The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has alleged the imposition of a 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) flat rate on residential and commercial real estate by the government.

Dr Forson was speaking at the National Democratic Congress‘ (NDC) Moment of Truth press conference on Wednesday.

“He [Akufo-Addo] has also imposed a 5% VAT flat rate on residential and commercial real estate. Ladies and gentlemen, Ghanaians should get ready to pay 5% VAT anytime they buy a house from an individual or a real estate company going forward.

“If this law goes through; the VAT before parliament goes through – if you intend to buy a house, get ready to put 5% aside for President Akufo Addo and Alhaji Bawumia. For every house you buy going forward, you will pay 5% VAT on the quantum of the amount that you are supposed to buy. So if it is GH₵1 million you are buying you will pay GH₵50,000 to President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia,” he alleged.

According to him, the rate is part of a new raft of tax measures that will be implemented once the 2024 budget statement is approved.

“These tax measures, which are currently before Parliament, include the following; an imposition of VAT on non-life insurance such as motto or car insurance, marine insurance, fire insurance, building insurance, goods in transit,” he said.

Accusing the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia led administration as being insensitive, the Ajumako Enyam Essiam MP said the new taxes will further deepen the woes of Ghanaians.

Ato Forson indicated that VAT will also be imposed on stationery items like paper, pens, textbooks, and domestic airlines among others, implying that if anyone buys a book or takes a domestic flight they would be expected to pay extra.

ALSO READ:

• Import restriction bill: Akufo-Addo, Bawumia want to bring back ‘kalabule’ – NDC

• Speak up against import restriction bill – NDC to clergy, CSOs

Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, is expected to grace the launch of the Chartered Institute of Realtors (CIR).

The anticipated high-profile event is set to be launched on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Africa Trade House, Ridge, opposite Cedi House, in Accra.

Also expected at the grand launch are; Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, Firas Jaber, Chartered Institute Of Realtors and George Mireku Duker, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

The event is strictly by official invitation and will draw the attendance of dignitaries from the highest office of the land, members of the Diplomatic Corps, other state personalities, and key stakeholders that include real estate developers, both local and international, suppliers, construction firms, investors, and major banks within the real estate industry.

The Institute is being established to offer opportunities for sharpening the knowledge, skills, standards, and experiences of practitioners in the real estate industry to meet global standards.

Real Estate in Africa is a rapidly growing industry with many opportunities for investment.

This growth rate is driven mainly by urbanization, population growth, and increased foreign investment.

All around the world, specifically the economically advanced countries, real estate has been a driving force in their development agenda and has provided jobs for several thousands of people with diverse skill sets and backgrounds.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, and New York, to mention just a few are famed for their architectural prowess and have become some of the world’s most visited destinations thanks to Real Estate.

Africa has not been left behind with all these developments happening around it. From its blurry past, it can be said that the future of Africa looks promising with the involvement of the government in providing housing for its citizens, particularly the low-income sector of society to alleviate the burden of shelter as a basic need.

The fast-growing rate of the industry worldwide has therefore made it quintessential that players, both potential and major be sharpened with the requisite tools that help improve the activities within the industry globally.

As part of the vision and mission of the launch of the Chartered Institute of Realtors (CIR), the institute will be engaging in a progressive series of seminars and workshops that will see the involvement of seasoned speakers, lecturers, and industry professionals from acclaimed institutions worldwide bringing their knowledge and experience to bear. The institute intends to, in the foreseeable future, establish itself as a professional body providing education and training courses to its members.

Tim Redman, the Chief Executive Officer of Verdant Ventures, has named Ghana as one of the fastest-growing economies for business.

“Ghana is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and provides attractive opportunities for investors and international organizations.”

He made this statement following the strategic partnership between Verdant Ventures (“VV”) and  Ghanaian developer, Dara Salam Group (“DSG”) to launch a high-end diplomatic residential project, targeted to start in February 2023.

“We are honoured to partner with Dara Salam Group to develop this landmark project that will offer the highest level of accommodation in Accra and support the country’s pole position as an international hub for corporates and diplomatic engagements,” he said in an interview with the media.

The project will see the construction of 106 world-class units comprising two, three and four-bedroomed apartments and penthouses built to international, seismic and diplomatic standards.

Located in the diplomatic blue zone of Accra and adjacent to Independence Avenue, the state-of-the-art project will feature bespoke amenities and facilities suitable for diplomatic and high-end corporate tenants who require international standards of seismic compliance, and fire and life safety in a community environment.

The conveniently located site is close to malls, restaurants, hospitals, diplomatic missions and the airport.

Verdant Ventures, a US-based real estate development company specializing in diplomatic and corporate accommodation development in Africa has recently completed two similar projects in Ethiopia and Kenya.

The Ethiopian development comprises a 112-unit residential tower located in the Gulele area of Addis Ababa.

The Kenyan project consists of a 90-unit development with extensive amenities and was awarded “Best High-End Residential Development” at the API summit in September 2022.

Both are anchor tenanted by the US Government through its Overseas Building Operations (OBO).

“DSG is proud of partnering with Verdant Ventures to offer this exceptional project to the Accra market. Verdant Ventures’ track record of developing and delivering two similar projects on the continent gives us much confidence in our partnership and our vision to create international-class residential communities in Accra,” said Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, Chairman of DS Real Estate.

An award-winning consortium of international consultants have teamed up with local professional firms to design the project and ensure its completion within the stipulated timelines.  Designed to IFC Edge Green building standards, the project features solar power, spare water storage, backup power generation and on-site wastewater treatment.

Amenities include a swimming pool, gym, clubhouse and reception area, exterior barbecue zones, children’s playgrounds and dog runs. Underground tenant parking and storage are also provided, together with ample surface visitor parking.

“This is our third Diplomatic Housing project in Africa; we are extremely proud of our record of delivering international standard developments within programme and budget, allowing our clients to focus on their core activities in the continent,” Redman added.

Verdant Ventures’ team has extensive real estate experience on the African continent, having collectively completed more than 130 projects worth over $3.5B across 29 African countries. Verdant Ventures has a current pipeline of $330M of diplomatic residential and commercial projects in 9 countries.

The Dara Salam Group is an established Ghanaian company with a diversified portfolio of activities. DS Real Estate has delivered over 50 townhouse residential units in the past 5 years, and is currently developing an office building with 37,000m2 of leasable space in the Airport City area.

The Ghana project is set to create over 1,500 jobs during the construction phase and will include several social investment initiatives to empower communities in Accra.

About Verdant Ventures

Verdant Ventures is a US-based real estate development company established in 2016. Its mission is to provide high–quality real estate projects across Africa, meeting international standards, creating satisfied customers, empowered workers, and delighted investors. 

Verdant Ventures’ team of professionals is fully conversant with both the demands of international corporations and the challenges of delivering real estate projects in Africa. The developer tailor-builds infrastructure to their clients’ specifications and leases it back to them, freeing their client’s capital to be immediately deployed on core operations and value-added services.

Verdant Ventures’ senior team has 50 years of combined real estate and construction experience in Africa and over USD 10 billion of project value delivered worldwide.

Chief Executive Officer of Aidens Homes and Apartment, Frank Agyapong, has urged Ghanaian youth to patronise real estate dream as the business leads to financial freedom as many other careers.

Launching his newly fully-furnished decorated homes over the weekend at Two Streams, Mangoase Junction in Koforidua, the businessman recounted his journey, adding that, he has never regretted toeing the line.

Talking about one of his business strategies, he said apartments are not supposed to be strictly conform to the one-year-two-year advance payments as his business entity allows booking of a fully furnished one bedroom apartment and studio room for days, weeks and even months.

According to him, not all clients would like to lodge for years, hence it will be apt if landlords consider those who will stay for days and at least months.

 “When you are doing business, you have to have many targets. The idea of giving out apartments and rooms on yearly basis shouldn’t be the only focus if you want to make money.”

He further expressed the need for those interested in the real estate business to have modern facilities at their premises to entice people who lodge for business, fun among other reasons.

“We have modern facilities among other things such as a private balcony with a mountain view, double size bed, fully furnished kitchen among other enviable elements to make our guest comfortable.

“The aim is to let them have these simple modern house technologies to keep things up in the real estate world,” he said.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) says no real estate company in the country has been authorised to price or transact business in foreign currencies.

Head of Financial Stability for BoG noted that although some hoteliers have been granted the permission to trade in forex for the sake of convenience, such organisations are closely monitored.

Dr. Jospeh France explained that such measures form part of the Central Bank’s resolve to scale up supervision and to crack the whip on the black market.

Ghana’s Foreign Exchange Act 2006, (Act 723) prohibits companies and individuals from engaging in foreign exchange business without authorisation from the Central Bank.

This legislation also bars pricing and advertisement of goods and services in foreign currencies.

However, in Ghana, many real estate agencies and hoteliers are often found charging mortgages, rent and leases in dollars.

In an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Thursday, Dr France stressed that even the agencies and organisations that transact business in foreign currencies did not get such permits for free.

“I don’t know of real estate institutions that have been authorised; so, if a real estate institution is dealing in Forex, then that real estate is dealing illegally in forex and must be reported to the law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Touching on the implications of illegal forex trading on Ghana’s economy, he noted that “once you dollarise your economy, it means you are weakening your Cedi and if you are weakening your cedi, then you are making everything expensive for your citizenry.”

An earlier statement from the BoG warned companies, institutions and individuals from engaging in foreign exchange business without a license issued by Bank of Ghana.

The Central Bank reminded the public that the sole legal tender in Ghana is the Ghana Cedi.

In this regard, together with National Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, the regulator of the banking industry said, it will continue to clamp down on illegal foreign exchange operations, adding that “all offenders shall be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

MORE:

• Gloria Sarfo bereaved again just weeks after mother’s demise

• Shocking as GIS protocol list from Office of the President pops up

• Why Anas is trending on Twitter

Ghana’s State Housing Company (SHC), says it has made great strides in providing affordable housing for all Ghanaians across the country. 

The housing units according to SHC’s Managing Director, Kwabena Ampofo Appiah are to take care of the country’s housing deficit which he said stands at about 2 million.

According to SHC boss, a number of housing projects have been undertaken with the aim of reducing to it’s barest minimum the existing deficit.

Mr Ampofo Appiah who was speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem with host CJ Forson Thursday said housing units built by his outfit were more affordable compared to what was offered by private estate developers. 

OTHER STORIES:

• Suicide victim’s family denies deceased lost investment in collapsed Menzgold

• I know where I am coming from – AY Poyoo says after donating part of his first YouTube revenue

He gave the cost of one bedroom fully furnished apartment as GHS 110,000, which is the minimum in the ranges with GHS 990,000 being the maximum cost of any housing unit built by the SHC.

The houses, he said, vary from a 1 bedroom to a 4 executive bedroom. 

He urged Ghanaians to patronise the SHC’s housing units as they were priced far lower than those built by private companies. 

He disclosed also that buyers had the option of paying for their preferred houses in installments for 25 years, using mortgaged arrangements. 

‘’Obroni’’, as most light skinned foreigners are affectionately called form the vast majority of tourists who visit Ghana. They are a unique group of adventurous travelers who defy all odds to explore our beautiful country and continent while learning new things and experiencing new cultures in the process. The minority of such tourists are also dark skinned Africans and Black-Americans who also travel down here to enjoy the beauty, history and rich tradition of Ghana.

It usually is cash intensive to travel from other countries/continents to Ghana as well as stay for long periods. Sometimes, these tourists are forced to return to their homelands because they are short of cash although they may not have completed their planned tours or achieved their objectives.There are many ways in which a tourist can earn some money to supplement what he/she budgeted for the trip.

Sometimes you may not have planned the extra days stay but seeing how beautiful and rich Ghana is, you may need a few more days to fully enjoy what we have to offer. With this comes extra pressure on your already hit budget. Jumia Travel looks at a few lucrative short term businesses for tourists in Ghana.

Unbelievable! It’s a hoax! Lies!…

These are the expected remarks when you cross paths with such information.

Hotels for 1Ghc? Incredible, isn’t it? Now let me explain. Averagely, a 2-4 star hotel in Ghana has rates lurking around 400 to 500 Ghc a night. In very rare cases and depending on the location and season, some hotels may increase their rates. However, take this into consideration. Typically during festivals and other special seasons, most hotels and online travel agents come up with mouthwatering packages that attract guests. For example, a 500Ghc per night room at Hotel XXX may come with a package which includes airport pick ups (about 50Ghc), free meals (about 150Ghc) , free body massage (about 150Ghc) and Other giveaways (about 149Ghc). Total this and you will have 499 Ghc. Hence, you just got a 500Ghc per night room for an exclusive 1Ghc. Yes 1Ghc! Jumia Travel, Africa’s leading online travel agents looks at some ways to get amazingly low rates this Easter.

The Early Bird – If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So says the old adage. The best way to have a memorable and safe but affordable Easter trip is to plan many many months or weeks ahead. Go online, compare rates, rooms and facilities. Book in advance to secure your stay. This helps you prevent travelling all the way to destination only to find out that you have been outpriced. For the best available prices, you need to book very very early because when the atmosphere reaches fever-pitch and the excitement is high during the Easter period, hotels and guesthouses are always in high demand. Prices will definately be escalated. Just imagine you haven’t planned well and you go to Kwahu during easter. After all the fun and ‘’chilling’’ when you need a place to rest for a few minutes, that is when you will realize 100 is not the same as 1000. You will even have lots of money to spend yet not get availability. That is how scarce accommodation is during Easter all around the country especially on the coast and mountains.

Book online – Another advantage about online hotel booking is that you can get access to amazing discounts and offers. Get 50% OFF with code ABCD, Book two nights get one night free and many more deals are always available online. Rather than travel to these hotels to make enquiries and compare their facilities which comes at extra costs, you can save a lot by just going online to view rooms, compare rates and facilities and have access to great discounts. During such a period when costs trickle in thick and fast, you would want to cut down some costs such as accommodation to the bearest minimum. Just by a few clicks, you have your entire easter stay booked for very cheap. Why the stress? Go online now!

Packages – Sometimes, you just see an amazing package and wonder if it’s for real or just an internet scam. Better believe it! There are so many wonderful packages lined up during such festivities. Get a 2 nights stay + full body massage + free dinner for two +  a bottle of Champagne and boat cruise for just XXX Ghc. I other news, you checked the rate for that same hotel a few weeks earlier and it was for the same XXX Ghc without all the ‘’goodies’’. Yes! This is the power of online travel agents and the advantage of festivals like Easter. You get more by paying less for it. Consider you had to pay for all the ‘’goodies’’ that come in that package. You might probably get discouraged and cancel that trip already. With packages, you get to live that life long travel dream by paying lesser than usual. Go for it!

Simple is smart – On the coast of Keta, On the hills of Shai, on the streets of Bantema and on the mountains at Kwahu. Anywhere you go in Ghana around Easter is just filled with merry making and lots of fun. This is in many ways contrary to the purpose of Easter. However, businesses such as hotels and booking websites will not care. In fact this is a bumper harvest season for them. For you the guest, there is one important thing that helps you save. Simple is indeed smart. Why book a room that accommodates 2 people when you are the only one travelling? Why book for a room with breakfast when you don’t need it? Why book a luxurious and expensive room far away from your place of interest when you can get affordable guesthouses very close by for less? Being simple is the best. Go for what you need taking into account distance, time and the main necessities. If you don’t need it, don’t book for it. Save the cash and have fun with it.

‘’United we fund’’ – The feeling of traveling together, as a group with people you love so much and can’t get enough of. Having some good easter time away from home with family and friends. It’s even better when you can split the bill and pay together. This means you can get more out of your stay. Group bookings almost always comes with price reduction.You can get a 3 rooms for the price of two or even get one room and share with someone. After all, how many hours of sleep are you even getting? You may probably only need a place to relax and fresh en up. As a group, you are assured of getting all of this at a shared cost. We pay together and have fun together! Money saved!

Just so you know, there is nowhere in the world that you get a hotel or anything close to a hotel for 1Ghc. However, there are ways to get great value for far less that it feels like paying 1Ghc for it. Make the most of special deals, discounts, packages and have an amazing easter.

Credit : Bennet Otoo, Jumia Travel

Late March or early April in every calendar year is eagerly anticipated by many Christians around the globe. It’s EASTER! Incredibly, this period is not a reserve for Christians alone.

Everyone joins in. To many, it has become more of a celebration than a remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as observed by Christians. In other parts of the world, an important feature of Easter over the past decades has been the ‘’Easter Egg’’ which is often used symbolically to represent special gifts, reductions and other give ways from friends and family. In our part of the world, ‘’Easter Eggs’’ are becoming more popular year after year.

This may be attributed to changing trends, the influx of foreign businesses and the positive impact of foreign culture. Easter is a time of giving which makes it imperative that you find a way to give as much as you expect to receive.

You don’t always have to be a receiver of ‘’easter eggs’’, sometimes you have to lay your own eggs. This year, as we approach Easter, Jumia Travel, Africa’s leading online travel agency examines ways in which everyone can be a hen and lay their own easter eggs.

1. Have a family Reunion – Sometimes we say ‘’family is all we have got’’. In many instances, this is true. Family is important and making them feel special also means inducing a huge amount of happiness for your own self. How about laying a lot of eggs at once for your family? You can organize a small family reunion. This can be at home, in a restaurant or even at the beach. Make some food, get some drinks and let the party begin! It’s time to forge a stronger relationship and settle all pending misunderstandings. A perfect gift for the family. Such big ‘’Easter eggs’’ to lay right?

2. Charity – Easter Eggs are not only for companies and other businesses to give out amazing discounts and surprises to their customers. It’s great to attract customers with all these deals and surprises but what about giving special eggs during this period to some less privileged people? Think about it! What of the disabled, the blind, the deaf and dumb, the homeless, the orphans and even some aged folk? They also need to be loved and enjoy some goodness this easter period. Put a smile on their faces by laying some beautiful easter eggs for them. Visit them, have a nice time eating and drinking while chatting and dancing. At the end of it, leave them with gifts. These can be in any form. A cash donation, clothing, provisions, foodstuff etc. This egg can be laid by both individuals and businesses. Since Easter is synonymous to compassion, this may be the perfect time to show love and compassion to these under privileged persons in our society.

3. Give discounts – Well, we can’t leave out the originators of the ‘’Easter Egg’’. We all love discounts and reductions don’t we? Yes! It’s around this time that many companies, predominantly online businesses slash huge amounts from their prices. From clothing to food, from electrical gadgets to hotel reservations, there is always a fantastic easter egg deal waiting for you around this period. All you need to do is be vigilant and get to enjoy these amazing offers. In some cases, there are completely free products and services hidden in some easter eggs in certain places. To make it interesting, these companies hide these easter eggs in various places both online and offline. For example, a hotel & flight booking website can hide an easter egg on their homepage or even in a hotel room that has been booked by a guest. When the guest gets to the room, he/she may find that they doesn’t have to pay for the room or maybe they have free meals for their stay. There are usually other amazing egg deals up for grabs. If you run your own business as well, you should endeavour to lay a few eggs. It’s great for marketing and attracting more new customers as well as maintain a good and healthy relationship with your already existing customers.

4. Gift Someone Special – There are birthdays and there is Christmas. There are anniversaries and there are many other occasions. However, Easter is different. Although it’s the season of surprises, it’s also a period where the expectation of gifts is at the barest minimal. This is the time! What about you lay an egg for that grandma or grandpa, that old friend, that colleague or boss. These people usually feel abandoned or left out of our lives until there is an occasion. You may want to change that. Buy them gifts and reassure them of your love and commitment towards them. You will even realize that you mean more to them than you imagined. The little things we do go a long way in making someone happy. There are many gift ideas so not knowing what to get them shouldn’t be an excuse at all. A trip to a tourist site he/she likes, a mini vacation to their hometown or even a bag filled with many goodies. The options are endless. Make someone special smile this easter.

  It’s almost here! Don’t waste time. Just get on with it. Lay some amazing easter eggs and  make someone’s Easter a memorable one this year. Everyone can be a hen!

Credit : Bennet Otoo , Jumia Travel

Best Regards, ]]> https://www.adomonline.com/five-places-avoid-going-alone-ghana/ Thu, 30 Mar 2017 17:27:55 +0000 http://ghana-news.adomonline.com/new/?p=54631 The age old cliche that ‘Ghana is a peaceful country, seems to be one of the most attractive pitch points when convincing foreigners to visit. This is also because crime isn’t something that is very popular in Ghana. However, there is no country or city in the world without crime. No matter how small, everyone is at risk of falling prey at one time or another to some criminals. These come in many forms and may vary from armed robbery, theft, fraud, assault among many others. The end products of such crimes are often loss of valuable property, fatal injuries, or in very extreme cases death. It is assumed that many locals are safe and somewhat immune to such crimes and the actual targets are often foreigners or travelers especially those with a standout skin colour or foreign accent.

Prevention they say is better than cure hence, in order to stay safe, it is imperative that you take some steps of your own. One very key step in ensuring safety is knowing where to go, when to go and whether it is safe to go alone or not. Ideally, you should be very safe when you travel in pairs or with a group but there are some places where you just cannot afford to go alone. Crime aside, there are some destinations that you don’t want to go alone for the mere fact of being bored or not having much fun. Jumia Travel, Africa’s leading online travel agency looks at a few places to avoid going alone in Ghana.

1. Night Club – Just like the name suggests, there is no night club that operates in the day. Yes! I had to remind you again. These places of fun and entertainment sometimes even run into the early hours of the morning hence people who go there to have fun and decide to leave after midnight are susceptible to all manner of criminals. Even the nightclubs are sometimes considered as brooding grounds for these criminals. To avoid the risk of having to go back late, don’t go alone. Usually best to go in groups as it brings more excitement but if you have to go alone, make sure you have a proper plan in place. Either you arrange for a pickup by your hotel or use on online transport service. Whatever the case, don’t walk out of a club looking for a taxi or ride. You are at risk!

2. Stadium – There are actually two reasons why you shouldn’t go to the stadium alone. First and foremost, what fun is there sitting by yourself in the stadium shouting and cheering surrounded by total strangers? On the other hand, if you go to that same stadium with some friends or group of familiar people, you get double the fun and a sense of safety and security. Secondly, in the midst of thousands of people are hooligans and criminals as well. Always ready to pounce and cause damage. With so many people around, it is easy for them to disappear into the crowd without ever being found. To be safe, walk in groups or have a partner. These criminals don’t attack groups and pairs but rather target people who walk alone.

3. Under bridges and Parks – This is actually the same everywhere in the world. Why would someone even want to venture  using an under bridge or have a stroll in a park late in the night when on vacation in a far away unknown country? It’s dangerous and unsafe especially if you don’t understand the local language. You may fall victim to hooligans and street kings who take delight in harming people who look lonely and unprotected. In order to prevent all these, just avoid going anywhere near an underbridge or park when alone. As much as possible, do all shopping during the day, have all meetings and when it’s really necessary, get company. Resist the temptation of going alone all in the name of discovering or going on an adventure!

4. Night Beaches –  Many may argue that night beaches in Ghana are a delight. Yes! Agreed. They are a delight only when you are safe and with some fun people. However, any beach at night is a risky deal. This is mainly because, visibility is poor and any evil deed or malicious activity may go unnoticed. Also there aren’t usually a lot of people here at night and makes it very easy for you to be isolated making you highly susceptible to attacks from drug addicts and criminals who frequent these beaches. The beach is fun at night but if you really want to have a good time and get back home safe with all your belongings intact, get a companion or plan it with a group. You are better off that way. Say hello to the night breeze!

5. Abandoned streets and corners – Sometimes you may wonder why someone will want to walk on an abandoned street or use a shortcut even when the place looks a bit shady. Many others also use certain corners as meet-up joints or secret hideouts. What business do you have on an abandoned street with no pedestrians completely isolated from people? Don’t be lured into meeting people in isolated places. If the business is genuine, they will be willing to meet you in an open place where there are a lot of people. Why not the mall, a restaurant, a bus terminal or even your home or office? The moment you walk a couple of metres with no other person around or you enter a dark alley or corner where you feel unsafe, leave the area and get closer to people. Report any suspicious case or person to any police or law enforcement agency. Don’t wait till it’s too late.

6. In the end, we are the masters of our own destinies and the architects of our own successes or failures. Make sure you avoid going to certain places completely, going to some places at night and going to some places alone. If not for safety alone, going with someone or a group of people is usually more fun than going by yourself. Have fun and stay safe whenever you visit this great and beautiful country.

Credit: Bennet Otoo , Jumia Travel

According to the Institute for Security Studies European Union (EUISS), ESPASa, 2011, as quoted by Integreon Insight “The middle class will increase in influence as its ranks swell to 3.2 billion by 2020 and to 4.9 billion by 2030. The middle class will be the protagonist of the universal spread of information societies. Over the coming 20 years, the world will likely evolve from being predominantly poor to mostly middle class, though the change will be geographically uneven”.

There lacks clear definition of the exact number of middle class in Africa, with some sources quoting more than 300 million and others approximately 18 million. Yet, AFDB estimates by 2060, there will be approximately 1.1 billion middle class Africans, making the continent one of the biggest beneficiaries of its budding middle class. This has been contributed by a vigorous private sector, infrastructural development, income parity across the employment divide as well as a bigger focus on education among Africans.

Besides, a McKinsey Global Institute analysis presented by Infinite Potentials Consulting, projects that by 2025, Africa’s household consumer spending will reach US$2.1T, representing an increase of 45% from 2015. This presents promising business opportunities in a wide range of consumer-facing industries including hospitality. In one of my previous articles on Examining the State of Hotel Development in Africa, a rising middle class especially concentrated in urban areas is a contributor to the expansion of hotels in the continent. It is estimated that by 2030, Africa’s top 18 cities are likely to have combined spending power of $1.3 trillion. This will prompt more Africans to travel, internationally and domestically.

Cyrus Onyiego, the country manager of Jumia Travel Kenya, notes that due to its growing disposable income, the middle class is increasingly demanding for personalized services. “This pushes service providers in the hospitality industry to provide customer facing solutions at all touch points”.

Furthermore, the embracement of technology among the middle class is seen to develop its skills in the labor force. This in turn acts as an attractive feature for more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, as investors seek to capitalize on an energetic and innovative lot in the hospitality industry, both in terms of manpower and expenditure.

While the impact of the rising middle class in Africa’s hospitality industry is almost surely felt, some stakeholders in the sector have a lot of catching up to do; in matching up to the class’ ever changing trends and requirements. For instance, embracing tech in their operations, hoteliers can easily create a distinguished experience for their customers.

In its 2016 report on Creating the Coveted Hotel Guest Experience, Oracle Hospitality emphasizes the impact technology, if well invested in and creatively used, can help hoteliers to uniquely engage each guest. The report further states that from providing improved booking with customized options, to faster check in/check out and mobile access to hotel services, technology contributes to customized attention and exceptional service that guests (largely comprised of the middle class), weary of mass commercialization, crave more than ever.

Credit: Josephine Wawira

Flight! Arguably the fastest and most reliable form of transport. It allows you travel from one end of the equator to the other in a few hours or days.

Try going from Ghana to China by road and you might probably have to negotiate a full year before you get there. It is for these reasons that many international travellers prefer to fly when they are going on vacations or travel for other reasons. One very important industry which is affected by the aviation industry is Tourism.

Without air travel, tourism will take a massive hit and there will be rippling effects on the nation’s GDP and economy. Jumia Travel, Africa’s leading online hotel booking portal which also recently launched flight services as part of it’s operations, takes a dive into some of the effects that the aviation industry has on Tourism in Ghana.

The black Star of Africa, a pacesetter in democracy and a fast developing tourist hub in Africa with it’s rich culture and tradition, has become a very attractive destination for many tourists worldwide. With current figures released by the Ghana Tourism Authority indicating that an estimated 4 million international visitors are projected to arrive in the country by 2027, the aviation industry is on hand to massively impact Tourism in this country. However, the big question remains. Why would someone want to book a plane ticket to Ghana?

The aviation industry but more specifically the airline companies keep growing by the day. Now, almost every airline company that flies to other parts of Africa, also flies to Ghana. Availability however is the least problem or challenge that affects tourist travels into Ghana. Many tourists or travellers when planning a vacation to Ghana, consider the prices of flight tickets, airport charges etc before they finally decide. The higher the costs, the lower the chances are that a particular tourist will travel. The reliability of the airline also contributes greatly.

Many international tourists will rather choose a well structured airline where they are very confident of security, comfort and affordable pricing than to go for the unknown. In Ghana, such flights are few. The most popular ones keep growing and there is a great need to add other top airline chains and companies to ease the pressure on these airlines. The more reliable airlines we get, the greater the number of foreign visitors which is good for the Tourism industry because there will be more tourist visits, more tourist spending and more referrals for others to come taste the ‘’ sweetness of Ghana.

Alternatively, the existence of online travel agencies make it very easy for tourists to book flights and even hotels at discounted rates by the click of a few buttons. A tourist can just compare flights and book hotels on the same page. The ease with which they can secure a flight and also book a hotel will go a long way to encourage them to travel.

There is a massive wind blowing in the aviation industry in Ghana with lot’s of positives and developments. The impact of this wind on the tourism industry is expected to have a cross effect on the aviation industry too, as more tourists would want to visit Ghana and hence will need to book a flight.

In the end, all efforts need to be channeled in boosting both sectors as a rise in one triggers the development of the other.

Credit : Bennet Otoo, Jumia Travel

Best Regards.

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/ghana-news-examining-the-state-of-hotel-development-in-africa/ Fri, 24 Feb 2017 12:14:15 +0000 http://adom.soluworld.com/2017/02/24/ghana-news-examining-the-state-of-hotel-development-in-africa/

A total of 365 hotel chain development pipelines were reported in Africa in 2016, with 64,231 rooms.

This is according to a report by the W-Hospitality Group; that provides advisory services in the hotel, tourism, leisure, and real estate industries to investors.

This is a record 29.2% increase, from the 2015 numbers of 270 hotels and 49,715 rooms in the pipeline activity. Furthermore, a JLL hotel research (Jones Lang LaSalle) predicts an investment of $1.7 billion in 2017, in hotels in Sub-Saharan Africa with $1.9 billion more in 2018. This is expected to increase the hotel rooms in the region from the current approximate of 257,000.   

Swimming pool by the luxury resort hotel buildings: Image by Kaspars Grinvalds

Africa’s continuous economic growth is incessantly attracting both domestic and international investors due to extensive business opportunities. The hospitality industry is a major beneficiary of these investments because of its lucrative nature, a factor that explains the increasing development of hotels.

A rising middle class especially concentrated in urban areas is also a contributor to the expansion of hotels in the continent. It is estimated that by 2030, Africa’s top 18 cities are likely to have combined spending power of $1.3 trillion. This will prompt more Africans to travel, internationally and domestically, as a result of growing disposable income, thus the need for more accommodation facilities.
 

However, even with the continuous growth in the hotel industry, the tourists demand in Africa surpasses the provision of accommodation. Data by UNWTO shows that Africa received 58 million international arrivals in 2016, with the number expected to grow further in coming years. The growth is not only influenced by the rash for investment, provision of affordable travel by travel agencies, and flexible visa requirements, but also the fact that major airlines have expanded their direct flights to most African countries.

Moves by travel stakeholders such as Jumia Travel to capitalize on this demand and offer diverse travel services including hotel booking, packages, and the just launched flights, is an assurance that the influx of tourists to Africa is only bound to go higher.

Therefore, hospitality providers especially hotels have a huge gap to fill in meeting the consumers at their point of need and demand.

The biggest challenge will perhaps be striking a balance between quantity and quality, as the new generation of travelers shifts focus from generic products to more customized and personalized experience.
 

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/ghana-news-jumia-travel-launches-flight-services/ Wed, 22 Feb 2017 13:13:28 +0000 http://adom.soluworld.com/2017/02/22/ghana-news-jumia-travel-launches-flight-services/

“Travelers are increasingly demanding reliable connectivity that gives them more control over their travel experience and expands their options for on-the-go travel purchases.”

This is according to a report by CellPoint Mobile – which provides payment solutions to airlines, which further indicates that 90% of travelers prefer using mobile devices to search for their flights.

In this backdrop, companies are seeking to provide travelers with comprehensive services; with the latest being the introduction of flights by Jumia Travel, Africa’s leading Online Travel Agency. The move aims at boosting the company’s services reach to all its customers in Africa and across the world. The launch comes at a time when the second African Aviation Summit is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda on 22-23 February. The two-day conference will address major challenges and opportunities for the growth of the African aviation industry, which is constitutive element of the economic growth of Africa.

“It’s a new step for us as we aim to be the leading African Online Travel Agency, providing best customer experience for the travelers. It is also part of our broader program to create a one stop travel shop providing accommodation, packages, and flights all on the same platform, in a bid to streamline travel in Africa,” said Paul Midy – CEO of Jumia Travel.

According to the OTA’s boss, the flights will be provided in collaboration with various partners among them Amadeus. This will enable access to both domestic and international airlines including Kenya Airways, Rwandair Express, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, and Turkish Airlines among others. “The service (now available on travel.jumia.com/flights) enables our customers to find, compare, and book flights, as well as buy air tickets online with ease from various Airline companies across the world,” he asserted.

Accounting for only 3% of the world’s air traffic, aviation in Africa portrays massive potential for growth in the coming years, especially due to the increasing demand from the rising middle class and the growing African economies.

Travel and tourism stakeholders are now capitalizing on the aviation market that is progressively driving hospitality demand in the continent. The International Air Transport Association (IATA’) predicts a strong growth of 4.8% in passenger numbers in Africa in the next 5 years.

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/ghana-news-cheating-frenchman-sues-uber-for-tipping-off-wife-about-affair/ Mon, 13 Feb 2017 09:11:55 +0000 http://adom.soluworld.com/2017/02/13/ghana-news-cheating-frenchman-sues-uber-for-tipping-off-wife-about-affair/

A businessman in southern France is suing ride-hailing company Uber over his wife’s discovery of rides he took to see his lover, his lawyer said.

The man says he once requested an Uber driver from his wife’s phone.

Despite logging off, the application continued to send notifications to her iPhone afterwards, revealing his travel history and arousing her suspicions.

The couple have since divorced. The lawsuit is reportedly worth up to €45m ($48m; £38m).

“My client was the victim of a bug in an application,” his lawyer David-André Darmon told AFP news agency after the case was lodged at a court in Grasse.

“The bug has caused him problems in his private life,” Mr Darmon added.

The lawyer did not comment on a report in Le Figaro newspaper that the lawsuit was worth up to €45m, saying only that his client wished to remain discreet and anonymous.

Other users had also encountered the Uber software bug, Le Figaro said.

The newspaper carried out its own experiment by logging in and out of Uber on one iPhone and then logging in on another and ordering a driver. The app then sent screen notifications about the order to both phones.

The glitch affected iPhones before a software update in December, the newspaper said. Android phones did not appear to be affected.

Uber said it would not comment on the case but added that the best possible protection of clients’ personal details was a priority.

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/dubai-real-estate-prices-seen-falling-5-in-2017-before-recovery/ Mon, 21 Nov 2016 13:35:44 +0000 http://adom.soluworld.com/dubai-real-estate-prices-seen-falling-5-in-2017-before-recovery/

Real estate prices in Dubai will continue declining in 2017, with a recovery only starting late next year, property consultancy Cluttons said.

Home values in the emirate dropped 7.4 percent on an annual basis at the end of the third quarter and will probably slip another 5 percent next year, Cluttons head of research Faisal Durrani said in an interview Sunday in Dubai. Prices have been falling since 2014 and are almost 27 percent lower than their peak in the third quarter of 2008, he said. Values will only begin to stabilize in the last three months of next year, driven by government spending on projects related to Dubai’s hosting of the World Expo in 2020.

Real estate transactions in the emirate fell almost 30 percent by value in the first seven months of the year, according to data from the Dubai Land Department, as a slump in oil prices led to an economic slowdown in Gulf countries. Cluttons joins other real estate analysts forecasting either a flat market or further slowdown in 2017. Jesse Downs, managing director at consultant Phidar Advisory, predicts a 10 percent drop after a 7 percent slide this year.

“Government spending on projects related to the Expo 2020 will help create jobs and stimulate demand, but the impact of that will not start to be felt for another six to nine months,” Durrani said. “In the meantime, stubborn sellers at the top end of the market who had been holding out over the past 12 months are now facing reality.”

Luxury Sales Hit

Average villa prices in the emirate were dragged down by properties at the top end of the market, according to a Dubai real estate report published by Cluttons on Sunday. Prices in locations like the Palm Jumeriah, a man-made island, and The Meadows have slumped 11.9 percent and 11.1 percent respectively over the past 12 months. Apartment prices fell by 2.5 percent in the third quarter, the fastest drop since mid-2011, Cluttons said.

Dubai’s property market is bottoming out as buyers return to the market and the emirate offers an alternative to investors worried about the U.K.’s Brexit vote, Nakheel PJSC Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said in an interview with Bloomberg last month. Demand was coming from “serious, cautious investors, not speculators,” he said. The company is one of Dubai’s main real-estate companies.

Lower oil prices and weaker economic growth mean that real estate prices across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, which also includes Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are falling to fresh lows, Durrani said.

]]>