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President launches GH¢600m COVID-19 Alleviation Programme today
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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will today launch a GH¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) business support scheme intended to support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The fund is intended to provide relief to SMEs across the country that has been negatively affected by the disease.
In his fifth televised address to the nation, the President announced that government has partnered with the private sector to introduce a scheme in support of SMEs which were facing challenges owing to COVID-19.
“Government, in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Business & Trade Associations and selected Commercial and Rural Banks, will roll out a soft loan scheme up to a total of GH¢600 million, which will have a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for micro, small and medium scale businesses,” he stated.
Executive Director of NBSSI, Esi Kosi Antwiwaa Yankey, earlier stated that the Board has developed an online portal to enable SMEs across the country access the GH¢600 million stimulus packages for businesses.
She said the portal was to ensure transparency and efficiency in disbursement of the package to applicants.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, she explained that the board was in discussions with concerned stakeholders to come up with eligibility criteria to ensure that viable businesses which were in need were supported.
She stated that more than 200,000 businesses would be supported under the coronavirus (COVID-19) stimulus package for SMEs adding that the NBSSI was further engaging traders and business owners to sensitise them on the package and how they could access it.
Applications from businesses, Madam Yankey, noted, would be processed through the portal, which was yet to be launched.
The Executive Director is expected to announce modalities for disbursement of the Scheme, and invited SMEs who require technical support, and not just financial support to reach out as well to the board.
Several platforms including nbssi.gov.gh/capsupport; mobile number platform (USSD) *718*555#; Call Centre Helpline: 030 274 7777, email address capsupport@nbssi.gov.gh have been made available to ensure access.
The SMEs sector, according to the University of Ghana study in 2015, contribute about 70 per cent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and account for about 92 per cent of businesses in the country.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
The Paramount Chief of Bamvum, Abdulai Ziblim, has donated a one-acre plot of land at Jongshegu, a suburb of Tamale, to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for the construction of a new fire station.
The Northern Regional Commander of the GNFS, ACFO I Joseph Koranteng, led a delegation to formally accept the land and expressed appreciation to the Chief for his commitment to public safety.
The proposed fire station is expected to improve emergency response times and strengthen fire safety coverage as Jongshegu and surrounding communities continue to expand rapidly.
The Chief called on stakeholders to support the swift development of the facility, while ACFO I Koranteng described the donation as a strong example of collaboration between traditional authorities and state institutions to protect lives and property.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
A 24-year-old tricycle (Pragyia) rider, has been jailed three months by the Nkawie Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region for biting a Community Police Assistant (CPA) at Nkawie.
Abdul Aziz pleaded guilty to the charge of negligently causing harm and was convicted on his own plea.
Police Inspector Kwaku Frimpong, prosecuting told the court presided by Mr Robert Addo that, complainants in the case were officers from the Nkawie Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service.
He said on September 3, at about 8:40am, the complainants led by Chief Inspector Abedi Larbi, were on their official patrol duty to ensure safety at Nkawie township and met the convict, who was in-charge of a Pragya tricycle with registration number M-25-A-3722.
He explained that, after a careful inspection, it was detected that the convict was without licence and other required documents, so Alhassan Seidu, the CPA, was instructed to lead him to the office for the next action.
On their way to the office, the convict took a different direction, so the CPA directed him to take the right route to the police station, but he disobeyed and attacked the CPA, resulting in a struggle between them.
In the process the convict bit the CPA on the chest, so he shouted for help and some nearby youth rushed to the scene and helped him to arrest the convict.
In his caution statement, he admitted the offence and after further investigations he was charged and brought before the court. –GNA
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