All posts by Piesie Okrah

Busines, News

COPEC blames fuel price increases on adjustment in UPPF margin

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The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC) has expressed disappointment in the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) for increasing the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) margin.

According to the chamber, the decision has led to a cascading effect on fuel prices at the pumps, burdening the public.

The NPA in a circular directed the various industry players to increase the margin by GH₵0.05 on every litre of fuel in the Price Build Up for petroleum products from June 1, 2024.  Petrol and diesel prices went up at some service station to GH₵14.84 a litre on Tuesday June 4, 2024.

Reacting to the development, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, said consumers are already overburdened by the high prices of petroleum products at the pumps due to the cedi depreciation.

“These things simply continue to add onto the pressure that fuel prices continue to face in the country. It is quite unfortunate that we continue to add on at a time that we should be thinking of reducing prices for our people. Prices simply would end up going up because we have done an increase in some of the margins just a few days ago, not good enough”, he said.

Mr. Amoah pointed out that fuel prices should have gone down since crude oil prices on the world market have witnessed a significant decline in recent times.

He argued that the decision to increase the margin is bad since it erodes the gains that consumers should have enjoyed.

“Indeed fuel prices should have declined in the last window and this window. The cedi’s performance has been largely blamed for the prices still being where they are and very high. UPPF used to be around 45 pesewas a litre but unfortunately we’ve had to increase it and increase it. Currently we’ve also adjusted it to now 90 pesewas a litre”, he lamented.

Criticizing the government, Dr. Amoah said the duty of policy makers is not to pass on cost to consumers, burdening the public with fuel price increases.

Prices go up

Some oil marketing companies have already started increasing prices of petroleum products at the pumps.

Shell is selling a litre of petrol and diesel at GH₵14.84.

Market leader GOIL is however selling a litre of petrol for GH₵14.60, from its old price of GH₵14.55. Diesel is going for GH₵14.75, up from the previous price of GH₵14.70. GOIL’s price is lower compared to Shell.

Persons close to GOIL have told JOYBUSINESS that the adjustment is due to the GH₵0.05 increase in the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) margin. The National Petroleum Authority has directed industry players to increase the margin from June 1, 2024.

Some oil marketing companies have explained that prices at the pumps would have remained unchanged if the UPPF margin had not gone up.

 

News, Politics, Topstory

Mahama promises to begin plans for new city outside Accra to ease congestion

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President John Mahama, the Flag Bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has promised to start a plan, design and feasibility study for construction of a new city outside Accra to ease the growing congestion when elected to power.

This, he said, will help create a new growth pole and create hundreds of thousand of jobs during the construction phase and after completion.

While Accra remains the capital, the time has come to decongest it by relocating some of the Government ministries, departments, agencies and financial institutions outside the city.

He believes that a future city could straddle three regions including Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta Regions and would be close to the Volta Lake with abundant water.

The new city would be a green and digital city and have tourist and amusement attractions, industrial parks and financial services.

He said the new city will be a 24 hour city and would not sleep.

Mahama said much of the investments for the new city will be leveraged by the private sector and through public private partnerships.

President Mahama made these revelations when he was speaking with the European Union Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024.

“We will commence a feasibility study with a plan to construct a new city. Accra is grid- locked, and the time has arrived for us to relocate certain parts of the government services from Accra.”

“Accra will remain the capital, but we will transfer a portion of it elsewhere. There is already available land on the Accra Plains and the opposite bank of the Volta Lake. Moreover, we are establishing a port terminal in Mpakadan to transport cargo to the northern part of the country,” he stated.

Explaining further, he explained that “there is abundant land in that area, allowing us to relocate some ministries, agencies, and departments out of the city and alleviate congestion.”

The former President said, “Accra has expanded to its limits, and if we are not cautious, managing it as a sustainable city will become difficult. Thus, we will initiate the planning, design, and feasibility process. I anticipate that this project may take around 20 years to complete, but we need to take the first steps. Subsequent generations can then continue where we left off.”The former President while on the Building Ghana Tour also assured citizens of decongesting the industrial enclave of the Tema area towards the western corridor for industrialization and job creation.

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

Crime, News

2 fined for posing as ECG workers to extort money from customers

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An electrician and a mason have been convicted to a fine of GH¢1,200 each by the Accra Circuit Court for posing as Electricity Com­pany of Ghana (ECG) workers and extorting money from customers.

Nana Adu Gyamfi, 33, and Derrick Ntow Adumah, 22, would in default serve six months in prison.

The two pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, intentionally or know­ingly interfering with suppliers’ distribution, defrauding by false pretences and stealing an ECG meter.

Appearing before Mr Sam­uel Bright Acquah, Director of Prosecution, ECG, Mr Paul Asibi Abarigah told the court that Gyamfi and Adumah devised a scheme and collected between GH¢20 and GH¢50 from ECG customers whom they claimed had engaged in illegal connec­tions.

Mr Acquah said the com­plainant, Gabriel Akinade, was the District Technical Officer of ECG, Dansoman, and the con­victs were residents of Danso­man, Accra.

The court heard that the con­victs disconnected and removed installed ECG meter number P35765641 from a house over an illegal connection.

Mr Abarigah said Gyamfi and Adumah demanded monies rang­ing between GH¢20 and GH¢50 from the customers.

The prosecutor said the con­victs were arrested and sent to the Dansoman ECG office.

Mr Abarigah said the case was reported to the ECG Investiga­tions Unit and during investi­gations, two reflective jackets, a flat board with ECG printed Logo, screwdrivers, voltmeter and ECG meters with seri­al numbers P35774560 and P35765641 were found on the convicts.

The prosecutor told the court that the convicts admit­ted the offence in their caution statements, but Gyamfi told in­vestigators that it was Adumah who introduced him into the “business”.

 

Source: Ghanain Times

News

Judicial Service grants media full access to broadcast all cases on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

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The Judicial Service of Ghana has granted media outlets full access to court proceedings concerning the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024, commonly referred to as the anti-gay Bill.

This decision, confirmed in a communiqué issued on Tuesday, May 28, allows both radio and television media to cover all relevant court proceedings related to the bill.

The move comes in response to widespread public interest in the legislation, which has sparked significant nationwide.

By granting media access, the Judicial Service aims to ensure transparency and keep the public informed about the legal process as it unfolds.

“Reference instructions from Management of the Judicial Service of Ghana regarding the public interest in cases on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024 (the “Bill”), permission has been granted for the media (including Radio and Television) to have full access to the relevant courts to undertake a coverage of all proceedings in those cases concerning the Bill,” an excerpt of the statement said.

There are currently four separate lawsuits challenging the bill. Amanda Odoi and Richard Dela Sky have filed cases directly at the Supreme Court, questioning the bill’s passage.

Additionally, Paul Boama-Sefa and Prince Obiri-Korang have brought separate challenges to the High Court.

President Akufo-Addo has restrained himself from signing the bill until these outstanding cases are cleared, a position the minority in parliament and other groups and individuals have condemned.

 

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Busines, News

A/R: Nonpayment of compensation stalls Konongo bypass road project

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Contractors working on the Konongo bypass road project in Ashanti Region are still having issues with affected farmers whose properties are within the road corridor and have not received their compensation.

The construction firms have suggested to the Ghana Highways Authority to speed up the process of payment.

From Wednesday 8th May, 2024 to Friday, 10th May, 2024 the affected farmers invaded the site from 6:00am to 6:00pm each day with weapons.

They burnt tyres to block the road and prevented works from being carried out.

Sources tell our news team that, Juaso Police was called in to protect equipment and workers of the construction firms.

The 15.4km Konongo bypass , are part of ongoing efforts by government to dualize the Accra-Kumasi highway to help reduce vehicular traffic ad accidents as well as enhance the free movement of goods and people.

Where the road pass through the centre of the town, has become traffic bottlenecks for travelers.

So far, the contractors have completed the clearing of road alignment and are progressing with the construction of culverts, bridges, box culverts, pipe culverts and earth works.

These were revealed when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah, toured the project site to find out progress of work.

The consultant for the project, Ing Eric Prah Mensah was concerned about the government’s inability to pay compensation to the affected farmers and property owners.

He appealed to government to fast track the payment of compensation to persons affected by the project to speed up work.

He said delay in paying compensation to such persons was affecting the progress of work, which could threaten timely completion of the project.

He did not disclose how much was involved, but said a list of the affected persons, including their details had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance.

“Our challenge has been the yet to be paid compensation to the project affected persons. We have submitted the estimates to the Ministry of Finance but nothing has been done and because of that such people are not giving us access to some areas we earmarked for the project,” he said.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the work.

He said the completion of the project will help reduce traffic congestion on the Konongo township.

“This morning, we all saw the extent of traffic congestion on that particular section of the road. This will alleviate us from going through such situation,” he said.

 

Source: 3news.com

Sports

Otto Addo drops Black Stars skipper Andre Ayew for World Cup qualifiers

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Black Stars coach Otto Addo has left out skipper Andre Ayew Ayew from his 26-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Central African Republic.

According to coach Otto Addo, he personally spoke to Andre to inform him about the reasons why he was left out before naming his squad.

The Black Stars will face Mali on June 6, 2024, at Bamako’s Stade 26 Mars, followed by a home game against Central African Republic on June 10, 2024, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Players who have been handed their debut call-ups to the senior national team by Addo include Ibrahim Sulemana and West Bromwich Albion’s Brandon Thomas-Asante.

According to coach Otto Addo, he personally spoke to Andre to inform him about the reasons why he was left out before naming his squad.

The Black Stars will face Mali on June 6, 2024, at Bamako’s Stade 26 Mars, followed by a home game against Central African Republic on June 10, 2024, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Players who have been handed their debut call-ups to the senior national team by Addo include Ibrahim Sulemana and West Bromwich Albion’s Brandon Thomas-Asante.

News

Tackle concerns of Ghanaian students on scholarship abroad – NUGS to govt

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The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has urged  the government to take immediate action to address the pressing issues affecting Ghanaian students on scholarship overseas.

This follows a protest by scholarship beneficiaries in Morocco over the delay in the release of their stipends spanning over 10 months. The students say the situation has brought hardship on them to a point that they cannot afford food and sanitary pad.

In a press conference to address the development, NUGS President, Kyeremeh Oppong Daniel, on Wednesday, May 29, expressed the union’s commitment to pursuing the issue and went on to say the difficulties faced by the students go beyond Morocco but also in the UK, India.

“We are very perturbed by the current happenings but we are pretty much sure this listening government is going to take a quick step toward solving this particular challenge. Our students are suffering in Morocco, our students are suffering in the UK, our students are suffering in India, and most of the students on the Students Loan Trust Fund are also suffering. We need funds to facilitate education. Free senior high school is churning out a lot of numbers who are in our tertiary institutions,” he stated.

Mr. Kyeremeh highlighted the crucial need for adequate funding to support education, particularly in light of the significant increase in tertiary institution enrollment driven by the free senior high school policy.

The NUGS has also called on relevant authorities to take prompt and effective action to address the concerns of affected students and mitigate further hardship.

“The only way to keep them going, for them to also get knowledge to develop our country is to get them proper funding to keep them going.

“The Students Loan Trust Fund is one key area that should be looked at. We are calling on the government and all agencies to come and rescue students in the country.”

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

Busines, News, Topstory

Expect fuel prices increment in first half of June – IES predicts

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Fuel prices are expected to increase again in the first half of June 2024, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) has predicted.

This is according to developments in the foreign fuel and domestic forex markets, as the Cedi’s performance worsens.

“Gasoline [petrol], Gasoil [diesel], and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) all recorded a decrease of about 4.17%, 0.87%, and 3.44%, respectively over the last two weeks. Given the favourable price changes recorded on the international market for these products, prices at the local pumps should ordinarily reflect a reduction to relieve consumers. However, the massive fall (4.17%) of the Ghana cedi against the U.S. dollar may prevent a realisation of the full gains made on the world fuel market on the local fuel market”, it pointed out.

World Fuel Market

IES monitoring of the global Standard & Poor’s (S&P’s) Platts on petroleum products performance in the world fuel market shows that the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG have all decreased.

Published data for the second pricing window of May 2024 indicate that petrol closed at $851.73 per metric tonne, diesel closed at $749.70 per metric tonne, and LPG closed at $444.80 per metric tonne.

The net changes indicate that the price of petrol has fallen by 4.17%, diesel by 0.87%, and LPG by 3.44%.

Local Fuel Market

The performance in the second pricing window for May 2024, the loss in local currency’s value stalled expected price reductions at the domestic pump.

On the specific performance of refined petroleum products monitored over the period, it was observed that diesel and petrol prices were relatively stable among most Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) tracked over the period.

The Institute for Energy Security’s (IES’) calculation of the national average price for the three refined petroleum products for the second pricing window for May 2024 shows petrol and diesel selling at GH₡14.22 and GH₡14.00 per litre respectively, whereas LPG went for GH₡15.63 per kilogramme.

 

Source: Joy Business

News

Prioritise your health; eat ‘gobɛ,’ koko, koose and stop taking energy drinks – Prof Akosa to Ghanaians

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Renowned cellular pathologist, lifestyle wellness consultant, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, has reiterated the need for the consumption of local Ghanaian foods to help do away with many communicable diseases, which are the leading causes of diseases and deaths in Ghana at the moment.

Leading a discussion on practical ideas intended to improve quality health in Ghana at the Ghana Shippers Authority Hall at Ridge in Accra on Tuesday, the former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, fried foods and processed foods were highly associated with non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, heart diseases and diabetes.

He said health promotion was very important.

Together with a health policy and management expert, Prof. Aaron Abuosi, the two prominent professionals were the main speakers on “Quality Health for All” at the latest edition of the Graphic National Dialogue Series.

The event, designed and being organised by the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, is a forum for discussing development issues with a focus on national consensus in a non-partisan environment.

It is also to collate ideas into a document to shape policymaking at different levels of the social strata. The latest of the Graphic National Development Series will have a plenary session where the expert speakers will deliver papers on specific topics derived from different perspective of the theme.

Stressing the need to eat Ghanaian local foods, Prof Akosa said more locally produced foods than Western and fast foods could help to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Ghana.

He said Ghanaians had put away local nutritious foods and were eating imported, highly processed foods with a high sugar concentration in processing them. “I will urge us all to go back to our former ways of eating kontomire or cocoyam leaves, garden eggs, okro, ‘abedru’, and all that keep us healthy and also minimise the dependence on the pizzas, noodles and fried foods,” he advised.

 

Source: Graphic

 

News, Politics

2024 Special voting to be held on December 2

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The Electoral Commission has announced that its special voting session will be held  on December 2, 2024, ahead of the general elections scheduled for December 7.

Special voting is a provision for a specific group of registered voters, including journalists and security agencies, allowing them to cast their votes before the general voting day.

To be eligible for special voting, individuals and organizations must submit applications between June 17 and July 1, 2024, providing evidence that they will be engaged on Election Day.

Jean Mensa, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, made this announcement during a press conference in Accra on Tuesday.

“All applicants for special voting should apply directly to the returning officer of the constituency where the applicant is a registered voter. Members of institutions who desire to apply as a group will submit a list of their members to the returning officers to serve as a register to facilitate the process,” she explained.
“The list must contain the names of each applicant, the voter ID card, the polling station code as it appears on the voter’s ID card of the applicants…Please note that all applicants must apply in person to the returning officer,” she stated.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
Busines, News

Gov’t implementing short-term measures to stabilize Cedi – Dep. Finance Minister

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Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr. Stephen Amoah has disclosed that the government has put in place a set of short-term strategies aimed at stabilizing the country’s currency.

The cedi has seen persistent depreciation against the US dollar and major trading currencies in the past few days, triggering agitations among traders and importers in the country.

But Dr Amoah is convinced the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has formulated some policies targeted at taming the the rate at which the dollar and other currencies are appreciating against the cedi.

While Dr. Amoah did not disclose the specific measures being put in place, he highlighted the critical role of citizen cooperation in reducing imports, which he indicated is essential for the long-term stability of the cedi.

“Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam and the finance team have made plans and arrangements to allocate sufficient sums of money coming into the country to ensure the dollar against the cedi is more stable,” Dr. Amoah said on Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa programme.

He highlighted that it is necessary for Ghanaians to curtail their dependency on imported goods, particularly agricultural products, to strengthen the cedi.

“We need to reduce the number of goods we import into this country. Obviously, import of all agricultural products need to stop,” Dr. Amoah added.

He attributed the weakening of the cedi to the Ghanaian preference for foreign goods, which exacerbates the demand for the US dollar.

“As a country, we face the problem of preference for goods of the same liquidity and risk factors. Everything we need and use, we import, so the demand and supply of this is weakening the cedi.

“This is a problem because that means we will demand more of the dollar,” Dr. Amoah explained.

He warned that this “nonstop cycle” leaves the cedi with “no fighting chance.”

 

Source: Myxyzonline.com

News, Topstory

Ambulance purchase trial: Judge warns parties to tone down on commentary outside of court

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The judge sitting on the ongoing ambulance purchase trial, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, has warned parties involved in the case to tone down on their submissions and assertions outside of the court.

According to her, any attempt by any individual to scandalise the court will not be tolerated.

Addressing the gathering ahead of the commencement of today’s hearing, Justice Asare-Botwe however noted that she will not be swayed by the commentaries going on outside the courtroom.

She also warned the parties involved in the trial to desist from attempting to manipulate public opinions ahead of her judgement.

The warning by the sitting judge follows ongoing debate in the media space after the third accused, Richard Jakpa made some allegations against the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame Yeboah.

Mr Jakpa said in open court that the Attorney-General had on several occasions engaged him at odd hours to incriminate the first accused and Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

“If he pushes me, I will open the Pandora’s box. I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 [Ato Forson] when I’m here to defend myself,” Mr Jakpa added during court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Consequently, Justice Asare-Botwe called the Attorney-General and lawyers of Ato Forson into her chambers for a meeting that lasted for about 30 minutes. The statements by Mr Jakpa were then put on record.

Although the A-G’s office has since responded to the allegations, describing the statement as false and misleading, many are skeptical.

Amidst calls for the resignation of the Attorney-General, some private legal practitioners are asking for a special probe into the conduct of Godfred Dame.

Meanwhile, both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are set to hold separate press conferences today, Tuesday, May 28 on the matter.

 

Source: Myjoyonline.com