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May Day celebration in pictures

It was a colourful event on Sunday as thousands of workers from various organisations joined millions across the world to mark the May Day Celebration.

Staff of New Times Corporation marching past Photos by Lizzy Okai

This year’s celebration themed ‘Protecting jobs and incomes in the era of COVID- 19 and beyond” was well attended as workers displayed placards to drum home their demands amidst the usual drumming and chanting of slogans at the Independence Square in Accra.

National Association of Registered midwives marching

Workers wore in branded T-Shirts and wielded placards some of which read “we need salary increment”, “E-levy is killing us”, “Government should stop increasing fuel prices”, “and commercial drivers are suffering”.

Workers of State Housing Company marching

About 55 workers from the various labour unions were honoured at the parade for their outstanding services and hard work. They were presented with citations.

Members of the beuticians Association marching

President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his address congratulated workers for their immense contribution to nation.

He stated that the government, organised labour and business community could help sustain the economy and improve the living standards of all Ghanaians.

President Akufo- Addo and his vice, Dr. Bawumia with the award winners at the May Day Celebration

He explained that efforts were being made to rehabilitate the Tema Oil Refinery, to enable it contribute to stabilisng petroleum prices.

“We are in difficult times and government is working so hard to address the current challenges facing the economy and those that relate to improving the quality of life for all Ghanaians”. he added

Other dignitaries Present include the Vice- President, Dr Mahamadu Bamumia: the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori -Atta; the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatuis Baffour Awuah; a Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko-Brobby; the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust, Dr John Oofori-Tenkorang;the president of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), Daniel Achaempong, and the Chief Executive Officer of the GEA,Mr Alex Frimpong.

Others were the General Secetary of the International Trade Union Congress, Africa, Kwesi Adu- Amankwah, the Secetary General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity , Arezki Mezhoud; the Cuban Ambassador of Ghana, Anette Chao Garcia, and the Resident Director of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung , Johan Ivanov.

By Linda Abrefi Wadie

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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