Transport fares increase: We don’t serve under GRTCC; we are autonomous – GPRTU

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Abass Imoro, has refuted claims by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) that no single union has the mandate to determine the percentage increase in fares.

According to him, GPRTU does not depend on the GRTCC to determine transport fares as they (GPRTU) are an autonomous body.

Earlier, GRTCC issued a release asking the public to disregard the 20 per cent fare increment imposed by the GPRTU and other unions.

According to GRTCC no single union has the mandate to determine the percentage increase in fares.

In response, Mr. Imoro described as unfortunate, the call by GRTCC for the public to disregard the new fares.

He stated that the General Secretary for GRTCC is not a driver and therefore does not feel the plight of the drivers “else he wouldn’t have written this.”

He emphasized that, the GPRTU has been considerate in fixing the new fares, noting that the “increase does not include other components like spare parts and lubricant.

When asked if the GPRTU will partake in the meeting with the Transport Minister scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, Mr. Imoro said: “we are not with them, they are not with us. If they have members they should go and do whatever they want to do.”

….ABASS ….

 

Repeal of E-levy: NDC always imposes hardship on Ghanaians – John Boadu

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has said that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) always imposes hardship on Ghanaians when in government.

According to him, successive NDC government have superintended over increase in the debt to GDP ratio, high Cedi depreciation and general stagnation in the economic growth of the country.

Speaking to the media, John Boadu said the NDC’s resolve to win power may be because it wants to “chew the meat and leave the bones” as it previously did when it was in power.

The NPP scribe was addressing former president John Dramani Mahama’s comment that the next NDC government will scrap the E-levy when it wins power.

“If you [John Mahama] say when you come you will scrap it, you are just saying something to pacify or please your people or because you are in opposition, you are just saying something.

He added that, Ghanaians have heard similar promises from the NDC over some period of time citing the introduction of talk tax, the NDC promised to scrap it when they come into power but rather they increased the tax when they eventually came into power.

He noted that, this clearly shows that, they lack ideas on how to get money and governing the country hence makes such noise.

….JOHN BOADU…..

 

Gas shortage cause of recent power outages

Recent intermittent power outages across some parts of the country are due to gas shortage according to reports.

As a result, the power plants that rely on gas have switched to Light Crude Oil (LCO) and Diesel Fuel Oil (DFO).

Reports further learnt that there is currently a gas deficit of about 364 megawatt (MW) of power in the country.

This has compelled the power authorities to shed load at Kasoa, Pokuase and Anwomaso Power Plants in the Central, Greater Accra and Ashanti regions.

The situation is said to have started three months ago and keep worsening.

Importantly, the managers of the Ghana GRID Company (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over the weekend visited these power stations to ascertain the current situation.

Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee in Parliament, Hon. John Abu Jinapor reacting to this expressed his discomfort following the new development.

According to him, the crude oil is the most expensive gas in the world market now adding that, is either you pay or you reject.

The Yapei Kusugwu lawmaker asked the government why they now rely on Mahama’s implementations when they said it was not a good idea.

He noted that, Ameri plant which they spoke against is been transported to the Ashanti region to help boast the power system.

He revealed that, this clearly shows how the government is misleading the public.

….HON. JINAPOR….

 

Sinking fishing vessel: We are yet to know the cause- Fisheries Ministry

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has stated that, they are yet to ascertain what led to the sinking of a trawler fishing vessel on Friday.

At least 11 people are missing after a trawler sank off the coast of Ghana on Friday, Ghanaian authorities said on Monday.

The “MV Comforter II”, a Ghanaian ship operated by a Chinese company, sank during a storm about 180 km off Takoradi, Ghana’s second port.

According to reports, 26 crew members were on board when the incident occurred and so far, they have rescued 15 people and 11 are still missing.

“Navy-led search and rescue teams are still searching” for the missing, who are ten Ghanaians and one Chinese.

According to their account, they were fishing in the middle of a storm when the disaster occurred, the crew was carrying a net which had caught a lot of fish and at the time it was raining heavily and as they were trying to get the fish on board, the boat overturned, causing the disaster.

Deputy Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Hon. Moses Anim speaking to the media said, said, the rescue mission is on ongoing and will embark on an investigation to know what led to the vessel sinking.

According to him, they have collaborated with some stakeholders to find solution to this.

He added that, they have contacted the families of those who have not been found and will officially visit them.

The Trobu lawmaker added that, they are working thoroughly to find the missing 11 people.

.…HON. ANIM….

ECG, GWC wants upward adjustment

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has made a proposal to the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) to increase electricity tariffs by up to 148 per cent covering 2019 to 2022.

The state power distributor also proposed an average increase of 7.6% in tariff over the next four years to cover Distribution Service Charges (DSC).

 The attributed the high increase in the Distribution Service Charges 

“The result of ECG’s tariff proposal for the next five years shows an approximately 148% increase on the current DSC1 in 2022 and an average increase of 7.6% year on year from 2023 to 2026.

On the part of the Ghana Water Company Limited, management bemoaned the failure of PURC to apply an automatic tariff adjustment formula.

The GWCL argues that while the average tariff per cubic metre in 2019 was 1.27 USD, same was reduced to USD 1.13 as a result of cedi depreciation.

The GWCL argues that tariff increments are largely driven by exchange rate depreciation, a paradigm shift in government economic policies.

But Chief Executive Officer for Consumer Protection Agency, Kofi Owusu Capito reacting to this lambasted both ECG and GWC for calling for an increment.

According to him, no Ghanaian will accept to pay even 10% out of the 148% increment the ECG is asking.

He added that, GWC should not even ask for any increment because they don’t do anything profitable for the nation as people are always lamenting over the unhygienic water they receive.

He noted that, though is a proposal and they will not accept that proposal.

…CAPITO….

Decongestion hits Fumesua Basic School

Teachers and students of Fumesua M/A JHS in the Ejisu Municipality are crying bitterly due to the lack of classrooms.

A report filed by Silver fm’s Akwadaa Nyame said, a classroom which used to accommodate about 35 students now accommodate 42 to 45 students making teaching and learning ineffective.

According to him, the school administration couldn’t admit students for the next academic year due to the decongestion.

Akwadaa Nyame revealed that, a nearly completed six unit classroom block which was given to a contract has been abandoned to its fate.

However, Assembly woman for the area, Hon. Dorothy Donkor speaking to Akwadaa Nyame bemoaned how the various classrooms have been filled to its capacity by the students due to the lack of classroom.

According to her, this decongestion would not have happened if the contractor has completed the six unit classroom block.

She added that, the contractor disclosed to her that, per the contract he got through, Ashanti regional NPP Chairman, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako and Former MCE, Hon. Serwaa Derchie was to contract the building to where he has done it.

She noted that, the Assembly is not responsible for the construction of the school block according to what the contractor told her.

…..HON. DOROTHY…..