ECG staff working on a meter

The Accra West region of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has intensified its crackdown on unauthorised electricity connections at customer premises in the region.

The move aims at reducing commercial losses and recouping lost revenue for the Company.

To this end, the region has set up a special task force to visit customers in the region, to audit the state of installed meters and other electrical connections in their facilities.

The Ag. General Manager for ECG Accra West, Ing. Emmanuel Ankrah revealed that the special taskforce comprises of technical staff, specially trained to identify all forms of illegalities at customer premises.

He warned that all customers who are identified to have engaged in illegalities will be disconnected, surcharged to pay a punitive amount and reported to the police for prosecution.

“Customers are advised to desist from conniving with self-styled employees of ECG, or electricians who interfere with our meter installations and illegally connect customers to the grid. Such actions deny the ECG of much needed revenue, negatively affecting the quality of services provided to customers”, Ing. Ankrah said. He further warned that “to all who have done illegal connections, we will identify you and recover the value of all the power you have used for free, with penalty”.

During a 3-month pilot of the revenue protection exercise from September to December, 2024, 374 customers were arrested for engaging in various forms of illegalities. In total, 3.3Gwh of power, amounting to GH¢7,411,462.00 was recovered.

The Accra West Revenue Protection Manager, Dr. Mark Owusu Ansah revealed that the alarming figure from the pilot shows the gravity of the challenge of illegal connections. He reiterated the commitment of the taskforce to visit all customer premises in the region, and promised to create an unfriendly environment for all customers who want to engage in illegal connections.

“We regard persons who engage in illegalities as thieves who steal power from us and deny us revenue. we are therefore leaving no stone unturned to identify such criminals and root them out”, he said.

Some forms of illegalities that were identified during the pilot exercise included direct service connections, meter bypass, meter tampering, and unauthorised service connections.

The Accra West region of ECG has eight operational districts. These are Ablekuma, Achimota, Amasaman, Bortianor, Dansoman, Kaneshie, Korle-bu and Nsawam.

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Parliament has approved GH₵2.8 billion for road maintenance this year to enhance transport of goods and services.

In 2024, 43 per cent of the country’s total roads were maintained through re-shaping, gravelling and patching of potholes.

The Chairman of Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Isaac Adjei Mensah, told the media in Parliament that road maintenance formed part of the government’s resetting agenda.

He said the government inherited a total debt stock of GH₵105 billion under the road sector and GH₵109 billion commitment to road contractors.

The arrears commitment under the road sector referred to ongoing road projects as well as those stalled and road contracts signed.

Mr Adjei Mensah said efforts were underway to re-introduce the road tolls via innovative technology to boost government’s revenue mobilisation drive.

The legislator, also the Member of Parliament for Wassa East in the Western Region, expressed optimism that the government’s US$10 billion strategic infrastructure agenda, christened the “Big Push”, would invariably improve the conditions of roads across the country.

Meanwhile, Parliament in the early hours of Saturday, March 29, passed the Appropriation Bill, giving authorisation to Ghana’s Finance Minister to spend public funds for various proposed programmes and projects outlined in the budget.

Therefore, government can take funds from the Consolidated Fund, public funds and other related matters.

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Ted News Ghana Blog of Saturday, 29 March 2025

Source: TEDDY VAVA GAWUGA

Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has announced that work is underway to create an alternative vehicular route through the other side of Adum PZ.

According to a post on his Facebook page, the new route aims to ease traffic congestion and facilitate smooth movement of vehicles in the area.

He assured the public that provisions are being made for emergency services to have free access to the area.

“The construction work may cause some challenges, but it is important we do it so that it paves the way for emergency services like the Ambulance and Fire service,” he indicated.

The alternative route is part of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s (KMA) efforts to improve the road network in Kumasi and enhance the city’s infrastructure.

The work has become necessary following a devastating fire that swept through the market recently, causing damages to properties that run into many millions of Ghana cedis.

MRA/AE

Watch as Ras Mubarak, Alan’s running mate, engage in ‘dirty’ social media feud over Ama Pratt’s appointment

Despite criticism from the minority caucus, Parliament has passed the Ghana Gold Board Bill 2025, establishing the Gold Board on Friday, March 28.

The Goldbod is seeking to regulate the gold industry, enhance transparency and traceability, and boost foreign exchange earnings. It will oversee the purchase, sale, and export of gold, generating revenue to stabilize the cedi.

The Minority had argued that the bill promotes illegal mining activities, also known as ‘galamsey’, the house approved the bill by a majority decision.

The Majority Leader Maham Ayariga, said on the floor of Parliament that “Mr. Speaker, this is a landmark legislation. And those of us who sat through the night to the morning to pass this historic legislation Bill should be proud of ourselves. We have vindicated the trust and confidence Ghanaians reposed in us.

“Indeed, the 24-hour economy has started in this chamber.”

According to the government, the board will play a crucial role in formalising gold trading within the small-scale mining sector, improving traceability, and advancing efforts to secure London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) certification.

Following its introduction, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor referred the bill to the Finance and Lands and Natural Resources Committees for further review and reporting.

“Honourable members, the Ghana Gold Board Bill 2025 is presented and read for the first time and accordingly referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and reports,” he announced.

The Minority in Parliament walked out before the consideration of the Ghana Gold Board Bill 2025.

By Anny OSABUTEY

‘Ghana Ny3 Ohia Maen’ is a phrase popularised by now former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Then  the opposition leader of the New Patriotic Party, he accused the then John Mahama-led administration of subjecting most Ghanaians to excruciating economic pain, insisting this country is blessed with wealth but hungry.

“Yeti sika so, nso ekom de yen”  became a popular anthem for the campaign and drove many, including myself, to call for change in the direction the country was heading.

He said bad governance had contributed to the economic malaise in the country. The truth is, conditions were bad and something had to change. He was the single single most political figure to lead that change.

He said the right things that resonanted with almost everyone, including those who had zero interest in the politics of the country. He wore the anti corruption belt with pride.

He got the change  and served eight years in office. He has since retired. Hopefully, he is working on a memoir. His administration was embroiled in endless corruption allegations, most of which were labelled as ‘propaganda’ materials orchestrated by the then opposition.

Typical of the arrogant posturing of sitting governments since 1993 and a bad culture that has to end at some point, corruption allegations are often treated with disdain, and sadly swept under the carpet.

It is impossible to have a regime of angels; but that is often the picture painted for the public to accept. It’s like once a government accepts there is corruption within, it means trouble.

But they forget once they deal with the canker, it gives them leverage in the eyes of the public. Maybe they assume everyone is an idiot, including sympathisers. So, alleged corruption cases come up only when they are out of office and a new administration takes off.

It is then that some amount of accountability is extracted from those who have illegally eaten.

One of the electoral mantra of the now ruling NDC, then in opposition, was Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL). We all love it, don’t we?

President Mahama says he will make corruption a high risk venture, and appointees from his government would not be excluded.

The ORAL committee is said to have gathered corruption-related complaints from the public, including alleged ghost names which found their way onto the National Service Secretariat books. On that one, according to Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, some have already started “singing”.

He has promised to offer full briefing to the public in April. At the moment, the name Kwabena Adu Boahene (I hear he has zero relation with the late academic, essayist, rights activist and politician, Prof. Albert Adu Boahen) is trending in the public space.

He is alleged to have acquired more than 20 houses for himself and the family, including two in London. He is currently in custody and pending release and re-arrest. According to the Attorney-General, Mr. Boahene, 43, and his young wife, set up a company via which they used to diverted funds into its account.

Several properties in prime areas in Accra are said to be in their names. The disclosure on Monday shocked most people, and social media became the melting point of utter shock and disgust. How on earth was he able to acquire that much property?

And at that age? The allegation has exhumed past concerns about how corruption allegations were treated by the former government,  and the social media bashing of people who called for accountability.

“Sad,  but it took change of government for these allegations to be investigated,” a civil society activist posted on X. Young elements of the former government, typical of how these party supporters operate, are desperately trying to piss on the report. They have invented all manner of theories and epistles to try and label the disclosure as a witch-hunt

Meanwhile, on that same evening after the press conference, Mr. Boahene’s lawyers issued a statement and called out Dr. Ayine for publicly lynching their client.

‘The Attorney-General has become the media persecutor of our Clients, a judge in his own court while simultaneously asserting that he is still investigating the case. This is counter-intuitive,” their statement said in part.

That said, the man will have his day in court. It’s funny, but the politicians are often the ones in the spotlight for corruption-related offenses.

But if the net is to be opened, people will come to realise that the SOEs sector is a beehive of fraudulent dealings; and most often than not, those who soil their hands walk free and the politicians are the ones who get skinned alive.

And for those who defend the actions of persons accused of corruption and are quick to label actions to bring them to justice as “witch-hunt”, my theory is that when someone is listed for allegations of coruption and these self-appointed and political party lens-looking elements, not lawyers, mount Kilimanjaro-like defence on behalf of the person(s), know that they dream of aspiring to eat from the state purse.

It is part of the package and long-term plan because they see an “opportunity” and once they get in there, the motive is to cream, or as Michaela Wrong wrote in her book: ‘It is our turn to eat”. They offer epistles with the hope that when the chance comes and their hands are dripping with the harvest, another set of people will come to their  assistance.

In the past, folks had assembled party supporters to fight for them while their family relations, especially children, beneficiaries of the loot, sit and chill, though with some apprehension.

Another style is to reduce it to political conversation, but they fail to ask why “Ashimashi” and not another person(s) is/are being questioned. And like somebody says, before you hit on the defence bottom, check your account balance.

In March 2025, some African currencies emerged the strongest. The key indicator is the strength of the country’s currency in relation to the US dollar.

The recent developments across African nations underscore the importance of maintaining currency stability and strength to enhance economic resilience, attract investment, and drive overall growth.

A stable currency fosters economic stability by curbing inflationary pressures and minimizing exchange rate fluctuations, creating a more predictable environment for businesses and investors.

According to the Forbes currency calculator, these are the strongest currencies in Africa

Tunisia (Tunisian Dinar – 3.09 per US$)

Tunisia continues to have the strongest currency in Africa. The Tunisian dinar’s value is supported by a stable economic policy, controlled inflation, and robust trade relations with Europe.

Libya (Libyan Dinar – 4.83 per US$)

Despite past political challenges, Libya’s oil wealth has helped maintain the strength of the Libyan dinar. The country’s vast natural resources provide strong backing for its currency.

Morocco (Moroccan Dirham – 9.57 per US$)

Morocco’s strategic trade policies, tourism, and industrial development contribute to the strength of the Moroccan dirham. The country maintains a balanced economy that ensures its currency remains one of the strongest in Africa.

Botswana (Botswana Pula – 13.62 per US$)

Botswana’s strong currency is a reflection of its stable democracy and well-managed economy. The government’s prudent fiscal policies and wealth from diamonds keep the Botswanan pula valuable.

Seychelles (Seychellois Rupee – 14.37 per US$)

Seychelles’ economy relies heavily on tourism, fisheries, and offshore financial services. The country’s well-regulated banking sector ensures that the Seychellois rupee maintains a high value against the US dollar.

Eritrea (Eritrean Nakfa – 15.00 per US$)

The Eritrean nakfa remains relatively strong due to the government’s tight control over foreign exchange and economic activities. Despite economic challenges, the currency holds firm compared to others in the region.

Ghana (Ghanaian Cedi – 15.49 per US$)

Ghana’s currency has seen fluctuations, but strong cocoa exports, gold reserves, and oil production have helped the Ghanaian cedi remain one of the top African currencies.

Lesotho (Lesotho Loti – 18.15 per US$)

The Lesotho loti is pegged to the South African rand, which provides stability. Lesotho benefits from trade agreements with South Africa, its largest trading partner.

Namibia (Namibian Dollar – 18.15 per US$)

Like Lesotho, Namibia’s currency is pegged to the South African rand, ensuring a strong and stable valuation. The country’s mining sector and tourism industry contribute to its economic strength.

South Africa (South African Rand – 18.15 per US$)

South Africa has one of the most developed financial markets in Africa, making the rand a key player on the continent. The country’s economy, driven by mining, manufacturing, and services, keeps the currency relatively strong.

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Featured

Gifty Owusu-Amoah

Showbiz News

Mar – 29 – 2025 , 15:26

2 minutes read

Hair relaxers, used by many Black women for sleek, straight hair, may pose a significant breast cancer risk.

The Ghana Breast Health Study (GBHS) found that Ghanaian women who use chemical relaxers, particularly long-term or former users, have a significantly higher likelihood of developing breast cancer, regardless of tumour type.

Hair relaxers, which chemically alter hair texture, are used by an estimated 90% or more of women of African descent. In Ghana, nearly all participants (96% of breast cancer patients and 94% of healthy controls) reported using relaxers.

The GBHS, comparing 1,071 breast cancer patients to 2,106 women without the disease, found that former relaxer users had more than double the risk of developing breast cancer. Long-term users and those choosing “gentler” non-lye relaxers also showed increased risks.  

While previous studies suggested relaxers might increase oestrogen-driven (ER+) breast cancers, this study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found the heightened risk applied to both ER+ and ER- tumours, indicating multiple pathways of harm.

Although the study doesn’t prove direct causation, it supports growing concerns about relaxer health effects. A 2022 US study linked frequent relaxer use to higher uterine cancer risk, prompting calls for stricter regulation.  

In Ghana and other African countries, where relaxers are widely accessible, public health experts emphasize the need for education.

The researchers are calling for in-depth investigations into relaxer ingredients and their effects. Health advocates recommend minimising use, opting for natural styles, or seeking fewer toxic alternatives, emphasising that knowledge is key to prevention.

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Chief Executive Officer of DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotei

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has expressed concern over the substantial debts inherited from his predecessor, Kwasi Agyemang Busia.

Speaking on Class 91.3 FM’s morning show on Friday, March 28, 2024, Kotey revealed that upon assuming office, he discovered significant financial liabilities left by Mr. Busia.

“I don’t want to slander my predecessor, but the only thing he left me with is debt,” he remarked.

According to Kotey, the DVLA’s dollar account has an outstanding debt of approximately $150 million, while the cedi account holds a debt of about GH¢300 million.

He attributed the financial challenges to prior engagements made by the former CEO, which the authority currently lacks the funds to settle.

One of the most pressing issues resulting from the debt is the lack of license printing for nearly a year and a half, as suppliers have not been paid.

However, Kotey offered a glimmer of hope by announcing that he has successfully negotiated with suppliers to resume deliveries, enabling the printing of licenses to begin next week.

“After I humbly engaged the suppliers, they willingly agreed to supply without any advance payment from the DVLA,” he stated.

He also assured the public of his plans to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to address many of the DVLA’s major challenges.

The CEO shed light on the financial difficulties facing the DVLA as he works to resolve the debt crisis and restore essential services, including the issuance of driver’s licenses.

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Former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohamed Amin Adam

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohamed Amin Adam, has cautioned against the structural design of the proposed GoldBod initiative, arguing that it could lead to conflicts of interest. Speaking in Parliament during deliberations on the GoldBod Bill, he expressed concerns over the model adopted for the initiative.

“The model where institutions are established to play multiple roles—combining commercial functions with regulatory oversight—is being discouraged worldwide,” he stated.

Dr Amin Adam further emphasized the need to separate regulatory responsibilities from commercial operations to ensure proper oversight. “The best practice now is to separate the commercial role from the regulatory function so that effective oversight can be maintained,” he added.

The GoldBod initiative, proposed by the government, aims to formalize gold trading, particularly within the small-scale mining sector, while improving traceability to enhance Ghana’s international gold reputation.

Under the proposed framework, GoldBod will act as the sole buyer of gold from licensed small-scale miners through accredited aggregators, as well as the sole assayer.

Government officials argue that this approach will help curb gold smuggling, improve foreign exchange reserves, and stabilize the cedi.

However, Dr Amin Adam’s concerns highlight broader debates over the effectiveness and governance of the initiative, with critics calling for a more independent regulatory structure.

President John Dramani Mahama (L) and Dr Michael Agyekum Addo (R)

President John Dramani Mahama has identified the broader impact of certain economic decisions made by the government on individuals, citing the Domestic Debt Exchange program as an example.

Speaking at the funeral service of Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, the founder of KAMA Group, on Saturday, March 29, 2025, President Mahama recounted their last conversation, where he encouraged Dr. Addo to remain hopeful despite the financial challenges he faced during the program.

“The last time I spoke to him was in circumstances that were not very pleasant. I’d heard him give an interview, interview after the Domestic Debt Exchange had been concluded and he had been struck very hard financially by the program and he had been forced to come out and talk about how it had affected him personally. And so, I gave him a call to console him, sympathise and urged him not to give up hope and that there is always life where there’s a will.

“Where there’s a will, there’s hope. After that I didn’t hear from him again. And the next thing came the shocking news that he has passed. For me it was a shock”, he noted.

President Mahama then reiterated the need for leaders to consider the impact of their economic decisions.

“For, leaders when we take decisions, we must know that our decisions affect the lives of individual people. KAMA was well known and his story with regards to the bond exchange is widely known because he spoke about it and because of the personality he has.

“But I’m sure that all over the country there are thousands of people advanced in age whose pensions and provident funds were invested in the domestic debt exchange who probably have also passed away and we don’t know about it or who are sitting at home in poverty, do not have monies to buy their medicines and all that, and so for me the lesson is that in taking decisions we must know that our decisions as leaders affect individual lives,” he stated.

Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, a respected figure in Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector, passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the age of 74.

JKB/EB

Watch as Ras Mubarak, Alan’s running mate, engage in ‘dirty’ social media feud over Ama Pratt’s appointment

The Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) sector of Ghana’s financial sector needs to be cleaned up, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Asiama, has said.

Dr Asiama says that the BoG is currently in talks with the Ministry of Finance to ensure the sector is cleaned up.

Answering questions during the 123rd Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference in Accra on Friday March 28, Dr Asiama said “You asked about the SDIs sector, yes, there has to be a cleanup of that sector, and we are engaging the Ministry of Finance, we are having some talks with the Ministry and we will work on that.”

In November last year, the Bank of Ghana issued a comprehensive outsourcing directive aimed at enhancing the governance and risk management frameworks for banks, Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs), financial holding companies, and development finance institutions.

Read Also: Gold Coin is a good investment alternative but we’ll look at its rollout again – Governor Asiama

The regulated financial institutions had till July 1, 2025, to comply with the directive or face an administrative penalty of one thousand penalty units, equivalent to GHȼ12,000.

The move by the Bank of Ghana emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s financial sector remains robust and adheres to stringent governance standards following the increasing tendency of banks and specialised deposit-taking institutions (SDIs), to outsource activities to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

The directive details specific functions that regulated financial institutions (RFIs) may outsource with prior approval and lists essential functions that are prohibited from being outsourced to maintain the integrity and independence of key decision-making roles.

For instance, a regulated financial institution shall not outsource to a Service Provider (strategic functions) including but not limited to Board and Senior Management functions such as strategic oversight, corporate planning, organization, management and control and decision-making functions, decisions on whether or not to grant credit, determining compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism and Know Your Customer (KYC) norms for opening accounts.

Others include the internal audit function, risk management function, and cyber and information security management function.

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has strongly criticised the government for reintroducing the Sustainability Levy, arguing that it unfairly penalises businesses.

Speaking during the approval of the estimates for the 2025 budget statement in Parliament on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, he accused the government of stifling private sector growth through excessive taxation.

He insisted that businesses should not be punished for making profits, as they play a crucial role in job creation and economic development.

“It is not a crime for businesses to make profits,” Dr. Amin Adam declared. ]

“Instead of creating a conducive environment for investment and expansion, this government is imposing yet another levy that discourages growth.”

He further argued that the extension of the sunset clause from 2025 to 2028 would have significant financial implications for category A companies, which will now be required to pay a 5% levy on profit before tax.

“These companies include banks, non-bank financial institutions, breweries, insurance companies, bulk oil distribution companies, oil marketing companies, electronic money issuers, telecommunications companies, and shipping lines, among others,” he noted.

Dr Amin Adam also questioned the rationale behind the levy, stating that the government had failed to provide a clear justification for its reintroduction.

“Where is the transparency in fiscal management? Why is this administration constantly resorting to taxation instead of implementing prudent economic policies?” he asked.

He further warned that such policies would ultimately lead to increased prices for consumers and a decline in business confidence.

He urged Parliament to resist the measure, arguing that businesses should be incentivised to reinvest their earnings rather than being overburdened with additional levies.

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