The company has bought a controlling stake in Ghana Telecom from the country’s government, shelling out $900 (£481.4 million) in the process.

Mobiles are growing more popular in the North West African country, with 2.7 million people signing up to contracts in 2007.

Vodaphone’s deal gives it a 70 per cent share in the third-biggest mobile group in Ghana and the largest landline operator.

Arun Sarin, Vodafone chief executive, said: "Ghana is one of the most attractive markets in Africa with mobile subscribers growing at more than 55 per cent per annum and mobile penetration around 35 per cent."

More expansion could be on the cards, with a spokesman also adding the stable political situation in the country had helped seal the deal.

Ghana Telecom has a 17 per cent share of the country’s market, which translates to 1.4 million customers.

At the end of 2007 Vodafone had 252 million global customers, with more than 100 million of them in the growing markets of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

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Results of an internet study by The Mortgage Alliance (TMA) and Cardiff Pinnacle show around two thirds of respondents thought adverse media coverage and investigations have not harmed the product’s attractiveness.

Around 21 per cent thought the FSA and Competition Commission actions have party hit sales with 15 per cent thinking they had had no impact.

The same detailed study also showed brokers and their clients thought it important they were to be able to advise on property-related and mortgage insurance.

Around half of those questioned also thought the ability to give advice on these topics was ‘extremely important’. Only four per cent said it was not important.

Brokers were also asked how they preferred commission to be paid, with 44 per cent saying they were not bothered whether it arrived monthly or annually in advance.

TMA boss Phil Whitehouse said: “This survey conjured up some very interesting points and certainly helped us garner a better understanding of what brokers are looking for to get the most out of this important sector of the market.

“A good mortgage club should offer brokers added value in order to help them increase sales and income and, at TMA, we will certainly be looking at elements from this survey.”

Information from the survey, initiated by TMA, will be used to highlight pitfalls or opportunities in the PPI market.

Cardiff Pinnacle national sales manager John Harrop added the study had proved “invaluable” and said it would provide a framework for future product development.

Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect auto insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.

Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save on auto insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.

First, there are discounts for Auto Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.

Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple vehicles. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver’s discount.

Many companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.

Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.

You could lower the cost of your insurance in other ways.
For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.

In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.

Understanding how discounts affect your insurance rates is important to save you money.

In addition to the 2.3 million people who either failed to pay, or paid their council tax in the second half of last year, nearly 3 million people in the UK also faltered in making their credit card payments. YouGov statisitics provided by MoneySuperMarket.com show that credit card users paid out £35 million in late payment fees.

Sean Gardner, Chief Executive of MoneyExpert.com, said, “Paying one bill late is not something to panic about. But if you find this is becoming something of a habit then you need to take action. Missing bills can have serious consequences, whether it’s losing a service altogether or even ending up in court.”

The financial advice website cautioned that as the ongoing credit crunch continues into 2008, many people may find themselves falling further behind in paying off bills.

The demand from Nationwide follows the interest rate cute in December, which reduced the rates of savers by more than 0.25% off the base rate. Customers who pay little attention to their accounts and the return they receive on their savings are the primary victims of the rivalry taking place between firms, claimed Nationwide.

Matthew Carter, Director for Savings at Nationwide, said, “The savings market is a highly competitive one and providers are vying to take market share. Some providers seem more interested in boosting profit and achieving best buy status than actually offering long-term good value to their customers.”

“Consumers are told when their mortgage deals are due to change and it shouldn’t be any different for savers. With introductory deals becoming more common-place, the society is concerned it is becoming even harder for savers to make the best decision.”

The building society wants savings providers to alert customers when their account interest rates dip and provide improved customer service when better deals are available. Currently, many banks and building societies attract customers with initially high interest rates on savings accounts, with the usual duration of the rate lasting for a year. After the first year, savings interest rates fall well below the Bank of England’s base rate. But for those individuals striving to keep their finances sound in a very rushed society, the sudden drop in interest paid for their deposits often comes at a great surprise and additional stress.

“Often a simple no strings account will offer an equally good return, without the need to jump through hoops or navigate a maze of complex terms and conditions,” said Lisa Taylor, at personal finance information firm Moneyfacts.co.uk. Instead of constantly needing to research each promotion, she advices customers to find accounts with steady interest rates which will perform well over time.

“With such a fast changing market, unless you are prepared to move your savings on a very regular basis, a consistently good performing account will offer a good return, without all of the time and effort of constantly searching the market.”

“Some savers have seen their rates axed by more than double the base rate cut. And with many of the accounts already offering uncompetitive rates, the proportion of the rate shaved off is much higher,” added Ms. Taylor. “Many of the worst hit accounts are no longer heavily marketed and are probably held by long standing customers who have held the account for many years. It’s just another example of when loyalty does not pay.”

“Take the example of the Halifax Liquid Gold, which saw a 0.36% cut. When we consider the rate was only 1.36% in November, the cut means more than a quarter of the whole rate vanishing.”Obviously Halifax’s “gold” is less “liquid” than they make it sound.

Other lenders to cut savings rates include big names such Alliance & Leicester, Abbey, HSBC, Halifax, Lloyds TSB, NatWest, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The firms with highest assets, apparently seek to gain the most from their individual depositors, who, in today’s economy, can often afford veiled banking practices the least.

Ms. Taylor also offered, “Moneyfacts.co.uk average savings rate is currently 3.77& (no notice at £1K), which is already lower than the current rate of inflation. Too many savers are keeping their hard earned savings in accounts which will in the long term see their savings fall in value.”

But there is still great power in consumerism for those who take a little extra time and shop for the best banking rates – and those individuals will reap the greatest rewards.

“It is true to say that there is a general lack of understanding of equity release with the general public,” explained Mark Gettinby, Financial Services Director of Help the Aged subsidiary of intune group. Mr. Gettinby also noted that many people are using an equity release to pay off mortgages and credit card debts without seeking sound financial advice from professionals, which could prove unwise.

Equity release is very similar to loans in that it provides homeowners with additional income. However, Mr. Gettinby warned that, “As equity release is a major financial decision we would always encourage the public to seek independent advice from a specialist before proceeding.”

Dean Mirfin, business development director of Key Retirement Solutions, is especially concerned about retired homeowners who should beware of providers more interested in sales than making sure that retirees obtain the best deal available. Mr. Mirfin also recommended that retired homeowners seek advice from professional advisers before committing to a plan and paying too much for their equity release.

John Slaughter, director of external affairs at the HBF, said, “I think we have to assume that [the EPC] will have some influence on perceptions of purchases. And obviously, if you go back to [the] point about hiking energy prices at the moment, then people will always take more notice of those things in that climate.”

A “Building a Greener Future” policy was begun by the government to encourage the construction of environmentally friendly homes by offering stamp duty exemptions for carbon-neutral homes.

Mr. Slaughter noted the EPC will “actually raise awareness of the benefits of good levels of energy efficiency and insulation would have – not just running costs but [for the] comfort of the house and so forth.“

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) recommends making a 12-month budgeting plan which should include all annual debts, including car insurance payments and quarterly bills, and then dividing by 12 months to establish monthly needs and avoid much financial anxiety.

“Sit down and do a budget,” recommended Frances Walker, spokesperson for CCCS, who also added, “You need to do an annual budget and then divide it by 12 so that you take account of things.”

Many Britons making New Year resolutions have promised to gain control of their financial worries – and for those who stick to it, will surely feel some financial ease by the end of the year. Ms. Walker stated that people paying over 20% of their incomes towards monthly repayments are overextending themselves.

Ms. Walker added, “It is also a good time to look at income maximisation.” As households are better able to forecast expenditures, many will see their incomes being used more effectively.

For those with existing debt and seeking to lower monthly outgoings, a consolidation loan can be a reasonable way to reduce monthly repayments and ease budget strain

Despite efforts by Chancellor Darling, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to hold any changes to the base rate in January, added Mr. Kuo.

With many lenders trying to rebuild “their battered business,” says Mr. Kuo, borrowers may not see relief even if the base rate cut is passed in the future. Lenders are not obligated to pass base rate changes on to consumers and they may be less likely to do so now with recent changes in the economy and rising inflation eating into profits.

Mr Kuo added: “Therefore, many homeowners are unlikely to reap the benefits, even though there are indications that the Bank of England may continue to cut interest rates to stimulate the flagging British economy.”

Although the credit crunch was greatly created by large banking institutions lending monies to individuals who were barely qualified to repay their loans - often in the form of sub-prime mortgages – many banks now seek to recover much of the losses they originally designed for the fast money that was pouring in while the over-lending went unchecked.

With lenders unlikely to lower mortgage repayments and pass some relief to borrowers, the level of personal debt and insolvency is expected to rise this year, according to James Falla, director of advice service Thomas Charles.

For many years the self-employed have depended upon self-cert mortgages to purchase property and homes. The Economic and Social Research Council reported that of the 29 million people employed in Britain, 13% are self-employed and eligible for self-cert mortgages.

Fortunately for this group of financial pioneers, the self-cert mortgage market has remained unaffected by the tightening of lending criteria in the mortgage industry, noted Andy Pratt, a spokesperson for Alexander Hall.

Mr. Pratt added that nonconforming lenders have been hit hardest by changes in financial markets but this has not affected the subprime industry.

Self-cert mortgages are generally backed by more established lenders, which allow them to adapt to changing conditions more favourably. Mainstream lenders that have been unaffected could give borrowers with good credit records the best chances of being approved for loans, the broker representative offered.

“All those clients who would have got a self-cert mortgage before have been able to get them even with the credit crunch,” he maintains. This is good news to self-employed Britons who are often unable to qualify for more conventional mortgage loans.