Quick Takes
W’Bank Commits to Inclusion
The Global Disability Summit, co-hosted by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID) in partnership with the Government of Kenya and the International Disability Alliance, the World Bank Group (WBG), along with other Summit participants, has announced its set of ten commitments to accelerate global action for disability-inclusive development in key areas such as education, digital development, data collection, gender, post-disaster reconstruction, transport, private sector investments, and social protection. In line with the World Bank Group’s strategy to develop human capital around the world, the World Bank Group Commitments on Disability-Inclusive Development aims to help developing countries invest more – and more effectively – in persons with disabilities and in accessible services. “It is past time that the voices of a billion people around the world living with a disability are heard – this is a truly powerful group, whose potential is far too often left on the sidelines,” the Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva said. “Economic growth and poverty reduction depend on equal opportunities for everyone, and today we are committing to do more and do better to make sure that people with disabilities have an equal chance to succeed.”
Nedbank Profit Rises 26%
South African lender, Nedbank reported a 26 per cent jump in its half-year profit on Tuesday, helped by a recovery in its west African associate, Ecobank. Nedbank owns about 16 per cent of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), which is a recovering from weak investment and consumer spending in the commodity-rich west African region. Diluted headline earnings per share (EPS), the primary measure of profit in South Africa that excludes certain one-off items, came in at 1,387 cents in the six months through the end of June compared with 1,098 cents a year earlier. “While risks remain, it is expected that the actions taken to improve ETI’s financial position and governance, along with an improving macroeconomic environment, will continue to drive an improved financial performance in 2018,” Reuters quoted Nedbank to have said in a result filing.
PFA Assures of Customer Satisfaction
Premium Pension Limited has assured its customers within and outside the Federal Capital Territory of equal recognition and treatment. The PFA also said it had set up a new strategy aimed at recognising the competence of the regional spread of the company in discharging its responsibility for effective management. The company stated this at the end of a recent board meeting held in Lagos. The meeting which was the first to be held by the company outside its corporate head office was attended by all members of the board and executive management of the company, led by the Chairman Yunusa Yakubu. The company, explained that the development was part of the Premium Pension’s commitment towards recognising its numerous clients residing and working in and around the Island. “We are bringing relationship closer to our clients and providing environment for them to experience our premium services,” the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Umar Sanda Mairami.
Ghana Sacks Energy Minister
Ghanaian Presiden,t Nana Akufo-Addo sacked the country’s Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko on Monday, a statement from the presidency said, giving no official reason. Press reports said Agyarko was removed because Akufo-Addo was unhappy with his handling of an agreement to extend an existing five-year deal with United Arab Emirates-based AMERI Energy to operate a 300MW emergency power plant.