Energy sector back to life, buzzing - Amewu

Energy Minister, John Peter Amewu says the Akufo-Addo government has brought sanity to the power sub-sector ensuring that the country is a promised land as far as energy is concerned.

He said government has “reviewed several power purchase agreements saving the country over $700 million every year for 13 years in excess capacity charges. 

“The reviewed and renegotiated renewable energy PPAs resulted in the reduction of tariffs from the average of $19.057 to $12.78. The renewable energy total capacity also dropped from 2265.1MW to 515.6MW."

Taking his turn at the Meet The Press series Tuesday in Accra, he said they met the sector in a very deplorable state with “alarming high indebted utilities, high electricity tariffs, poor electricity distribution service and low energy penetration.”

However, he said government has successfully revived the dying state of the energy sector.  

According to the Energy Minister, Ghanaians are now enjoying affordable and reliable power due to their relentless efforts in fixing the energy sector.

Mr Amewu also said government has also achieved significant feats in gas commercialisation.

 "There has been a significant reduction in gas price from $10.5/MMBtu to $7.89/MMBtu and have also successfully interconnected the gas export pipeline into Ghana's Atuabo-Takoradi to enable the Sankofa gas to be transported through the Natural Gas Transmission System (NGTs) to various customers across the country,” he explained.

He cited the launching the first ever licensing Rounds Bid last year by President Akufo-Addo, in accordance with the Petroleum Act of 2016. 

The Minister also said in February 2018, the Petroleum Commission launched the Petroleum Register which includes petroleum agreements, licenses, permits and authorisations.
 

Mr Amewu also noted that government directed the motivation of domestic petroleum product price increases.

"Since March 2017 to August 2018, Government has implemented various tax interventions such as the Removal of excise duty on 16th March 2017;

Reduction of the Special Petroleum Tax rate from 17.5% to 15% on 16th March 2017;

Reduction of the Special Petroleum Tax rate from 15% to 13% on 16th February 2018;

Conversion of the Special Petroleum Tax from Ad valorem to Specific Tax on 16th February 2018; and Reduction of the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levies (PSRL) from 1st December 2017."

 

The former Lands and Natural Resources Minister also spoke on the safety of Ghanaians saying that Cabinet has directed a number of actions including the immediate commencement of the National Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Promotion Policy based on the Cylinder Recirculating Model (RCM).

He said this is to ensure that at least 50 per cent of Ghanaians have access to safe and environmentally friendly LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial use by 2030.

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Supreme Court throws out case challenging Charlotte Osei removal

The Supreme Court has dismissed a case challenging the removal of Charlotte Osei as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

The seven-member panel presided over by Justice Julius Ansah ruled that the case by veteran journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako did not properly invoke the jurisdiction of the court.

Mr. Baako had argued that the grounds stated for the removal of Charlotte Osei, which bothered mainly on procurement breeches, had nothing to do with her core functions as Chairperson of the EC.

The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper sought a declaration that “upon a true and proper construction of Article 146 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, a petition for the removal of the chairperson of the EC, pursuant to the provisions of Article 146, was only valid if such a petition alleged stated misbehaviour or incompetence relating to the performance of the core constitutional functions of the chairperson of the EC.”

 

“However, the court determined that the ground for stated misbehaviour is not limited to the duties of the EC Chairperson but her public behaviour,” Joy News Kwesi Parker Wilson reported.

Speaking to Joy News after the proceedings Kweku Baako said although he disagreed with the opinion of the apex court, he accepts the verdict.

Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame, expressed his satisfaction with the ruling, saying that procurement was an integral part of the duties of an office holder such as the EC boss.

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Expedite investigations into by-election violence – Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations into the circumstances leading to the violence which was perpetrated against members and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Thursday’s by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in Accra.

Scores of NDC members and supporters, including the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, were brutally attacked and injured, after several rounds of ammunition were fired by fully armed masked gunmen who rode in military grade vehicles marked “POLICE SWAT”.

Subsequently, Mr Mahama suspended his flagbearership campaign in the Volta Region and returned to Accra to visit those who were injured and on admission in hospital.

Addressing NDC delegates at Dzode in the Ketu North constituency, after resuming his campaign in the Volta region on Friday, Mr Mahama, described the attack as an affront on Ghana’s constitution.
He said the disruption of Thursday’s by-election is a product of the NPP’s “all die be die”.

Mr Mahama warned that the NDC would resist any attempt by the government to subvert Ghana’s constitution, as it happened in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency by-election.

US Visa Restriction: Parliament summons Foreign Affairs Minister

The Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament is scheduled to meet Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, over visa sanctions imposed on Ghana by the United States of America (USA).

“Early part of next week, we should be able to host her because it is a very urgent matter that we need to address,” Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee revealed on Friday, 1 February 2019.

US announced the implementation of visa sanctions on Ghana for the country’s lack of cooperation in accepting Ghanaians that have been deported from the U.S.

“Ghana has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to accept the return of its nationals removed from the United States,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said in a press statement.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in the statement, ordered the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo to order embassy officers in Ghana to implement the visa restrictions on certain categories of visa applicants.

“Pursuant to her authority under Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen notified Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the Government of Ghana has denied or unreasonably delayed accepting their nationals ordered removed from the United States,” the statement said.

The American authorities further stated that Ghana risks further sanctions if the government’s posture does not change.

“Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population. The sanctions will remain in place until the Secretary of Homeland Security notifies Secretary Pompeo that cooperation on removals has improved to an acceptable level.”

According to the statement, from 4 February 2019, the US embassy in Ghana will cease to issue all non-immigrant visas to domestic employees (A3 and G5) of Ghanaian officials travelling to the US.

“It is important to note that A3 and G5 visa applications will be processed but no visas in these categories will be issued while these restrictions remain in effect,” the statement noted

Limitations have also been placed on the duration period and number of entries on new business and tourist visas (B1, B2, B1/B2) for employees of individuals from the Ghanaian executive and legislature.

Spouses and children of all Ghanaians in the executive and legislature will also be affected by the sanctions.

We don’t tell lies – CODEO responds to EC

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has denied claims by the Electoral Commission (EC) that its preliminary report on the by-election conducted at the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency is full of falsehoods.

Chair of the Commission at a press conference accused CODEO of wrongfully accusing officers and security personnel who were deployed to monitor the by-elections on Thursday.

CODEO had criticized the Commission for the low turnout which they blamed on the presence of masked men at the polling center and violence that characterized the polling process. 

But the EC says it cannot be blamed for the alleged violence that occurred.

Jean Mensa said, “on the allegation of a shooting incident at the La Bawaleshie area, the Commission rejects the attempts by the report of CODEO to link the Electoral Commission to the alleged incident at the private residence of the Parliamentary candidate of the NDC.

“The Commission wishes to state that the said shooting incident did not take place in any of the polling stations in the constituency and, therefore, did not in any way disrupt the conduct of the overall poll.”

Jean Mensa said, “on the allegation of a shooting incident at the La Bawaleshie area, the Commission rejects the attempts by the report of CODEO to link the Electoral Commission to the alleged incident at the private residence of the Parliamentary candidate of the NDC.

“The Commission wishes to state that the said shooting incident did not take place in any of the polling stations in the constituency and, therefore, did not in any way disrupt the conduct of the overall poll.”

He denied that their report linked the EC to the shooting incident at La Bawaleshie. He said it was impossible for CODEO to comment or link the EC to the incident when none of its personnel was present at the location.

“Something went wrong somewhere and all we are saying is that in future, the EC should investigate and find out why these things happened the way they happened. I saw polling stations where guns were being fired and people were running helter-skelter.

“And in election administration, you don’t have these things happening because voters will be intimidated and when they run from where they came from other will not come,” Mr Arhin said.

He believes this development accounted for the low turnout at the polls – 19.33 per cent – stressing that it was necessary to remind the EC of these issues so that they can address it.

 “CODEO stands by the account of the observers, we don’t tell lies,” he stressed.

UMB CEO John Awuah leaves bank after 4 years

After four years of service to the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), the Board has announced the departure of their CEO, John Awuah.

Mr. Awuah joined UMB and has over the years initiated and championed successful strategies with the private sector as well as partnered the public sector on initiatives for the development of the country.

Some of the projects include the launch of the UMB PPP Centre and growth of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the country through the UMB Centre for Businesses.

Under his leadership, the Bank introduced more branches and innovative products to meet its ever-growing customer base.

A statement from the Bank said, “Mr. Awuah has built a strong foundation for the present and future growth of UMB and the bank will continue to execute these laudable initiatives.”

The Board Chairman of UMB, in a message to John Awuah, said, “you are a strong advocate for team effort, and over the past four years, we have witnessed good and positive transformation under your watch.
We wish you the very best in your future endeavours”

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Photos: Man turns into a dog after alighting from his car

So yesterday, some residents in a yet-to-be-disclosed estate in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital, brutally killed a dog after it was transformed from a human being.

According to multiple online reports from residents who witnessed the killing, it was alleged that a man turned into the big dog after alighting from his car at Garrison area in Port-Harcourt.

The dog was immediately caught, tied up and tortured to death before its corpse was dumped by the roadside.

The incident caused tension in the area.