Saturday, May 28, 2016

Ethiopia airlines to Sponsor Familiarization Tour for Chinese Tour Operators to Ghana

PRESS RELEASE

Ethiopian Airline Africa's leading Airline will be sponsoring a Familiarization trip by Chinese  Tour Operators to Ghana.

This is in Partnership with some leading Ghanaian Tour Operators Apstar and Sunseekers tours. The Chinese are the biggest Travellers in the world and are increasingly finding Africa appealing. Ghana is positioning itself as the major Destination of choice for them in West Africa.

The Fam Trip will see the Chinese tour Operators visit Kumasi to participate in the Akwasidae Festival. They will be hosted by Ashanti King himself and will enjoy a city tour of Kumasi.

The group will be hosted to a business Forum at Sunlodge Hotel in Accra involving Tourism stakeholders and the Tourism Minister for Ghana.

They will round off the visit to Ghana with an intensive tour of the  Castles including the Unesco Heritage monuments of Elmina  and Cape Coast  and later the  Kakum National park.

Ethiopian Airlines is the First African Airline to Fly to Ghana since independence and today flies daily into Accra with the most modern Airplane B787  Dreamliner. Last Year ET was chosen as the Best Airline in Ghana by Executive Business magazine.

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operations, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion's share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 92 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR,Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.​

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.

ENDS

*****************************************************

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

COMING UP!》Ep.76 | Season 4, Ep.11 |Bringing Harmony to Africa Day 2016 – With 2 Conversations with State of The Union Africa; & AU Day Choral Concert: to Celebrate the Music of Africa!

Episode #76
(Season 4; Ep.11):
Bringing Harmony to Africa Day 2016 –
With 2 Conversations with State of The Union Africa; & AU Day Choral Concert: to Celebrate the Music of Africa!

Even as Season 4 is on the theme of making money for Africa, Africa in Focus is celebrating May as Regional Integration month.

It's ECOWAS Day on Saturday 28th May, so we used episode 9 to unpack Model ECOWAS Summit that will take place on that day.

In last week's episode, we travelled from Kigali for a conversation about AU's protocols to Lome for an interview about Africa and its integration projects.

Now for the 25th May edition of Africa in Focus, STILL in the spirit of Regional Integration month, traditionally scheduled for May since 2013, we have still yet-another special edition celebrating Africa's integration at both ECOWAS and African Union levels.

 Although 28 May is the 41st anniversary of ECOWAS' integration efforts, perhaps the climax of May's celebration as Regional Integration Month is 25 May, when Ghana joins five other countries on the continent, including Namibia; Mali; & Zimbabwe to celebrate Africa's integration efforts.

On 25 May 1963, the AU was born when representatives from *twenty-two countries met in Africa's diplomatic capital of Addis*. Fifty-three years later, the growth of regional economic communities (RECs) like ECOWAS, SADC, and COMESA may have reduced interest in the African Union, but the bottom line is this: the RECs are; have been; and will always remain the building blocks of a United Africa by 2034.

At least, so states the Abuja Treaty of 1991.

Even as AU day may be a difficult day to celebrate for some African countries (Nigeria as ECOWAS' largest economy does not celebrate it), *it remains an important and symbolic day for continental citizen reflection and discussion on how far Africa has come in its development efforts*.

If anything, it should be a day of monitoring and assessment – for which reason      we are happy to speak anew to SOTU who have been doing just that on AU Member States' compliance to protocols for a number of years.

Finally, we bring harmony to the discussions by wrapping it all up – as one may do – with music: by speaking to Harmony Attise, of Commec Ghana, who are organizing a musical concert on Africa, with the theme “Awake and Build Africa” right here in Accra.

We all know what love's got to do with Africa, but what's music got to do with it? And why now?

Join us if you can in celebrating a truly unique day on the continental agenda!


Call us on the following number
+233(302)777.173
Guiding questions
Ø Why should Africans care about the Pan-African Parliament?
Ø How is SOTU celebrating Africa Day?
Ø What is the rationale behind the AU Choral Concert?

Guests on the line:
Ø Osai Ojigho, Co-ordinator, State of the Union, Kenya LIVE FROM NAIROBI

Guest in the studio
Ø Harmony Attise, CEO of Commec Ghana


*********************** *
more details will be available soon on  www.africainfocusradioshow.org  ;  africainfocusshow.blogspot.com .

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14 .

*Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on  www.twitter.com/ekbensah , using #africainfocus

*Follow 24/7 on  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radioxyzonline.pc
Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on +233(302)777.173

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

COMING UP!>>Ep.75 | Season 4, Ep.10 | Demystifying Africa’s Integration through ECOWAS and African Union dynamics – or a case of unpacking the Brussels-based PERIA programme & the Nairobi-based State of The [African] Union


 Episode #75
(Season 4; Ep.10):  

State of the Union (SOTU) & ECDPM's PERIA programme

Demystifying Africa’s Integration through ECOWAS and African Union dynamics –
or a case of unpacking the Brussels-based PERIA programme & the Nairobi-based
 State of The [African] Union

Season 4 is STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We commenced the Season unpacking the nitty-gritty of the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy.

In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

In episode 3, we started to treat the all-important topic of customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

In episode 4, we concluded that East Africa continues to rise, while episode 5 helped demystify Africa’s agriculture under the AU’s flagship programme of CAADP, concluding that issues around Agribusiness and nutrition will dominate discussions around Agriculture after the 12th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting that was held in Accra mid-April.

In episode 6, we piggy-backed on the *UNCTAD E-Commerce week* that took place from 18-22 April in Geneva, concluding the show on Cyber-crime with the shocking conclusion that Ghana’s Cyber-awareness is at a shockingly low threshold.

Episode 7 saw us in a conversation with the West Africa Civil Society Institute for updates on latest activities, and publications, concluding that it was necessary to have a conversation about African philanthropy.

Episode 8 shone the spotlight on AfriTourism for the fourth time, concluding that the “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa” venture, which was unveiled at a Marketing competition at the University of Ghana Business School in April, needs immense support as it has put cocoa very significantly into conversations around tourism.

Last week’s episode sought to unpack Model ECOWAS Summit that will take place on ECOWAS Day – 28 May, 2016.

Now for the 18th May edition of Africa in Focus, in the spirit of Regional Integration month, traditionally scheduled for May since 2013, we have yet-another special edition celebrating Africa’s integration at both ECOWAS and African Union levels.

At a time that Togo will be celebrating African Integration Week from 21-25 May under the auspices of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we believe it is even more important to consolidate the spirit of conversations around Africa’s integration by speaking to different experts who can help us better-understand why Africa’s integration remains very relevant to the continent’s development.

It is auspicious to further be having this conversation at the cusp of the 25th anniversary of the Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community, or the de facto blueprint of Africa’s integration in six steps – three regional, three continental.
                                                                      
June is an important month for Africa’s integration: not only is it the quarter-century celebration of the Abuja Treaty or the month in which at Africa in Focus, we discussed African integration back in 2014 – by speaking to the UNECA’s Dr.Joseph Attah-Mensah; Ashesi University’s Dr.Lloyd Amoah; and WACSI’s Charles Van Dyck, -- but the month in which the Tripartite Free Trade Area was launched in Egypt in 2015.

On 14 April, Africa in Focus was invited to a lunchtime seminar of the launch of the Brussels-based Economic Centre for Development, Policy & Management (ECDPM)’s PERIA programme (Political Economy of Regional Integration in Africa). On Friday 13 May, PERIA was launched at the AU Commission, but as yet-another novel programme, how much does it complement ECDPM’s work on regional integration? To this end, we will be speaking to Dr. Bruce Byiers, Senior Policy Officer at ECDPM, -- LIVE FROM TOGO – to help us understand and better-unpack the PERIA programme and its value-add to conversations around regional integration.

Our second conversation will be with Osai Ojigho – Coordinator of Kenya-based CSO – who is no stranger to Africa in Focus Show or its sister programme – the XYZ Africa News Bulletin@8.

Her special area of interest is that of the African Union, and Member States commitment and compliance to its protocols.

This is compelling and cutting-edge content on African integration, & ECOWAS made easier.

How can you afford to miss it a week away from the continent’s celebration of AU day on 25 May?

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 18 May, 2016.

Call us on the following number
+233(302)777.173
Guiding questions
Ø  What is the rationale behind PERIA?
Ø  What is the added-value to the conversation on Africa’s integration?
Ø  What about AU Member States’ and their compliance, or lack thereof, towards Protocols?

Guests on the line:
Ø Osai Ojigho, Co-ordinator, State of the Union, Kenya LIVE FROM NAIROBI
Ø Dr.Bruce Byiers, Senior Policy Officer, ECDPM Brussels Office, Belgium LIVE FROM Lome, TOGO


***********************
*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14.

*Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus .

Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on +233(302)777.173


  

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

COMING UP!>>Ep.74 | (Season 4; Ep.9): Unpacking the Model ECOWAS Summit on 28 May, 2016



Episode #74
(Season 4; Ep.9):  
Unpacking the Model ECOWAS Summit on 28 May, 2016

Season 4 is STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We commenced the Season unpacking the nitty-gritty of the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy.

In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

In episode 3, we started to treat the all-important topic of customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

In episode 4, we concluded that East Africa continues to rise, while episode 5 helped demystify Africa’s agriculture under the AU’s flagship programme of CAADP, concluding that issues around Agribusiness and nutrition will dominate discussions around Agriculture after the 12th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting that was held in Accra mid-April.

In episode 6, we piggy-backed on the *UNCTAD E-Commerce week* that took place from 18-22 April in Geneva, concluding the show on Cyber-crime with the shocking conclusion that Ghana’s Cyber-awareness is at a shockingly low threshold.

Episode 7 saw us in a conversation with the West Africa Civil Society Institute for updates on latest activities, and publications, concluding that it was necessary to have a conversation about African philanthropy.

Last week’s episode – the 8th for the year – shone the spotlight on AfriTourism for the fourth time, concluding that the “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa” venture, which was unveiled at a Marketing competition at the University of Ghana Business School in April, needs immense support as it has put cocoa very significantly into conversations around tourism.

Now for the 11th May edition of Africa in Focus, we have yet-another special edition looking at the unique Model ECOWAS Summit – scheduled for ECOWAS Day on 28 May, 2016.

On the 13 Edition of AIF, back in August 2014, we spoke to David Osabutey – co-founder of the Model ECOWAS Summit – around International Youth Day. The idea was to interrogate different dimensions of African youth.

In the year that the African Youth Charter -- an institutional and legal response to youth development and empowerment in Africa -- turns ten, it is instructive to be having a conversation about this most-unique of Summits that not only seeks to simulate what an ECOWAS Summit may look like, but how a gathering of this sort seeks to help Ghanaian and other African youth better-appreciate the workings of West African diplomacy.

So we need to ask: what IS the Model ECOWAS Summit? What are its objectives? How many people are expected to attend? And what does it really seek to achieve in helping educate Ghanaians and other Africans about international development – especially that of West Africa?

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 11 May, 2016.
Call us on the following numbers
+233(0)289.000.931

Guest in the studio:
Ø David Osabutey, Co-founder, Model ECOWAS Summit

***********************
more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com. Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14

Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus .
Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.




Tuesday, May 3, 2016

COMING UP!>>Ep.73 | Season 4; Ep.8 > Aif@2: AfriTourism (4): Of Agricultural Tourism & Repeat-Purchase, or a Tale of “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa!”.



Episode #73
(Season 4; Ep.8)
Aif@2:  


AfriTourism (4): Of Agricultural Tourism & Repeat-Purchase, or a Tale of “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa!”

Season 4 is STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We commenced the Season unpacking the nitty-gritty of the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy. In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

In episode 3, we started to treat the all-important topic of customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

In episode 4, we concluded that East Africa continues to rise, while episode 5 helped demystify Africa’s agriculture under the AU’s flagship programme of CAADP, concluding that issues around Agribusiness and nutrition will dominate discussions around Agriculture after the 12th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting that was held in Accra mid-April. Last week in episode 6, we piggy-backed on the *UNCTAD E-Commerce week* that took place from 18-22 April concluding the show on Cyber-crime with the shocking conclusion that Ghana’s Cyber-awareness is at a shockingly low threshold.

Last week, we spoke to the West Africa Civil Society Institute to get updated on latest activities and publications, concluding that it was necessary to have a conversation about African philanthropy.

This week, we revisit the theme of AfriTourism...in a very special week when AIF turns 2 years old!

Back in September, 2014, our first focus on Afri-Tourism was powerful and deliberate: we had a definition for our listeners on what defines Afri-Tourism. We defined it as “the witting attempt by Africans to purchase African products while visiting African countries.” 

This definition was based on a deliberate process of having had four tourism-related shows from which we drew inspiration for a definition. Again, to remind listeners:
  • Ghana’s Forestry Sector & Eco-Tourism on 29 July, 2014
  • Africa’s Aviation sector on 19 August, 2014
  • Ghana’s Hotel Industry on 26 August, 2014
  • Afri-Tourism on 9 September, 2014
  • The Hotel Industry in Ghana & Africa (2); and a Chat with Miss Tourism 2013 on 30 September, 2014
The term “Afri-Tourism” has become entrenched in AIF’s history on account of the first-ever High-Level Forum on Regional Development in West Africa, which was sponsored by WACSI. At the forum, Kofi Akpabli made a presentation entitled “Towards Afri-Tourism: Making Ghana a viable Tourist Destination” in which he spoke of a kind of sub-regional tourism. Akpabli further spoke of regional tourism blocs, wondering whether West Africa is competing or actually complementing – as done in East Africa.

In 2015, we had a second show on AfriTourism, in which we brought Kofi Akpabli; Professor Boakye; and Aisha Boakye-Yiadom -- three familiar faces to AIF— who know their tourism inside out, and helped us navigate another conversation on it from a sub-regional; national; and continental perspective.

But 2015 was different for another reason as it would be the year when the UN World Tourism Organisation would hold a conference on Branding Africa. It would be there the host would meet the founder of #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou – 17-yr-old Rachel Emefa Markham, who says she will follow the footsteps of her grandfather-journalist’s career.

In February, we had a our third show interviewing the co-founder of Tourism Organisation of Safety and Security (TOSS), concluding that safety and security remains critical for the tourism industry

In this FOURTH & SPECIAL edition of AfriTourism, we introduce you “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa”, which was unveiled at the “Destination Legon” conference organised by the University of Ghana Business School back in mid-April. We were invited by Dr.Kobby Mensah, the brains behind the competition—the third of its kind— for Marketing and Tourism students.

Out of the competition, “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa” caught our heart – for which reason they are here today to help unpack for us how agricultural tourism and the concept of repeat purchase gave birth to the idea of “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa”.

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 4 May, 2016.
Call us on the following numbers
+233(0)289.000.931

Guiding questions
  • How central is the concept of repeat purchase in the tourism industry?
  • What is agricultural tourism?
  • Has Ghana paid enough attention to marketing cocoa?

Guest in the studio:
ØChristabel Tamakloe, Founder – Think Ghana, Think Cocoa!
   
***********************
*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14.

Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus.
Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.



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