EVERYTHING ABOUT ECONOMY, FINANCE AND IINVESTMENT IN GHANA AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Summary_of_Economic__Financial-Data_November-2019
IN THE LAST PART OF MY ARTICLE SERIES – BANK OF GHANA MPC NOVEMBER MEETING – PART 3 – I DISCUSS
— MONETARY INDICATORS,
— BANK ING SECTOR INDICATORS, AND
— STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE.
AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE, A CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK WILL FOLLOW. Continue reading “BANK OF GHANA MPC NOVEMBER MEETING – PART 3”
Summary_of_Economic__Financial-Data_November-2019
IN BANK OF GHANA MPC NOVEMBER MEETING – PART 2, I WILL DISCUSS FOUR SECTORS.
— FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES (INTERBANK),
— COMMODITY PRICES,
— EXTERNAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS, AND
— GOVERNMENT FISCAL OPERATIONS.
AS USUAL, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS ARTICLE. Continue reading “BANK OF GHANA MPC NOVEMBER MEETING – PART 2”
IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS WITH E-MARKETING WITH A WEBSITE THROUGH GHANA RESEARCH.
MARKETING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF EVERY BUSINESS. IT HELPS YOU TO APPROACH YOUR CUSTOMERS AND TO EXPLAIN THE ADVANTAGES OF YOUR GOODS AND SERVICES. IN THE DIGITAL AGE, WHEN PEOPLE SELL GOODS AND SERVICES ACROSS BORDERS, YOU CAN USE WEBSITES AS PART OF YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY. Continue reading “E-MARKETING WITH A WEBSITE THROUGH GHANA RESEARCH”
MPC-Press-Release-Nov.-2019 Summary_of_Economic__Financial-Data_November-2019
Summary_of_Economic__Financial-Data_November-2019
BANK OF GHANA MPC NOVEMBER MEETING – PART 1
THE MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE (MPC) OF THE BANK OF GHANA (BOG) HELD ITS NOVEMBER MEETING LAST WEEKEND. IT ALSO PUBLISHED THE SUMMARY OF THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL DATA FOR GHANA NOVEMBER 2019. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD BOTH DOCUMENTS FROM THE TOP OF THIS ARTICLE.
IN THE FIRST PART, I’LL COMMENT BRIEFLY ON THE PRESS RELEASE OF THE MPC. THEN I’LL DISCUSS PRICE DEVELOPMENTS, REAL SECTOR INDICATORS, AND MONEY MARKET RATES. Continue reading “BANK OF GHANA MPC NOVEMBER MEETING – PART 1”
2020-Budget-Statement-and-Economic-Policy
WHAT PERSPECTIVE DOES THE BUDGET 2020 GIVE TO GHANA?
THAT IS THE QUESTION MOST GHANAIANS ASK THEMSELVES AFTER THE READING LAST WEEK.
NOW DON’T EXPECT FROM ME A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THE CA. 260 PAGES DOCUMENT – INCLUDED APPENDICES. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE DOCUMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ARTICL E.
BUT APART FROM LISTING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE BUDGET IS FULL OF PROJECTS FOR 2020 AND BEYOND. BE IT THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE 1D1F INITIATIVE, ALL ARE VERY AMBITIOUS.
MOST OF THE ECONOMICAL DATA ARE POSITIVE AND IN LINE WITH THE RESEARCHES OF THE BANK OF GHANA. THE NEWEST IS THE CURRENT INFLATION RATE. AFTER THE REBASE OF THE UNDERLINED BASKET, THE RATE DECREASED FROM 7.8% TO 7.7% (SEE https://www.bog.gov.gh/) THIS IS ALREADY FURTHER BELOW THE INFLATION TARGET OF 8+/-2%.
THE GDP GROWTH IS SURELY WITHIN THE FORECAST OF INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE IMF OR THE WORLD BANK. SOME ARTICLES IN THE GHANAIAN PRESS DOUBT THAT TO ACHIEVE A TARGET OF 6.8% IS REALISTIC. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INSTITUTIONS HAVE ALREADY DOWNGRADED THE ESTIMATE. THEREFORE, 6.8% GDP GROWTH SEEMS TO BE REALISTIC.
THERE ARE SOME COMPONENTS THAT MIGHT GIVE SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE HEADACHE. ONE OF THEM IS THE DEPRECIATION OF THE CEDI. AFTER SOME DAYS OF STABILISATION, THE CEDI LOST SOME GROUND AGAIN IN THE LAST DAYS.
NEVERTHELESS, I DON’T SEE ANY REASON TO PANIC RIGHT NOW. THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE MUST IMPORT LESS PRODUCTS. OF COURSE, THAT WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO PROTESTS OF SOME IMPORTERS. EVEN THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY. BUT PROJECTS LIKE PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS WILL LEAD TO MORE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED HERE. THIS, IN TURN, WILL LEAD TO LESS EXPENDITURE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY, ESPECIALLY THE US-DOLLAR. AND THIS WILL SURELY STABILISE THE LOCAL CURRENCY.
FURTHERMORE, THE BFT ONLINE PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE TODAY. IN THIS ARTICLE, THE DIRECTOR OF ISSER EXPECTS THE GOVERNMENT TO MISS THE FISCAL DEFICIT TARGET. https://thebftonline.com/2019/economy/its-likely-govt-will-slip-in-deficit-target-prof-quartey/
THIS TARGET STANDS AT 4.7%, AND THE TARGET IS BASED ON THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILTY ACT. THE DIRECTOR BASES HIS OPINION ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT 2020 IS AN ELECTION YEAR. THIS, SO THE DIRECTOR, WILL PUT THE GOVERNMENT UNDER FISCAL PRESSURE. HE THINKS THAT IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE THAT IN ELECTION YEARS.
I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHY IT MUST BE LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE THAT. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW BOUND TO THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT. WAIT AND SEE WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT KEEPS TO THE LEGAL BASIS. IF NOT, YOU CAN CRITICISE THE GOVERNMENT LATER.
I SEE THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN THE REVENUE GENERATION. HERE, THE GOBERNMENT WANTS TO BROADEN THE TAX BASE. THIS IS A GOOD START, AND WILL HOPEFULLY BE SUCCESSFUL.
SOME DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT A SOFTWARE THAT TAXES MONIES AT THE SOURCE, IF THIS SOFTWARE IS IMPLEMENTED SUCCESSFULLY, IT WILL HELP TO CONTROL REVENUE COLLECTION AT THE BASE.
IN ALL, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ON THE RIGHT PATH TO TRANSFORM THE ECONOMY. NOW IT’S THE TIME FOR THE POPULACE NOT ONLY TO BENEFIT FROM THIS TRANSFORMATION. GOVERNMENT, NO MATTER FROM WHICH PARTY, CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE.
WHAT PERSPECTIVE DOES THE BUDGET 2020 GIVE TO GHANA? THE BUDGET WILL ONLY GIVE THE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU SUPPORT.
IT IS YOUR COUNTRY!
starting-a-business-from-0-in-the-digital-era
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT FOR START-UPS – AN INTRODUCTION
WHY THAT?
I HAVE WATCHED A LOT OF SMALL AND MICRO BUSINESSES IN GHANA SINCE I AM RESIDENT HERE. ESPECIALLY, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PETTY TRADERS AMONG THEM. MANY OF THEM COLLAPSE EVEN AFTER A FEW MONTHS. WHAT ARE THE REASONS BEHIND THE COLLAPSES? Continue reading “BUSINESS MANAGEMENT FOR START-UPS – AN INTRODUCTION”
WEST AFRICA – AN EXPORT OPPORTUNITY FOR U.S. AGRIC GOODS?
THIS MORNING, I SAW AN INTERESTING BANNER HEADLINE IN THE “NEW DAY” PROGRAMME OF TV 3 GHANA. IT SAID THAT THE U.S.A. IS EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE WEST AFRICA AN EXPORT OPPORTUNITY FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. IT SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT RIDUCULOUS – A SIMPLE COMMENT. Continue reading “WEST AFRICA – AN EXPORT OPPORTUNITY FOR U.S. AGRIC GOODS?”
WHY IS ACCOUNTING NECESSARY FOR A SMALL BUSINESS, AND HOW IS IT DONE? THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST PART OF THIS QUESTION YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOU ASK YOUR BANK FOR A LOAN. EVEN IF YOU ASK A RELATIVE FOR THE MONEY, THE PERSON WILL BE EAGER TO KNOW WHETHER HE/SHE WILL GET THE MONEY BACK.
SO, WHEN YOU ASK FOR MONEY FROM ANYWHERE – ESPECIALLY FOR A BUSINESS – PEOPLE WILL ASK YOU WHETHER YOU MAKE PROFIT. EVEN FOR YOU IT IS BETTER TO KNOW WHETHER YOUR BUSINESS IS PROFITABLE. IF NOT, YOU WILL EAT INTO YOUR CAPITAL – AND YOUR BUSINESS WILL COLLAPSE. THIS SCENARIO WILL THEN SURELY HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER. (FOR BUSINESS STARTER, IT IS EVEN BETTER, IF YOU HAVE A SECOND SOURCE OF INCOME. AT THE BEGINNING, YOU CAN’T RELY ON YOUR BUSINESS MAKING ENOUGH PROFIT TO LIVE ON.)
SO, HOW WILL YOU DO YOUR ACCOUNTING? YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAKE IT VERY COMPLICATED. NOBODY WILL ASK YOU – AT THE BEGINNING – TO DO SOMETHING LIKE DOUBLE-ENTRY ACCOUNTING, ETC. OF COURSE, IF/WHEN YOUR BUSINESS BECOMES SUCCESSFUL, THIS WILL CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
FOR NOW, A SIMPLE PLUS-MINUS CALCULATION WILL BE SUFFICIENT. THAT MEANS, YOU HAVE THREE COLUMNS. ONE IS FOR THE DATE,ONE FOR THE INCOME, AND ONE FOR THE EXPENSES. IN THE LEFT COLUMN, YOU WRITE THE DATE. IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN, YOU NOTE THE MONEY YOU RECEIVED, AND FOR WHAT YOU RECEIVED IT. IN THE RIGHT COLUMN, YOU WRITE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SPENT, AND FOR WHAT YOU SPENT IT. AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH – OR PERHAPS EVERY WEEK – YOU SUM UP WHAT YOU RECEIVED AND WHAT YOU SPENT. READY IS YOU BOOKKEEPING FOR A MONTH.
NOW, FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF EXAMPLE FOR WHAT I JUST WROTE. LET US GUESS YOU SELL SECOND-HAND CLOTHES AND BAGS.:
DATE INCOME EXPENSES
1. 20 (SALES OF 1 T-SHIRT)
5. 15 (ELECTRICITY)
7. 50 (SALES OF 2 BAGS)
9. 35 (RENT)
11. 15 (SALES OF 1 TROUSER)
15. 25 (SALES OF 1 BLOUSE)
23. 20 (SALES OF 1 T-SHIRT)
30. 25 (SALARY)
TOTAL THIS MONTH 130 75
INCOME MINUS EXPENSE 130-75=55
THAT MEANS, IN THE RECORDED MONTH, YOU MADE A PROFIT OF 55.
GOOD JOB!
SO, THAT’S WHY ACCOUNTING IS NECESSARY FOR A SMALL BUSINESS
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO AGRICILTURAL COOPERATIVES
IF YOU HAVE A FARM, CONSIDER A COOPERATIVE.
IN CASE YOU CONSIDER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW WHAT DEFINES A COOPERATIVE.
THE ADVANTAGES OF AN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE ARE THE FOLLOWING (AMONG OTHERS).
OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALSO DISADVANTAGES OF COOPERATIVES COMPARED WITH HANDLING YOUR OWN FARM SINGLE-HANDEDLY.
THE DISADVANTAGES MOSTLY LIE IN A MORE BUREAUCRATIC EFFORT IN DEALING WITH A COOPERATIVE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU MUST REGISTER A COOPERATIVE SIMILARLY TO A CORPORATION. FURTHERMORE, THE DECISION-MAKING PROCEDURE IS LONGER, BECAUSE THE MEMBERS MUST DECIDE COLLECTIVELY ON IMPORTANT MEASURES. THEY MUST GET AT LEAST A MAJORITY DECISION. LASTLY, THERE MIGHT OCCUR CASES IN WHICH THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AMONG MEMBERS. THESE DIFFERENT OPINIONS MIGHT LEAD TO SEVERE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE.
BUT YOU MUST ALSO CONSIDER THAT THESE DIFFERENT OPINIONS MIGHT ALSO OCCUR WITHIN YOUR OWN FAMILY. IN CASE YOU WORK ON A FAMILY FARM, YOU COULD HAVE QUARRELS WITH YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SIBLINGS, YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE. YOU HAVE TO SOLVE ALL THESE QUARRELS. CONSIDER THE COOPERATIVE AS YOUR FAMILY. IN THE COOPERATIVE FAMILY, YOU ALL MUST BALANCE DIFFERENT OPINIONS FOR THE SAKE OF THE OVERALL GOOD.
IF THIS ARTICLE GIVES YOU THE IDEA THAT IF YOU HAVE A FARM, YOU CONSIDER A COOPERATIVE, THEN DO THE FOLLOWING. DOWNLOAD THE BOOK AT THE BEGINNING OD THIS ARTICLE, AND READ IT. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN FOR ESTABLISHING COOPERATIVES IN THE U.S.A. BUT APART FROM THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS, YOU CAN USE THIS BOOK FOR THE AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT, TOO.
AFTER THAT, YOU MIGHT THINK A COOPERATIVE IS THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU, BUT YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF AN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS.
IF YOU THEN HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CONTACT ME THROUGH “ENQUIRIES” ON THIS WEBSITE. YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT ME THROUGH recklingenterprises@hotmail.com OR MY WHATSAPP NUMBER 0200523362. (FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE GHANA, IT IS +233200523362.)
BUILD MORE COOPERATIVES FOR A BETTER AGRICULTURAL BASE IN GHANA AND THE WHOLE OF AFRICA!
THE WORLD BANK HAS JUST PUBLISHED THE WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2020.(YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE REPORT AT THE BEGINNINF OF THIS ARTICLE.) IN THIS REPORT, THE WORLD BANK DISCUSSES THE USE OF GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS (GVC), ESPECIALLY FOR DEVELOPING ECONOMIES. GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS DEMAND MORE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, THIS REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WAS RECENTLY INITIATED THROUGH THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AfCFTA). WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF AfCFTA FOR GHANA AND AFRICA? Continue reading “THE IMPORTANCE OF AfCFTA FOR GHANA AND AFRICA”