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Kenya backs Ghana to win 2022 World Cup

Black Stars

Some Kenyans have expressed optimism in the ability of Ghana’s senior national team the Black Stars to do well and make history in this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar by being the first African country to reach semi-finals and possibly win the coveted trophy.

They said it was time for Africa to win the FIFA World Cup, adding the Ghana Black Stars, who were very close to securing a semi-finals place during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, were the best placed team to achieve this historic feat during this year’s tournament.

They expressed their optimism at Hurlingham, on the Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi when the Ghana News Agency sought their opinions on how they knew Ghana and Ghana’s influence on the African continent.

This year’s FIFA World Cup will be staged in Qatar from November, 20 to December,18.

The Ghana Black Stars are one of the teams representing the African continent during this global competition.

Mr. Erastus Kylu, an accountant and resident of Nairobi, said “Ghana is noted for shining so much in football; in the FIFA World Cup and African Cup tournaments. Apart from the last World Cup that Ghana didn’t shine very well, the previous World Cups; Ghana was performing well and that was the team that I used to wake up very early to watch.”

He talked about the composition of the Black Stars and what must be their focus to win this year’s World Cup saying “There are some young players coming up. They need to really look at how to motivate them so that they can have one team, which is well coordinating and which can make Africa very proud because all of us in Africa look up to the Black Stars”.

Mr. Boniface Ochieng, an electrical engineer, and resident of Nairobi, said 1 know the Black Stars. They have been representing us in the World Cup for some time now. In 2010,they were the closest to getting Africa to the semi-finals for the first time were it not for Suarez hand ball and penalty miss.”

He added that “I think this time, they have a good team. We stand a chance again. We try again to reach at least the semi-finals. I think they are ready for that elusive semis and maybe even the finals.”

He encouraged the Black Stars “To train hard and well, and prepare. It is going to be a very tough group but we believe in them as Africa. We believe they are the best team to take us to the semi-finals and maybe the finals, and definitely going to win this year’s World Cup.”

Others spoke about Ghana being noted for cocoa production saying during their lower classes level, it used to appear in lessons when mentioning higher cocoa producers in Africa.

Source: www.adomonline.com

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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