In a recent conversation with Kwabena Ampofo Appiah, the Managing Director of State Housing Company Limited, we delved into the current state and future prospects of the housing sector in Ghana. The discussion highlighted several key areas of progress, challenges, and strategic initiatives aimed at improving housing accessibility and quality for Ghanaians.

In this episode of #PatrioticSpaces, join our host Kow Essuman as he engages with Mr. Yaw Afriyie, the Deputy CEO of GIPC, to explore the NPP manifesto focused on business and job creation.

Season 3, Episode 2 focuses on Ghana’s tourism and creative arts sectors. How do we take it to the next level?

A discussion on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Manifesto. What benefits does it offer? Does it focus on business opportunities? Does it prioritize job creation? This is the topic of our dialogue. #PatrioticSpaces.

#PatrioticSpaces is a platform dedicated to promoting patriotic conversations, national development and civic engagement on Twitter every Wednesday at 7pm. It is hosted by Kow Essuman (@kaessuman).

The Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited (PMMC) has been an important player in the gold industry in Ghana for many years. As a state-owned enterprise, it is responsible for the marketing and export of precious minerals, including gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. This evening, I had the opportunity to chat with the Managing Director of PMMC, Nana Akwasi Awuah, who provided a brief history of PMMC and shared some exciting updates about the company.

According to Nana Awuah, PMMC was established in 1963 as Ghana Diamond Marketing Board, charged with the sole responsibility to purchase and market Ghana’s diamonds. Over the years, the company has evolved and expanded its operations to include the marketing and export of other precious minerals especially gold. In 1989, the company was renamed the Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited.

One of the key takeaways from my conversation with Nana Awuah was the process for becoming a licensed gold buyer or trader with a PMMC Licence. He explained that this licence only applies to trade within Ghana. To export gold, one needs a licence from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. This is an important process that ensures that the gold trade in Ghana is well regulated and transparent.

Nana Awuah also explained the Asantehene gold coins, which were minted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene. The coins were produced by a private company, but PMMC was responsible for the marketing and sale of the coins. This is an example of how PMMC works with other stakeholders in the industry to promote the gold trade in Ghana.

Another exciting update from Nana Awuah was that PMMC will be selling gold tablets from Easter. These tablets will serve as an alternative form of investment for people who want to invest in gold but may not have the means to purchase large amounts of physical gold. This is a great opportunity for individuals to invest in gold and diversify their portfolios.

We also discussed the Gold for Oil policy, which was implemented to solve two key problems: the pressures on forex and the supply of oil. However, it is helping to solve other problems, such as illegal small-scale mining, as now gold can be obtained from compliant mines. This policy has been successful in promoting the gold trade in Ghana and has helped to position the country as a key player in the global gold industry.

Finally, Nana Awuah shared his vision for PMMC. He hopes to make PMMC a world-class company and to see a robust gold trading market in Ghana in the near future. With the company’s rich history, experience, and expertise in the gold industry, there is no doubt that PMMC is well positioned to achieve this vision.

In conclusion, my chat with Nana Akwasi Awuah, Managing Director of PMMC, was informative and insightful. The evolution of PMMC over the years is a testament to the company’s commitment to promoting the gold trade in Ghana. With the new developments and updates, PMMC is poised to continue to play a vital role in the gold industry in Ghana and beyond.

The managing director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST), Edwin Provencal, took his turn on the #PatrioticSpaces of Twitter to discuss the company’s success story since taking over.

Provencal detailed the strategic investments and actions taken to turn the business around and back into a profitable enterprise, noting that BOST was heavily indebted at the time of transfer and had just 18% of its revenue-generating assets operating.

He said the pipelines linking Tema to Akosombo, Buipe to Bolga were entirely out of service and the company’s marine infrastructure including tug and floating boats.

“50% of our depots, that’s three out of six were not working. So, in a nutshell, we had only 18% of our revenue assets working. All of our assets were grounded, and yet we have to find the money to pay our debts." Hosted by Kow Essuman Legal Counsel to President Akufo-Addo | Notary Public | ICSID Conciliator, listen for more...

FDI as an instrument for national development,

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a powerful tool that can be used to stimulate growth and create jobs. FDI brings capital, technology, and expertise from abroad which can help build infrastructure, spur innovation, increase productivity and ultimately lead to greater prosperity.

Desire: With the right policies in place, countries can attract more foreign investment and use it as an engine of economic growth. This will enable them to diversify their economies away from traditional sectors such as agriculture or extractive industries towards higher value-added activities like manufacturing or services.

Action: We discuss how FDI could benefit Ghana. Kow Esuman hosts, Yaw Afriyie Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Ghana Investment Promotion Center.

Live on #PatrioticSpaces

Hayford Siaw, the CEO of Ghana Library Authority, joined Kow Essuman on the weekly #PatrioticSpaces conversation on Twitter. Mr Siaw shared with the audience the impressive work that the Ghana Library Authority has been doing to promote a reading culture and access to books in Ghana.

Mr Siaw began by highlighting the significant increase in the number of libraries that have been constructed and the rise in the number of books available in Ghanaian libraries. He mentioned that the number of books has grown from 400,000 to 1.4 million in recent years. This is a testament to the efforts of the Authority to increase access to reading materials for Ghanaians.

He also spoke about the partnerships that the Authority has established with the private sector. These partnerships have been vital in increasing the number of books available in libraries and providing funding for various initiatives aimed at promoting the reading culture in Ghana.

Mr Siaw also discussed the Authority’s efforts to bring libraries closer to the people, particularly in rural areas. He mentioned the mobile libraries or “libraries on wheels” that have been introduced to reach remote communities. These mobile libraries have been equipped with books, e-books and other reading materials, providing access to books and other reading materials to people who may not have been able to access them otherwise. He added that the library vans have also been equipped with computers to provide access to the children in the rural areas.

Another innovative initiative discussed by Hayford Siaw is the use of technology to bring the library closer to the people. He spoke about the Ghana Library App, which is available to users on the Apple Store and Google Play store to access books, e-books and other reading materials, as well as library services and information. This has made it possible for users to access library services and resources from anywhere, at any time. He also spoke about the National Reading Day on September 8 and the effort to get the nation reading on that day. There was a suggestion from one speaker that we should have our leaders reading nationally for other citizens to emulate.

In conclusion, Hayford Siaw’s talk on #PatrioticSpaces highlighted the remarkable progress Ghana Library Authority has made in promoting the reading culture and increasing access to books in Ghana. The Authority’s efforts to bring libraries closer to the people, particularly in rural areas, through the use of mobile libraries and technology, is commendable. The Authority’s partnership with the private sector is also noteworthy. With the continued efforts of the Ghana Library Authority, we can look forward to an even more vibrant reading culture in Ghana.

#PatrioticSpaces is a platform dedicated to promoting patriotic conversations, national development and civic engagement on Twitter every Wednesday at 7pm. It is hosted by Kow Essuman (@kaessuman). Listen to the entire conversation here: #PatrioticSpaces: Revamping the Reading Culture among