Press Digest

May 22, 2012 I Issue No. 98
Press Digest
 English-Language Press 
Botswana: New Insurer Receives Warm Market Response
Mmegi Online; May 22, 2012
BIHL Sure, a short-term insurance company launched late last month, says preliminary legwork
shows a warm reception from a market characterised by cut-throat competition and overpopulation.
Zimbabwe: Banks Under Fire
The Herald; May 22, 2012
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has hit out at foreign banks for refusing to fund
agriculture and other productive sectors. He said it was high time the Government dealt with the
issues to avert the total collapse of the sectors.
Botswana: SHHA Transfer Won't Bring Extra Costs – PS
Mmegi Online; May 22, 2012
The transfer of the Self-Help Housing Agency (SHHA) programme to the Botswana Housing
Corporation (BHC) will not change the affordability of loans among beneficiaries of the lowincome housing programme, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Housing (MLH),
Tsaone Thebe has said.
Tanzania: Bank Launches Saving for Education Initiative
Tanzania Daily News; May 21, 2012
An ancient Greek philosopher called Cynic Diogenes once said: "The foundation of every state is
the education of its youth." Diogenes lived some 400BC but his words are still true and relevant
today.
Nigeria: NUBAN Deadline - Banks Urge Current Account Holders on Compliance
Leadership; May 21, 2012
Ahead of June 1, 2012 when the nation's banking system commences full implementation of the
NUBAN policy, banks across the country are making frantic efforts to ensure that all their
customers update their cheque books in order not to be excluded from clearing.
Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 22, 2012 I Issue No. 98
Zimbabwe: Most Not Accessing Banking Services - Survey
The Herald; May 21, 2012
Zimbabwe's financial services sector is faced with a generally high level of financial exclusion, a
survey has shown. FinMark Trust, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and the Zimbabwe
National Statistical Agency, carried out the FinScope Consumer Survey Zimbabwe 2011.
Nigeria: Firstbank Partners Ria to Enhance Money Transfer Services
Leadership; May 19, 2012
Nigerians in the Diaspora now have another platform for convenient and reliable money transfer
transactions through the partnership between First Bank of Nigeria Plc and RIA International
Money Transfer Services (Ria).
Ghana: The Bank of Ghana
The Chronicle; May 18, 2012
The Bank of Ghana has observed, since the last meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee
(MPC) that the transactions market for foreign exchange remains broadly stable, consistent with
economic fundamentals. However, speculative activity of currency traders in the inter-bank
foreign exchange market continues to exert pressures on exchange rates, resulting in continuing
depreciation of the Ghana cedi.
Egypt: Minister - Accounts of Special Funds in Commercial Banks to Be Closed and
Transferred to CBE
Egypt State Information Service (All Africa); May 18, 2012
Minister of Finance, Momtaz El-Saeed issued rules for preparation of the closing account of the
State general budget and the final accounts of the budgets of economic public bodies, public
business and public sector companies for the financial year 2011/2012 which ends on June 30,
2012.
Tanzania: Bank Launches Financial 'Fitness' Campaign
Tanzania Daily News; May 18, 2012
Tanzanians were on Thursday challenged to adopt the culture of saving their money for the
purpose of financing future needs including education of children and other essential
requirements.
Nigeria: FG Moves to Stop Excess Bank Charges
This Day; May 18, 2012
The Federal Government Thursday said it would introduce the "Treasury Single Account" to
sweep excess bank charges into one account in order to streamline government's current
account balances.
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 22, 2012 I Issue No. 98
Kenya: Ecobank Joins Race for Promos
The Star; May 17, 2012
Eco bank has joined the growing number of banks using prize incentives to woo customers into
taking up their services and increase deposits. The bank has kicked off a three month campaign,
during which new and existing customers will stand a chance to win a three bedroomed
bungalow grand prize in Nairobi.
Libya Approves Islamic Banking Law: Official
Reuters Africa; May 17, 2012
Libya has approved an Islamic banking law that will introduce sharia-compliant banking in the
North African country, a member of the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) said on
Thursday.
Ghana Central Bank Says Foreigners Will Take up Bond Issue
Reuters Africa; May 17, 2012
Foreign investors are likely to take up a significant chunk of next week's bond auction in Ghana
despite turmoil in the euro zone and recent currency volatility, a senior central bank official said
on Thursday.
Kenya: Firm to Lend Via SMS
Capital FM; May 17, 2012
Local mobile phone users can now borrow money via SMS regardless of their network through a
newly launched mobile based lending product.
Nigeria: Ecobank Launches Electronic Platform
Daily Trust; May 16, 2012
Ecobank has unveiled 'Omni' an innovative and integrated electronic platform for its corporate
and institutional customers.
Gambia: NSIC Enlightens GSSS on Importance of Insurance Club
The Daily Observer; May 16, 2012
The National Students Insurance Club (NSIC) Friday lectured Gambia Senior Secondary School
(GSSS) students on the importance of insurance club in their school at a briefing held at the GSSS
hall, in Banjul.
South Africa: Political Pressures Risk to S. Africa Rating: Moody's Analyst
Reuters Africa; May 16, 2012
Rising social pressures are increasingly throwing South African policymakers off track,
undermining the predictability of economic decision-making and threatening the country's credit
rating, a senior analyst at Moody's said on Wednesday.
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 22, 2012 I Issue No. 98
Nigeria: MFBs Brace for IFRs Implementation
Daily Trust; May 16, 2012
As part of efforts to ensure that they smoothly migrate to the International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS), Microfinance Banks (MFBs) in Lagos State had embarked on capacity building
programmes.
Namibia: BoN Warns of Risks in Banking Sector
New Area; May 15, 2012
Even though Namibian commercial banks have received positive ratings for their overall stability,
the central bank has cautioned about their informal dependence on parent companies based in
South Africa.
 Revue de Presse Francophone 
Les assureurs de la région MENA scrutent à Marrakech l'impact du "printemps arabe"
Maghreb Emergent; 22 mai 2012
Le "Printemps arabe" est au menu des travaux de trois jours, ouverts lundi à Marrakech (Maroc),
de la 29ème Conférence de l'Union Générale Arabe des Assurances (GAIF). Quelque 1800
experts, assureurs et financiers de la région Mena, d'Asie et d'Europe, doivent débattre des
enjeux et des effets des changements politiques, souvent violents, dans le monde arabe, selon
l'agenda de cette conférence.
Algérie: Nawel Benkritly : «Le paiement électronique nécessite beaucoup de temps
pour être généralisé»
La Tribune; 20 mai 2012
Entretient avec la DG de la SATIM : Depuis 2006, année d’entrée en scène de la Satim, le nombre
de détenteurs de cartes à puce de paiement ne dépasse pas le million. En comparaison avec nos
voisins tunisiens et marocains, nous sommes très en retard, comment expliquez-vous cet état
des lieux ?
Sénégal: L'U-IMCEC veut renforcer la finance de proximité à Kolda
Agence de Presse Sénégalaise; 19 mai 2012
L'Union des institutions mutualistes communautaires d'épargne et de crédit (U-IMCEC/Sénégal)
envisage de mettre l'accent sur la finance de proximité pour lutter contre la pauvreté dans la
région de Kolda (sud), selon son Directeur général, Ousmane Thiongane.
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 22, 2012 I Issue No. 98
Tunisie: Financement de l'économie et des entreprises
La Presse (All Africa); 19 mai 2012
Les bases financières de certaines banques publiques seront consolidées à la faveur de
l'augmentation du capital. Maintenir les taux d'intérêt à des niveaux bas afin de faciliter les
conditions d'emprunt aussi bien pour les particuliers que pour les chefs d'entreprise.
Angola: Les banques vont concéder sept mille dollars pour les petites affaires
Agência AngolaPress; 18 mai 2012
Le ministre de l'Economie, Abraão Gourgel, a annoncé jeudi, à Luanda, que le Guichet Unique
d'Entrepreneuriat, au moyen des banques d'Epargne et de Crédit (BPC) et de Commerce et
Industrie (BCI) concéderait un crédit d'une valeur allant jusqu'à sept mille dollars américaine aux
personnes qui veulent développer des petites affaires.
Burkina Faso: Un nouveau produit d’assurance à disposition des populations du
centre
Sidwaya Quotidien; 17 mai 2012
La Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale (CNSS) a lancé, le mardi 15 mai à Ouagadougou, la
campagne de promotion de l'assurance volontaire, au profit des populations de la région du
Centre.
For more news on African financial sectors please click here.
Pour plus d’actualités sur la finance en Afrique veuillez cliquer ici.
Compiled by:
Alessandro Girola I Research & Knowledge Manager I [email protected]
Rim Nour I Research Officer I [email protected] (English-language press)
Olivier Vidal I Research Assistant I [email protected] (French-language press)
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]