Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited has announced the shutdown of its 560MW power plant due to the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) failure to meet overdue payment obligations.
This has left Sunon Asogli unable to continue funding its operations.
In a statement released on October 16, 2024, the company disclosed that ECG owes a net receivable of $259 million (excluding fuel) as of the end of September 2024.
Despite Sunon Asogli’s decision not to invoice ECG for idle capacity, the debt owed has increased by 23% between January and September 2024, with only 22.6% of the invoices for that period settled through the Cash Waterfall Mechanism.
“Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) has over the years been very considerate in its dealings with ECG and the government, and, unlike other independent power producers, has not even invoiced ECG for accrued idle capacity charges.
“Despite this, ECG owes Sunon Asogli a net (excluding fuel) receivable amount of $259 million as of the end of September 2024.
“Our debt has grown by 23% on the net balance, between January 2024 and September 2024 and only 22.6% of the invoices for the period have been paid by ECG from the Cash Waterfall Mechanism,” he stated.
Sunon Asogli expressed deep regret over the impact of the shutdown on the national power supply but emphasized that it had no alternative.
The company further called on the Ministry of Finance to intervene and facilitate a resolution that will allow it to resume operations as soon as possible.
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has accused President Nana Akufo-Addo of encouraging illegal mining in the country, thereby resulting in the pollution of its river bodies.
He said there are many appointees under Akufo-Addo who are polluting river bodies and destroying forest reserves in search of gold are being shielded to endanger the lives of millions of Ghanaians in gold-ming areas.
Gbande’s comment comes on the back of Akufo-Addo’s call on the flag bearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, to clarify his stance on the fight against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
During a thank-you tour in the North East region, President Akufo-Addo criticized Mahama for what he described as contradictory and inconsistent statements regarding the issue of galamsey, urging Mahama to articulate a clear and firm position on how he plans to tackle the challenges posed by illegal mining.
“Today, he p[Mahama] is saying that, no, he doesn’t believe in jail, that he’s against galamsey, and he will enforce the law. So once again, we have to ask ourselves, mister JM, where do you stand?” he quizzed.
He went on to further ask, “What are you telling the people of Ghana? Because every time you speak, you speak from one corner of your mouth, and you speak from another corner of your mouth. Let us hear from you direct, straight up what do you stand for?”
NDC’s Position
Reacting to Akufo-Addo’s comments on TV XYZ Mdday News, Mustapha Gbande said the president was being mischievous with a a serious issue that threatens the very lives of Ghanaians who voted him to power.
According to him, Akufo-Addo has nothing meaningful to tell Ghanaians after he mismanaged the country in the past 7 years and has no legacy to show for his stewardship.
“He is asking what John Mahama will do to tackle galamsey when elected. When we launched our manifesto in Winneba and highlighted that we will ensure responsible mining, was President Akufo-Addo asleep? Didn’t he hear?” he questioned.
He continued, “When Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, our Running Mate, was telling Ghanaians that we will encourage proper mining that will not destroy our water bodies, did Akufo-Addo not hear her?….Well our policy is that we will not allow people tomine in forest reserves like we are seeing under this corrupt NPP government where appointees are the ones leading the destruction of our forests and rivers.”
Gbande argued that Akufo-Addo has no moral right to speak on tackling tyhe menace because people working for his government are involved in galamsey which has had a negative impact on Ghana’s environmental landscape and the livelihoods of many citizens.
Although he underscored the significant impact of galamsey on the country, Gbande asked Akufo-Addo to “stop sleeping in public and follow the NDC’s policies on mining.”
“Even Akufo-Addo, the one who sleeps in public says he has done well for Ghana yet he has sunk this country than he met it. He should stop sleeping and follow the discourse and he will find the answers he is seeking,” he told Beposohemaa Nana Oforiwaa Amanfo in Akan.
Recently, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang while on a tour of the Western Region said the next NDC government will put structures and policies together to ensure that galamsey does not destroy river bodies and other water sources like in other countries.
Unlike the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government that has overseen the destruction of many water bodies as a result of illegal mining, the NDC Running Mate noted that the NDC will instead modify the trade to ensure that jobs are created for the youth in the hinterland.
“We are bringing good policies and structures to ensure that illegal mining is done without destroying water bodies like it is done in other advanced countries. In Amenfi East we know there is galamsey happening here but the next NDC government will put good policies together to ensure responsible mining devoid of the destruction of waterbodies while also creating the needed jobs.”
“The NPP government has failed in the fight against illegal mining overseeing the destruction of many waterbodies and rivers. The 24-hour economy policy will also ensure that the needed jobs are created which will also benefit those who cannot do galamsey,” she stated.
The Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, has expressed indifference toward the petition filed by the Minority caucus seeking to declare his seat vacant.
Kwakye-Ackah, who has chosen to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, stated that his decision was a result of what he views as unfair treatment by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He cited the party’s endorsement of his opponent as the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central as a major factor in his departure from the party.
In an interview with Citi News in Parliament on Tuesday, October 15, Kwakye-Ackah addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his seat, making it clear that he remains unconcerned about the petition and is focused on his independent candidacy moving forward.
“The announcement went out that I said I had given my support to the person who forged documents, and because of that, the court injuncted it [the parliamentary primary], and the person was declared unopposed. I felt that no, that is not fair. Sometimes they should treat people fairly.
“If you say you are going to rerun, give everybody a fair chance, and if the person loses fairly, he will understand. Why should you open the nomination and just take my money, just keep my GH¢45,000, which is no small money so I have decided that if the people want me, I will go independent.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, convenor of the anti-galamsey protest organised by the Democracy Hub, has been granted bail in the sum of ¢20,000 on Wednesday, October 16, after three unsuccessful attempts.
His previous bail applications had been denied by both the Accra High Court and the Circuit Court.
Mr Barker-Vormawor was arrested during a demonstration against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, which has caused severe environmental damage in Ghana.
Several activists, voicing concerns about destroying natural resources, participated in the protest, which aimed to raise awareness and opposition to the practice.
According to police reports, Mr Barker-Vormawor was apprehended for engaging in unlawful activities during the protest, although specific details of his alleged misconduct are still under investigation.
One of the incidents that led to his arrest was his removal of the keys from a police van parked at the protest site.
Despite these challenges, the activist has remained determined in his stance against galamsey, continuing to advocate for environmental reforms and greater accountability in the fight against illegal mining.
A former Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Ambassador Victor Smith has criticised Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia for the country’s economic downturn which has pushed many people into poverty.
Like himself, Mr Smith said Ghanaians cannot comprehend how Bawumia has ignored the pain and trauma he and President Akufo Addo and his appointees and cronies have visited upon the good people of Ghana for the last eight years, and still have the temerity to go round the country asking Ghanaians to vote for himn.
In an open letter to Bawumia who is now the presidential candidate for the governing NPP, Ambassador Smith said “under your watch, as head of the economic management team in the Akufo Addo administration, Ghana’s debt to GDP is now about 85% and our total debt stock since Ghana’s independence, has mushroomed from 120bn cedis in 2016 to about 750bn cedis in the 8 years that your government has been in office.”
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Flag bearer of the NPP
He added that the mismanagement of the country’s economy has put “a heavy burden on the head & shoulders of future governments and future generations.”
“Is this something you are proud of, trying to sell yourself to be voted for as President ?” he quizzed.
Below is the letter;
You have no moral right to ask Ghanaians to vote for you as President… Open letter to Vice President Bawumia by Victor Smith
———————————-
Mr Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, I, and, I believe, many people of conscience, cannot comprehend how you can ignore the pain and trauma you and President Akufo Addo and his appointees and cronies have visited upon the good people of Ghana for the last eight years, and still have the temerity to go round the country asking Ghanaians to vote for you to continue in government on 7th December, 2024.
The good people of Ghana have seen enough of the mess and suffered enough untold hardships that you, and your team have brought upon us. Even many of those who voted you into power too, have no more faith in the selfish and incompetent administration of which you are the Vice President .
In 2016, your infamous rhyme of “ Teachers are suffering, teacher-trainees are suffering, Nurses are suffering, nurse-trainees are suffering etc etc should be ringing loudest in your ears today than in 2016 and please, do not continue to blame this situation on externalities such as Covid-19 or Ukraine or Israel- Gaza conflict.
In 2016 when the exchange rate was under 4 cedis to one dollar, it was you who propounded the theory which has come to haunt you today, that “ You can engage in all the propaganda you want, but if the economic fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you” . I am sure you have heard so many commentators ridiculing you with that theory, haven’t you? Because today, with the exchange rates going through the roof, whenever you are referred to that same theory that you propounded and asked to justify your claim that your government has done better than the previous government , you have the cheekiness to say that “ it is warped logic”.
Meanwhile, under your watch, as head of the economic management team in the Akufo Addo administration, Ghana’s debt to GDP is now about 85% and our total debt stock since Ghana’s independence, has mushroomed from 120bn cedis in 2016 to about 750bn cedis in the 8 years that your government has been in office, putting a heavy burden on the head & shoulders of future governments and future generations. Is this something you are proud of, trying to sell yourself to be voted for as President ?
In the 8 years that your government has presided over Ghana’s economy you have, by your acts and or omissions and incompetence , reduced household incomes of many families, and sustainably impoverished households of many rural communities ; you have collapsed a number of indigenous banks and financial institutions and taken away the sources of daily bread for many families; many professional middle income breadwinners have had to resort to “by day” low income or menial jobs to provide food and health care for their families while many more are struggling by engaging in “hala hala”to survive. Is this something you are proud of?
In 2016, when you thirsted for power together with your boss, President Akufo Addo, you engaged in peddling several falsehoods about President Mahama and his administration and recklessly made several promises to win power; what became of those lofty promises: one village- one dam, one constituency one million dollars, one district one factory? You and the NPP leadership told several untruths to tarnish the image of President Mahama, of particular note being the so-called “Airbus scandal”. What was the outcome, Dr Vice President? You guys aren’t ashamed enough to say sorry to the good people of this country?
You and your boss, have not only presided over such mismanagement of our country and the economy , but have also supervised the highest level ever, of corruption, outright thievery and misappropriation of state resources and assets for the benefit of a few of your cronies, family & friends.
On corruption, you and your boss, the President, have calculatedly frustrated both of the OSPs that you appointed in the 8 years to the extent that the first Special Prosecutor had to resign, referring directly to your boss as “ mother serpent of corruption“ and the second and current Special Prosecutor referring to himself as “Anko anoma ” to wit the lonely bird.
You and your boss’s leadership has been referred to as a “clearing house” for corruption and other misdeeds by your appointees notably the Cecilia Dapaah “millions of US dollars at home” saga and the Wontumi galamsey mining in a forest reserve.
You said “we have the men”, and trumpeted, “ Dr Akoto Osei, Osafo Marfo, Prof Gyan Baffuor etc, and emphasized “ what a solid team” etc etc. Aren’t you ashamed of what your so-called “solid team” has delivered to the people of Ghana in 8 years? And for you to have that effrontery to blow so much money campaigning to ask for our mandate so you can finally put the nail in the coffin for our country ?
I, and, I dare say, many Ghanaians would rather wish to advise you and your incompetent & selfish NPP apparatchiks to spare us the agony.
We don’t need this kind of stress anymore, certainly not at this time. What we need now is a serious team of experienced, knowledgeable competent and selfless men and women with a commitment to transform and sustainably develop the country for the benefit , wellbeing and prosperity of the good people of Ghana.
This government , of which you are the Vice President today and have been so, for nearly eight years, clearly, is not fit for purpose. It was a grand deception, designed to scam Ghanaians and has indeed been a monumental failure. The worst in the history of Ghana.
The Electoral Commission(EC) has said the certified voters register for Election 2024 will be ready by November 1.
Speaking at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in Accra on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa said political parties will have access to the certified electoral register on November 1, 2024.
“It is important to note that the Commission will provide the political parties with the certified copy of the final voters register by the 1st of November, 2024,” the EC boss said.
Addressing IPAC, the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs. Jean Mensa, highlighted work the Commission had done so far ahead of the 2024 elections.
Below are what the EC Boss listed;
The revised PVR has been exhibited online at no cost to voters
Soft copies of the revised PVR on hard drives were made available to political parties and independent candidates during the IPAC meeting
The revised PVR is marked improvement on the PVR presented during the August 2024 Exhibition Exercise
Parties will be given a template to document and report discrepancies in the revised PVR
This is the first time the PVR is being re-exhibited
This shows that the Commission is transparent and a listening Commission
The Commission thanks the NDC for raising issues with the PVR, and this also shows that the Commission is committed to transparency
Voters are encouraged to check their details free of charge via the short code *711*51#
Voters can also check their details from our website: https://ec.gov.gh. Voters should click on the pop-up link at the bottom-right corner of the screen and enter the 10-digit Voter ID number to receive their voter registration details.
The Public should note that any discrepancies identified must be reported to the District Office of the Commission where they are registered voters for correction. Once the Re-Exhibition Exercise ends on Saturday, 19th October, voters will still be able to check their details online but CANNOT request for correction of their details.
List of Polling Stations has been provided to the Political Parties. There are 40,647 Polling Stations and 328 Special Voters
Ballot statistics has also been provided to the Political Parties. The Commission adopted the approach of using the number of voters on the PVR plus 2% to ensure we have adequate number of ballot papers on Election Day.
The Police have arrested parents of 16-year-old driver responsible for East Legon accident that killed two people.
The 16-year-old suspect’s parents, Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and Mouha Amoako, according to the police, are currently in their custody to assist in investigations.
“Investigations have so far established that on 12th October 2024, suspect driver, Elrad Salifu Amoako, aged 16, driving a Jaguar SUV vehicle with registration number GN 7801 – 20 with one other occupant, rammed into a 4×4 Acura vehicle also with registration number GR 2542 -23, driven by Joseph Ackah with four other occupants, at Mensah Wood Street at East Legon. Both cars caught fire and burned beyond recognition.” The police statement reads.
Pastor Salifu Amoako
Police investigation further indicates that three of the five victims in the Acura vehicle during the accident were rescued, and the other two identified as Justine Agbenu and Maame Dwomoh, both 12 years of age, lost their lives. Two of the rescued victims who sustained minor injuries were treated and discharged, while the third is still on admission receiving medical attention.
Mouha Amoako
The statement further said “the suspect driver with the other occupant in the Jaguar vehicle were also rescued and are currently on admission at the hospital.”
The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday October 15, 2024 met with all Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and donor partners at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) framework to discuss the re-exhibition of the Provisional Voters Register (PVR).
The re-exhibition exercise is taking place from Tuesday, 15th October to Saturday, 19th October, 2024.
The IPAC meeting on Tuesday’s IPAC was covered live by the media.
In attendance were all registered Political Parties (NDC, NPP, CPP, LPG, GFP, GCPP, PAG, NDP, APC, GUM, PNC, PPP), members of the diplomatic community and other Stakeholders.
EC Chairperson’s Address to IPAC
Addressing IPAC, the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs. Jean Mensa, highlighted work 5the Commission had done so far ahead of the 2024 elections.
Below are what the EC Boss listed;
The revised PVR has been exhibited online at no cost to voters
Soft copies of the revised PVR on hard drives were made available to political parties and independent candidates during the IPAC meeting
The revised PVR is marked improvement on the PVR presented during the August 2024 Exhibition Exercise
Parties will be given a template to document and report discrepancies in the revised PVR
This is the first time the PVR is being re-exhibited
This shows that the Commission is transparent and a listening Commission
The Commission thanks the NDC for raising issues with the PVR, and this also shows that the Commission is committed to transparency
Voters are encouraged to check their details free of charge via the short code *711*51#
Voters can also check their details from our website: https://ec.gov.gh. Voters should click on the pop-up link at the bottom-right corner of the screen and enter the 10-digit Voter ID number to receive their voter registration details.
The Public should note that any discrepancies identified must be reported to the District Office of the Commission where they are registered voters for correction. Once the Re-Exhibition Exercise ends on Saturday, 19th October, voters will still be able to check their details online but CANNOT request for correction of their details.
List of Polling Stations has been provided to the Political Parties. There are 40,647 Polling Stations and 328 Special Voters
Ballot statistics has also been provided to the Political Parties. The Commission adopted the approach of using the number of voters on the PVR plus 2% to ensure we have adequate number of ballot papers on Election Day.
The Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has taken legal action at the Supreme Court, challenging the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney General.
His application seeks to prevent the Speaker from making a ruling on a motion submitted by the Minority in Parliament to declare some seats vacant.
First, the minority group specifically requested that the Speaker declare the seat of Andrew Asiamah Amoako, the Second Deputy Speaker, and MP for the Fomena constituency, vacant for deciding to contest the 2024 parliamentary election at Fomena under the sponsorship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), despite currently being in Parliament as an independent MP who run the 2020 election as an independent candidate.
Additionally, the minority is calling for the Speaker to declare the seat of Cynthia Mamle Morrison, MP for Agona West, vacant owing to her decision to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2024 elections, despite currently being an NPP representative.
Also, their petition ropes in Kwadjo Asante, MP for Suhum, who is also seeking to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections and similarly seeks a declaration of his seat as vacant.
However, the Majority Leader argues that Andrew Asiamah Amoako’s nomination to run under the NPP for the next parliamentary term does not automatically vacate his current seat as an independent MP for the 8th Parliament.
He also seeks a declaration that Cynthia Mamle Morrison’s decision to run as an independent candidate for the next parliamentary term does not result in her vacating her current seat as an NPP MP.
He thus per this suit seeking an injunction to prevent the Speaker from declaring these seats vacant or taking any steps to enforce the relevant provisions of the Constitution regarding MPs who change their political affiliations during their term in office.
Nine suspected illegal miners have been arrested, and 23 changfans destroyed by officers from ‘Operation Halt’.
They were arrested along the Ankobra River at Prestea Nakaba in the Western Region.
The task force, consisting of over 100 soldiers was deployed last week to combat illegal mining activities across the Eastern, Central and Western Regions.
The operation is part of the government’s efforts to stop illegal mining [galamsey], which has caused widespread environmental destruction.
The task force also destroyed 33 grinding machines, 27 water pumps, 23 changfans, and three changfan boards all in the Prestea Nakaba area.
In a separate operation at Assin Asamang in the Central Region, the task force also destroyed 10 changfans and 7 water pumps, which were being used for illegal mining along the River Pra.
Additional equipment seized across the regions included grinding machines, water pumps and a locally manufactured gun.
Twenty (20) suspected illegal miners have been arrested at Abirem in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
Two (2) out of the twenty (20) are Chinese nationals, Graphic Online reports.
The miners were arrested at mining sites in Abirem Roman Missionary House Down by the Abirem anti-illegal mining taskforce last Saturday, October 12.
The taskforce seized two excavators, mining equipment, and two pumping machines from the site.
The operation follows a confrontation between the local youth and the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Birem North, Raymond Nana Damptey last Saturday.
The youth had resisted the entry of two low-bed trucks transporting excavators into the community.
Head of the task force, Eric Gyataba who confirmed the arrest, expressed frustration over the interference by local authorities in their efforts to combat illegal mining.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
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