News
Vlisco trains trade partners on digital marketing
Vlisco Ghana has organised a two-day masterclass on digital marketing to help empower their retailers to expand their digital footprint and engage in e-commerce in response to growing online customers demand.
The course model trained the retailers on basic knowledge in Social Media, the Strategic Planning Process, Best Practices in Social Media as well as a customised training on WhatsApp for Business.
Participants were provided with the basic skills to recover from the economic devastation emanating from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Addressing them, Marketing Director of Vlisco Ghana,
Reverend Stephen Badu, said, “there is no denying the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our business partners. We are committed to supporting them to get through these difficult times,”.
Adding that they believe the masterclass will provide very useful tools, allowing them to establish a digital identity and presence in an easy and low-cost way.
“We shall continue to build their technical capacity while expanding their online visibility especially in these difficult times,” he said.
According to Rev. Badu, the digital space and social media for that matter had been driving a lot of conversations around the world in recent times, where people continued to turn to social media to share their experiences, information and to make purchasing decisions.
“This training is to help our retailers target these people and reposition themselves to weave into the new normal successfully”, the Marketing Director added.
On his part, National Sales Director of Vlisco, Cecil Evans-Chinery, noted that social media had become a part of everyone’s life and something that had also influenced their daily life.
He advised the retailers to tap into the space to improve their businesses.
At the end of the training, the retailers opened Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for business accounts.
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has dismissed claims that staff salaries at the Presidency have increased under the current administration, describing the allegation as a “flat lie”.
In a response to a post on Facebook, Ofosu Kwakye said the current staff at the Presidency inherited the same salaries and conditions approved for their predecessors.
He argued that once arrears owed to former Article 71 office holders are paid, the total wage bill for the current administration will actually be lower due to a reduction in staff numbers.
“It is in fact a mathematical certainty that the total amount paid in salaries to the current staff will be smaller compared to yours once your arrears are paid because of the reduction in numbers,” he stated.
The Minister noted that delays in paying arrears to past Article 71 office holders are not new.
“Arrears owed to past Article 71 office holders is nothing new or unheard of. Many others before you have suffered same,” he said.
Ofosu Kwakye also stressed that the salaries and conditions in question were approved by Parliament on 6th January 2025, under the previous government.
He pointed out that the Constitution bars any changes to those salaries until a new committee is set up to determine emoluments for Article 71 office holders under the new administration.
“No such committee has been set up by President Mahama and no alteration has been made,” he clarified.
“So on what basis, apart from pure lies and mischief, can a claim of ballooning be made?” he concluded.
The response follows public debate over the size and cost of the presidential staff, with critics alleging a spike in the wage bill.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has initiated plea negotiations with the Attorney General’s office in the GH₵30 million Exim Bank fraud case.
Information available to ghanaiantimes.com.gh indicates that lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi & 2 other accused have formally written to the Attorney General to enter into plea negotiations on the charges of defrauding by false pretenses, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body.
A plea bargain, under Section 162C of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1079), allows an accused person to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The agreement must be approved by the court after the Attorney General assesses factors such as the strength of evidence, recovery of state funds, and public interest.
Wontumi is facing four counts after his arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office in May 2025.
Prosecutors allege he used forged documents to secure a GH₵30 million facility from the Ghana Export-Import Bank to finance equipment for his mining company, Akonta Mining Ltd.
The state further charges him with money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted GH₵50 million bail with two sureties. The case is currently before the Accra High Court.
The Attorney General’s office is yet to confirm whether negotiations will proceed.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
