GENERAL NEWS
ECG to replace equipment as it receives $130m from govt
The government has released $130 million for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to replace all obsolete equipment within its line of operation.
“If the equipment is replaced, it will add value, transform power faster, reduce losses and make power cheaper for consumers,” the Minister of Energy, Mr John-Peter Amewu, said.
Speaking at the 8th edition of the Nation Building Updates in Accra yesterday on the theme: “Keeping the lights on, powering our growth”, the minister said the ECG had been operating with obsolete equipment over the past 30 years.
“There are several pieces of equipment of the ECG that are obsolete and these have been in existence for the past 30 years,” he told the packed auditorium of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He said the challenges of the energy sector were not about adding more kilowatts but ensuring efficiency and good management and maintaining what was already there.
Mr Amewu explained that part of the cause of the high cost of electricity was the obsolete equipment used in the transmission of power.
He expressed the hope that when the obsolete equipment was replaced, “the light will be brighter, power expenditure will be lower and the industry will grow”.
Synergy
Mr Amewu explained that the synergy that existed among the Ghana Grid Company Ltd (GRIDCo), the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Ghana Gas Company Ltd accounted for the improved services Ghanaians were enjoying under the current government.
He criticised the previous government for separating the petroleum sector from that of energy, explaining that it resulted in the lack of coordination between the two sub-sectors, which accounted for the challenges the energy sector experienced under that government.
He said under the current government, there was a high level of ministerial collaboration, “and that explains why today you are enjoying power at low tariffs”.
“Today, the Energy Sector Reform Programme, which is led by our Senior Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has made it possible for us to solve some of our financial difficulties,” he said.
Mr Amewu explained that the government had decided to relocate the Karpower Plant from Tema to Takoradi in the Western Region, with support from the GNPC, to be closer to the gas power plant to reduce the distance of transporting gas, “which ultimately led to the increase in tariffs for the consumer”.
He explained that with the relocation of the Karpower to Takoradi, consumers would not be slapped with tariff increases “as we saw in the past”.
Reducing energy consumption
The minister explained that the government had been able to renegotiate the pricing of gas from the country’s oil fields from $8.8 to $6.08 and reduced that of Jubilee Gas, in particular, from $3 to zero.
He also announced that the government had procured 12 million energy-saving bulbs to reduce the consumption of energy.
Using diagrams to illustrate his submissions, Mr Amewu said from 2010 electricity tariffs went up, until 2017 when they started coming down, adding: “Today, under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the tariffs that you are paying are far lower than the tariffs you were paying in 2016.”
He said going forward, “we will improve significantly revenue collection with the implementation of remote sensing technology, which is currently being piloted by the ECG”.
“We will reduce losses, particularly in power distribution, by ensuring that the ECG and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) implement incentive-based loss reduction targets for all,” he assured Ghanaians.
Mr Amewu gave an assurance that the government would complete all ongoing rural electrification projects to ensure value for money.
“We will enforce competitive procurement of power, the least cost fuel procurement and minimising excess capacity charges,” he added.
In a recent incident that happened at Evans Hotel, near Trasacco Valley, East Legon, member of parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Western Region is alleged to have been in a ferocious brawl with a diasporan family who came to Ghana for the Christmas holidays.
The victim, Olivia, an American giving her account on the incident, explains that Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey parked in a wrong spot at the hotel leaving little to no space for other patrons to park their cars. This attracted the security guard at post to confront the MP but he was met with series of insults and an order to back off.
Olivia further explains that they needed a space to park their car also so her boyfriend, who was in the car with her and her father decided to talk to Hon. Dorcas so she could do the needful. But he was equally met with more scorn and barbs. She (the MP) then ordered her bodyguard and a group of men and women she was with to beat them up and in the process got their car mangled at different spots and glasses cracked as well.
Olivia then added that she got hurt physically and her whole family are traumatized by the happenings. She lastly said she did not know the said woman was even a lawmaker until after the incident. She quizzed that if lawmakers are this lawless, who will fight for ordinary citizens?
Olivia shared that she has since reported the case to the police and hope due diligence will be done and the peppertrators be brought to book according to the law. She said the security camera of the hotel captured the whole event which corroborates with her story.
Minister of Jomoro Constituency, Western Region, Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey is yet to speak to the matter.
Watch the account of Olivia on the case and snippets of the incident from the CCTV of Evans Hotel.
Once known as the “Garden City,” of West Africa, Kumasi, a bustling city in Ghana, has sadly fallen from grace. The once pristine streets and lush greenery have been replaced by filth and neglect. It is disheartening to witness the deterioration of this once beautiful city, and even more concerning is the lack of action and care from its inhabitants. In this article, we will explore the reasons why nobody seems to care about the filth in Kumasi, and shed light on the detrimental effects it has on both the city and its residents.
Gone are the days when Kumasi was a shining example of cleanliness and order. Today, rubbish is disposed of haphazardly, and the streets are filled with a variety of waste. The market women and men, who were once the lifeblood of the city, contribute to the problem by making the inner city filthy while continuing to sell their goods amidst the mess. This lack of responsibility and disregard for hygiene is deeply concerning.
Understanding the causes of this filth epidemic is essential to tackle the issue effectively. One major reason is the lack of proper waste management systems and infrastructure. If people do not have convenient options for waste disposal, they are more likely to resort to dumping rubbish wherever they please.
Additionally, the absence of strict enforcement and penalties for littering further exacerbates the problem. It is a collective failure on the part of authorities, residents, and businesses.
The consequences of Kumasi’s filth extend far beyond the immediate eyesore. Firstly, the health hazards posed by uncollected garbage and unsanitary conditions cannot be ignored. Diseases and infections spread more easily in such environments, putting the well-being of residents at risk. Secondly, the city’s image and tourism potential are severely compromised. A dirty and neglected city fails to attract visitors, leading to economic losses for local businesses and residents alike. Lastly, the filth breeds a culture of apathy and indifference, perpetuating a cycle of neglect.
Addressing the filth in Kumasi requires a multi-faceted approach involving both the government and its citizens. Firstly, there needs to be a significant investment in waste management infrastructure, such as garbage collection systems, recycling facilities, and public waste bins. Moreover, strict enforcement of littering laws and appropriate penalties should be implemented to deter irresponsible behavior.
Source: MC Paa Saahene
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