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Ghana EXIM Bank hosts Gambian export promotion delegation
Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer with the Gambian delegation
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Export Import Bank (GEXIM), responsible for Banking, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer, on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lawrence Agyinsam, on Thursday, December 1, 2022, hosted a Gambian delegation at the Bank’s headquarters at the Africa Trade House in Accra.
Mr. Modou Lamin Sowe, Director of Investment Promotion and Facilitation of the Gambian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA) led the six-member delegation made up of officials of GiEPA and representatives of the Gambian Ministry of Finance.
The delegation was on a two-day study tour of selected strategic government agencies to understudy their management and operations.
The delegation had a full day programme at the Bank, which involved strategic presentation of key departments to get a deeper insight into the Bank’s operation as well as its innovative approaches at championing the Government of Ghana’s agenda to transform the Ghanaian economy into an export-led-one.
Receiving the delegation, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer expressed excitement of the Bank’s Executive Management to be hosting the delegation to share with them the Bank’s processes, major milestones, initiatives, award-winning projects as well as some of its challenges in executing its mandate.
“We are very excited to have you here with us today and as it is always said, we need to learn from best practices. At GEXIM, we have been focused on helping the Government to create industries and ensure the narrative is changed by reducing our dependence on imports and rather increasing production for local consumption and exports,” she said.
Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer added that “earlier this year, one of our novel initiatives, Tuesday Market, an SME fair for our financed SMEs and other Ghanaian manufacturers to showcase and sell their products whilst harnessing their export potential was adjudged the Best SME Initiative in Africa at the African Union SME Awards held in Cairo, Egypt.”
Various Departmental Heads of the Bank took members of the delegation through presentations before touring the Bank’s Knowledge Centre and the GEXIM MiG Town, a one-stop shop for everything Made –In-Ghana located at the Ground Floor of the Africa Trade House.
They later visited the Bank’s “Tuesday Market on Thursday” held at the car park of the World Trade Centre in commemoration of the 38th National Farmers’ Day celebration.
Other members of the Gambian delegation included Mr. Gabriel A. Gomez, Senior Manager, Finance, GiEPA, Mr. Alieun Baye, Senior IT Officer of GiEPA,Mr. Omar K. Jammeh, Business & Export Development Officer, GiEPA. Mr. Hamang BL Manjang, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of The Gambia and Mr. Fansu Saidykhan, Financial Controller at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of The Gambia were also part of the delegation to Ghana.
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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