countries scheduled to represent Africa at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Ghana qualified to the Mundial after topping a group which had South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia thereby progressing to the Play-off phase.
In the play-off phase, Ghana qualified at the expense of the much fancied Nigerian side via the away goal rule after playing out goalless draw in Ghana and a 1-1 draw in Nigeria.
Ghana’s Black Stars used 3 different managers to play the World Cup Qualifiers.
Charles Kwablah Akonnor started the World Cup Qualifiers as Ghana’s Head Coach overseeing Ghana’s 1-0 win over Ethiopia and the 0-1 loss to South Africa.
C.K. Akonnor was fired and Milovan Rajevac was brought in.
He was in the dugout for Ghana for 4 World Cup Qualifying Games. He was in charge when Ghana beat Zimbabwe 3-1, then beat Zimbabwe again 1-0, drew 1-1 with Ethiopia and beat South Africa 1-0 at home to top the group and qualify for the play-offs.
After Ghana’s worst ever AFCON showing, Milovan Rajevac was fired.
Borussia Dortmund’s Otto Addo then handled the 2 leg play-offs against Nigeria where Ghana qualified via the away goal rule.
Speaking on Soccer Chat with Fiifi Banson on GHOne TV, Charles Akonnor recognized the potential of Ghana’s team in staging an upset even though the odds do not favour Ghana performing well at the tournament.
However he was also quick to admonish Ghanaians not to demand a lot from this budding team.
“Our expectations shouldn’t be too high but of course I believe there’s a chance for us”, he said.
“I think that it is important that as a country we know where we are now. We played Brazil and lost and then beat Nicaragua. Therefore as Ghanaians, let us hide our differences and support the team because I saw what Ghana being at the World Cup to us in 2006 and 2010. I remeber the joyous celebrations in Ghana and I believe the Black Stars can reach similar goals this year or even do better”, C.K Akonnor added.
Charles Akonnor was of the view that his management style worked during his time with the Black Stars.
“I prepared and went in with a lot of faith believing that things will go on well. In my opinion, things went well.I managed to qualify the team to the AFCON. During rhe World Cup Qualifiers, Covid 19 and injuries led to me losing the job”, he explained.
Ghana’s first game is against Portgual on 24th November 2022 at the 974 Stadium.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
