EBC Financial Group Partners with United to Beat Malaria, a Campaign of the United Nations Foundation, to Protect Vulnerable Children and Their Families from Malaria

EBC Financial Group Amplifies Malaria Eradication Efforts, Supporting Critical Health Interventions and Community Empowerment

In Front of Capitol Hill
In Front of Capitol Hill

EBC with delegates of the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit at Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, EBC Financial Group (EBC) announced a new partnership with United to Beat Malaria (Beat Malaria), a campaign of the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), aimed at protecting those most vulnerable from malaria – a mosquito-borne disease that claims over 600,000 lives every year.

This partnership provides support for the United to Beat Malaria campaign, which works to improve access to malaria prevention and essential health services in support of the UN Foundation’s goal of achieving a healthier and more equitable world. The UN Foundation brings together ideas, people, and resources to drive global progress and tackle humanity’s greatest challenges. The UN Foundation initiatives have collectively protected tens of millions of children from disease, formed partnerships to provide help and hope to refugees, and mobilised communities to take action towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

EBC is honoured to partner with the United to Beat Malaria campaign, joining forces to impactfully end malaria. This partnership reflects EBC’s dedication to corporate social responsibility and support to underprivileged children. EBC recognises the profound impact of malaria on the health and well-being of poverty-stricken regions, and the subsequent economic repercussions, particularly in exacerbating the disparity between developed and underprivileged regions. Malaria disproportionately impacts young children: over 75% of all malaria deaths are children under 5. A child dies nearly every minute from this preventable and treatable disease.

“Being invited to United to Beat Malaria’s 2024 Leadership Summit and witnessing the advocacy in action was not only a tremendous privilege but also an enlightening experience for me,” said David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, the British entity of EBC. “Seeing firsthand the impact that EBC Group can have by actively engaging with organisations like United to Beat Malaria reaffirms our commitment to making a difference in the communities we serve.”

Collaborative Insights at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit
Collaborative Insights at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit

Dr. Sara Hendrix, a professor at the University of Alabama and Beat Malaria advocate, alongside CEO David Barrett of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd.

“Our partnership with EBC Group is built on a shared commitment to protect the world’s most vulnerable children and families from this deadly yet preventable disease,” said Margaret McDonnell, Beat Malaria’s Executive Director. “EBC’s support will enable our campaign to reach at-risk communities and deliver life-saving interventions in malaria endemic countries as to save and improve lives.”

Today, malaria is a disease of poverty and health inequity. It’s transmitted to people through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes, which carry the life-threatening disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium. The tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat malaria are highly cost-effective; but millions around the world lack access to these life-saving interventions. Half the world’s population remains at-risk of malaria, with over 240 million cases annually. Malaria is most prevalent in Africa, which carries 94% of all cases globally, and disproportionately impacts young children, pregnant women, displaced populations, and remote communities with limited access to healthcare.

The world has already made remarkable progress against this ancient disease, cutting the malaria mortality rate by approximately half. With continued funding, partnership, and political will, we can be the generation that ends malaria for good.

In addition to financial support, EBC also seeks to educate its employees about malaria and encourage them to get involved. Last month, Samuel Hertz, APAC Director of Operations at EBC Financial Group, alongside David Barrett, joined over 100 malaria advocates, experts, and leaders at United to Beat Malaria’s annual Leadership Summit in Washington DC. The 3-day event was a platform for learning, networking, and advocating for global leadership, emphasising the collective action needed to tackle this critical public health challenge. Also, EBC employees will participate in the upcoming Move Against Malaria 5K (April 25-May 5), a remote 5K run held worldwide to raise funds and awareness for malaria.

Move Against Malaria 5k Run 2024
Move Against Malaria 5k Run 2024

Between April 25 – May 5, 2024, join supporters around the world for Move Against Malaria, a virtual event to raise awareness and funds to support lifesaving malaria treatment tools and programs.

Samuel Hertz stated, “We, as a company, are committed to aiding children worldwide, recognising malaria as one of the most significant threats to their lives. At the summit, we gained insight into the progress made toward eradicating malaria globally. However, this endeavour requires extensive support from diverse partners, which is why we are thrilled to join this coalition. Although the journey ahead may be challenging and prolonged, we understand that meaningful change takes time and effort. As a global company, EBC acknowledges its responsibility to contribute to a better world.”

United for a Cause: EBC Financial Group at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit

Looking ahead, EBC plans to forge deeper collaborations with UN-related charitable organisations and global partners to bolster health systems worldwide. Through these efforts and its commitment to corporate social responsibility, EBC aims to raise awareness about health disparities and promote inclusivity on a global scale.

For more information, visit ebc.com and beatmalaria.org.

About EBC Financial Group
Founded in the esteemed financial district of London, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is renowned for its comprehensive suite of services that includes financial brokerage, asset management, and comprehensive investment solutions. With offices strategically located in prominent financial centres, such as London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, the Cayman Islands, Bangkok, Limassol, and more, EBC caters to a diverse clientele of retail, professional, and institutional investors worldwide.

Recognised by multiple awards, EBC prides itself on adhering to the highest levels of ethical standards and international regulation. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd is regulated by Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

At the core of EBC Group are seasoned professionals with over 30 years of profound experience in major financial institutions, having adeptly navigated through significant economic cycles from the Plaza Accord to the 2015 Swiss franc crisis. EBC champions a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor engagement is treated with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

https://www.ebc.com/

About UN Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria
The UN Foundation is an independent charitable organization created to work closely with the United Nations to address humanity’s greatest challenges, build initiatives across sectors to solve problems at scale, and drive global progress. Learn more at www.unfoundation.org.

United for a Cause: EBC Financial Group at the United to Beat Malaria 2024 Leadership Summit

Advocates from EBC Financial Group stand united with global champions at the United to Beat Malaria Leadership Summit, showcasing a collective commitment to eradicating malaria and fostering global health equity.

The UN Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria campaign brings together key and diverse partners and supporters to take urgent action to end malaria and create a healthier, more equitable world. Since 2006, United to Beat Malaria has worked to equip and mobilize citizens across the U.S. and around the world to raise awareness, funds and voices. The campaign works with partners in endemic countries to channel life-saving resources to protect the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. By championing increased leadership, political will and resources from the U.S. and beyond, as well as more holistic, innovative tools and strategies, we can be the generation that ends malaria once and for all. Learn more at www.beatmalaria.org.

Media Contact:
Douglas Chew
douglas.chew@ebc.com

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Stevie® Awards Announce Winners in 18th Annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service

Winners Announced in 18th Annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service
The Stevie Awards

Winners in the 18th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, recognized as the world’s top customer service awards and sales awards, were unveiled on April 12 during a gala ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.

FAIRFAX, Va., April 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Winners in the 18th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, recognized as the world’s top customer service awards and sales awards, were unveiled on Friday night at a gala ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada USA, attended by more than 400 executives from around the world.

The complete list of Stevie Winners by category is available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

The 10 most-honored organizations in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service received Grand (“best in show”) Stevie Award trophies. Nominees were not able to apply for Grand Stevie Awards directly. Winners were determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won, as well as having the highest average score in selected categories.

DP DHL Worldwide, with 13 Gold, 18 Silver, and 14 Bronze Stevie Award wins, was the most honored organization this year, earning the top Grand Stevie Award trophy. In descending order, the organizations below were presented with Grand Stevie Award trophies in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service on behalf of themselves and/or clients. There was a ninth-place tie between Toco Warranty and Purpol Marketing Limited.

  1. DP DHL (Worldwide), 96 points
  2. IBM (Armonk, NY USA), 64 points
  3. Support Services Group, Inc. (Waco, TX USA), 49 points
  4. Allianz Services Pvt Ltd (Trivandrum, Kerala, India), 39 points
  5. Sales Partnerships, Inc. (Broomfield, CO USA), 38.5 points
  6. UPMC Health Plan (Pittsburgh, PA USA), 31 points
  7. Blackhawk Network (Pleasanton, CA USA), 26 points
  8. VIZIO Inc. (Irvine, CA USA), 22 points
  9. Toco Warranty ( Los Angeles, CA USA), 19 points
    Purpol Marketing Limited (Chippenham, United Kingdom), 19 points

Other notable winners with three Gold Stevie Awards include Alight Solutions (Lincolnshire, IL USA), Optum (Eden Prairie, MN USA), and WNS (Holdings) Limited (Mumbai, India).

Organizations winning a combination of five or more Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Awards include TransPerfect Translations, New York, NY USA (eight), VMWare (Broadcom) Palo Alto, CA USA (seven), Intuit, Toronto, Canada (seven), Avetta, Lehi, UT USA (seven), SAP, Worldwide (seven), ValueSelling Associates, Inc., Carlsbad, CA USA (six), Element Electronics, Winnsboro, SC USA (six), Voya Financial, New York, NY USA (six), CivicPlus, Manhattan, KS USA (five), Capital Rx, New York, NY USA (five), Datasite, Minneapolis, MN USA (five), Inspiro, Makati City, Philippines (five), Loveholidays, London, UK (five), OpenGov, San Francisco, CA USA (five), QNB Finansbank, Istanbul, Turkey (five), and Qualitest Group, Bridgewater, NJ USA (five).

More than 2,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 professionals worldwide in seven specialized judging committees.

Entries were considered in more than 60 categories for customer service and contact center achievements, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year; 60 categories for sales and business development achievements, ranging from Sales Director of the Year to Sales Training Practice of the Year, and Achievement in Sales Automation; and categories to recognize new products and services and solution providers, among others.

Winners in one special category, the Sales Partnerships Ethics in Sales Award, were also announced and recognized at the April 12 ceremony. This award recognizes organizations for best practices and achievements in demonstrating the highest ethical standards in the sales industry. Integrity Solutions of Nashville, TN USA is the Gold Stevie winner in this category. The Silver winners are Better Way Health (Kennesaw, GA USA), Stateside Affairs (Manasquan, NJ USA), and Desiderate (New South Wales, Australia). Bronze Stevie winners are Alright Retiree Health Solutions (Chicago, IL USA), Belkins (Dover, DE USA), Rootstack (Panama), Shell International Aviation (Makati, Philippines), TCN (St. George, UT USA), and Yuksekbilgili Egitim & Danismanli (Istanbul, Turkey).

Winners of the 2024 People’s Choice Stevie® Awards for Favorite Customer Service, announced on April 4, were also honored at the April 12 awards gala. People’s Choice Stevie Award winners receive the coveted crystal People’s Choice Stevie Award, which is determined by a worldwide public vote.

The presentations were broadcast live via Vimeo and are available to watch online.

Nominations for the 2025 edition of the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service will be accepted starting this July. The entry kit may be requested at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries annually from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Sponsors of the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include Sales Partnerships, Inc. Support Services Group, Inc., and ValueSelling Associates, Inc.

Media Contact:
Nina Moore
+1 (703) 547-8389
Nina@StevieAwards.com

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Ground-breaking for Ombili clinic takes place at Otjiwarongo

Ground-breaking for the construction activities of the Ombili clinic was officially held on Tuesday at Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe officiated the event on behalf of the ministry.

Nangombe said the construction activities of Ombili clinic, which has been a health post since 2007, start on Tuesday and are expected to by concluded by November 2024.

'The cost for the construction will be N.dollars 6 million, which will be donated by Otjikoto B2Gold Mine,' said Nangombe.

The fully functional Ombili clinic will offer antenatal services and post-natal care, immunisations, HIV and tuberculosis testing, dental services, provision of pharmaceutical services and the management of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Nangombe further announced that the ministry intends during the 2024/2025 financial year to build a multi-regional State hospital at Otjiwarongo that will provide special medical services to the whole country.

'The ministry will also purchase 20 ambulances and the Otjozondjupa Region will be a beneficiary once the ambulances are distributed,' he said.

Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua on his part thanked the Ministry of Health and Social Services for the promise of purchasing the ambulances, saying the region is in dire need of at least four ambulances for each health district here.

Uerikua however emphasised the need to build a referral hospital for the region as the political leadership eight years ago donated a piece of land for that purpose with the understanding that as Otjiwarongo is a gateway town, it would minimise pressure and distances for many patients traveling to Windhoek's Katutura or Windhoek Central hospitals for improved healthcare.

Otjikoto B2Gold Mine Country Manager, John Roos at the event handed over a symbolic cheque to Nangombe representing the cash donation aimed at funding the clinic's construction activities.

Otjiwarongo Constituency councillor, Marlayn Mbakera extended her thanks to the Otjikoto B2Gold Mine management for the funding of the clinic, saying it will benefit about 25 000 residents in the fast-growing Ombili informal settlement.

The event was attended by the local authority councillors of the Otjiwarongo Municipality, including Mayor Gottlieb Shivute, local health officials and community members.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

GHS5.8m regulatory sanction can render ECG counter-productive – PURC

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) can become counter-productive should it fail to honour regulatory sanctions after April 22, 2024, the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) has said.? The counter-productiveness would arise through the payment of GHS5.868 million penalty, should ECG fail to comply with the payment of a three-day statutory charge of GHS36,000 to PURC. 'For failure to comply with the three-day statutory notice required under Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413, the Commission, in accordance with Regulation 45 of L.I. 2413, hereby imposes a regulatory charge of 3,000 penalty units on ECG for each of the 163 breaches, amounting to GHS 5,868,000.00,' PURC said in a regulatory order to ECG. The Commission indicated that due to the nature of ECG's ownership and business, the imposition of the penalty of GHS5,868,000.00 on the Company would be counter-productive. The Commission said that would be so because the payment from ECG's revenue would have a rebounding adverse effect on the quality of service and consumers who paid tariffs to the Company. 'In the interest of justice and to protect the interests of consumers, the Commission shall hold the Board Members of ECG who were in office from 1 January to 18 March 2024 liable for the payment of the (GHS 5,868,000.00,' PURC stated. 'These Board Members were at all material times responsible for providing strategic direction to ensure the provision of safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable and non-discriminatory service to consumers,' the Commission noted. This development is because of ECG's non-compliance with the Cash Waterfall Mechanism, non-compliance with regulatory request for data, and non-compliance with the PURC Consumer Service Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2413). Specifically, the Commission indicted that ECG had failed to comply with an order on Tariff Revenue Allocation under the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM), which was due on March 25, 2024. Again, ECG failed to honour the provision of Regulatory Audit Data and Submission of Information R elated to Operational Matters, March 27, 2024, as well as the provision of other Regulatory Audit Data due on April 2, 2024. Source: Ghana News Agency

Beige-bank trial: Beige Bank disobeyed Bank of Ghana – Prosecution

Mrs Evelyn Keelson, Chief State Attorney (CSA), the prosecution in the ongoing trial of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the defunct Beige-Bank, has challenged Mr Hafisdeen M. Dawda, former Chief Financial Officer of the Bank's defense witness that the Beige Bank disobeyed the Bank of Ghana (BoG). The CSA in cross-examination, said Beige Bank was afraid that writing off its investments would expose the true state of the Bank due to the depletion of investments. 'As of July 2018, the BoG directed you to write off the investment. You knew you had lost the value of those investments, yet you sought to deceive BoG by giving a false picture of the Bank in your witness statement,' the prosecution put it to the defense witness. The defense witness denied it and said it was not meant to deceive the BoG because when it came for examination, the issue was laid bare to the receiver hence the recommendation that it should be written off. Mrs Keelson, the CSA said ' from exhibit AB, GHC66m was transferred o n approval of the accused person - Nyinaku, to Beige Group from Essien Swiss, Express Savings and Loans, Royal Bank New Life, Stanbic Bank, Unibank, among others'. The witness debunked it and said it did not mean more money to the Beige Group. She said the transfer of its investments to some financial institutions led to the total loss of investments, but the witness disagreed. The prosecution said there were conflicting reports presented to BoG and the Attorney General, adding that BoG's reviewed report in July 2018 all showed that the Bank was insolvent and had reached a stage where it could not honour depositors' withdrawals. The Chief State Attorney explained that it got to a stage that the Bank had no assets of liabilities and could not honour depositors' withdrawals, however, the former Chief Financial Officer disagreed and said the Bank had a lot of assets and liabilities, stressing that BoG's report indicated that liabilities had exceeded the assets and that it had a negative net asset. He insist ed that BoG's report was its observation after it had conducted examination and from 2012 to 2016, reiterating that BoG did not give Beige Bank the opportunity to respond and the report rendered it insolvent before it responded. Mrs Keelson said before the Bank's revocation on July 30, 2018, it had made an emergency call on BoG to rescue it from the situation. Responding to that, Mr Dawda said the clearing support given by BoG was not insolvency by liquidity, noting that the banking laws allowed banks in situations they had liquidity challenges to fall on the BoG for support and that was different from being considered as insolvent because insolvency went to the long term survival of the business and may mean that the institution had persistently recorded negative net worth. Nyinaku has been charged with theft and money laundering, but he has denied. The High Court presided over by Justice Mrs Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal Judge with additional responsibility at the High Court, granted him ba il. Source: Ghana News Agency