Day: November 12, 2023

Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Energy Minister, says, government is intensifying efforts to make Ghana’s electricity access rate reach 90 per cent by 2024 from the current 88.85 per cent.

That, he said was to ensure that: ‘As we spread energy everywhere, we increase productivity and people prosper,’ the Minister said at a press briefing in Accra.

He said the target was in line with the country’s quest to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Seven – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

He said the country’s annual electricity demand increased of 10 per cent had made government come up with initiatives in the energy mix – hydro, thermal, and solar, while addressing challenges in the sector.

To that end, the government has signed two new Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) to add about 720 Mega Watts (MW) of power to the country’s generation capacity.

The agreement with AKSA Energy Company Limited includes a 370MW thermal plant in Tema and another 350MW thermal plant in K
umasi to stabilise and enhance power reliability across the country, while encouraging export.

There is an ongoing utility scale solar projects with 100MW solar Photovoltaic (PV) under construction at Bui, while a four Mega Watt floating Solar PV on the Bui Reservoir has been completed.

Dr Prempeh also stated that government was addressing the challenges of congestion of networks, over-age infrastructure and encroachment on right of ways, to support the achievement of the 90 per cent electricity access rate.

‘We are improving things to ensure power generated is transmitted efficiently to all parts of the country,’ he said.

He expressed concern about Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) high technical, commercial and collection losses, cautioning that, ‘You [ECG] will soon lose the moral right to ask Ghanaians to pay more.’

As of September 2023, the power retailer (ECG) had incurred technical losses of GHS1,279,369,021.42, commercial losses of GHS2,758,872,791.21, and collection losses of GHS2,050,373,143.4
7.

‘Nobody understands these losses, because no matter what you are doing, and how much you collect, you are losing it through these losses. It is becoming a sticky point, and we must find a way of dealing with it,’ he said.

To mitigate the losses, Dr Prempeh stated that his Ministry was collaborating with ECG on transformative efforts such as the digitalisation of the Company’s processes.

That comes as nearly 70 per cent of electricity consumers now pay their bills through the ECG app, which, together with the use of more modern metres, has resulted in an average monthly revenue of GHS745 million for the Company.

In its April 2023 Africa Pulse report, the World Bank ranked Ghana first in electricity access rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, predicting that the oil-rich country would reach full electricity access by 2030.

A businessman, who allegedly assaulted a staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over meter, has been remanded into Police custody by an Accra Circuit Court.

Habib Shaibu, charged with causing harm, intentionally interfering with ECG’s distribution system, and stealing unspecified electricity power, pleaded not guilty.

Counsel for Shaibu prayed for bail.

The prosecution, led by Mr Paul Assibi Abarigah, General Manager in charge of prosecution, opposed the grant of bail.

The court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah turned down the bail application saying the conduct of the accused person was too intimidating.

Shaibu is expected to appear before the court on November 17. 2023.

Mr Abariga, the prosecutor, said the complainant Frank Afako was a staff of ECG Revenue Protection Unit, whilst the accused person, Habibi Shaibu, was a businessman residing at Agyringano.

The prosecution told the court that Shaibu owned a mobile phone shop at Ashalley Botwe, Accra.

It said on January 4, 2023, the c
omplainant and his team visited the accused person’s shop and inspected his ECG meter.

After inspection, the team detected that the accused person had allegedly used 2.5 cable to tap power before the ECG installed prepaid meter in his shop.

The prosecution said the complainant then disconnected the power and issued summons for the accused person to report at ECG office at Legon, but the accused failed to do so.

It said on April 4, 2023, the complainant and his team revisited the accused person’s shop and realised that he had removed the installed ECG prepaid meter and had installed ECG postpaid meter.

The prosecution said when Shaibu was asked the whereabout of the prepaid meter that had been removed, he could not answer.

It said the leader of the team ordered the complainant to disconnect the power and remove the postpaid meter.

When the complainant removed the meter and went outside the shop, the accused person became furious and assaulted him physically, with blood oozing from the complainant’s mouth
.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant was rushed to Ogbojo Poly Clinic for treatment, but later referred to the Tema General Hospital.

The prosecution said the matter was referred to the ECG investigation unit and a police medical form was issued to the complainant.

The complainant returned the medical form and same was endorsed by a medical officer from the Tema General Hospital.

During investigation, the police visited the scene (accused person’s shop) and it was discovered that the accused person had reconnected ECG power directly and using same for business.

The accused person was invited to assist investigation.

The prosecution said on August 30, 2023, the accused person reported himself and investigation caution statement was obtained from him.

A 43-year-old law firm clerk, who allegedly abetted with a businessman to defraud a farmer of his GH?150,000.00, has been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court.

Mr Raymond Opoku Agyemang and the businessman took the money under the pretext of supplying the farmer a tractor and a plough.

Charged with abetment of crime, Mr Agyemang pleaded not guilty.

The Court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusuaa Appiah admitted the accused person to GH?150,000.00 bail with sureties.

It directed that all the sureties should be within the jurisdiction of the Court.

‘Prosecution should file and serve all disclosures and witness statements before the next adjourned date,’ the Court added.

Meanwhile, his accomplice, Ikena Okoro Sylvester is currently at large.

The matter has been adjourned to December 11, 2023.

Police Inspector Nana Akua Boatemaa, who held the brief of Police Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, narrated to the Court that, the complainant Mr Usman Huudu, was a Teacher and a Farmer at Jujeidayiri in the Upper Wes
t Region of Ghana while Agyemang and Okoro were residents of Haatso.

The prosecution said Agyemang owned a company in Accra called Rayfranc Ghana Company Limited which was into farm machines and implements.

It said in May 2023, Okoro advertised farm machines and implements online for sale.

The prosecution said the complainant saw the advert and contacted him and he introduced himself to the complainant as the sales manager of Agyemang’s company and assured the complainant that, any equipment that he needed, his company could supply the same to him.

It said the complainant then told Agyemang that he wanted a Massey Fergusson tractor with plough.

The prosecution said Okoro gave the price of the tractor and the plough to be GH?150,000.00

It said, ‘the complainant, who was not having the money, contacted Farm Line Company Limited, a company that helps farmers in various ways to buy the tractor for him to use it to work and pay back.’

The prosecution said the company requested a pro-forma invoice and the ac
count details of the company which Okoro provided bearing Agyemang company’s logo on it.

It said on June 2, 2023, the Farm Line Company Limited transferred the money into Agyemang company’s account number in the UMB Bank, Accra.

The prosecution said soon after the amount was transferred into the account, Agyemang withdrew the money.

It said Okoro also called the complainant to inform him that his company had received the money and that he could come for the tractor and the plough.

‘Based on that, the complainant came to Accra on June 4, 2023, to take his tractor, but when he called Okoro, his phone was off,’ she added.

The prosecution said the complainant called Agyemang, but he allegedly failed to direct him to where to take the tractor.

It said the complainant realising that he was defrauded lodged a complaint with the Police.

The prosecution said Agyemang also later reported himself to the Police at the CID Headquarters and he was arrested.

It said Agyemang denied knowledge of the offence, but admi
tted owing the company and withdrew the money with counter cheque and handed over same Okoro.

The prosecution said: ‘Agyemang also admitted receiving only GH?5,000.00 from the amount,’ and failed to lead the Police to arrest Okoro.

The Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) says it is gathering data to determine the epicenter and magnitude of earth tremor that hit some parts of Accra Sunday, November 12, 2023, around 0720 hours.

‘GGSA notes with caution reports of an earth tremor in Awoshie, Kanda, Kasoa Nyanyano, and vicinity. Our team of seismologists is actively gathering data to determine the epicenter, magnitude and other factors of this event.

‘Please remain calm and follow the safety measures: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Stay

tuned for updates,’ the GGSA said.

The tremor, said to have lasted for a few seconds, was reported in La, Sowutuom,, Mallam, Gbawe, Awoshie, Kasoa, Bortianor, and Sarpeiman.

On Friday, March 11, this year, a similar event occurred in the national capital.

The tremor of 2.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale hit Jamestown, High Street, Ridge and its environs at 0900 hours.

Also, on Monday, December 12, 2022, three earth tremor incidents occurred in parts of Accra at 1149 hours with a magnitude of 2.1, wit
h the main event occurring at 11:53am with a magnitude of 3.5, while the aftershock occurred at 11:58am with a magnitude of 1.8 on the Richter scale.

An earth tremor is a relatively small or short-lived movement of the earth’s surface caused by the same forces that produce earthquakes.