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Promoting Ghana’s rich history through traditional games
Oware
Traditional games, pre and post-independence era, were a source of joy for people of all ages.
Both boys and girls, as well as men and women, would gather and play games like Oware, Ludo, Ampe, ‘Football’, High jump, Pilolo, Chaskele, Counters ball, Sway and Hopscotch, fostering a sense of togetherness in the community.
Such games required players to engage in deep thinking, strategic planning, and skillful gameplay to emerge victorious in the various traditional games.
Such old-fashioned games were popular because they were enjoyed by people of all ages. They mixed fun, challenge and socialising.
Some of these traditional games have passed the test of time with special charm that keeps both young and old players interested in the face of modern games usually found on computers.
The traditional games provided entertainment but also encouraged logical thinking, planning, determination, and some amount of physical activity.
These games were often accompanied by lively songs, adding to the overall enjoyment of the experience.
For example, in games like ‘Pempenaa,’ participants would engage in a call-and-response chants, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
While these games were traditionally played in rural areas, they have now found a place in urban settings, where people continue to enjoy their timeless appeal.
Despite the rise of new-timer games played on phones and the internet, the enduring charm of old-timers games remains unmatched.
The choice between old-timers games and new timers’ games is a personal one, but the rich history, social interaction, and mental stimulation offered by traditional games make them a beloved pastime for many.
In a world where technology dominates, one cannot forget the simple pleasures and valuable lessons that old-timers games provide.
By Georgina Boadiwaa Ntim
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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
