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Direct Aid Ghana supports RMU to construct ultra-modern mosque complex

Construction works for an ultra-modern mosque complex at the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra commenced in earnest on Friday.

This follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the RMU and Direct Aid Ghana (sponsors of the facility).

Estimated at $70,000, the mosque when completed would have boreholes, decent washrooms and other facilities to ensure that muslim students, lecturers and the RMU community at large have a conducive environment for prayers.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jr on behalf of the Board of Governors, expressed appreciation to Direct Aid Ghana for the support.

“We have for some time now been trying to identify resources for the construction of a place for our Muslim community. Not only for our students but for lecturers and people within the Nungua community,” he stated.

“At long last, we do have a worship centre for our Muslim brothers and sisters and are grateful to Direct Aid Ghana for the timely intervention,” he stated.

He was hopeful that a similar gesture would be replicated by the Christian community to ensure that students have a decent place of worship instead of using the classrooms.

“We hope the project would be finished in few months. The faster, the better for our students to have a place to pray,” he stressed.

The Country Director for Direct Aid Ghana, Sami Henedak said, disclosed that the project would be completed in four months as they were through with the foundation.

“We would deliver quality on time since full funding for the project is ready. We also encourage the university to assist in ensuring that the project is completed on time,” he added.

“We are here to support, help communities and change the lives of people here in Ghana and other African countries we operate in,” he stated.

On his part, Country Accountant, Mr Ahmed Jemal Beshir said the project was the beginning of many of such partnerships to happen between Direct Aid and RMU.

“We look forward to a sustainable working relationship with the RMU and we assure you that the project would be completed on time,” he said.

By Michael D. Abayateye

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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