The Institute of Energy Security (IES) has urged for the urgent dismissal of Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, citing the escalating energy situation.

According to the IES, the current status of the energy industry demands immediate action, leading to their call for the minister’s removal.

Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of IES, voiced concern with the minister’s apparent delay in an interview with Eyewitness News on Monday.

He emphasised the minister’s apparent separation from the realities of the energy situation, raising the question of his position in such a key location.

“Where we have gotten to, there is no circuit and so what is the use of the minister in that space? He must be relieved, probably to concentrate on any other agenda he is bidding for. He must be relieved of his post. It is becoming too much. Is it not insulting with the statement that he made? Total disrespect to consumers. Are we asking for too much?

“For God’s sake, I am a prepaid consumer. I have paid for that power that you need to supply me. In fact, you chose to put a meter in my house at a fee, that is also a contract in a form, and he chose to take my money in advance.

“If I am not going to get the power, then just out of respect, at least tell me when I can have the power. But don’t look into my face and say, I should go and produce my own timetable.”

Ghana’s tourism industry received a boost on Thursday, April 18, when the Elmina Fishing Harbour in Elmina, with the support of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), welcomed the first cruise vessel to call at the Port since its commissioning in 2023 under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport.

Ghana is a popular cruise destination, with Tema and Takoradi serving as typical ports of call.

With this first trip by SH Vega, the Elmina Fishing Harbour, which was mainly created by the government to support fishermen and their fishing activities, has now taken on a dual port function as both a fishing port and a cruise destination port of call.

The historical stop at Elmina Fishing Port by the over 280-capacity passenger ferry SH Vega featured a total of 115 people, including 106 passengers and 9 crew members.

The tourists visited Elmina Castle and its surrounding community, the Batik-making Centre at Global Mamas in Elmina, Kakum National Park, and Cape Coast Castle.
They also had a great time learning traditional drumming and dancing, which they performed well.

The SH Vega anchored in Elmina seas, approximately 8.8 cables from the port’s main breakwater.

It then dropped its Zodiac (inflatable boat) into the water, gently disembarking the 115 passengers and staff members in safe groups.

The cruise ship’s passengers came from many countries, including Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, Greece, Russia, and Nigeria.

The vessel had previously visited ports in Angola, Benin, Congo, Gabon, Togo, and São Tomé.

The Director of Port, Mr. Peter Amoo-Bediako, praised Ghana’s Ministry of Transport and Sector Minister, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, for their vision in building the Elmina Fishing Harbour to support fishing in Elmina and surrounding areas.

He stated that the arrival of SH Vega at the Elmina Fishing Harbour provided several chances for the Port, in particular, and the Elmina community as a whole.

The Director of Port, Takoradi, was overjoyed that GPHA, with the assistance of other regulatory institutions such as the Ghana Maritime Authority, GRA-Customs, National Intelligence Bureau, National Security, NACOB, Immigration, Port Health, Marine Police, and Ghana Police Service, was able to accomplish this achievement.

He called it a historic day in Ghana’s tourism and marine industries and congratulated the many institutions for making it possible.

He praised the MCE of KEEA, Solomon Appiah, the Omanhene of Elmina, the Chief Fisherman, and the Elmina fishing community for their participation in making SH Vega’s appeal.

Solomon Appiah, the Municipal Chief Executive for KEEA, expressed optimism that this historic achievement will benefit the local economy in Elmina and surrounding areas.

A CCTV camera caught the final seconds before the train crash on the Tema-Mpakadan railway on Thursday during a test run.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Railways Development, the accident happened at about 12:10 p.m.

According to the Ministry, the accident occurred when the train approached the bend at Km76+100 and collided with a stalled car obstructing the rail track.

The sector Minister, John-Peter Amewu, uploaded footage on Facebook showing the train travelling at high speeds before colliding with the truck.

The train pulled the abandoned Hyundai vehicle with registration number GS 9018-20 along the rails for a long distance.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/370692529299532

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Juapong Circuit Court sentenced Abel Dzidotor, the truck’s 41-year-old driver, to six months in jail.