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SYND, FoE equip journalists on how to report on banks and biodiversity

Journalists with interest in climate related issues have been equipped to enhance their reportage on the banks and biodiversity no go policy.

For the strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND), the media cannot be sidelined in the efforts to create public awareness on some of the negative activities of the bank that was affecting the environment.

The Banks and Biodiversity No Go Policy is an active campaign plan of Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) in partnership with Friends of the Earth (FoE) US.

Speaking at a Media Engagement organised by the Biodiversity Team of SYND, the Focal Point lead, Ms. Gifty Eliklim Agbenyefia explained that, for the Biodiversity No Go policy to yield results, the ‘watchdogs’ of the society, (media) could not be left out of the process.

The policy she pointed out had eight targeted points that clearly stated areas banks were supposed to invest in.

She said some of the banks were unconsciously financing project that destroyed the environment and are yet to develop robust policies or practices to address the biodiversity impacts of their lending”.

Citing mining projects that had been financed by banks with the sole aim of looking at profits, Ms. Agbenyefia stated that, those initiatives had destroyed the environment and if care not taken would have dire consequence on the life of the citizenry.

“We can talk about the Densu river, we can talk about mangroves, we can talk about wetlands, which are currently becoming housing grants for building projects in our country”, she noted

It is in this regard, she explained the media needed to extend its ‘watchdog’ role in ensuring that, banks don’t finance or invest in projects that destroys the numerous ecosystems such as river bodies, forests among others.

“These are ecosystems that has been in existence for years, so why should we engage in activities that would us at risk”, she quest. ne.

However, she was quick to say that, sometimes the banks were not aware of how some of their funded projects were destroying the ecosystem but believed that, when the media publishes such stories, it will awaken the banks.

To her, continuous highlighting and hammering on such harmful projects funded by banks would streamline the No Go Policy’ in its agreements to safeguard the ecosystem.

“We want the media to be able to understand our position on the banks and biodiversity global policy. And then populate the idea in that regard”, she emphasized.

Meanwhile, she hinted at some progress made after some engagement with the banks.

Some of the media personnel present at the media engagement pledged to join the fight in ensuring that, bfundfunds environmental Sustainability projects in the country through their various media channels

BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY

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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