The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has announced a downward review of electricity tariffs effective December 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024.
The adjustment is in line with the Commission’s Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism using key factors such as the exchange rate between the US$ and the Ghana Cedi, domestic inflation rate, the electricity generation mix, and the cost of fuel, mainly natural gas.
While electricity tariffs saw a downward adjustment of 1.52%, water tariffs, on the other hand, were adjusted upwards.
Using the same key indicators, water tariffs have increased by 0.34% for the same period.
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According to the PURC, “Adjustments to the existing electricity and water tariffs is undertaken on a quarterly basis to maintain the real value of the tariffs, thereby keeping the utility service providers financially viable to enable them deliver on their services to consumers.
“In addition, the Commission considered the competitiveness of industries and the general living conditions of the Ghanaian.”
“The Commission is grateful to all stakeholders for their support as it continues to implement Quarterly Tariff Reviews per its Rate Setting Guidelines to address changes in operational conditions, whiles holding the Utility Service Providers to strict adherence to its regulatory standards and benchmarks by continually monitoring operations of the Utility Service Providers to ensure value for money and quality of service delivery,” it added.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has described the completion of the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) jointly conducted by the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and Rocksure International on parts of the Nyinahin Hills as a historic feat that will transform the Ghanaian Economy.
At a brief event to formally present results of the MRE on Nyinahin Block B, specifically Hills 4,5 and 6 to him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the Asantehene emphasized that the availability of the certified MRE results will attract the investment needed to drive the Integrated Aluminium Industry.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu was full of praise for the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), Mr. Michael Ansah and Chief Executive Officer of Rocksure International, Mr. Kwasi Ofori for their commitment towards the execution of Project 2 (Development of a mine in Nyinahin-Mpasaaso with a refinery solution) and pledged his continuous support to the project.
According to him, the development of the Integrated Aluminium Industry could be the panacea to Ghana’s unemployment woes as it will employ hundreds of the teeming youth, adding that he is extremely elated to be alive to witness this significant milestone.
Board Chairman of GIADEC, Dr. Tony Oteng Gyasi who led the delegation from GIADEC and Rocksure International, thanked Otumfuo for his continuous support towards the development of the Integrated Aluminium Industry and called for similar support and buy-in from his sub-chiefs and members of the community where the bauxite deposits are located.
Chief Executive Officer of GIADEC, Mr. Michael Ansah, on his part, noted that the completion of the MRE paves the way for the next phase of the project which is obtaining a mining lease and then forming a Joint Venture (JV) with Rocksure to begin mine construction with a refinery solution.
He disclosed that the MRE results showed a 50% % appreciation on the historical figures with a jump from the 250MMT historical bauxite deposits in the three hills to 375MMT of bauxite deposits.
CEO of Rocksure International, Mr. Kwasi Ofori assured the Asantehene that Rocksure International will undertake its operations in conformity with all regulatory and environmental requirements and international standards.
The delegation from GIADEC included board member, Nana Amampene Boateng Twum II, Executive Assistant to the CEO and Head of Communications, Mr. Kojo Yankah, Communications Manager, Mr. Sheriff Appiah and Communications Officer, Mr. Joseph Chibae Adjaho. The delegation was also joined by Senior Executive Members of Rocksure International.
Background
In September, 2021, GIADEC announced the selection of Rocksure International, a wholly Ghanaian owned Company, as its strategic partner for Project 2, one of four projects that define the Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI), being executed by GIADEC.
Rocksure International was selected after a rigorous competitive three-round investor engagement process in 2019. The process began with about 40 companies expressing interest. Fourteen (14) companies were shortlisted to progress to round two, of which five (5) advanced to the final round.
In March 2022, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, gave his blessings to the partnership between GIADEC and Rocksure International to execute Project 2 (Develop a mine in Nyinahin-Mpasaaso with a refinery solution) and pledged the support of his kingdom and sub-chiefs within the mining communities to the project.
Rocksure International, following the endorsement from the Asantehene commenced a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) in Nyinahin Block-B, specifically Hills 4, 5 &6 to validate and define the bauxite resources.
Ghana’s bauxite resources are estimated to be around 900MMT. Bauxite in Ghana is mainly concentrated in three (3) areas i.e Awaso in the Western-North region with 60MMT, Kyebi in the Eastern region with 160 MMT and Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region with the highest bauxite resources of 700MMT.Source: Justice Isaac Bediako
The validation of the bauxite resources in parts of the Nyinahin area through an MRE is the first time Ghana is taking steps to validate all of its bauxite resources across the country.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has intensified its stakeholders’ engagement with a one-day media sensitisation workshop held in Kumasi at Golden Bean Hotel on Monday, 6th November 2023.
The engagement was to arm the media with enough information about their operations and a new prosecutorial power to enable the media to support NPA in its awareness creation.
According to the Head of Legal Department, Farida Ali -Musah, NPA was established pursuant to the NPA Act, 2005 (Act 691), with the statutory mandate to regulate, monitor and oversee the petroleum downstream industry.
She said following the passage of this piece of legislation, NPA is yet to operationalise the E.I.378, although by its nature it is taking an immediate effect.
Farida Ali- Musah announced that the Authority was going to prosecute matters on its own. “We won’t have mercy on the cripple. Let’s help create the necessary awareness to all Ghanaians ahead of next February when the prosecution is expected to start. That’s the more reason why NPA has decided to first engage you (media) out of the media stakeholders to be engaged so as to create awareness” she added.
The head of NPA legal department mentioned some offences they would prosecute offenders for, such as engagement in the activities in the downstream industry without a licence (section 11), misappropriation of prescribed petroleum pricing formula (section:58), false statements, including obstruction of officers and employees of the Authority.
She explained further that Regulation 20 of LI:2251(NPA(BRV) Tracking & Volume Monitoring) regulation,2016, Regulation:12 of LI:2187 (Petroleum Product Marking) regulation, 2022) all spelled out their action.
“We’re not going to use human face in the prosecution. Even though the law says ignorance of the law is not an excuse, the leadership of NPA has decided to embark on necessary awareness creation before the prosecution officially starts,” she added.
On his part, the Head of Planning at NPA, Mr. Dominic Aboagye, said there are two sources of supply of petroleum products that are imported – local source (20%) and the majority of the supply (80%).
He disclosed some of the risks to petroleum products supply which include geopolitics/conflicts (e g. Russian-Ukraine war), climate action policies, forex liquidity risk as well as inclement weather.
According to him, to ensure security of supply, NPA is embarking on rigorous monitoring of the laycum programmes, creation of forex auctions by the Bank of Ghana, introduction of Gold for Oil (G40), special international oil trading licence and enforcement of exclusion zone of offshore discharge.
Earlier, the Ashanti Regional Manager of NPA, Betty Adwoa Ofori, revealed that her outfit had so far identified 80 table-top sellers of fuel in the region.
She said common violations identified in the Ashanti Region were non-adherence to outlet ethics and warnings, not switching off engine and mobile phones before refuelling, shaking car to accommodate more fuel, poor communication among stakeholders, unqualified pump attendants, among others.
On challenges faced in the region, Betty Adwoa Ofori highlighted inadequate training for pump attendants, poor communication among stakeholders, consumers who doubt pump delivery, etc.
The common violations identified in the Ashanti Region according to the NPA regional manager included diversion of smuggling fuel mostly via bulk road vehicles (BRVs), non-adherence to outlet ethics and warnings and third party operators (table-top fuel dealers).Source:Isaac Amoah
Minister of lands and Natural Resource John Abu Jinapor has said the government of Ghana remains committed to collaborate with the Government of China to optimize the country’s mining industry.
Addressing the China Mining Conference, 2023 in Tianjin, on Thursday 26th October 2023 on the theme “Innovation promotes high quality development of mining”.
The minister emphasized the importance of Technology and innovation in the mining industry particularly in Africa in ensuring the survival of the sector.
“ Africa holds about 30% of the world’s mineral reserves and will be enjoined by the Africa mining vision to promote optimal exploitation of these mineral resources to underpin broad sustainable growth and socio-Economic development’’.
Hon.John Abu Jinapor speaking at the event
This he said requires that “ we develop the right tools and technology through innovation. It is by harnessing the power of innovation that we can maximize efficiency, reduce waste and create a lawless driven mining sector. It is by the power of technology that we can address the historical environmental degradation and social challenges associated with mining to promote mining efficiency and build a secular economy’’ he stressed.
The minister emphasized that through effective use of technology and innovation in mining countries can increase production and add more value to minerals produced.
The conference he said provides an important opportunity for stakeholders in the mining sector across the globe particularly the role of technology and innovation in building a green sustainable and safe mining industry.
“ Its is an invitation for all of us governments, investors and other industry players to access president and past mining practices visa-vie the industry the industry we seek to build and more importantly it is a call to scale up investment in the mining industry to develop affordable and innovative technologies sustainable mining as well as to adopt innovative approaches to key financial issue’’.
The minister disclosed that modern day life today largely depends on minerals and mining which provide the component for the manufacturing industry.
“This has become more profound as the world works toward a green energy transition and the need to promote high quality development of mining is therefore nonnegotiable. And we therefore must seize every opportunity presented to us to improve technology to ensure a responsible and sustainable mining industry but above all we must be innovative and invest in value addition for the benefit of our people ’’ he lamented.
The minister described Africa as home to the green minerals required for the green energy transition. ” available statistic show that African Continent host about 91% of a platinum group of metals, 79% of phosphate rock, 53% of carbons, 46% of Manganese, 35% of chromite, 25% of bauxite, 21% of graphite, 6% of copper, and substantial deposit of other minerals like lithium, iron odd and real earth element’’.
Highlighting mineral deposits in African Ghana in Particular, Samuel Jinapor said” Ghana is currently the leading producer of Gold in Africa with a very robust linkages in the mining industry and have already been mining Gold, Bauxite and Manganese for well over 80years.
“We have just signed an agreement for our first lithium project amidst extensive work for the development of our iron odds and other resources but to realize the benefits of these critical minerals we must add value to them. Blumberg for example estimates that the global lithium industry at the mining stage is about $11 billion dollars but the value of the industry at the highest end of the value chain is over 7 trillion US dollars.
Unfortunately, because of our dependence on export of raw materials and raw minerals African countries currently involved in the exploitation of lithium are said to be making only 10-15% of the full value chain. Clearly we cannot benefit optimally from these resources if we continue to depend on export of raw material’’ he bemoaned
The minister of lands and natural resource disclosed to the captains of the global mining sector, that the government of Ghana led by President Nana Akufo Addo has taken a policy decision to promote value addition mineral resources and doing so with strong state participations through vehicle such as minerals investment found, the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Corporation and Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Corporation’’ he assured.
He said, the government focus is to promote state investment and development in the mining industry and the development of integrated aluminum and Iron and Steel industries which cannot be achieved without innovations and technology.
As Ghana began the mining of Lithium the sector minister Samuel Abu Jinapor disclosed government commitment to partner with the Government of China and other Chinese mining private companies and investors to promote value addition to the Ghanaians green minerals.
“ Our ultimate aim in Ghana is to ensure that exploitation, management and use of our natural resources ileus to the benefit of the people of Ghana while ensuring optimal returns for investors’’ Jinapor said.
Source: Isaac Justice Bediako
A retired justice of the Supreme Court, William Atuguba, has expressed shock at the inability of the state with all the power and resources to end the illegal mining menace devastating the country’s water bodies and the environment.
Although President Akufo-Addo put his presidency on the line to end the ‘galamsey’ menace, the destruction of water bodies and the country’s forest reserves in search of gold continues in many parts of the country.
The government task-force that was set up to end the menace has now hanged its boots, after the national fight was embroiled in several controversies such as the disappearance of seized excavators and bribery and corruption among other issues.
Tests conducted on ten major rivers across the country have revealed high levels of dangerous heavy metals.
The Oda, Ankobra, Tano, Offin and six others presented dangerous levels of Lead, Arsenic, Chromium and Cadmium.
Scientists say swimming or using these waters for farming presents a major health risk.
Almost all major rivers and streams nationwide are highly polluted by irresponsible mining.
William Atuguba
While many have called on the government to boldly deal with the canker by arresting the real financiers and perpetrators of the act believed to be politically exposed persons, the state claims there is no hard evidence to nail the so-called big fishes.
In an interview with Joy News’ Raymond Acquah on Upfront, the respected legal luminary, Justice William Atuguba, who has recently spoken bluntly on public perceptions about the judiciary, expressed concern about the devastating effects of illegal mining.
According to him, he had only heard about the pollution of rivers by ‘galamsey’ in the news until he once travelled to one of the gold mining regions and saw one of the brownish-looking rivers.
He revealed that while serving as a justice of the Supreme Court, he attempted at some point to rally his colleagues to play a role in the fight against illegal mining, but aborted the idea because he had no support.
“That’s a big worry to me because what does it mean. That a whole Ghanaian state is unable to eradicate this menace. It hasn’t got the capacity? How shocking? You have the army and the police and they can’t put down this menace. The whole state of Ghana…wonderful” he exclaimed.
“Let me confess, when I was on the bench, one day I was going to Kumasi, and I used to hear that the water bodies were polluted. Then on the way, we saw some river flowing; and it was like clay. It wasn’t water. So when I came back I said this is the reality.”
“So, I started telling my colleagues that normally judges don’t act on their own, but we shouldn’t sit down and see the country dying like this. Let us summon the people who should have put down this menace and order them to do it. Well, I didn’t get support; but I understand. I think that I was going too far” he said laughingly.
The common law is the handiwork of the judges and it is not static. It is fine-tuned to redress societal challenges and evils. The judges make laws; but it’s step by step. So I felt that this was going too far and then my retirement came “he noted.
About Justice William Atuguba
William Atuguba was a prosecutor, state attorney, and Ghana’s former Justice of the Supreme Court. He was enrolled as a magistrate on 3 October 1974 and appointed by former president Rawlings in 1995.
From May 25, 2016, till June 25, 2016, the then Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Woode was outside the country on official duties and so William Atuguba was made the acting Chief Justice.
He also acted as Chief Justice from February 2017 prior to the retirement of Georgina Theodora Wood on 8 June 2017 until 19 June 2017 when Sophia Akuffo was sworn in by President Akufo-Addo as the new Chief Justice.
William Atuguba is one of the longest-serving members of the Supreme Court of Ghana being a judge for 44 years. He served as a Supreme Court Judge for 23 years: from 1995 to 2018.
He was for a period, the most senior judge in the Supreme Court.
About Justice William Atuguba
William Atuguba was a prosecutor, state attorney, and Ghana’s former Justice of the Supreme Court. He was enrolled as a magistrate on 3 October 1974 and appointed by former president Rawlings in 1995.
From May 25, 2016, till June 25, 2016, the then Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Woode was outside the country on official duties and so William Atuguba was made the acting Chief Justice.
He also acted as Chief Justice from February 2017 prior to the retirement of Georgina Theodora Wood on 8 June 2017 until 19 June 2017 when Sophia Akuffo was sworn in by President Akufo-Addo as the new Chief Justice.William Atuguba is one of the longest-serving members of the Supreme Court of Ghana being a judge for 44 years. He served as a Supreme Court Judge for 23 years: from 1995 to 2018.He was for a period, the most senior judge in the Supreme Court.
A minerals consultant, Francis Owusu-Akyaw has called on local entrepreneurs to take advantage of Lithium mining that is about to begin in the country and invest in the industry.
This he, said, will ensure that Ghanaian businessmen benefit from the value chain of the Lithium industry that will be created.
He made this known in an interview on Good Morning Boss 93.7fm, hosted by Wofa Kofi Appiah.
His comments follows the granting of 15 years mining lease to Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, to start mining operation of the mineral at Ewoyaa in the Mfantsiman Municipality of Central region.
The lease follows the completion of prospecting and feasibility studies as well as a series of negotiations between government and the company.
Francis Owusu-Akyaw
Francis Owusu-Akyaw commended the minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor and the government as a whole for the increased royalties rate to 10% from the previous 5% and carried interest of 13%, as well as the state and Ghanaian participation and value addition.
He opined that in the era where the world’s automobile industry is shifting from the use of fossil fuel vehicles to electric ones, Ghana stands to benefit immensely from the Lithium mining industry as the mineral is large used for the production of car batteries.
By the year 2030, most of the western world will no longer manufacture fossil fuel vehicles, hence the demand for car batteries will be higher, positioning Ghana which has Lithium deposits in commercial quantities at an advantage to benefit from it.
He further revealed that Lithium by-products are also used in the production of glass as well as solar panels, giving the country the opportunity to benefit considerably from the value chain that will be created.
He further revealed that the country is emdowed with a lot of other mineral deposits that remain untapped, awaiting a period that the high demand for such minerals will come to the fore.
Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is set to receive an award as the “most dynamic Minister” in the Akufo-Addo administration.
The award to be conferred on Dr. Prempeh by the Education and Management Training Foundation (EDMAT Foundation) on November 4, 2023 is in recognition of his outstanding performance and leadership in the two Ministries he has been in charge of under the current government.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh(NAPO)
In a statement signed by Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr. Robert Okyne, the foundation acknowledged the brilliant performance of the Minister, leading the implementation of the novel Free Senior High School Policy.
“Indeed, we saw your massive transformation of the education sector with robust revitalization of education policies, among others”, the statement said.
The statement continued; “In your current position as Energy Minister, we have followed closely the successes being chalked by Dr. Prempeh. We are sure the President and in fact Ghanaians are seeing you as the most dynamic Minister. You are the bulldozer and Mender.”
Dr, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, it may be recalled, was also in July this year honoured by the University of Cape Coast through the conferment of a Doctor of Educational Leadership Degree on him for his outstanding performance during his time as Minister for Education.
This was after UEW and UPSA conferred similar ones on him.
He was also named as the best Minister in 2019 and 2022 and further honoured by the Civil Service for his outstanding leadership
The second pricing window for the month of October under the National Petroleum Authority’s price deregulation programme on petroleum pricing is set to commence from Monday the 16th of October.
Indications of prices based on international price movements and the forex performance over the past forthright points to some marginal reductions across pumps for the coming window as confirmed by CBOD petroleum pricing outlook for the window.
The figures below form the basis of Projections for the Window.
A. International Pricing
Crude 92.70 (-2.27%)
Petrol .. $848.3/MT (-13.06%)
Diesel .. $829.36/MT (-16.48%)
LPG ..$530.64/MT (-9.67%)
Thus, Petroleum prices generally have witnessed a significant drop on the international market according to the trading benchmarks.
B. Forex rate
The exchange rate for the Dollar recorded an increase of 1.44% to close trading at GHS12.10/$
C. Projections
Petrol.. GHS12.098/L
To be selling between GHS11.49/L and GHS12.70/L within ±5% of COPEC’s Projections
(Current market Mean Price =GHS12.63/L)
Expected Mean % drop (3.73%)
Diesel.. GHS12.694/L
Projected to be selling for between GHS12.06/L and GHS13.33/L within ±5% of COPEC’s Prediction.
(Current Mean Price = GHS13.40/L)
Expected Mean % drop (5.55%)
LPG.. GHS12.147/kg
To be selling between GHS11.54/L and GHS12.75/kg within ±5% of COPEC’s Prediction.
A group by name Patriotic Ghanaian Youth (PGY) based in the Western Region has rebuffed claims by the Herald Newspaper online portal that there was rot happening at the Ghana Gas Company Limited.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Anthony Cudjoe, spokesperson for the group said they are surprised that the NDC news portal would dream and seek to dent the image of one of the best working state entities.
He noted that since the tenure of the current Chief Executive officer, Dr Ben KD Asante, Ghana Gas had operated beyond what was normal under the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
‘’It is unthinkable for the Herald Online portal to dream about such false claims about Ghana Gas and attribute those scurrilous claims to the Energy Minister despite knowing very well that the state entity under Dr Ben Asante has become the toast of everyone in the country winning several awards including best operating state entity with the CEO, Ben Asante winning best Chief Executive award several times for his transparent operations’’, the spokesperson stated.
Dr.Ben Asante,CEO Ghana Gas Company
Exploits:
The Spokesperson said under the NPP and the current CEO, Dr Ben Asante, Ghana Gas has been operating as a wholly Ghanaian outfit.
He stated that currently all workers at the state outfit are Ghanaians and have been trained to be world class.
The spokesperson said unlike previously where the NDC employed foreigners to man the departments and offices as well as operations at the Gas Company, the NPP government and Dr Ben Asante have shown that the outfit can be handled by trained professionals and artisans from Ghana.
‘’During the NDC tenure Ghana Gas was operating with almost 80% foreigners who took home fat salaries to develop their countries but currently the same Ghana Gas was being operated by wholly Ghanaian professionals’’, Mr Cudjoe posited.
Scholarships:
The group spokesperson revealed that about 200 Ghanaians have gotten the opportunity to enter the university through scholarships provided by Ghana Gas.
Many others, he noted, have gotten the opportunity to go overseas to better themselves in the operations of Ghana Gas with most returning with the knowledge to help the state entity.
Mr Cudjoe said he is aware of special packages Ghana Gas has for schools in the Western Region whose infrastructure needs attention.
‘’We in the Western Region and Western North are aware of the commitment of Ghanan Gas to the local economies here and have deliberately channeled support to our students who want university education as well as schools that needed support to operate at optimum levels’’, the spokesperson intimated.
Sports Educational Facilities:
The spokesperson mentioned the numerous education facilities Ghana Gas has supplied to over 300 schools since 2017.
He noted that apart from renovations, Ghana Gas has constructed schools in all the 16 regions of the country.
On Sports facilities, the spokesperson said the state entity had constructed over 100 astro-turfs across Ghana with almost every district having one.
‘’I can say on authority that almost every district in Ghana has benefitted from the social responsibility projects of Ghana Gas and these projects have come about because of the prudent managerial strategy by Dr Ben Asante and his management’’, Mr Cudjoe posited.
The head pastor of the Caravan of Prayer Outreach Ministry at Gyinyase in the Asokwa Municipality of Ashanti region, Apostle Johnson Ackah Braimah says he fully backs the predictions by experts who are predicting that in the next few years, Ghana could import water if the activities of galamsey are not stopped.
“The government is very much aware that chemicals they (illegal Miners) use for the galamsey do not only destroy the land but also pollute the water underground and I wonder why as if we are fighting a losing battle”. He portion blamed on some high profile individuals who are behind this galamsey activities and urged them to desist from this wicked activities.
Apostle Braimah told this paper that, it is very unfortunate and annoying that the President, Nana Akufo Addo on several occasions have made announcements regarding the galamsey activities out of which anti task forces have been set up to monitor the environment yet it is still persisting.
Aps.Johnson Ackah Braimah
According to him,the pronouncements that big men are behind the galamsey activities can’t be far from the truth looking at their inaction toward the fight against the menace .
He lamented that “I even feel sorry for myself as a Ghanaian if one visits some places like Manso, Wassa, Mponua, Sefwi, Akyem among others and see how the lands and the forests have been destroyed and still be destroyed because of galamsey activities.
He charged the government through the body responsible for the mining to come out with plans to make sure that the left pits are covered and use for other purposes.
“I sometimes feel bad when I hear the news of innocent people falling into galamsey pits and die “. He said.
