News
Nearly 5,000 MSMEs apply for COVID-19 business support fund
The National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) has received close to 5,000 applications days after government launched the GH¢1 billion COVID-19 Alleviation Programme (CAP) business support scheme to cushion businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Jointly funded by government and some commercial banks in the country, the scheme which is being managed by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) is expected to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) back onto their feet.
The scheme, which has been grouped into two, namely Adom and Anidaso, will make available funds to smaller enterprises and larger companies respectively.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra yesterday on government’s interventions against the disease, Executive Director of NBSSI, Esi Kosi Antwiwaa Yankey, said the applicants have been registered and were awaiting the next stage.
She noted that the interest rate was three per cent with a one-year payment moratorium and two to three years payment period.
As at yesterday, she said the Board has received more than 1000 calls from interested businesses on how to access the funds.
She indicated that all the announced platforms for access to the fund including online portal, USSD codes and dedicated office have been activated and could be used by all including persons with disabilities (PWDs).
To be able to provide opportunities for all to receive the financial support, Madam Yankey said the NBSSI has established a grievance centre to address issues and challenges faced by applicants.
“If you are experiencing any difficulty with regards to the application process, please contact the grievance centre and all your issues will be looked at. It is for all MSMEs and so we encourage all to participate to benefit financially,” she added.
To ensure efficient use of the funds, she said, the Board would monitor and train beneficiaries on book keeping skills to digitise their businesses and increase revenue potentials.
She stated that beneficiaries which fail to pay back the funds they receive would be blacklisted from accessing future support from government.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday launched a GH¢1 billion COVID-19 Alleviation Business Support Programme to support MSMEs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The amount is expected to support businesses in areas such as agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, education, food and beverages, technology, transportation, commerce, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and textile and garments.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the business support programme, which is expected to reach 180,000 beneficiaries across the country, will help minimise job losses in the wake of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
News
Former Dean, 68, in same law class with daughter Wonders, the sages say shall never end.
Some people say life is all about nursing and adding value to it to build and gain an incorporated image in society.
It is also said that age is just a number and must not serve as a barrier to people who seek to pursue their long-cherished dreams by going into new areas to acquire knowledge.
With this in mind, a former Dean of Business, Education and Law at the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus, Professor Daniel Bagah, 68, a foundation layer of UDS and former Upper West Region’s Council of State member has enrolled to venture into the legal field to study law at SDD-UBIDS this academic year.
The surprising thing about Professor Bagah going to read law is not about his age, but that he is sitting at the backline of his third daughter in the same class for lectures to the admiration of the young ones in lecture halls and some of the lecturers he handled at the university.
When Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile, Vice Chancellor of the SDD-UBIDS announced the name of Professor Bagah among the ‘freshers’ for the 2024-2025 academic year to pursue LLB, there was an uproar among the students and some lecturers alike about the news.
Talking to Professor Bagah in an interview, he said the legal field had been his long-cherished dream, which was about to elude me but time has come for him to venture into new areas to acquire new knowledge.
“I believe in getting to new areas of knowledge and throughout my studies, my first, second and third degrees, I have not been able to do law, which is a new area for me. My age is nothing to me, it is my intention to challenge the young lecturers and students to emulate me and go into the legal field to know of their human rights and the rights of other people.
“For the few days that I have been lectured, I have realised that I had trampled on so many people’s rights ignorantly, even during communication with others l wrong them,” he said.
Professor Bagah, therefore, advocated basic law to be taught at all tertiary schools in Ghana to open the mindsets of the students to know about their rights and the rights of others, as well as defend the country patriotically.
He appealed to the people of northern Ghana to take advantage of the Law School to improve their lives since the school is the first law school in the north.
Miss Portia Bagah, 24, said her degree was in Estate Management and her dad had been an inspiration in her life, encouraging her to pursue the law programme.
She said the presence of her father in class serves as motivation and challenge to her and not a setback like others might be thinking. –GNA
News
Businessman, farmer granted bail for allegedly defrauding estate developer
The Amasaman Circuit Court has granted bail to a businessman and a farmer over an alleged GH¢120,000 land fraud.
Nii Korley Sai Boni IV, 53, and Kingsley Oblitey Quansah Commey, 44, were granted GH¢150,000.00 bail with two sureties each.
They are accused of granting 20 plots of land without titles to Mr Raymond Kwaku Marfo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RKM Estate Development Company.
The court, presided over by Ms Enid Marful-Sau, ordered that the sureties deposit their valid national identity cards with the Registry.
Nii Boni and Commey denied conspiring to defraud Mr. Marfo.
The court instructed the prosecution to serve the accused with necessary materials by April 2, 2025.
Chief Inspector Frederick Awuah-Ansah, prosecuting, said Mr Marfo was the CEO of RKM Ghana Limited, an estate development company.
He said that Nii Boni is a businessman and self-styled chief of Korleyman near Medie, while Commey is a farmer from Papase near Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West Municipality.
In June 2022, Mr Marfo was working on a land he purchased from Abusuapayin Ayitey Ankwah of Ankwa Dobro.
Nii Boni and Commey, along with one Obodai (now deceased), confronted Marfo, claiming ownership of the land.
The prosecution said Nii Boni and Commey convinced Marfo to buy 20 plots along the road leading to Samsam.
Marfo paid GH¢120,000.00 for the plots, and an official receipt was issued. However, when Marfo attempted to begin work on the land, he was informed by Nii Boni and Commey that there was an injunction on it.
After conducting a search at the Lands Commission, Marfo discovered the land was registered in the name of Babbel Limited.
Marfo then reported the case to the Amasaman Divisional CID on May 10, 2024. Subsequently, Nii Boni and Commey were arrested, and in their caution statements, they admitted the offence.
They promised to repay the amount involved but failed to do so.
After thorough investigations, Nii Boni and Commey were charged and brought before the court.
