Alumni network in Ghana
This month our focus in on the Alumni Network Ghana established last year following an alumni workshop organised by InWEnt in Accra.
Participants to the workshop were drawn from different institutions. These included the Environmental Protection Agency, Geological Survey Department, Cape Coast Technical Institute, Akwatia Technical Institute, Lands Commission, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce, Land Administration Project, Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Lands Commission and Graphic Corporation.
The workshop agreed that the functions of the network would include finding solutions to community challenges such as waterborne diseases and fighting poverty.
Other functions are cooperation with German organisations on developmental issues, policy and advocacy and to undertake projects that have an impact on society.
A new National Alumni Network Coordinator, Mr Eric Agyekum Amoako was elected.
Four people were elected as board members to assist the coordinator. These were Mr Emmanuel Salu (president), Ms Mabel Yemidi (vice president), Mr Frederick Amoako (secretary) and Mrs Helen Asiamah (treasurer).
A database for members was subsequently created. Currently it has over one hundred members.
This year three executive meetings were held to plan and strategise on activities to be undertaken during the course of the year.
The National Coordinator recently gave a lecture to the students of the Institute of Accountancy Training on Sustainable Urban Planning and Environment.
A tree-planting exercise was held in August on the Lavender Hill at Korle Gonno in Accra.
An annual general meeting is scheduled to take place this month to plan for 2008 activities.
Trade Africa
At least 23 Trade Africa participants clinched business deals from South African companies following a buyers-sellers-meeting held recently in Johannesburg.
At least 23 participants from four African countries clinched 150 business deals from 103 South African companies during the Trade Africa Buyers-Sellers-Meeting held in May in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Most of the participants have since signed major contracts while a few are yet to be finalized.
The buyers-sellers-meeting is one of the practical components of the Trade Africa programme held on the sidelines of the major trade events - South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
InWEnt implements the Trade Africa programme in collaboration with five Southern Africa Development Community member countries namely Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa.
The programme seeks to promote intra-regional trade among participating countries through building capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It also seeks to expose firms to the international market by enabling them participate in buyers-sellers meetings.
The programme has been running since 2003 and is expected to end in 2008.