The Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), has published 11 strict measures for all business to comply with in making the workplace safe for workers.  The move is to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 at the workplace in some parts of the country; a situation adversely impacting on government’s efforts to fight the virus.

After an emergency meeting between stakeholders, the general consensus for employers and all organisations was to strictly comply with the social distancing and other protocols that have been outlined by the Ghana Health Service.

The meeting was arranged after the Ghana Health Service declared the workplace as one of the stations driving the country’s COVID-19 case into exponential numbers, following the 533 cases recorded at an industrial plant in Tema and also the about-20 cases recorded at the Obuasi Market.

The communique from the meeting also urged all business to create COVID-19 reporting avenues for workers who have come into contact with persons tested positive to report and have the issue handled in a discreet and professional manner to prevent stigmatisation. Therefore, there must be a way that employees can report COVID-19 issues and still feel safe in the community and workplace,” the CEO of GEA, Alex Frimpong, told the B&FT in an interview.

The measures are outlined below

• Handwashing: Facilities must be provided at entry points by all organisations to ensure regular and frequent washing of hands by all workers, customers and visitors at all times.
• Use of sanitisers: All organisations have an obligation to provide hand sanitisers for use by workers, visitors and customers at all times.
• Wearing of Nose masks: All organisations are to ensure a ‘No Mask No Entry’’ policy.
• Supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): All organisations must endeavour to provide their workers with PPEs and to ensure that they are utilised.
• Transport: Organisations that provide transport for workers to and from work must ensure a ‘No Mask No Entry’ boarding policy.

*All buses must also have hand sanitisers at the entry points.

*Strict social distancing must be observed while on board the vehicle by ensuring reduction of the number of workers who can board the vehicle while conveying them to and from work.

• Regular cleaning: Organisations must ensure cleaning of door-handles, handrails, tables, chairs and other objects/surfaces that are likely to be regularly/frequently touched by workers.
• Canteen/Eatery/Cloakrooms: There must be strict compliance with the social distancing protocols in these areas in order to avoid infection of workers.
• Disposal of Used Nose Masks/PPEs: Organisations must ensure environmentally friendly disposal of used masks and other appliances in order to avoid contamination and infection of the workers.
• Temperature Checks: Organisations must endeavour to provide facilities for mandatory checking of temperature of all workers, visitors and customers at the entry point of their premises as well as staff buses.
• Disclosure/Confidentiality Policy: Organisations are required to adopt disclosure policies that encourage workers or their families who show symptoms of COVID-19 to disclose their status to their employers in order to seek help.
• Cooperation with MOH/GHS: All organisations are obliged to cooperate with the COVID-19 team of the MOH/GHS in the event that they request to trace and test any worker in their respective organisations. The team equally has a responsibility to ensure that such exercise does not injure or stigmatise the reputation of the organisation and affected worker respectively.

Source: thebftonline.com

Mr. Cecil Nutakor- the founder of the online mobile learning application- eCampus emerged winner at the Ghana National Pitch competition organized jointly in Ghana by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the AIM Congress.

The key objective of the Pitch Competition was to discover Ghanaian start-ups with huge potential to expand and penetrate the global market with confidence and select one winner from Ghana to represent the country at the Global Start-ups Champions League, under the auspices of the AIM Congress.

Prior to being adjudged the national winner in Ghana, eCampus pitched against other start-ups such as TalentsinAfrica, Divine Brainz Ghana, NASPA Auto Spa and Service Hub.

Mr. Edward Ashong-Lartey- Director of Investor Services at the Centre, explained that while the start-up ecosystem in Ghana was still developing, the country is beginning to witness a new generation of entrepreneurs.

A series of various national pitch competitions were held in different countries to select 100 entrepreneurs worldwide to compete at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2020 for the grand prize of $50,000.00.

One winner of each national competition will be invited to be part of the final AIM 2020 Global Start-ups Champions League, which will offer the platform for eCampus to compete with about 99 other start-ups globally for the grand prize with sponsorship covering flight, accommodation and VIP passes.

Winners will also receive cash prizes, mentorship, and can increase their potential to receive funding for their businesses.

AIM, an initiative of the UAE’s Ministry of Economy is one of the leading platforms for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

It is also the largest global investment gathering of corporate leaders, policy makers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics and experts showcasing up-to- date information, strategies and knowledge on attracting FDI.

Source: GIPC

The 2nd Ghana Malta Business Forum was organized on the 2nd of March 2020 at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra, to bring some Maltese and Ghanaian companies together to connect, network and forge business alliances for mutual benefits.

CEO of the GIPC- Mr. Yofi Grant welcomed all participants and stated that the Centre is working at having Air Malta, Malta’s national carrier, to begin operations to Ghana this year.

He said “We are looking to see Air Malta operate its roots here. We first of all need to fully appreciate the business opportunity and finalize the type of arrangement we want as well as the type of regulatory framework needed among other things. Maybe they want to come to Accra directly or use Accra as a transit point and vice versa. We are looking at having the airline start operating by the end of the second quarter.”

The Forum saw the signing of Five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between multiple Ghanaian Institutions such as the Ghana Standards Authority, Impact Hub Ghana, Accra Technical University, AZOFA Akosombo Fisheries Cooperative and some Maltese outfits including the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology, Malta Medicines Authority, and Malta Enterprise, for knowledge exchange among others.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Alan Kyeremanten, the Ghanaian Minister of Trade and Industry stated that “The bonds of friendship that have existed between Ghana & Malta over several decades have been based on shared values, our common historical heritage and mutual respect.”

Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses in Malta, Silvio Schembri, asserted that Ghana must consider Malta as its home in Europe; a partnership of growth and economic prospects.

In July 2019, the GIPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malta Enterprise, Malta’s economic development agency, to collaborate in setting up information-sharing mechanisms by regularly exchanging information on economic and trade updates, laws and regulations, policy measures, industrial standards and trends, market analysis reports, exhibitions and forums, trade leads as well as investment projects in Ghana and Malta.

The MoU empowers both parties to set up a strategic think-tank composed of officers from both agencies and partnered stakeholders who will devise a three-year strategy covering areas of mutual interest.

Source: GIPC

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) wishes to inform its cherished stakeholders and clients of its continued services including New Registrations, Company Renewals, Exemption Processing, Automatic Expatriate Quota applications and Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) applications.

Relevant Application Forms and the application fee schedule are available on GIPC’s website www.gipcghana.com for download. Applications for New Registrations, Company Renewals, Automatic Expatriate Quotas and Exemptions should be submitted by email with the attachment of relevant supporting documentation to investor.services@gipc.gov.gh

Subsequently email notifications will be received by applicants indicating the relevant fee payment processes to be completed.

Technology Transfer Applications should be submitted with relevant supporting documentation and fee payment to the front desk of the GIPC Head Office in Accra or our regional offices in Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale. Submission of half-yearly reports by all GIPC registered companies on their operations should be submitted to monitoring@gipc.gov.gh Legal related enquires may be made by telephone or sent to legal@gipc.gov.gh.

General enquires may be made by telephone or sent to info@gipc.gov.gh Meetings with staff of the Centre may be held via prearranged telephone or video conference calls.

The Centre continues to adhere to the Government directives on safety protocols on COVID-19 and remains committed to serving its clients. The general public is encouraged to observe all precautionary measures issued by the Government of Ghana.

Source: GIPC

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in support of the country’s fight against the deadly COVID-19 Pandemic, has donated over 3,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the Healthcare sector.

The items, comprising of PPE Coveralls, Gloves, Goggles and Cardinal Health Equipment were presented to the Ghana Health Service and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday 27^th March 2020.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Ghana Health Service, the Director General – Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, expressed his appreciation to the Centre stating “The Health Sector is stretched, and will be stretched if we don’t do well now”. He encouraged corporate Ghana to assist as regular cases were still being managed by sector workers in addition to COVID-19 cases.

The GIPC donated items will be shared among various medical facilities assigned to deal with the pandemic in Ghana.

Sinotruck, a Chinese heavy truck assembly plant in Ghana, through the GIPC donated an amount of GHC 50,000 also to the Ghana Health Service. The contribution was announced by the Chief Executive Officer of the GIPC – Mr Yofi Grant during the Centre’s donation.

He said “This is just a token of our support to the Ghana Health Service and all those who are on the frontline in this battle against the COVID-19 virus. We know that these items are in huge demand as they are not manufactured in the country. Any resource we can use to make these available to ensure the safety of lives to support the efforts of our health sector workers, we will do. We believe that it’s our responsibility and hope that many others will rally to the call and support this fight”.

Enquires and meetings may be made by telephone or prearranged video conference. The Centre remains committed to serving its clients and encourages the general public to observe all precautionary measures issued by the Government.

Source: GIPC Corporate Affairs

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Union (EU) have initiated steps aimed at creating an avenue to regionalize investments in the West African sub-region.

The move is expected to be initiated through instituting key policy framework and guidelines to attract the needed investments. This has become necessary since Ghana is spearheading the African Economic and Financial Renaissance and the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which calls for the need to institute policies aimed at directing and guiding the pan- African trade agenda.

The programme dubbed: West African Competitiveness Project focuses on strengthening the industrial competitiveness of countries in the sub-region and enhancing their integration into both regional and international trading systems to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The project aims to support selected value chains at both national and regional levels to promote transformation and better access to regional and international markets, taking into account social and environmental issues.

The support covers preparation of the regional policy framework for the development of the value chains set out in the regional industrial strategy. At the International Trade Centre level, the GIPC has been a partner in promulgating an investment framework that is standardized and supported by all members of World Trade Organisation (WTO). Importantly, phase two of AfCFTA’s implementation includes investment protocols and expectations are that by December, 2020, all member countries will be ready to implement the protocol.

Speaking with the Goldstreet Business during a recently held Annual Economic Counsellors’ Dialogue in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIPC, Mr. Yofi Grant said over the past few years, global FDI has shrunk and with the advent of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) that has disrupted various business and social gathering, it is expected to shrink further, hence the need to institute a new policy framework aimed at sustaining FDI inflows. “Whiles I have reservations of it being binding, it’s still important to have a good framework that enables global investment”, he added.

Background

The component of the programme is structured to promote regional linkages between private sector operators and organisations in the selected value chains. This is expected to optimise the quality of infrastructure available to those value chains and improve the regional business environment which will also ensure all interventions of the programme.

 Source: Goldstreetbusiness

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic wishes to assure the public of the following safety measures put in place for the comfort of our stakeholders and staff in the delivery of our services:

1. In line with the social distancing protocol for COVID 19, the Centre has put in place systems to receive all GIPC applications and accompanying payments at the front desk of our offices in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi.
2. All GIPC’s stakeholder engagements, both local and foreign, have been postponed until further notice.
3. The GIPC is encouraging its staff to have respiratory etiquette including covering their coughs and sneezes, frequently washing their hands, and has provided several hand sanitizing stations for use.
4. Any GIPC staff who has recently returned from official duty, post the Presidential declaration, has been requested to self-quarantine during the mandatory period for observation and to reduce risk of spreading the disease if they have been contaminated.
5. All enquiries should be made via telephone on +233 (0) 302 665 125-9 / +233 (0) 244 318 252, e-mail info@gipc.gov.gh or via the Centre’s social media handles (Facebook: @ghanagipc; LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram: @gipcghana).

The Centre remains committed to serving its clients and encourages the general public to observe all precautionary measures issued by the Government.

CLICK TO WATCH: CEO -YOFI GRANT SPEAKS ON COVID-19 AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES

https://web.facebook.com/ghanagipc/videos/561297604733546/

Source: GIPC 

The seeming delay in revising the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) law is to ensure that any revision made does not place the country at a losing end – especially as the continent prepares for the biggest trading bloc in the world, says CEO of the Centre, Yofi Grant.

Concerns have been expressed by both foreign and local investors as well as traders on some aspects of the GIPC Act, 2013 (Act 865), saying some provisions in the law make the investment climate in the country unhealthy – a fact that Mr. Grant himself admits. Hence, calls have been made for the law to be revised to reflect the changing business environment.

Responding to this at the Economic Counsellors Dialogue in Accra, on the theme ‘Promoting a Stable Business and Investment Climate: The New Companies Code’, Mr. Grant said things will have to be taken slowly in order to ensure the country’s investment laws are in sync with the regulatory framework of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and other trade deals on the continent. “The truth is that we ourselves are concerned there may be obstacles within the [GIPC] law to creating the sort of attractive investments that we want.

Every country goes through reforms to ensure, as they change their economic direction, they treat the legal framework to make it facilitate what they want; and that is exactly what we are doing. “As new developments come in, we need to make sure we are in consonance and not totally far away from new developments.

Just last year, Ghana became the host nation of the AfCFTA, and that in itself has an investment component we had not taken cognisance of before we started the process of amending it. “So, now that we are clear that AfCFTA is going to go ahead, we need to ensure that our own investment laws are not compromised or do not suffer but are in consonance with what will be provided by the AfCFTA, ECOWAS and other regional pacts we have signed.

We want to ensure that we are not disadvantaged any way,” he said.

Retail trade tensions

There are recent tensions between indigenous petty traders and those from Nigeria which have resulted in frequent lock-down of some Nigerian shops – due to a provision in the GIPC law that prohibits foreigners from engaging in retail trade unless they are coming with a capital of not less than US$1million either in cash or goods and services.

Commenting on this, Mr. Grant said the issue goes beyond the GIPC law and has to do with the capacities and competitiveness of Ghanaian traders. “It is not a question of the law, but a bigger issue of trade relationships between nations.

From my standpoint, it’s how well we can equip our traders to be competitive. Our traders are not competitive against others because the others may have cheaper sources of finance; they might have access to markets that we do not have. “So, that for me is the real problem.

How do we engage our traders to be more competitive; how do we incentivize them such that you can come from anywhere in the world, but if you come to Ghana the Ghanaian trader will out-compete you?” he said.

Source: THEBFTONLINE