Bob ROCO Romeo

The Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Hollard International are pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Patience Akyianu as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Hollard Ghana Holdings Limited, effective 1 October, 2018.  Patience’s appointment is a clear reflection of the company’s current state: ready to take on the future and fired up after another year of growth and continued success. Patience was previously the Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana and prior to that, the Finance Director. Before joining Barclays Bank Ghana, this pioneer and true visionary worked as the Chief Finance Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa and also held senior roles in Standard Chartered Bank, Ghana, spending a total of seventeen years of her career in the banking industry. Patience is also no stranger to the financial services fraternity with an undeniably impressive track record of building high performing teams and passion for customer service. The newl...

The Foundation set up by MUSIGA President, Bice Osei Kuffour aka Obour in honour of his late mother, the Christiana Addo Memorial Foundation has granted scholarships to three SHS graduates to enable them pursue courses at tertiary institutions. The students are Barbara Aggrey of the College of Health and Wellbeing, Kintampo; Daniela Adjeiwaa of St. Monica’s Training College, Mampong Ashanti and Humeni Gideon of the University of Education, Winneba. An elated Frank Essuman, Coordinator of the Foundation said, “Granting these scholarships is in line with the vision of the Foundation which is to support young students to acquire meaningful education while being conscious of their hygiene.” He added that the Foundation has several plans in stock for the youth of the Juaso community and its environs. The MUSIGA President added that, “Granting the scholarship is in line with my mother’s dream of supporting the underprivileged in our community. Apart from the scholarships, we h...

Two executive members Cee Kudjoe and Francisco Apenu Cofie of the Event Vendors Association of Ghana (EVAG) have represented the association at the 7 th Association of Professional Party Organizers and Event Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN) held in Victoria Island, Nigeria. The conference which was attended by vendors, planners and managers in the event industry from all over Nigeria was under the theme: “Collaboration.” Speaking to newsmen on arrival from the conference, Francisco Cofie expressed his appreciation to the leadership of EVAG for choosing them to represent the association at the event describing it as a wonderful learning experience. He shared his experience, “Being at the conference is an eye opener to enable us build a very solid foundation for EVAG and also drove home the need to work together to protect and support each other in the event industry having in mind the image of Ghana .” The three day conference featured presentations, panel discussions, works...

President, Women in Mining (WIM) Ghana, Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo has underscored the need for the country to recognise the enormous contributions women are making in the country’s mining sector value chain. Women in Mining, a registered non-governmental organisation is seeking to increase women participation in mining from the current below 10 percent to about 30 percent in the next five years. Madam Sakyi-Addo speaking to B&FT at the sidelines of a Women in Mining Corporate Social Responsibility workshop themed: “Ghana’s Mining and Regulatory Framework: Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Women Participation.” in Accra, said: “There is a lot that women are doing in the mining sector value chain. In the next five years we should be hitting about 30 percent women participation in the mining sector. A lot of the private sector large scale mining firms already have gender inclusion programme on going and they are making the effort to employ more women into t...

Ghana Reinsurance Company (Ghana RE) has rolled out US$52,000 to fourteen Life and Non-Life Companies as sponsorship packages for their staff to attend various insurance institutions in the country and outside. The company’s that received the various amount of monies include; Met Life – US$10,000, Ghana Union Life – US$5,000, Old Mutual Ghana Limited – US$3,000. The rest in the life category are Glico Life – US$2,000, Enterprise Life – US$2,000, SIC Life – US$2,000 and Mi Life – US$2,000. In the general business category are; Hollard Ghana – US$10,000 for being the Cedant of the Year 2017. Ghana Union Assurance – US$5,000, Vanguard Assurance – US$3,000. The rest in the general business category are; Equity Assurance – US$2,000, Activa International – US$2,000 and SIC Insurance – US$2,000. These companies are to send their staff to insurance institutions in The Gambia and Ghana. According to Ghana Re, the companies have contributed to the growth of the reinsurer.

KEK Reinsurance Brokers (Africa) Ltd, received a special award from Ghana Re during the 2017 Cedants Awards held at the plush Marriot Hotel in Accra. The company was awarded for its role in the growth of Ghana Re over the period. This award is the third in succession that the company has received from the state reinsurer having beaten international reinsurance brokers to the award on the two previous occasions. KEK Re places significant business from Ghana and the rest of Africa with Ghana Re and so has built a significant book of business that keeps growing. The company covers the Ghanaian insurance market extensively and has over time become a household name in Ghana and other parts of Africa especially in the West African Sub Region where it has clients in Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, Togo, Nigeria etc. According to the Chief Executive Officer, Shaibu Ali, the collaboration with Ghana Re has been very successful as Ghana Re is not interested in the business becaus...

The National Insurance Commission (NIC) says they are alarmed at the amounts of money repatriated as reinsurance premiums annually. According to the regulator, each year, the commission approves far in excess of US$10 million dollars to be transferred overseas which impact negatively on the cedi on the local economy. Justice Yaw Ofori, Commissioner of Insurance revealed that some of these premiums are in respect of services or covers that should have been able to build local capacity for, but for the lack of adequate level of innovation. He therefore said as commissioner of insurance, he applauds the initiative of the board and management of Ghana Re to reward cedants. “I strongly believe that as cedants, you can do better, and therefore entreat you all to ensure that local capacity is fully utilized before any recourse to overseas reinsurance as stipulated in the Insurance Acts 724 of 2006.” The commissioner therefore called cedants to resolve adequately to share ris...

Chale Foundation is a non-profit organisation that is committed to improving the livelihoods of children with special needs and other vulnerable groups by providing primary healthcare services – mainly through medical outreaches, support services, research and advocacy; with support from a strong network of volunteer medics and professionals. Over the past 3 years, Chalé Foundation has provided free and continuous medical screening to children of Dzorwulu Special School, the Teshie Orphanage, all in Accra and the Aboom Special School in Cape Coast. Screenings include eye, dental and general health care. Chale Foundation also has numerous beneficiaries who receive support with rehabilitation and medical bills. Chale foundation organised medical screening for over 120 students and staff of the New Horizon Special School. This included general health and eye checks.            -  mass, height, respiratory rate, blood pressure and tempe...

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has set June 28, 2019 as the date for its national elections with regional elections following on October 25, 2019. This will be followed by its 2 nd Biennial Conference in Accra on June 25, 2020. The elections will elect a new leadership for the Union after the term of the current executive under the leadership of its President Bice Osei Kuffour aka Obour. This was announced by the General Secretary of the Union, Deborah Freeman at its 1st Biennial Conference in Cape Coast. The conference was under the theme Building a Vibrant Union for National Development. Speaking as the Guest of Honor at the conference, the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Kwamena Duncan assured the Union of government's support in its work to ensure the welfare of musicians in the country. Hon Duncan congratulated the Union for successfully holding its first biennial conference and called on musicians to continue to play a meaningful role in society through mu...

UT Life Insurance has rebranded to miLife Insurance, as part of the company’s drive to position itself as a leader in the life insurance market. According to the Chief Executive Officer of miLife Insurance, Kwaku Yeboah-Asuamah, the rebranding reflects both the company’s evolution and its vision for the future. He said the singular focus of the new brand is on putting the customer at the heart of the business by making purchasing and owning insurance simple, affordable and more accessible. “While we have always focused on serving our customers well, and have a reputation for customer-centricity as well as leading the insurance industry on speed in paying out claims, this re-launch of UT Life Insurance to miLife Insurance signals to customers that we have embarked upon an even deeper commitment to help enrich lives and support dreams by making access to insurance easier, affordable and more accessible. “This strategic rebranding reaches the bedrock of our business and has pro...

Awake Purified Water, a subsidiary of Kasapreko Company Limited, has won ‘Product of the Year’ at the just-ended 29th edition of Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Awards. The award scheme seeks to acknowledge individuals and organisations for their marketing excellence and innovations in the marketing field, and pulled together quite a number of companies and corporate affiliates. The awards had 6 categories, including CIMG Hall of Fame, Personalities, Media, Business, Product and the President’s Special Award. The event was held at the Accra International Conference Centre on 28th September 2018 under the theme ‘Marketing: A catalyst for driving Ghana Beyond Aid’ , and awarded creditable businesses. Mr. Chris Addo-Sarkodie, Marketing and Sales Manager for Awake Purified Drinking water, speaking to the media indicated that: “We’re very excited by this award, and we feel it’s an attestation to the good strategic work that has been executed for the past two y...

A few weeks back, the management of Enterprise Life epitomised the adage “the customer is the business” when they hosted a cross-section of their cherished policyholders at a customer engagement session dubbed ‘In the Green Zone’. The event, which was held at the plush Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel, Accra, saw in attendance customers of the foremost life insurance company in Ghana, management of the company, management of the Enterprise Group and affiliate subsidiaries, media and board members of the company. The Green Zone event was a customer engagement and networking drive that also offered an opportunity for the company to share information with customers, especially on how they can reach company representatives and enhance their customer experience at each location or touchpoint. It also offered the company, which has been in operation for seventeen years, an opportunity to recognise and award some vintage clients who had patronised the company for more than 15 year...

Ghana Re-Insurance Company, the nation’s foremost re-insurer, has paid a dividend of GH¢6million to government in addition to the interim dividend of GH¢3million paid in December, 2017. Bringing the total of dividends paid to GH¢9million in the 2017 financial year. Mr. George Otoo explains this represents a 50% increase over the GH¢6million paid for the year 2016. Addressing the company’s 15 th Annual General Meeting in Accra last Thursday, Mr. Otoo- the Board Chairman of Ghana Re, said the company has received clearance from the majority shareholder (government) to raise its stated capital from GH¢85million to GH¢100million. According to him, the move is in anticipation of the yet to be announced new minimum capital for insurance and re-insurance companies in the country by the National Insurance Company. This initiative is also to help the company underwrite emerging and large-risk portfolios such as oil and gas, as well as enhance its international credit/risk rating....

...marks International Day of Non-Violence in Accra The Indian High Commission of Ghana has launched a year-long celebration of the 150 th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, marking International Day of Non-violence. Speaking at the launch, High commissioner of India to Ghana, Birender Singh, explained the event’s significance, urging all present to emulate the legacy of Gandhi. “Gandhi was a great son of truth and non-violence. He fought against non-violence and ensured that his people would get civilisation. As Kofi Annan was a luxurious son of Ghana, Mahatma Gandhi was also a reputable son to India. He believed in education and non-violence. “Gandhi was greatly adored in his country, and in the eyes of millions of his fellow countrymen and women was a great soul, for which the nation conferred on him the title ‘Mahatma’, meaning the “Great Soul,” he said. Also gracing the occasion was former President John Agyekum Kufour, who encouraged leaders to lea...

The Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund (AMWeF) of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has presented cash donations to 23 ageing musicians in the Ashanti region as part of its programme of support to its members. In an address, the 1 st Vice President of the Union, Bessa Simons indicated that the donation is part of the Union’s support for ageing and incapacitated musicians and called on the current generation of musicians and corporate Ghana to support the fund to ensure that it grows to support more musicians as they age. The Secretary of AMWeF, J.V Owusu on his part described AMWeF as a laudable initiative by the leadership of MUSIGA President Bice Osei Kuffour aka Obour during his tenure and assured the veterans of continued support from AMWeF. He said the fund has supported numerous ageing or incapacitated musicians since its inception in 2011 with the election of Obour as the MUSIGA President. Some of the beneficiaries included octogenarians and septuagenarians su...