Category: General

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia Monday launched a 'Tap and Go' system and ticketing solution for the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) to improve operational efficiency and ease of accessing public transport services. The initiative was designed by a young talented Ghanaian IT Solution developer, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and the Office of the Vice President. The 'Tap and Go' system seeks to build a single system for the entire transport eco-system for the inter and intra-city bus services, the commercial transport (Trotro), the loading taxi services and the taxi hailing (uber-like) services for commuting passengers in Ghana. The new system is completely different from the Closed Loop System designed for the Aayalolo buses some time ago, but an advanced one with so many enhanced features. It is expected to plug revenue leakage and improve transparency and accountability in revenue generation within the public transport operations and curb corruption. There would be fixed security cameras on the buses to monitor the time and speed of drivers, check onboard passengers and respond swiftly to any emergencies. At the launch of the 'Tap and Go' System and Ticketing Solution for the Metro Mass Transit Limited in Accra, Dr Bawumia said the initiative was a major milestone in promoting a cashless society and digitally empower the public transport system to deliver quality services. It would also formalise the public transport sector to respond to the fourth industrial revolution- ICT, and digitisation- which the world's economy was embracing. Dr Bawumia noted that the initiative adds to the many digital solutions the government had been implementing over the past seven years and yielding positive results, so far. The Vice President mentioned the digitalisation of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, the Paperless Ports, the Passport Office, the Property Addressing System, the National Identification Authority (GhanaCard) and the Mobile Money Interoperability Payment System as some of the digital solutions to formalise the Ghanaian economy. Dr Bawumia outlined other features inherent in the new system including tracking, parcel delivery, taxi hailing and inter and intra-city services to the commuting passengers. The initiative, the Vice President said, would help curb diversion of funds and plug the revenue leakages in the public transport operations, and cited for instance, the introduction of the innovative project recently had reduced 50 percent revenue losses incurred by the MMT. Dr Bawumia announced that the government would secure 100 electric buses for the MMT this year, to boost its operations. Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiama, the Minister of Transport, on his part, said the initiative was a game-changer in the public transport sector, which would ensure affordable and reliable access to public transport services by the commuting public. 'This is a new phase of digital revolution and would redefine the future of public transport system in Ghana,' Mr Asiama stressed. Mr Albert Adu Bo ahen, the Managing Director of MMT, in his welcome remarks, stated that the initiative would bring efficiency to the company's operations and minimise revenue losses. The Kaneshie terminal of Metro Mass Transit Ltd was first to introduce it and by 31st May, this year all the 25 branches of the company would be networked to the Tap and System to optimise operations, Mr Adu Boahen stated. The public can download and install the Tap and Go application on AppStore or playStore. They can also access it by using the USSD by dialing *713*091#. Source: Ghana News Agency

WINDHOEK: Maria Namundjebo, who previously worked with the late President Hage Geingob as presidential photographer, has described Geingob as a leader and mentor who motivated her to follow her dreams. Namundjebo is currently a policy analyst in the Office of the President, but previously served as senior presidential photographer for former presidents Sam Nujoma, Hifikepunye Pohamba, as well as the late Geingob. Namundjebo in an interview with Nampa described the late president as a leader and mentor who motivated her to surpass her dreams, and encouraged others to be exceptional and efficient at service delivery. She told this agency that she met Geingob when he was Namibia's prime minister. 'I then worked for the late president from 2015 to 2019 and I had the privilege of traveling around the world with him, covering national duties whether local or international, and capturing great moments of the late president's life. I was able to witness his commitment to serving the people of Namibia with humility , integrity, and compassion,' she said. Although she captured moments of the late president for the world to see, Namundjebo shared that through the lens, she saw a man of vision and unparalleled leadership skills. She remembered him as being a person full of jokes, yet always supportive of her career choices, while further describing him as someone who cared for his nation and his team. 'I still remember in 2019 when I took study leave for a month to prepare for my exams, upon returning to the office he asked where I'd been, and before I could answer he asked me not to lie. I told him, Comrade President, I was on study leave. He then asked what I was studying and I said I was doing my Master's Degree in International Relations, Diplomacy, and Management. He was so happy and encouraged me to keep up my studies while acknowledging my photography skills,' said Namundjebo. She noted that the late president impacted her career and the media as he would always be respectful and dedicated during his time with th e media. 'He was a remarkable and supportive leader whose caring spirit impacted the whole nation,' Namundjebo said. Source: The Namibia Press Agency The first high-level Maghreb regional meeting on "Digital transformation of education for the implementation of SDG4" opened on Monday in Tunis. The two-day event is organised by the Maghreb office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, to promote cooperation between Maghreb countries, implement the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) on access to quality education and launch a dialogue on digital transformation of education in the region. Attended by the Minister of Education, Mohamed Ali Boughdiri, the Minister of Education of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Musa Mohamed Almaghrif, the Minister of National Education and Reform of the Education System of Mauritania, Mokhtar Ould Dahi, and the Director General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO), Mohamed Ould Amar, this event aims to strengthen partnership in the digital transformation and promotion of education systems, in addition to the implementation of criteria for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the teaching and education sector. During this meeting, education and teaching experts from Maghreb countries will discuss digital transformation and the challenges of using modern technologies in education and teaching. A joint action plan will be developed to promote education and training. Chairing the opening session, Boughdiri underlined Tunisia's commitment to strengthening the role of education in promoting opportunities for success for all. He stressed the importance of investing in qualitative and quantitative education, which he said was the best guarantee for the integration of Maghreb people and for changing mentalities. The organisation of this meeting in partnership with UNESCO reflects Tunisia's commitment to developing cooperation with international and Maghreb countries, particularly in the field of education. Boughdiri also reiterated Tunisia's unwavering support for the Palestinian peo ple in their struggle against Zionist aggression and called on the international community to take concrete measures to put an end to this human tragedy. In a press briefing held on the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister announced that the number of schools connected to the high speed internet network will reach 4,000 next April. This initiative is part of the state's policy to promote teaching methods and encourage students to access knowledge via the Internet, he stressed. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Paramount Pictures' Bob Marley biopic 'Bob Marley: One Love' outperformed expectations to debut at No. 1 at the box office with a $27.7 million opening weekend, while Sony's 'Madame Web' flopped with one of the lowest debuts for a movie centered on a Marvel character. Both films launched in theaters on Tuesday to rope in Valentine's Day moviegoers. But on a weekend that was once expected to go to 'Madame Web,' 'One Love' emerged as the much-preferred option in theaters, despite largely poor reviews. Instead, 'One Love,' starring Kingsley Ben-Adir and produced with the involvement of the Marley estate, performed roughly on par with previous hit musical biopics like 'Rocketman' and 'Elvis.' Paramount is forecasting that 'One Love' will gross $51 million over its first six days, including estimates for President's Day on Monday. It added $29 million from 47 international territories. Chris Aronson, distribution chief for Paramount, noted that pre-release projections forecast a six-day total closer to $30 mill ion for 'One Love.' But moviegoers from a wide range turned out for the first big-screen biopic of the Rastafarian legend. 'It was across all generations. It wasn't just a movie for an older audience that grew up with Bob Marley's music,' said Aronson. 'Our highest quadrant was (age) 18 to 24. A third of the audience was under 25. That, to me, speaks volumes.' Produced for about $70 million, 'One Love,' directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, chronicles Marley during the making of the 1977 album 'Exodus' while leading up to a pivotal concert for his native Jamaica. Among the movie's producers are Marley's children, Ziggy and Cedella, and his wife, Rita. Ziggy Marley, in a statement Sunday, said: 'We thank the people for embracing this film and in so doing helping to highlight the message of one love.' Though critics dinged the film (43% 'fresh' on Rotten Tomatoes) for relying on biopic conventions, audiences gave it a much higher grade, with an 'A' CinemaScore. That kind of audience response plus the strong op ening should bode well for the film's run. 'Madame Web,' however, was dead on arrival. Over six days, Sony is estimating a $15.2 million weekend and a six-day $25.8 million haul. Audiences (a 'C+' CinemaScore) agreed with critics (13% 'fresh'). Such launches were once unfathomable for stand-alone superhero films. But the film, an extension of Sony's universe of Spider-Man films, struggled to shed the bad buzz surrounding the $80 million project. In it, Dakota Johnson stars as a New York paramedic with clairvoyant powers. 'The entire superhero genre has had a really rough go of it over the past year,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore. 'Certain things are no longer a sure bet. Except maybe now, the musical biopic has become the go-to genre. It just shows how tastes can change.' Sony's Spider-Man spinoffs have been mostly hit and miss. Its two 'Venom' films have together surpassed $1.3 billion worldwide. But 2022's poorly received 'Morbius' collected just $167.4 million gl obally. 'Madame Web' still couldn't come close to the $39 million domestic opening weekend for 'Morbius.' In 61 overseas markets, 'Madame Web' added $25.7 million. The better news for Sony's Spider-verse came Saturday night at the 51st Annie Awards, where 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' won best feature and collected seven prizes in total. 'Across the Spider-Verse' is nominated for best animated feature at the Academy Awards - and the Annie Awards can often be a good predictor of winner. The 2024 box office has gotten off to a sobering start for Hollywood, and the disappointing result for 'Madame Web' won't help. Moviegoing has slowed to a crawl in recent weeks, while 2023's strikes have impacted this year's release schedules. Even with the strong 'One Love' opening, ticket sales were down 15% on the weekend compared to 2023, according to ComScore. Expectations are high for 'Dune: Part Two,' opening March 1. Until then, 'Bob Marley: One Love' will be jammin'. Estimated ticket sales for Friday throug h Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. 1. 'Bob Marley: One Love,' $27.7 million. 2. 'Madame Web,' $15.2 million. 3. 'Argylle,' $4.7 million. 4. 'Migration,' $3.8 million. 5. 'The Chosen,' Episodes 4-6, $3.4 million. 6. 'Wonka,' $3.4 million. 7. 'The Beekeeper,' $3.3 million. 8. 'Anyone But You,' $2.4 million. 9. 'Lisa Frankenstein,' $2 million. 10. 'Land of Bad,' $1.8 million. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Gertrude Ohene-Asienim, the Chief Executive Officer for the West Africa School of Shipping and Whitestone Shipbrokers Limited, has encouraged companies operating in the maritime sector to prioritize continuous training for their staff. Mrs Ohene-Asienim said such continuous training would keep them abreast of modern trends and developments in the ever-evolving maritime industry. Speaking at a Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) media forum, she said the expectations on maritime service providers in the sector were both economic, social, environmental, and political, adding that for these demands to be met, commitment must be given to continuous learning and unlearning. She said companies must see it as a necessity and make budgetary allocations for continuous professional development (CPD) of employees every year, noting that equipping the companies' human resources with new knowledge and modern ways of doing things would have a direct impact on improvement in productivity, and the attraction of international clients. She noted that an assessment must be done on staff by the companies to inform them of the type of continuous training they need to enhance their capabilities in the role given to them. Mrs Ohene-Asienim said the West Africa School of Shipping offers a wide range of maritime training programs, which maritime companies could take advantage of to equip their staff with the requisite knowledge. She said continuous professional development is not limited to industry-specific technical training, but personal soft skills should be added for holistic development. She reminded companies to train their employees to use artificial intelligence, as the world is currently leaning towards artificial intelligence, digital marketing, cloud-based systems, remote operations, occupational health, safety, and environmental consciousness, among others. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Emmanuel Frimpong, a Tourism Consultant, says given the limited time Mr Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, the Tourism Arts and Culture Minister-designate, would not achieve much in the sector. He said the industry was such a complex one that demanded a lot from leaders, and as such the short period from now until elections would not afford the Minister designate the time to do anything meaningful for the sector before he exited. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Frimpong said, 'The minister-designate, also a Member of Parliament, will be focusing on elections and will not have much time to study the Ministry, so I genuinely do not think he will make much difference.' Mr Frimpong, however, noted that for the Minister to make any meaningful impact there were a few things he had to pay particular attention to, including building stronger collaborations with the private sector and academia. He said the minister-designate must also decentralize tourism activities to the regions and districts . 'The regions and districts must be equipped and resourced to be able to promote the various tourist sites in their regions and districts.' He said as an industry there was a need for a blueprint to guide its activities, hence the Minister's designate must work to complete the draft national tourism development policy to serve as a blueprint to guide industry players. 'Training and skills development must also be his focus, especially in the area of customer service and care as well as focus on resourcing the Hotel Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT) .' Mr Frimpong commended Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the outgoing Sector Minister for his goodwill. 'The minister had goodwill, enthusiasm, commitment, passion, and dedication. However, he could not accomplish most of his promises.' 'In terms of improving service quality, infrastructure, youth employment in the sector, both domestic and international arrivals and other areas he could have done much better. We saw some slight improvements.' He, however, blamed the private sector, saying 'I blame the private sector because we have not been efficient and effective as a private sector in pushing various ministers to do more for the sector. Source: Ghana News Agency