The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)

As part of expected reforms to improve the energy sector, President John Dramani Mahama has announced efforts to introduce private sector participation in the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) metering and billing operations.

The decision aims to boost revenue collection and curb commercial and technical losses threatening ECG’s viability.

The announcement comes amid recent public debate over ECG’s proposed privatisation.

Currently, the power sector is saddled with numerous challenges including collection and system losses, non-compliance with the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) and legacy debts.

President Mahama, speaking in parliament during his first State of the Nation Address (SoNA 2025) said, “The financing shortfall has risen considerably, to approximately US$2.2billion or GH¢34billion for 2025”.

Given this, he said: “Urgent measures will be needed to reduce it to sustainable levels and ultimately eliminate it”.

He stated that his administration inherited an energy sector on the brink of collapse, which was weighed down by unsustainable debts. This, he observed, has led to many Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and fuel suppliers threatening to cease their operations.

President Mahama observed that despite GH¢45billion in Energy Sector Levies (ESLA) collections over eight years, the energy sector remains saddled with a GH¢70billion debt as of December 2024.

“It is of deep concern that several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the energy sector are struggling to stay afloat. Unless urgent interventions are made, many of them will go under. Financial distress in the energy sector remains a significant obstacle to delivering consistent and affordable electricity to Ghanaians and poses an existential threat to the economy in general,” he stated.

To address this crisis, the president said he has directed the Energy Minister to enforce a single revenue collection account, adhere to the CWM and cut wasteful expenditure.

Aligned with this directive, he said, the ministry has set up an advisory committee to guide private sector participation in metering and billing to improve efficiency in revenue collection and reduce the high commercial and technical losses that are threatening to drown the state-owned utility company.

“A pilot partnership between ECG and Enclave Power has proved highly successful and provides us with a workable framework. ECG provides a bulk supply of power to Enclave Power Limited while Enclave Power provides meters and bills for all companies operating in the Free Zones Enclave – with 99 percent revenue collection and nearly 100 percent uptime in power supply.”

He observed that a reduction in commercial and technical losses would lead to affordable tariffs for everyone and bring relief to all consumers of electric power.

“We also aim in the medium-term to achieve 100 percent gas utilisation for power production and eliminate the use of crude oil,” Mr. Mahama added.

This, he anticipated, will save Ghana hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the importation of liquid fuels for power production.

President Mahama also announced to parliament that the West African Gas Pipeline’s (WAPCO) scheduled pigging will be completed in the first weeks of March.

“Once additional gas flows from Nigeria, we anticipate a marked improvement in the power situation,” he added.

Furthermore, he outlined that a ‘Renewable Energy and Green Transition Fund’ will soon be operationalised to enhance efficiency and accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy.

“This initiative will drive investment in sustainable energy solutions, including solar street lighting, rooftop solar installations, off-grid solar systems, electric vehicle charging stations and chargeable outboard motors. These measures will reduce dependence on the national grid and position Ghana as a leader in Africa’s green energy transition,” he stated.

To address the country’s declining oil production and other challenges facing the upstream oil and gas sector, the president announced that government has initiated revitalisation efforts. This initiative aims to create a business-friendly and supportive environment for partners and prospective investors.

Explaining further, he said, “My meetings with players in the upstream sector have been extremely positive and we have been assured of substantial investments running into billions of dollars”.

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking for a safer environment which would go a long way to make Ghana a drug-free country.

The Minister pledged support for the Commission’s efforts, emphasising the need for collaboration and coordination among stakeholders.

Hon. Muntaka, who was speaking during a working visit to the Commission in Accra, urged the Commission to put necessary measures in place and continue with its good work to achieve its mandate and promote national security, economic development and good governance.

Last year, under the previous Akufo-Addo administration, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghana launched the 2024 World Drug Report in Accra, Ghana, as part of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The event was held on the theme “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention” and seeks to raise awareness and intensify efforts to prevent drug trafficking and abuse.

In a speech read on behalf of the then President of Ghana, the then Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey stated that the previous government was committed to addressing the global drug problem, acknowledging the challenges posed by drug trafficking and abuse.

According to him, this was evident through Ghana’s enactment of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), which treats substance use disorders as a public health issue and provides for treatment, rehabilitation, and alternative livelihoods.

Hon. Henry Quartey noted that Ghana has never been spared from the impact of drug trafficking, drug abuse and attendant health problems. “However, it is heartwarming to state that Ghana acknowledges the challenges with the implementation of international and domestic drug policies, particularly for the health and safety of the Ghanaian society” he added.

The launch of the 2024 World Drug Report in Accra served as a call to action for West African countries to intensify their efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse. Ghana’s commitment to this cause is a beacon of hope for the region, and its efforts are expected to have a positive impact on the global fight against drug trafficking and abuse.

The 2024 World Drug Report highlighted the need for evidence-based approaches to drug prevention and treatment and emphasises the importance of addressing stigma and discrimination against people with drug use disorders.

Ghana takes center stage as the host of QNET’s highly anticipated V-Africa 2025, a regional edition of the company’s flagship convention.

From February 20 to 23, 2025, the Accra International Conference Centre hosted over 4000 participants from across the Sub-Saharan Africa region to experience four days of empowerment, networking, and innovation.

The convention spotlighted QNET’s exclusive product offerings, providing immersive entrepreneurship training, and contributing significantly to Ghana’s tourism and economic growth.

V-Africa 2025 showcases Ghana as a hub for entrepreneurial excellence.

Trevor Kuna, Chief Marketing Officer for QNET, expressed his enthusiasm:

“Hosting V-Africa 2025 in Ghana is a testament to our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in Africa.

“This event isn’t just about showcasing our brand—it’s about empowering individuals to achieve their dreams while contributing meaningfully to local economies. We welcome media representatives as they witness QNET’s transformative impact firsthand.”

Empowering Entrepreneurs, Celebrating Culture

The event’s itinerary included product workshops, dynamic training sessions on business building and entrepreneurship, and an exhibition featuring QNET’s signature product brands such as HomePure range of home care products, Amezcua’s wellness range, Swiss watch brand Bernhard H. Mayer’s new Collection, and more. Attendees gained invaluable insights into QNET’s ethos of wellness, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, setting the stage for lasting business growth.

Biram Fall, QNET’s Regional General Manager for sub-Saharan Africa, elaborated on the event’s local significance: “V-Africa 2025 will leave a lasting legacy by empowering Ghanaian entrepreneurs and supporting Ghana’s tourism industry.

This is more than a business convention—it’s a platform for connection, growth, and transformation.”

Driving Tourism and Economic Growth

As one of the largest events of its kind in Ghana, V-Africa 2025 attracted participants from 25 countries, providing a boost to the local hospitality, transportation, and tourism sectors.

QNET’s commitment to Ghana includes partnering with local stakeholders to ensure the event deliver long-term benefits to the community.

About QNET

QNET is a prominent lifestyle and wellness company that uses a direct selling business model to offer a wide selection of exclusive products that enable individuals to embrace a healthier, more balanced life.

Since 1998, QNET’s innovative products and e-commerce-driven business model have helped build a global community of satisfied customers and microentrepreneurs, who are driven by the mission of RYTHM – Raise Yourself To Help Mankind.

Popular product brands offered by QNET include the Bernhard H. Mayer range of luxury watches and jewellery, HomePure range of home care products, the Amezcua wellness range, Physio Radiance personal care range, and QVI branded holiday packages.

QNET proudly holds memberships in the Direct Selling Association in several countries, the Hong Kong Health Food Association, the Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore, and more.

QNET is also active in several global sports sponsorships including in its role as the official direct selling partner of the Manchester City Football Club and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), underscoring its commitment to excellence and global reach. Discover a world of new possibilities with QNET by visiting www.qnet.net

Generally, when you mention climate change, what comes to the minds of many people is the significant variations in global temperature, rainfall, wind patterns, and other measures of climate that take place over several decades or longer.

This simply means a longer-term trend that differentiates climate change from natural weather variability.

But, currently the major driver of climate change involves human activities, particularly industrial­isation that rapidly increases the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, including coal and oil.

The main greenhouse gases that cause climate change as a result of industrial activities are carbon diox­ide and methane.

The effects of climate change are not far-fetched as the world struggles to cope with global warming, erratic rainfall, drought, flooding, rise in sea level, green­house gas emissions and loss of carbon sinks.

Ghana, though not yet indus­trialised, is grappling with the devastating socio-economic impact of climate change. Forestry, min­ing, petroleum exploration, and agriculture or farming result in the emission of carbon dioxide.

Recognising the effects of climate change risks to national development, successive govern­ments in Ghana have made con­siderable strides through policies and programmes, and taken actions to increase the country’s resilience to the negative impacts of climate change.

In furtherance of this, Ghana in 2013 formulated the national climate change policy that provides strategic direction and co-ordinates issues of climate change, to ensure effective adaptation, social devel­opment and mitigation of climate change threat.

In the stream of events, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, under the Akufo-Addo government, launched a pro­gramme, the 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day, targeted to plant 10 million trees across the country.

Citizens, including tradition­al rulers, children, government officials, and members of religious groups, are encouraged to plant trees along degraded watershed ar­eas, roads, within communities, as well as on compounds of homes, schools, churches, offices and rec­reational grounds and parks.

The then sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, explained that the government adopted the Green Ghana Project to deal with the incessant degradation of forests, which has been going on for years without any conscious effort to replace the trees, and to contribute to the global fight against climate change.

He cautioned: “Available data shows that between 2010 and 2015 alone, the amount of forest our country lost far exceeds the area of forest cultivated between 1963 and 2016, a whopping 53 years, which stands at 157,300 hectares”.

However, Mr Jinapor, expressing hope that Ghana can attain net zero emission, revealed that almost 721,000 hectares of forest were cultivated between 2017 and 2023.

This, he said, was under the Ghana Forest Plantation Strat­egy, in addition to trees planted under the Forest Investment Programme, the Cocoa and Forest Initiative, the Green Street Project, the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project, the Youth in Afforesta­tion Programme, and the Youth in Plantation Establishment as an Occupation Programme, funded by the Forest Plantation Development Fund.

Now, the creation of the Office of the Minister in charge of Cli­mate Change and Sustainability by President John Dramani Mahama has given another impetus to the fight against climate change effects in Ghana.

Additionally, it deepens the gov­ernment’s commitment to interna­tional climate efforts, particularly the Paris Agreement that seeks to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees, to which Ghana is a signatory.

To build resilience and enhance complete efforts toward a green economy and climate-resilient sus­tainable development, the Minister in charge of the new office, Mr Issifu Seidu, has been tasked to co-ordinate activities of stake­holders, including the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innova­tion, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Centre for Climate Change at the University of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, and security agencies, to tackle the shocks of climate change.

The successive governments in Ghana have taken steps to stop illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, which is contributing to the destruction of the environment and climate change threat.

Apart from the cutting down of trees, thereby destroying carbon sinks, the fossil fuels used for min­ing activities release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The country has taken steps to end galamsey, which results in pollution of water bodies, degrada­tion of forests, land, and destruc­tion of wildlife habitats, most of which help to absorb the shocks of climate change.

For instance, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo set up an inter-ministerial commit­tee on illegal mining, chaired by the then Minister of Environment, Sci­ence, Technology and Innovation, Professor Frimpong Boateng, to address the issue of galamsey.

Additionally, the government constituted various taskforces involving the military such as Op­eration Halt Galamsey, and also in­troduced community mining, all in a bid to regulate small-scale mining and ensure responsible extraction of minerals.

This led to the seizure and burning or destruction of excava­tors, bulldozers and other mining equipment, yet people continue to destroy the environment, thereby contributing to the climate change threat.

Recently, President Mahama di­rected the Ministers of Lands and Natural Resources, the Interior, and Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to arrest and prosecute any individual or group of persons who would be caught engaging in galamsey. He also pledged to ban mining in forest reserves, and revoke all leases issued for small-scale mining.

Clearly, Ghanaian governments have not relented efforts in pro­tecting citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable, against climate change effects.

But, land degradation, biodiver­sity loss, erratic rainfall resulting in water shortages, flooding, decline in food production, reduced economic growth, health risks and decline in agro-ecological produc­tivity continue to negatively affect development.

Indeed, despite the strenuous efforts to protect the environment and fulfil Ghana’s climate action, there are gaps and shortcomings that require serious attention.

Climate information and capaci­ty development through education and early warning systems are insufficient as they are not reaching vulnerable groups adequately enough to enhance their ability to cope with climate change and adapt their livelihoods.

Although local communities are already on the forefronts of cli­mate change impacts, they are not consulted in decision-making on issues that most affect them.

Climate change decisions and planning are currently largely top-down, receiving less financing at the sub-national level, limiting the learning and various initiatives of mitigation and adaptation that are going on at the local level.

As Ghana continues to develop new policies, strategies, and ap­proaches to tackle climate change, investment in adaptation projects is critical.

International and national au­thorities should, therefore, entrust finances and delegate authority and power to local communities to use resources to protect themselves and build their resilience.

In Ghana, tackling climate change effects has become more difficult because while farming and other economic activities are sourc­es of employment and livelihoods, they result in emission of carbon and methane gases, which are harmful to the ecology and human beings.

The Green Revolution Innova­tive Thinkers Ghana (GRITG), a non-profit organisation, seeking to tackle global food security, climate change and ecological degradation, has joined the bandwagon in call­ing for a switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy like solar or wind.

This is to reduce emissions driv­ing climate change, and promote sustainable land use practices, including adopting climate-smart agriculture and eco-friendly con­sumption patterns.

The issue about climate change is dicey because there is no way Ghana can avoid the release of car­bon dioxide and other gasses into the atmosphere once economic activities continue the way they are undertaken in the country.

So what is the way out? The time has come for the government to lead the charge, and involve individuals and organisation, to collectively scale up climate-friend­ly initiatives, policies and projects to combat climate change and environmental degradation.

This would not be an easy task, but with collective efforts of journalists, individuals, organised labour, the clergy, health profes­sionals, chiefs, non-governmental organisations, climate change ef­fects can be managed, even if not entirely eliminated.

The writer is a journalist.

BY CLEMENCE OKUMAH

President John Dramani Mahama

Government has reiterated commitments to position the country as a hub for international summits, business conventions and high-profile gatherings.

Addressing parliament in his first State of the Nation Address yesterday after resuming office on January 7, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama said government will strategically promote Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism to diversify Ghana’s tourism offerings.

“We must capitalise on this unique advantage to maximise our benefits and strengthen our reputation as the Centre of the World,” the president added.

The global MICE market and Ghana’s untapped potential

Indeed, the global MICE tourism market – which forms part of business tourism – is expected to reach an estimated US$1.3trillion by 2028.

However, tourism sector stakeholders have consistently expressed concern over the state of the country’s infrastructure – a key factor that drives the success of MICE.

Currently, the National Theatre and Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) have the capacity to host only 1,500 and 2,500 delegates respectively.

Mobile facilities and structures – including the Grand Arena and Fantasy Dome – within the AICC can host between 3,000 to 5,000 people at full capacity.

But these facilities, stakeholders said, cannot compete with those in South Africa and other countries on the continent.

Though over one million visitors were said to have visited Ghana in 2019 for the ‘Year of Return’ according to the Ghana Tourism Authority, the number of people who specifically came to the country for MICE were not segmented.

A senior expert on communications in Africa at the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Kojo Bentum-Williams, agreed that Ghana must leverage its safety, security, good business ethics and transport connectivity in the sub-region to become the hub for business tourism and MICE destination.

Though revenue from MICE in the global tourism space reached more than US$800billion by 2023 according to the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, Africa’s share stood at only 3.3 percent while Europe is at 55 percent.

It is estimated that close to 40 percent of business and conference delegates return to those destinations as leisure tourists, bringing their families with them.

in Africa and growth projections

South Africa with its Johannesburg Convention-Expo Centre, which has a capacity of 20,000 people, has been making strong statements in taking a slice of this business tourism market on the continent. South Africa alone has about four convention centres ranked among the continent’s top-10.

MICE is a big revenue earner for African countries: including South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Egypt and Morocco. In South Africa, there are around 211,000 national, regional and international MICE events hosted each year.

Rwanda also increased its revenue for MICE from US$74million in 2018 to over US$150million in 2023.

With the MICE industry forming about 10 percent of the overall tourism sector globally, it is reported that MICE delegates spend about five times regular tourists’ expenditure.

 Liverpool opened up a 13-point lead in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United as closest pursuers Arse­nal played out a 0-0 stalemate at Nottingham Forest on Wednes­day.

If the weekend’s results ap­peared to have given Liverpool one hand on the trophy, Arne Slot’s team now seem unstoppa­ble.

Goals in each half by Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allis­ter were enough for Liverpool to see off Newcastle who slipped one place in the table to sixth.

Szoboszlai struck in the 11th minute when Luis Diaz cut the ball back for the Hungarian whose shot beat Nick Pope.

Mac Allister doubled the home side’s lead in the 63rd minute after Mohamed Salah picked him out.

Liverpool have come through a testing run of fixtures with a draw away at Aston Villa followed by wins against Manchester City and now Newcastle and only a calamitous slump can deny the club a 20th English league title.

Arsenal’s defeat by West Ham at the weekend knocked the stuffing out of the London club and while manager Mikel Arteta vowed not to give up the chase, a 0-0 draw at Forest was another nail in the coffin of their title dream.

Liverpool have 67 points from 28 games with Arsenal on 54, albeit having one game in hand. Forest have 48 points.

Manchester City climbed back into the top four as Erling Haaland scored the only goal at Tottenham Hotspur.

Haaland slotted in from close range in the 12th minute to become only the second player to score at least 20 goals in his first three Premier League campaigns.

The other player to manage that feat was Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United from 2001-02 to 2003-04.

Manchester United were involved in a thriller against struggling Ipswich Town, even­tually winning 3-2 with a Harry Maguire goal despite being down to 10 men.

A dreadful defensive mix-up gifted Ipswich an early lead through Jaden Philogene.

United turned the match on its head though as an own goal by Ipswich captain Sam Morsy and Matthijs de Ligt’s close-range finish put the hosts in front after 26 minutes.

Patrick Dorgu was sent off two minutes before the break for a late lunge on Omari Hutchinson and Philogene scored again to send third-from-bottom Ipswich in level.

But United’s 10 men took the points as Maguire popped up to send Ipswich deeper into relega­tion trouble.

United are 14th with 33 points while Ipswich are five points from the safety zone after a sixth defeat in seven games..-Reuters