By Dominick Andoh The fate of troubled Intercity STC Company Limited is expected to be decided next month after a Board meeting for Trustees of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) -- the majority shareholder. The Board is expected to discuss whether SSNIT is going to restructure the ailing transport company or sell off its stake in the transport company. “It is the Board of Trustees [of SSNIT] that approved the payment of STC’s debts. The Board will meet next month to take a decision on [the fate of STC] so we can move forward,” Eva Amegashie, Corporate Affairs Manager of SSNIT, told the B&FT. SSNIT had earlier stepped in, acting on a resolution passed by its Board, to save the company from imminent collapse by absorbing its debts as at October 31, 2012. Since then, SSNIT has negotiated and paid GH¢23million of the GH¢45million owed by STC to its creditors as at October 2012. An amount of GH¢7.5million was paid to Prudential Bank to cancel STC’s indebtedness to the bank.  SSNIT has also paid GH¢5.1million to the National Investment Bank (NIB); GH¢554,000 to Agricultural Development Bank (ADB); GH¢1.7million to businessman Mr. Svani; and settled the six-month outstanding salaries of STC staff, which stood at GH¢1.66million. J.A. Plant Pool Limited, which in May 2012 immobilised 20 buses of STC owing to the company’s inability to service its debts, was paid GH¢1.94million plus an additional GH¢6.088million. STC, which currently operates a fleet of 30 buses, requires a minimum of 100 to operate at an optimum. That has made recapitalising STC crucial to ensure that the once-vibrant company takes its place in the booming transport industry. The company last year entered into a partnership with a private company, Afrinat, in which the latter was to procure 50 buses and operate them using STC’s resources. According to the terms, Afrinat and STC will earn 70 and 30 percent shares respectively of the revenue accruing to the partnership.

The Ghana Shippers’ Authority in collaboration with USAID-West Africa Trade Hub has held a training programme for importers, exporters, transport operators and clearing agents at the Paga-Dakola border. The programme was to offer participants ready assistance by way of information to shippers and transit shippers alike, to help facilitate trade across the Ghana and Burkina Faso borders. This follows the successful launch and opening of Information Centres at the Paga and Dakola borders in September 2012. The training programme saw participants taken though presentations and dissemination of informational material on import and export trade procedures, with respect to customs administration and the work of other regulatory agencies operating at the border. In an address read on his behalf, Dr. Kofi Mbia, CEO of Ghana Shippers’ Authority, underscored the vital role that trade information plays in facilitating trade. “Stakeholders need to work with each other with the objective of achieving efficient trade within the West African sub-region,” he said. Mr. Mbia ask shippers to comply with the regulations, while calling on customs and other trade officials to endeavour to streamline procedures and avoid undue delays that bring about added costs to shippers. “Lack of information on trade rules and procedures has been identified as one of the key disincentives to traders using our borders. Additionally, lack of critical information on ECOWAS trade protocols -- in the form of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) -- on the part of importers and exporters using our borders has reduced their competitiveness and the effectiveness of trade across the sub-region.” He explained that the objective of setting up information centres at the two border crossings is to give trade advice and promote trade through the provision of trade procedure manuals on customs administration and road governance. “Through such training programmes, it is expected that trade flow and movement of traders between Ghana and its neighbouring countries will be greatly enhanced, and this will also augment the competiveness of Ghanaian importers and exporters as well as transit shippers,” Mr. Mbia remarked. Officers from BIVAC, a Destination Inspection Company, Ghana Community Network System (GCNet), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) took participants through their procedures and processes at the border. The agencies present included Ghana Standards Authority, Immigration, Destination Inspection, Port Health, State Insurance Company, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Mr. Bernard Mac-Tannah, an Inspector of Metro Mass Transit, was on Thursday, January 17, 2013 awarded GH¢1,000.00 and a plaque for exposing ticket racketeering at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region. Presenting the cash award, Mr. Maxwell Awuku -- Ag. Managing Director -- explained that the gesture is the beginning of re-engineering the company’s Inspection Unit order to recognise hard work and honesty as a means of raking in more revenue this year. Mr. Awuku recounted how Mr. Mac-Tannah single-handedly challenged a member of the ticket malpractices syndicate from MMT’s Tamale Depot (now interdicted), and brought Management’s attention to it. He called for dedication and vigilance and cautioned perpetrators to desist from ticket and other malpractices, or be ready for dismissal. He also called for hard work to make MMT an even better transporter.The MMT Management continues to hold interactive meetings at its 16 depots nation-wide.

Glo Mobile Ghana has presented a sum of US$2.1million to the Black Stars and Premeir League Board. John Vasikaran, Head of Business, Glo Mobile Ghana, said the company has been sponsoring the Black Stars and the Premier League since 2008, adding that the Black Stars are on the threshold of making history in Africa by winning the Africa Nations’ Cup tournament. He said the Black Stars need emotional and financial support from every Ghanaian to make this dream come true. “As a proud corporate citizen of Ghana, and in fulfillment of our commitment to both the Black Stars and the Glo Premeir League, we present this sponsorship cheque to the Ghana Football Association to substantially contribute to the success of the Black Stars and generally uplift the game of football in this great soccer-loving country.” The payment of this amount brings the total sum paid by Glo Mobile to GFA, for both the Black Stars and the PLB, to US$4.5million. “Globacom has closely followed the building of the national team since 2008, and will always take pride in the fact that we were by the Black Stars in 2010 when they almost conquered the world in South Africa,” he said. Mr. Fred Crenstil, Vice President of the GFA, expressed its gratitude to Globacom for the kind gesture, saying it will motivate the players to put up their best performance and emerge us the champions of Africa.