People & Lifestyle
Awake Purified Drinking Water rescues Okwampa, Ayensuako residents from water crisis
Two communities in the Awutu-Senya East District in the Central Region who had challenges accessing potable water have been rescued by Awake Purified Drinking Water. Awake, charity-driven purified bottle water which highlights Kasapreko Company Limited’s Corporate Social Responsibility across communities in Ghana, has commissioned mechanized borehole systems and donated huge water storage tanks in both […]
Two communities in the Awutu-Senya East District in the Central Region who had challenges accessing potable water have been rescued by Awake Purified Drinking Water.
Awake, charity-driven purified bottle water which highlights Kasapreko Company Limited’s Corporate Social Responsibility across communities in Ghana, has commissioned mechanized borehole systems and donated huge water storage tanks in both Okwampa and Ayensuako to ease the struggles of the residents.
The projects were commissioned on Friday, March 22, 2019 which was set aside as World Water Day.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the commissioning ceremony, Sales and Marketing Manager of Awake Purified Water, Chris Sarkodie indicated that the gesture was inspired by a GTV documentary on the plight of the two communities and his outfit’s efforts to promote healthy living among Ghanaians through life-saving campaigns and projects.
The documentary highlighted the dangers residents of Okwampa and Ayensuako face in attempts to access water from rivers within their communities.
They survived on the unclean river water which is used for all their chores.
According to Mr. Sarkodie, the Management of Awake and Kasapreko, were touched by the report and, therefore, decided to spend over GHC75,000 in providing potable water to the communities.
“Today being World Water Day, we’ve decided to extend our CSR activities to the people of Ayensuako and Okwampa. The people of Ayensuako depend on the river Ayensu for drinking, cooking and all manner of chores which is not very hygienic and they also have to walk for close to a mile before they get access to the river,” he stated.
He adds, “We’ve come here to commission mechanized borehole systems and we’re also donating 20000 worth of water storage facilities which should be able to cater for the people of Ayensuako and hopefully they’ll not have to depend on river Ayensu because when we talk about World Water Day, it’s about accessibility of water and making sure that wherever you are, be it in Accra or Kumasi or this village, you should be able to have access to clean and better drinking water.”
At Okwampa, which is quite smaller than Ayensuako, Awake Water in addition to the mechanized borehole donated a 10000 storage tank to the community.
Mr. Sarkodie expressed his gratitude to consumers of Awake Water and other products of the company and urged them to continue patronizing their services so his outfit can expand its activities to other communities who need help.
“Our projects will come on need basis. Awake specifically stands for cardiovascular activities however as consumers keep supporting us, keep buying and keep drinking awake water we’ll certainly extend our projects,” he stressed.
Awake has lifted my burden of providing water to Okwampa and Ayensuako – Awutu-Senya East
District Chief Executive of the Awutu-Senya East, Stephen Kwame Quaye could not hide his joy as he commissioned the two projects.
He said, the provision of water to the two communities in his jurisdiction is a burden lifted as they did not have the means of solving the problem that was a headache to residents.
“I had sleepless nights due to the water crisis in these communities so when I heard that Kasapreko is coming to lift this burden in Okwampa and Ayensuako, I was relieved. The malaria I had from the pressure on me by the people has now been cured,” he said.
Mr. Quaye thanked the Management of Awake Mineral Water and its mother company, Kasapreko for the gesture.
“We thank Kasapreko and the Manager, Dr. Kwabena Agyei for coming to our rescue. The borehole keeps breaking down and now that we have the mechanized one all the challenges we have with water have been solved,” he said.
He further entreated the residents to handle the facilities properly to ensure their sustainability.
“We have a health centre here at Okwampa where officers from Korle Bu come for training. Now that we have access to purified water, they can happily stay with us. Thanks to Awake Purified water and we pray that God bless and make your business successful,” the DCE added.
Okwampa chief grateful to Awake Purified Drinking Water
Chief of Okwampa revealed that they engaged the services of an engineer to mechanize the only borehole in the community which breaks down often but they could not afford the cost of GHC30,000 that was needed for the project.
He, therefore, thanked Awake for their kindness and promised to ensure the facilities are well maintained to serve the intended purpose.
My people can now sleep in peace – Ayensuako Chief
On his part, Chief of Ayensuako, Nai Kofi Antwi V, said he is excited that residents of Ayensuako can now heave sighs of relief and sleep in peace as their most pressing need has been met.
“See these tanks here. There was no way we could have acquired these with our limited funds but today Kasapreko and Awake have shown as kindness. They’ve bought two big tanks and mechanized our boreholes,” he noted.
According to him, getting water for his community has been his priority and as a result, he keeps putting pressure on the DCE to solve the issue.
“Since I became Chief of Ayensuako, I’ve taken steps to get a reliable source of potable water for my people. I even contacted the GWCL in Agona Swedru but to no avail. We’ve depended on the unclean water from the rivers for far too long.”
“We’re grateful to Kasapreko for identifying our need and coming to save us. We will take good care of these facilities,” he excitedly said.
He also made a passionate appeal to government and charity organizations to emulate the gesture of Kasapreko and help construct their roads and footbridges on the rivers in the community.
He disclosed that residents risk their lives as they cross to the Ayensu and Densu Rivers to their farms.
In wet seasons, for instance, rivers overflow their banks making it extremely difficult for school children to go to school and farmers, to their farms.
“Our water problem has been eliminated but our road must be constructed and a bridge built on the rivers. We plead that government will resource our MP to act on this, particularly our bridge. We voted because we needed peace and comfort so they shouldn’t neglect us like the past governments did,” he appealed.
Residents happy
Happy residents also affirmed how they endangered their lives in the process of accessing water and thanked Awake for the gesture.
“We’re very happy now. As you can see how we’re suffering just to fetch water from this river. It’s this very water that we drink, bath, wash and cook. People even swim and bath inside and we also fetch and drink which is not healthy for us,” says a resident.
People & Lifestyle
Understanding Fri Data Abonnement
These days, it’s practically impossible to escape mobile phones. Throughout the world, a lot of us simply need these devices to get basic tasks done – not to mention to work at our most efficient! This is certainly true here in Norway, which is likely not a huge surprise.
Once we accept that these mobile devices are simply a part of our lives these days, the next thing to think about is how they work. Specifically, how we have access to cell service and internet services when using our phones – it’s a question that everyone has to wonder about at some point.
Today, we’re here to cover how cell phone services work, what options there are, and how you can access a free data subscription. The tricky part of this can be deciding which one we want for ourselves, seeing as there are a ton of factors at play.
If you’re someone who wants to switch service providers, or you’re a first-time cell phone user, you’ve come to the right place! We’re here to explain all of the intricacies that you may run into, as well as provide some advice on what types of plans to prioritize. Stay tuned!
What Are Cell Phone Plans, Anyway?
Cell phone plans are service agreements offered by mobile carriers that allow customers to access voice, text, and data services on their mobile devices for a monthly fee. Chances are, you’ve heard of them before – they’re pretty popular all across the world.
Now, these plans typically include a set number of minutes, texts, and data. They may also include various features such as international calling, mobile hotspot capabilities, and unlimited streaming. Naturally, customers are able to choose from a variety of plan options based on their needs and usage habits.
Types of Mobile Plans
There are several different types of these plans – you can read more about them on this page: https://www.nist.gov/publications/cell-phone-forensic-tools-overview-and-analysis-update?pub_id=51100, if you’d like some sort of reference. With that said, let’s take a closer look at some of the broad options that you may encounter.
Prepaid Plans
These sorts of plans were popularized by the “Tracfone” brand, but there are plenty of other companies that offer this as an option. Simply put, these plans require customers to pay for service in advance – usually on a monthly basis, though it can be for longer periods of time as well. One of the plus sides is that prepaid plans do not require a credit check and often offer flexibility in terms of contract length and payment options.
Of course, they’re not always going to be ideal. They’ve dwindled in popularity over the past decade, since there are better choices these days for folks who use their phones consistently.
Postpaid Plans
As you may have already guessed, these are essentially the opposite of the above option. You see, these require customers to pay for service after they have used it. More often than not, this will be on a monthly basis. Postpaid plans often involve signing a contract with the carrier and may include additional fees or charges.
Overall, they’re probably the most popular option. The contracts tend to last for a few years (two, in most cases), so they’re relatively flexible – it’s not as if you’re signed on for life. Just be sure to read over the clauses to ensure you’re getting what you want.
Family Plans
Not everyone who is getting a mobile phone plan will be doing so on their own. That’s where family options come into play – these can be a great deal for families large and small alike, depending on the circumstances. Allow us to explain.
Family plans allow for multiple different devices to share a single plan. The real perk here is that it will usually be offered at a discounted rate when compared to individual plans. Just keep in mind that these plans tend to include shared data, minutes, and texts, as well as the ability to add additional lines as needed.
While they can be quite useful, the sharing of data, minutes, and texts will mean that larger families may need to go for an unlimited, or free data, option to ensure that everyone has the access they need. You can go to website to get a better idea of how this works in practice.
Unlimited Plans
This is an option that can be combined with a few of the others (family and postpaid). They offer users on the line to have unlimited access to services like data, texts, and voice minutes. That said, there are usually still stipulations on things like international calling and texting.
Pay-As-You-Go Plans
For the final type that we’re highlighting in this section, we have pay-as-you-go plans. They allow customers to pay only for the minutes, texts, and data they use – and they come without a monthly contract or commitment. Overall, these plans are ideal for light users or those who want more control over their spending.
At the end of the day, some users will find it easier to blend a few of these plan options together. Most of the time, service providers will be willing to work with you to find a plan that suits you (and your family, when applicable), but isn’t overly expensive.
Choosing a Plan
The trickiest part of this whole thing is narrowing down what will actually be the best fit. Something you’ll want to bear in mind right off of the bat is that there are a ton of service providers across Norway, so that will likely play a role in your eventually choice. After all, before you decide on anything like that, you’ll need to research which companies offer service in your area.
Once you’ve gotten that out of the way, though, the fun can begin. There are a ton of factors that will play a role here, so make sure to follow along!
Analyze Your Usage
The first step you’ll want to take is to think about how much you use your mobile phone right now (or how much you plan to use it). Additionally, there’s the matter of what you actually use it for. Both of these aspects will play a role here.
Voice minutes are an easy one to think about. How often do you call people? Do you spend a long time on the phone, or do you tend to keep things short and sweet? Many people don’t find the need for unlimited voice minutes these days, but they do tend to be bundled in with other free use plans, so that may in fact be a non-issue.
What about texting? Admittedly, this does seem to be how most people communicate nowadays. However, if you’re chatting with friends or coworkers internationally, you may use a third-party messaging service that uses data (or Wi-Fi) rather than text minutes. This could easily influence the number of monthly texts you need access to.
Data is probably the most important factor in this category, as it’s how we browse the internet at all when we aren’t connected to Wi-Fi networks. Now, some people work from home or simply don’t get out much, so they may not necessarily need a free data subscription. However, most folks do tend to travel about and want to access the internet on the go.
Without data, you can’t send emails, browse social media, or stream videos unless you’re connected to a Wi-Fi outlet. It’s not hard to see why this is useful – or why most people tend to go with a free data subscription (also known as an unlimited data plan).
The last factor to consider here is contingent on whether or not you are going for a family plan. If a lot of people are utilizing phones on the same line, then unlimited data, texts, and voice minutes can be invaluable. This way, everyone who’s included on the plan will be able to access these services as much as they need, without having an impact on anyone else’s service.
Cost, Contract Terms, and Other Services
At the end of the day, it’s pretty hard to make a decision on this sort of thing without first analyzing the cost that you’re comfortable with. Often, with family plans, everyone will chip in to help cover the bill each month – so, that could help save some cash in the long run, if that’s what you’re considering.
However, if you’re just purchasing one line, you may have further restrictions to consider in terms of budget. Thankfully, most phone companies offer several tiers, bundles, and packages to make their services as accessible as possible. Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare offers with the companies that service your area, either.
Contract terms are also something you’ll want to take into account. Essentially, you’ll want to decide if you prefer a prepaid plan with no long-term commitment or a postpaid plan with a contract. Consider factors such as contract length, early termination fees, and any perks or benefits that come with a specific plan. All of this will have an impact on final costs as well.
Finally, it can also be worth it to see what additional features or perks are included with a certain plan. For instance, consider any additional features or perks that are important to you, such as international calling, mobile hotspot capabilities, or streaming services. Some plans may include extras that can enhance your overall experience, though they come at an upcharge.
Selecting mobile phone services isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it to take the time to really browse the options available. That way, you can be confident knowing you got a good deal.
People & Lifestyle
Implementing Performance Management Systems: From Evaluation to Excellence II
This April, we commence a 5-part series on one of our highly recommended strategies for driving a culture of peak performance – The Evolution of Performance and Impact Measurement. Last week, we discussed 6 steps to implementing an excellent performance management system. Today, we bring the concluding 4 the effective implementation of performance management systems.
- Integrating Employee Feedback
Just as it is with corporate goal setting, collaboration for effective performance involves integrating a system that gives employees the opportunity to engage or provide feedback. This is critical because most of the operations in the workplace and more direct interactions with customers are made by employees on the lower rungs of the corporate ladder. Some of the famous tweaks in the production model of successful organizations were made by mid-level and low-level employees who see opportunities that top management might be tone-deaf or oblivious to. These insights are invaluable because they offer perspectives that can increase the form utility of what is being produced. This is because the business cycle is not complete until the goods or service is delivered to the customer and feedback received. This also enhances job satisfaction for the employees because they see themselves as part of the big picture.
- Instituting An Improvement System
This largely speaks to trainings but improvement is holistic. Training here applies to both managers and subordinates because it takes two to tango; the lack of training can sabotage productivity because one ignorant fellow with power can lead an organization down to ruins. Leaders and team members must constantly upskill because competence on one level can quickly become incompetence on a higher level. These could be owing to changes in within the organization or outside the organization. For example, after an organization secures new funding from investors or become quoted on a stock exchange, it has effectively become a different organization because its scope of operation has widened and the scale of production has to be increased owing to the new demands imposed on it by new stakeholders. Training interventions should be data-driven and vision-inspired; in response to the current needs of an organization and a preparation for its future.
- Recalibrating The Performance Management System Itself
For organizations that are actively learning and growing; they know that it is never what they started with that they continue with – changes are a part of their success story. Tweaking a performance management system doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not productive or yielding the desired results, it’s because little changes can have huge consequences. Sometimes, managers need to relax certain timelines because the strategic priority of an organization might have changes from speed to accuracy, thus the focus might be more on qualitative outcomes than just quantitative outcomes. This happens mostly when organizations are expanding and have gained significant notoriety, it means that they come under more scrutiny for compliance from regulatory authorities, investors and the business community.
For example, 1Tesla is not necessarily focused on mass producing electric cars so that the markets are flooded with them; owing to the highly technical nature of the car which includes self-driving features. This year alone, Tesla has recalled about 200,000 cars owing to a software error that could have prevented the rear-view cameras from displaying. This came barely two months after more than two million of its vehicles were also pulled from the market for autopilot issues. It had to double down on quality control so that it doesn’t lose its reputation as the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles.
- Automating The Process
The performance management system is not a one-off tool; it’s a continuous process that never really ends – it’s an end-to-end play. If allowed to be operated manually, the performance management system would fail because it would be tiring and monotonous to start the same process all over again. Leaders should learn a thing or two on how the universe works – everything is designed in cycles, loops that are intentionally co-ordinated to such that there is really no difference between a start-point and a stop-point.
In a performance management system where the five core components are specifying expectations, monitoring, meeting employees’ developmental needs, the use of appraisal and rewards – the last component (rewards) should seamlessly introduce the first component (specifying expectations).
Implementing performance management systems requires a lot of critical thinking and emotional intelligence because execution can be the difference between successful organizations and failing organizations. Productivity is so important that it cannot be happenstance; therefore managers should become aware of the moving parts that make increased productivity possible.
1https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/01/26/tesla-recalls-nearly-200000-vehicles-over-rearview-camera-software-issue/
Growth Opportunities
To further position your leaders for peak performance, you can download a free copy of the latest edition of The Peak Performer Magazine at www.thepeakperformer.africa You can also enroll your Mid-level Leadership Team for the Made4More Accelerator Program https://abiolachamp.com/m4m-accelerator and your Senior Leadership Team for the Dr. Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp MOMBASA 2024 https://abiolachamp.com/international-bootcamp/ We also have an upcoming training for leaders in public service www.abiolachamp.com/depips/
About Dr. Abiola Salami
Dr. Abiola Salami is the Convener of Dr Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp and The Peak PerformerTM. He is the Principal Performance Strategist at CHAMP – a full scale professional services firm trusted by high performing business leaders for providing Executive Coaching, Workforce Development & Advisory Services to improve performance. You can reach his team on hello@abiolachamp.com and connect with him @abiolachamp on all social media.
People & Lifestyle
Delta to serve Ghana with new Airbus A330-900neo
Delta Air Lines will fly its state-of-the-art Airbus A330-900neo on nonstop service from Accra to New York-JFK effective 27 October 2024. The new aircraft will add approximately 30% more capacity between Ghana and the United States.
Speaking to journalists at a media roundtable in Accra, Matteo Curcio, Delta’s Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India, said, “Delta has worked to deliver an enhanced travel experience in Ghana. We look forward to welcoming customers onboard our A330-900neo aircraft come October, offering exciting new products and services as they travel to and from the United States.”
Matteo used the opportunity to express his gratitude to Delta’s customers, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and the government of Ghana for their continued partnership.
The brand-new A330-900neo aircraft will add nearly 1,000 more seats each week between Ghana and the U.S. It offers four distinctive experiences – Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin – and more cargo capacity to cater for growing demand.
Customers can expect Delta’s best-in-class service and a uniquely premium onboard experience as they travel to and from the U.S. Each Delta One Suite features a sliding door for enhanced privacy, the luxury of a fully reclining seat, accompanied by plush bedding crafted from recycled materials. Delta One customers can also enjoy more beverage options and a seasonal chef-curated four-course meal.
Meanwhile, customers flying in Delta Premium Select will have more space to relax and stretch out, with a wider seat, deeper recline, an adjustable footrest and leg rest. Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin passengers benefit from comfortable, memory-foam seats.
All travelers will enjoy ambient lighting for a restful flight, Wi-Fi for purchase, and seat-back screens featuring 1,000+ hours of Delta Studio entertainment. Delta collaborates with diverse suppliers worldwide for in-flight products such as artisan-crafted amenity kits and beverages like Thrive Farmers Tea.
Delta continues to maintain its reputation for operational excellence. The airline has consistently been recognized for excellence in passenger experience, customer service, operational performance, and workplace culture. Recent achievements include winning Cirium’s Platinum Award for operational excellence for the third consecutive year, OAG’s most on-time airline, Air Transport World’s Airline of the Year 2024, and the Wall Street Journal’s top U.S. airline.
People & Lifestyle
A Powerful and Emotional Experience – “In the Pants of a Woman” – By Beatrice Shine Ayroe
People & Lifestyle
Short films and La Cinef Jury and selections of the 77th Festival de Cannes
Flanked by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Paolo Moretti, Claudine Nougaret and Vladimir Perišić, the Belgian actress Lubna Azabal will award the Short Film Palme d’or and the 3 La Cinef prizes, the Festival de Cannes’ selection dedicated to student films.
The Jury will discover the 11 films in the Short Film Competition and the 18 films in La Cinef selection unveiled today.
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People & Lifestyle
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