News
GEXIM to host “Tuesday Market” in Volta Region from September 26-28
The Volta Regional capital, Ho, will in the coming days host the region’s biggest Made-In-Ghana fair to be organized by the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM). Dubbed the “Volta Weekend Market” or “Teza Mart”, the fair is scheduled to take place at Ho Bankoe (Movie Street) from Thursday September 26 to Saturday September 28, 2024 between 8am and 8pm each day.
“Volta Weekend Market” is a platform created by the Bank for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across the Volta region and other Ghanaian entrepreneurs in neighboring regions to showcase carefully selected top-quality and uniquely packaged Made-In-Ghana products.
Announcing the “Volta Weekend Market”, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GEXIM, responsible for Banking, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer expressed the Bank’s appreciation to all relevant stakeholder in the Volta region for their enormous support to make it possible for the Bank to host an SME fair in the region.
“I am happy we are coming to the Volta region at a very important time, during the celebration of the Asogli Yam Festival.
Without a doubt, SMEs play a critical role in national development, and we are excited to place a spotlight on SMEs across the region by promoting them locally and internationally to be patronized. In addition, as part of the fair, we will be building the capacities of the SMEs and engage them to explore avenue for growth,”she added
She further stated that “with the recent launch of the SME Growth and Opportunities Programme by the Ministry of Finance and the follow up sensitization across the regions, the fair presents an opportunity to further engage SMEs in the Volta Region.”
Currently, about hundred Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products have been confirmed to participate in the fair. Some of the very unique, and authentic products expected to be exhibited at the fair at unbeatable prices include food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.
On the sidelines of the “Volta Weekend Market”, the Bank will organize a training programme for the SMEs, dubbed “SME Clinic.”
It is aimed at building the capacity of entrepreneurs, exploring solutions to challenges faced by Ghanaian businesses as well as identifying pragmatic approaches to assist SMEs to scale up and become more efficient in their operations.
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
