West End Radio, JOD donate to Orphans

*West End Radio, a newly established FM Station based at Esiama in partnership with Jesus Open Doors Limited, a construction firm have donated items worth over one thousands cedis to the Word Alive Mission Orphanage in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.*

The donation includes, 2 bills of second hand clothes, 4 footballs, 13 set of blankets, 2 bags of rice, 6 mini bags of maize, 2 boxes of soft drinks, a 24 inch colour television set, a set of Multi TV dish and decoder.

At a mini party held by the donors, the Chief Editor of West End Radio Mr. Andrew Animpah underscored that as corporate entities operating in the Nzema area; there was the need to give to the needy at always.

According to Mr. Animpah, although the station is very young in the area with barely two months in operation, the station would champion the course of the individuals or groups that are dire need of support through their airwaves.

“We are very committed to the welfare of the needy and on behalf of management of both companies will always put in place plans that will go a long way to address the needs of these orphans”

He gave the assurance that the gesture which is the first would be an annual event which would seek to promote and benefit the needy in the society.

On his part, the Managing Director of Jesus Open Doors Limited (JOD) Mr. Francis Coffie maintained that his company will continue to support the needy in the society irrespective of their location or background.

He called on other companies in the area to come to the aide of the needy and urged the society to love and care for people who are in need.

The Administrative Manager of World Alive Mission Orphanage Mr. Maxwell Blay commended both donors even though they never expect the surprise.

He further appealed to the stakeholders and corporate institutions to come their aide to enable authorities run the daily affairs of the home.

The occasion was later climaxed with a party which was fully sponsored by the management of Jesus Open Doors Limited (JOD).

The home which was established over eight years ago is currently accommodating twenty-seven (27) inmates.

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*Mr. Animpah in white polo shirt presenting items to Mr. Blay of the home*

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*3 Ghanaian Entrepreneurs get grants from USAID & African Diaspora Marketplace * * *

Three Ghanaian Entrepreneurs have received a financial boost $ 100,000 each from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Western Union.

Beneficiaries include the Gonja Meat Company, Viable Vision Industries Ghana Limited, and Sardis Enterprises International.

The grant was facilitated through the African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) which has supported about 17 U.S.-based African diaspora-driven businesses in six countries.

The three Ghanaian Entrepreneurs were selected out of the Forty-four (44) finalists that vied for the ADM awards with business plans addressing high priority, high-impact sectors in Africa.

H.E. Ambassador Erieka Bennett, head of Mission for the African Union (AU) Diaspora African Forum expressed his delight to host the second reception to honor the Ghanaian Winners whose business plans were considered of this prestigious Award at its Mission at the W.E.B. Dubois Center in Accra, Ghana on January 9, 2013.

The African Union Diaspora African Forum is the first diplomatic mission of its kind which is endorsed by the AU to support and encourage Diaspora participation in the development of Africa.

According to officials the African Diaspora Marketplace, their outfit would will strengthen and help satisfy demand for locally-produced products and services,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.

“These businesses will buy, sell and hire from within the communities they serve, putting money into the local economy, building local capacity, and fueling broad-based economic development.”

The Gonja Meat Company, an agribusiness engaged in slaughter, processing, and sale of fresh hygienic meat, will use the grant to produce high quality and affordable meats using locally raised livestock, processed in its abattoir in Kumasi, and sold through its sanitary outlet stores.

Sardis will establish a strong brand for the Ashanti line of produce, particularly its organic pineapple, and expand production and export from approximately 4,900 to 42,000 pineapples per month in 2013.

Viable Vision, a commercial mushroom farm, plans to use its grant to set up centers and support programs to train small-scale mushroom producers and hobby growers.

Launched in 2009, ADM is one of the few public-private initiatives to harness the knowledge and resources of the U.S.-based African diaspora and other entrepreneurs to address economic opportunity by increasing access to capital for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in sub-Saharan.

ADM is jointly funded by USAID, the Western Union Company, and the Western Union Foundation. Other contributing partners include Ecobank, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), George Washington University Center for International Business Education and Research, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the U.S. Department of State, and Irv Barr Management.

USAID and other development leaders believe that the fight against poverty in Africa is largely a fight against unemployment. Establishing innovative, sustainable business initiatives and promoting entrepreneurship generates jobs and capital, creating the potential to improve the fortunes of generations to come.

MCC CEO Daniel W. Yohannes Leads U.S Delegation to Prez Mahama’s Inauguration

*The U.S Government has commended the leader of the U.S Presidential Delegation to the official inauguration of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, Daniel W. Yohannes who also doubles as the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.*

Prior to the main event on 7th January, Yohannes and his delegation met with President Mahama on January 6 to congratulate him on behalf of President Obama and the American people.

At the meeting both leader discussed about Ghana’s robust economic performance and its key role in promoting stability across Africa. President Mahama expressed his gratitude for the strong U.S.-Ghana relationship and his hope that a second MCC compact with Ghana could be finalized quickly.

“Today is a day of celebration in Ghana,” Yohannes said. “The recent free, fair and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections are additional reminders of why Ghana is recognized as a leader of democratic governance in Africa.

He added that the United States looks forward to continue working with the Mahama led administration to advance both countries’ mutual interests.”

Ghana successfully completed a five-year compact with MCC in February 2012. The $547 million compact is helping reduce poverty through strategic investments in Ghana’s infrastructure and agricultural sectors.

The MCC partnership with Ghana is expected to provide economic opportunities for more than 1.2 million Ghanaians.

Ghana, one of four countries selected to participate in the U.S. Government’s Partnership for Growth, is currently in the process of developing a second MCC compact that will focus on the power sector.

Other members of the delegation included: U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Gene Cretz , Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and former Ambassador to Ghana Donald Teitelbaum.

Yohannes also met with delegations from countries currently implementing (Burkina Faso and Senegal) and developing (Benin, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone) MCC compacts.