The Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced Fatawu Abdellah, an ex-convict, to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for robbing and threatening to stab a student.

Abdellah aged 22, popularly known as ‘Rebel’ denied the offence, but at the end of the full trial, he was found guilty and convicted.

Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor, who led the prosecution told the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu that the complainant, was a student and lived with her mother at Bogoso, while Abdellah, a small-scale miner lived at Atechem Zongo, all in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.

He said Abdellah was among a group of young men terrorizing hawkers, travellers and even residents of Bogoso at night, and they usually robbed them of their belongings.

On October 23, 2023, at about 10:30 pm, the complainant was playing a game on her Infinix Hot 9 mobile phone at the KEK bus terminal in Bogoso, when Abdellah came from behind and attempted to snatch the phone.

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said the complainant refused to hand over the phone to Abdallah and he struggled with her.

The convict then threatened the complainant with words that “if she continues to resist, he will stab her with a knife” and in the process bit her right thumb and succeeded in taking the phone.

The court heard that the complainant complained Abdellah at the Bogoso police post where she was given a police medical form to visit the hospital for treatment and report.

The prosecution said the medical form was endorsed by Dr Anthony Lucky Arthur of Bogoso Government Hospital and it was returned to the police.

On November 28, 2023, Abdallah was seen in Bogoso town and was apprehended, but he denied biting the complainant in his investigation caution statement.

The complainant’s Infinix Hot 9 mobile phone was, however, retrieved from Abdallah.

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Reliable power supply remains a key driver of economic growth and is globally correlated with higher per capita income.

According to the World Bank, electricity is one of the top constraints to business activities and is identified by 22% of managers globally as the most significant obstacle to operations (World Bank, 2015).

Ghana’s experience is of no exception; the unreliable power supply during the 2013–2016 period, dubbed dumsor, led to a contraction of the economy from USD 63.7 billion in 2013 to USD 56.85 billion in 2016 (Statista, 2024).

Despite a subsequent economic recovery to USD 76.4 billion by 2023 (Ministry of Finance, 2024), these gains remain fragile without sustainable energy policies and robust political accountability.

It is important to note that Ghana’s energy problems are more of a financial nature than a technical one. With an installed generation capacity of 5,492 MW exceeding the system’s peak demand of 3,848 MW as of 2024 (Energy Commission, 2024), the sector’s persistent difficulties stem from financial inefficiencies.

By the end of 2024, Ghana’s energy sector faced liabilities amounting to USD 2.5 billion—a situation that necessitated the formation of a 12-member team by President Mahama to avert another “dumsor” crisis (Baisie, 2025).

These financial issues have been politicized by successive governments, using them to discredit their predecessors yet have failed to offer definitive solutions.

For instance, the outgone NPP government inherited the same energy sector debt in 2016 (SONA 2024) but managed to stabilize power supply in very difficult conditions.

Current political actors must be reminded that political rhetoric does not keep the lights on; proactive measures and strategic financial management do.

The heavy reliance on expensive thermal generation constituting 68.9% of installed capacity underscores the need for innovative financing models and cost recovery mechanisms as well as focusing on cheaper but reliable power sources that transcend political cycles (Energy Commission, 2024).

Recommendations for sustainable energy governance

Ghanaians deserve transparency and accountability in energy governance. To this end, we call on the John Mahama administration to adopt the following measures:

1. Establish Transparent Energy Accounting: Publish energy sector debt, expenditures and revenue streams reports that are comprehensive and verifiable to build public trust.
2. Implement Cost-Reflective Tariffs: Implement and improve upon a balanced tariff system that assures an affordable tariff rate for all vulnerable customers while still ensuring utilities can recover operating costs. Political actors must resist the temptation to manipulate tariffs for electoral gain.
3. Decouple Distribution and Retail Functions: Separating the retail and distribution functions of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo). This will allow ECG and NEDCo to concentrate on their core mandates of efficient power distribution and loss reduction.
4. Privatize the Retail Sector: Privatize on concessionary basis the retail segment of the power supply chain. Commercial losses in the sale of power in Ghana can be significantly reduced by the involvement of private companies, under performance-based contracts.
5. Reform the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM): Implement the CWM at the point of purchase to ensure timely and equitable disbursement of revenue. The current practice of pooling funds into an account before apportioning them via committee decisions must be discontinued.
6. Invest in Renewable Energy: Set a course for a renewable energy transition plan based on solar, wind and hydro and reducing reliance on high-cost thermal generation. The bureaucratic hurdles to private sector investments in renewable energy must be removed.
7. Depoliticize Energy Management: Empower independent regulatory bodies such as the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission and the Energy Commission to oversee the energy sector free from political interference, ensuring consistent and effective management.
8. Foster Political Consensus: Call for a non-partisan energy summit to create a long-term roadmap to energy sustainability. This is to ensure that successive administrations adhere to this framework to prevent policy reversals that disrupt sector progress.

Conclusion

The future of Ghana’s energy cannot be a hostage to partisan politics. A sustainable and transparent energy policy is not only an economic imperative but also a moral obligation. Past and present political actors must put aside “political blame games” and focus on the well-being of the citizenry.

As a Civil Society Organization (CSO) committed to advancing the interests of Ghanaians, we reiterate that ensuring reliable and affordable power is non-negotiable.

The government must demonstrate political will to address the root causes of financial inefficiencies in the energy sector. Keeping the lights on is not a political favour; it is a fundamental right of every Ghanaian.

This article was co-authored by Dr Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah, Executive Director of African Institude of Energy and Sustainability (AIES) and George Alex Kojo Monney, Senior Fellow –(Industrial and Energy Research)

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JoyNews can confirm that Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, will be the next Majority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament.

Sources close to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) have told JoyNews’ Parliamentary Affairs Correspondent Kwaku Asante that the party change its leadership in Parliament following President Mahama nominating the current Majority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Finance Minister.

Mahama Ayariga, a veteran legislator known for his mastery of parliamentary rules and knack for fostering collaboration will be named as his replacement.

Mahama Ayariga is a longstanding figure in Ghanaian politics, Ayariga has served in several ministerial roles, including Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Minister of Information. He has extensive experience in government and Parliament, combined with his persuasive debating skills has positioned him as a strong choice to steer the majority caucus through its overwhelming Majority in Parliament.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

A Ranking Member of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator James E. Risch, has asked Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to leverage the country’s position as the IMF’s largest shareholder to ask the IMF to ensure Ghana repays its debts to American entities.

This would be a precondition for U.S. support for further IMF assistance to Ghana, he warned.

Expressing formal concerns about the potential $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to Ghana, Senator Risch cited significant unpaid debts owed by the government of Ghana to American companies.

In a letter addressed to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Senator Risch stated that Ghana owes approximately $251 million in arrears to several U.S.-based businesses, including Twin City Energy (TCE), American Tower Company, GSM, Chubb, Kosmos Energy, and Zipline. These arrears have placed a severe financial burden on these companies and threaten their operations in Ghana, as he noted.

“It is my understanding that the government of Ghana owes approximately $251 million in outstanding payments to American companies,” Senator Risch wrote.

“These unpaid debts place substantial financial strain on U.S. businesses in Ghana and jeopardize their operations and investments.”

Senator Risch expressed concern that the IMF’s anticipated approval of a $3 billion Extended Credit Facility for Ghana would proceed without addressing these outstanding debts. He argued that this could set a harmful precedent for other sovereign borrowers and negatively affect U.S. companies operating abroad.

The senator emphasized that two of the affected companies, Twin City Energy and Chubb, have investments backed by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), meaning that Ghana’s arrears not only affect private businesses but also investments financed by U.S. taxpayers.

Urging Secretary Yellen to leverage the United States’ position as the IMF’s largest shareholder, Senator Risch maintained that U.S. support for further IMF assistance to Ghana should be made contingent upon the Ghanaian government’s commitment to repaying its debts to American entities.

“I urge you to direct our executive director at the IMF to make clear that U.S. support for further IMF assistance to Ghana will depend on a good faith effort to establish a concrete and enforceable repayment plan for the remaining outstanding arrears,” he stated.

The proposed repayment plan, according to Senator Risch, should include transparent auditing, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.

He also suggested that portions of the IMF disbursement be allocated specifically to clear debts owed to American companies.

Senator Risch warned that proceeding with IMF disbursements without addressing Ghana’s debt obligations could undermine constructive U.S. engagement with Ghana and deepen Ghana’s reliance on international financial assistance.

“Allowing the next disbursement without addressing these concerns deepens Ghana’s reliance on international assistance while neglecting its obligations to U.S. private-sector partners,” he cautioned.

The letter, copied to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Executive Director of the IMF Elizabeth Shortino, and DFC CEO Scott Nathan, also pointed to the urgency of resolving the issue.

Senator Risch urged the U.S. Treasury and its executive director at the IMF to prioritize the resolution of Ghana’s outstanding debts, stating that future U.S. support should be tied to responsible fiscal practices and fair treatment of American interests abroad.

This development comes as the IMF Board of Directors prepares to review Ghana’s Third Programme under the Extended Credit Facility later this month.

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Ghana’s local currency, the cedi, experienced marginal gains against major trading currencies, particularly the dollar, at some forex bureaus from October 2024.

However, the Central Bank, in its daily update noted that as of 9:00 AM on January 15, 2025, the cedi was trading at a buying price of GH¢14.84 and a selling price of GH¢14.85.

The British pound is being bought at GH¢18.17 and sold at GH¢18.19, while the euro is trading at a buying price of GH¢15.28 and a selling price of GH¢15.30.

Checks by GhanaWeb Business at 9:00 AM on January 16, 2025, revealed that the cedi was trading at GH¢15.85 to the dollar, while the pound was trading at GH¢19.70 at some major forex bureaus across the country.

Additionally, the euro is trading at GH¢16.60 on the retail market.

In an effort to curb the depreciation of the cedi, the Bank of Ghana sold over $200 million during the last quarter of 2024.

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The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has come under scrutiny for operating approximately 84 bank accounts with 20 different banks, despite directives to manage a single account for all revenue collections and disbursements.

An audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has revealed that the ECG’s financial management practices are in violation of a key guideline set as part on conditionalities by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Under Ghana’s current IMF-supported program, the ECG was instructed to streamline its financial operations by maintaining only one bank account to consolidate revenue collections and disbursements.

However, the audit found that the state-owned company continues to operate multiple accounts across several banks, complicating its financial processes and potentially affecting transparency.

“We observed through our validation procedures that ECG operates multiple bank accounts (84 accounts) with 20 different banks. This scattered approach to banking is inconsistent with the directive to centralize all financial activities under a single collection account,” the PwC audit noted.

Additionally, PwC have suggested that ECG may want to consider consolidating its operations by selecting a bank with more extensive branches nationwide.

This is expected to not only minimize the need for several accounts across multiple banks but would also streamline operations and improve financial transparency.

The PwC audit findings also highlighted significant concerns regarding ECG’s payment practices as it uncovered that ECG allegedly failed to make timely payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and regulatory bodies, despite being obligated by the CWM (Cash Water Management) guidelines to make payments by the 22nd of each month.

This failure to meet payment deadlines is a breach of ECG’s contractual obligations which could lead to further financial constraints for the state-owned entity.

“Untimely payments to IPPs and regulatory bodies have led to delays and disruptions in the energy sector, undermining the smooth operation of Ghana’s power distribution system,” the audit report noted.

MA

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The banking sector in Ghana is projected to experience significant improvements in the coming years as the country recovers from its debt challenges amidst an improving business environment.

According to Fitch Ratings, Ghanaian banks reported strong profits in 2023 and 2024, driven primarily by high yields on treasury bills.

These robust earnings have been instrumental in rebuilding the capital base of banks, which was severely eroded by losses from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) in late 2022.

While certain accounting practices have masked the full impact of these losses, Fitch anticipates that sustained profitability will enable banks to restore their capital buffers by 2025.

This recovery is expected to position most banks to meet regulatory capital requirements once temporary relief measures expire.

The DDEP concluded in 2023, and Fitch forecasts the completion of Ghana’s external debt restructuring by early 2025.

A pivotal Eurobond exchange in October 2024 enhanced Ghana’s access to international financing and alleviated pressure on the cedi, prompting Fitch to upgrade the country’s credit rating.

Looking ahead to 2025, Fitch projects a more stable economic environment, characterised by stronger GDP growth, declining inflation, and a stabilised exchange rate.

These factors are expected to lower risks in the banking sector, paving the way for sustained growth and resilience in Ghana’s financial institutions.

This outlook signals a promising trajectory for the banking sector as it navigates the post-DDEP landscape and capitalises on Ghana’s broader economic recovery.

 The President of the Global Board of Bishops of the African Methodist Episco­pal (AME) Zion Church, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hilliard K. Dela Dogbe, says the foundation of Ghana’s demo­cratic journey has once again been solidified, through the December 7, 2024 peaceful election and hitch-free political transition.

“This, obviously present yet another great opportunity to accelerate the transformational agenda,” he said during the recent visit to Ghana by the members of the Board of Bishops of the AME Zion Church.

The Bishops, majority of whom reside in the United States of America, visited Ghana and Africa, for the first time as a group in the 200-year history of the AME.Zion Church.

The board attributed their maiden visit as a group to Ghana, to the peaceful democratic devel­opment taking place in the country. Among those who accompanied the bishops,were the missionary supervisors and the church’s global administrative officials.

Rt Rev. Dr Dogbe, who is the first indigenous Ghanaian African Resident Bishop of the AME, Zion Church, is in charge of the Western-West Africa Episcopal District, which covers Ghana, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia.

He noted that Ghana’s peaceful democratic political journey, is a reminder that the leadership of our country is a growing concern. “For us to have a peaceful election and to welcome people from all across the world who feel safe and secure within this country, I think, is something worth giving credit for.”

He gave the assurance that the AME Zion will continue to support national development efforts in the areas of education, healthcare and other activities that will promote holistic growth of all citizens.

Members of the Board of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal AME Zion Church, praised Ghana’s positive demo­cratic journey so far and urged all stakeholders to work in unity to sustain the country’s peace and stability. The Board of Bishops saluted and celebrated Ghanaians for the peace, tranquility, and safety and the continuous strides toward greater prosperity for all the people; and for the valuing of democratic principles. They appealed to Ghanaians to support the country’s leaders at all times in their quest to make life meaningful for all citizens.

Members of the Board of Bishops during their visit to Ghana toured historical sites in Accra, Cape Coast and Ketaand also pre­sided over the Chapel Dedication Service of St John Society, which is the oldest A.M.E. Zion Church established in Ghana in Keta in the year 1899.

Senior Bishop of the AME Zion Church, Right Reverend Dr.Darryl B. Starnes, described the Ghana trip as a life-changing experience for the team, saying seeing churches and schools has been inspiring. He added“visiting Cape Coast, where atrocities were inflicted upon our ancestors, is something I will never forget.It reminds us of the resilience and strength of our people.”

Another Bishop, Right Rever­end Dr.W. Darin Moore, said the trip to Ghana, was truly a home­coming.

Retired Senior Bishop Right Rev. Dr Kenneth Monroe, thanked the leadership of the Western-West Africa Episcopal District for honouring him with a facility at the Episcopal Corporate Head Office at Laterbiokorshie in Accra.

 BY TIMES REPORTER

Dr. Adelaide Siaw Agyepong, CEO of African Agribusiness Consortium

The Chief Executive Officer of African Agribusiness Consortium (AAC), Dr. Mrs. Adelaide Siaw Agyepong, has underscored the need for leaders in companies to be resilient in order to drive growth.

She stated that a resilient leader drives success, not just survival, during tough times.

Dr. Mrs. Siaw Agyepong made this observation during her address at the Jospong Leadership Conference (JLC) 2025, where she spoke to management and staff of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa, in the Central Region.

The 12th edition of the conference is under the theme, “Transformation through Leadership” and is scheduled to conclude on January 17, 2025.

The event aims to promote business sustainability, positive work ethics, and an in-depth focus on how leadership at all levels can catalyze impactful and sustainable change within the group.

In her presentation, titled, “The Path to Resilience,” Dr. Siaw Agyepong emphasised the importance of resilience as a skill that leaders must cultivate through embracing discomfort and overcoming challenges.

She noted that resilience sparks innovation and drives solution-finding, enabling organizations to navigate challenges effectively.

“Resilience is not something you’re born with—it’s something you build,” she remarked.

According to her, a resilient leader remains focused and committed to their vision, even when faced with overwhelming obstacles, adding that “a resilient leader takes and implements bold reforms to bring about change.”

She further explained that resilient leaders demonstrate purpose-driven resilience, stressing that “it is a continuous process.”

Dr. Mrs. Siaw Agyepong highlighted Jesus Christ, Nelson Mandela, Elon Musk, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as exemplary purpose-driven leaders who have exhibited remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.

While challenging participants to cultivate resilience in their respective fields, she encouraged them to seek strength and guidance from God.