News
GEXIM to host “Freedom Market” on March 5
As the nation prepares for the 67th National Independence Day celebration next week in the Eastern Region under the theme “Our Democracy, Our Pride”, the Management of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) has announced it will be hosting “Freedom Market” on Tuesday March 5, 2024.
“Freedom Market”, a special edition of the Bank’s popular Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Fair dubbed Tuesday Market, to commemorate this year’s edition of Ghana’s independence celebration, is scheduled to take place at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House (next to British Council in Accra) from 8AM to 8PM.
The fair will witness an exhibition of very unique, quality, affordable and authentic Made-In-Ghana products ranging from food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear to slippers and many others.
Commenting on the “Freedom Market”, on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Lawrence Agyinsam, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer responsible for Banking, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer, indicated that it is important to promote and showcase the very best of Ghanaian-made products whilst we celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence from colonial rule.
“GEXIM has been championing the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one and it has become very necessary in the light of our quest to drive economic development to encourage Ghanaians to consume locally manufactured products and services. The fair provides a platform for the promotion of indigenous Ghanaian products to the general public. When we patronise Ghanaian-made products, it will help to sustain Ghanaian businesses as well as create jobs for Ghanaians”, she emphasised.
The Fair does not only create awareness and promote Ghanaian products but serves as an avenue for businesses to generate revenue from sales of their products to the general public. Over the years, GEXIM has introduced innovative ways to create avenues for revenue generation for the Bank’s clients as well as other producers of Made-In-Ghana products.
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
