ECG to go after ‘unrepentant’ customers from next week

 Electricity consumers across the country must brace themselves in the coming weeks for Electricity Company of Ghana’s intended meter audit operations that will begin on August 1, 2022.

Addressing the press after over a month’s moratorium, the Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama noted that the company will deploy a team of taskforces to visit homes and audit all meters and ensure all faulty, tampered meters and illegal connections are fished out of the system.

He added that, anyone caught during the process will be prosecuted by the utilities court for stealing.

He said, “the power court which is also called the utilities court is ready and will from next week start active prosecution of cases”.

According to him, anybody caught stealing power will be charged with stealing and will be made to pay a hefty fine or a prison sentence.

He stated that, over 100,000 customers took advantage of the moratorium and reported their issues.

Out of the reports, the MD mentioned that about 400,000 faulty meters were reported and will soon be fixed by the company.

He noted that, the taskforce has been clothed with the power and discretion to enter into homes that are locked to assess the meters.

He revealed that, the team will move in the company of police personnel who will ensure the operation is executed without any incidents of attacks.

….MR. DUBIK….

 

“Pay us our arrears or forget about your Green Ghana Project”- Youth in Aforestation to Gov’t

The Youth in Aforestation Beneficiaries are demanding better working conditions and the payment of their piled up stipends.

They complained that their allowances had not been paid for more than six months.

They had embarked on similar protests in the past.

Speaking on Omanbapa morning show on Silver FM chaired by Nana Kwabena Ampratwum today, July 27, 2022, the National President of the Association, Rev. Clement Asare, indicated that they will continue to stage such actions until their grievances are addressed.

According to him, they want the Forestry Commission and the relevant bodies involved to pay them their monies, else, they would embark on a mega demonstration where no one can stop them.

Adding to the complaints, the Convener stated that each person is to plant 300 trees a day to aid government achieve its aim of planting more trees.

Speaking on what the Commission has been telling them, he said the Commission says they are not in the position to pay them.

….REV. CLEMENT….

 

 

Government acquires 5 speed patrol boats to fight illegal mining

Government through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has acquired 5 speed boats to fight the activities of illegal mining especially those who under the illegal mining along the country’s river bodies.

As part of finding a more permanent solution, the five (5) fully-fitted, six-point-five metres (6.5m) Rigid-Hulled inflatable Boats, to be used by the security agencies is to patrol the river bodies twenty-four, seven.

The boats will be deployed on Rivers Ankobrah, Prah, Birim and the Black Volta.

Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. George Mireku Duker speaking to the media today said, the boats will operate all day and all night, to rid these water bodies of any form of mining.

According to him, they will do everything to eradicate these illegal miners along the river bodies completely.

.…HON. DUKER….

In other development, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has served notice that beginning September this year, it will enforce the law that requires small-scale mining companies operating in the country to post reclamation bonds for reclaiming mined lands.

Chief Executive Officer for EPA, Hon. Henry Kwabena Kokofu speaking to the media said, scores of uncovered pits left behind by miners continued to pose threat to life in mining communities.

According to him, many people had fallen into such pits and died, with the abandoned pits now posing as death traps hence the decision to enforce this law.

….HON KOKOFU…..

 

Online impersonation a major threat – Cyber Security Authority

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has disclosed that there was a surge in online impersonation in June, 2022.

The Authority explained that after its active intelligence on social media in the month of June, it found out that the fake profiles of government appointees and other persons of influence are being used to sway online users to make fraudulent investments or to pay fees for non-existing contracts.

Deputy Manager of Cyber Security Computer and Emergency response team at the CSA, Isaac Socrates Mensah speaking to the media said, the Cyber Security Authority has conducted active threat intelligence on social media and found online impersonation as a major threat in the month of June 2022.

According to him, “The unrestricted nature of social media account registration process grants all users the ability to assume any identity. This has emboldened scammers who generally take on the profiles of known businesses as well as political and influential personalities in society for their criminal activities”.

….ISAAC FIRST….

Isaac Socrates Mensah again revealed that, the impersonation targets include Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, other persons of influence; and institutions like the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Police service, the National Lottery Authority, job recruitment scam, etc.

….ISAAC SECOND…..

As part of efforts to protect the unsuspecting public, Isaac Socrates Mensah urged the general public to avoid dealing with non-verified profiles online.

….ISAAC THIRD….

 

Parliament approves €135m for construction of Suame Interchange

Parliament has approved a €135 million facility to finance the design and construction of phase 1 of the Suame Interchange and ancillary road projects in Suame in the Ashanti Region.

MP for the area, who is also the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was booed by some angry residents over the poor state of roads in the area last week.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Chairman of the Road Committee, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko said, “Mr. Speaker your committee met the officials from the ministry of roads and highways on the 19^th July 2022 in respect on the commercial agreement between the government of Ghana represented by the ministry of roads and highways for an amount of 140million Euros for the construction for the design and the construction of the phase one of the Suame interchange and auxiliary works at Kumasi”.

According to him, the Committee after going through the various documents submitted by the ministry was satisfied and therefore urges the entire house to approve the report.

.…HON. KENNEDY…..

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency, Hon. Joseph Osei Owusu, aka Joe Wise moving his motion said, “All in favor of adopting the motion say aye, all against say No. The ayes have it, the House has adopted the motion”.

….JOE WISE….