The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has announced the ex-refinery and ex-pump price floors for the period of September 16 to 30, 2024.

The price floors, which are the minimum prices at which petroleum products can be sold, are as follows:

– Petrol: GHS 9.04 per liter (ex-refinery) and GHS 12.31 per liter (ex-pump)
– Diesel: GHS 9.74 per liter (ex-refinery) and GHS 12.99 per liter (ex-pump)
– LPG: GHS 10.97 per kilogram (ex-refinery) and GHS 13.13 per kilogram (ex-pump)
– MGO: GHS 9.74 per liter (ex-refinery) and GHS 10.68 per liter (ex-pump)
– Local Kerosene: GHS 9.92 per liter (ex-refinery) and GHS 11.72 per liter (ex-pump)

The NPA has entreated Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs), Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to comply with the announced price floors.

The NPA has also announced that the ex-refinery price floors exclude the premiums charged by International Oil Trading Companies (IOTCs) and the operating margins of BIDECs.

Similarly, the ex-pump price floors exclude the Marketers’ and Dealers’ Margins of OMCs/LPGMCs.

These margins will be independently determined by the companies, as pertains under the Price Deregulation Policy.

Overall, the announcement of the price floors for September 16 to 30, 2024, is a positive development for consumers and companies in the petroleum industry.

It will help to ensure that prices are stable and predictable, while also allowing companies to make a reasonable profit.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

The Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) Platform has joined the calls for a ban on all illegal mining activities commonly referred to as galamsey.

Youth-NREG in a statement dated Monday, September 16, urged the government to “Cancel all prospective mining contracts and/or licenses” until a solution for the galamsey menace is found or reached.

The group bemoaned the devastating impact of galamsey stating that “irresponsible mining is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of injustice and against the right to clean environment and good health of present and future generations.”

The management of Channel One TV and Citi FM will embark on a campaign titled ‘I Stand Against Galamsey’ on Monday, September 16 aimed at urging the government to take decisive and sustainable action against illegal mining activities that are destroying the environment and polluting water bodies.

The campaign’s objective will be amplifying the voices of various associations, organizations, and unions calling for an end to the illegal mining menace.

Youth-NREG also called on all “Ghanaian youth to support and actively contribute interventions that will lead to the restoration and protection of our ecosystem” in its statement.

Below is the group’s statement.

PRESS RELEASE

YOUTH CALL AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE MINING AND THE DESTRUCTION OF FOREST RESERVES & WATER BODIES

The Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) Platform, which is made up of young climate and environmental advocates in Ghana is deeply concerned about the rampant irresponsible and illegal mining activities (galamsey) that continue to devastate Ghana’s forest reserves, agricultural lands, and water bodies.

Some 34 forest reserves and 4 major rivers have so far been severely damaged by such activities, leading to the loss of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and livelihoods. This ongoing destruction threatens the very survival of citizens and amounts to Ecocide, a crime against our environment and future.

We acknowledge the calls from various stakeholders, including religious leaders, civil society organizations, the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, and environmental advocates, for decisive action against these activities.

The Government of Ghana on the other hands has the ultimate responsibility in enforcing existing laws, holding accountable those responsible for this environmental destruction, and ensuring the restoration of the ecosystems that have been devastated.

In the light of this, the Youth-NREG Platform calls on the Government of Ghana to take the following actions:
1. Stop all forms of illegal mining activities with immediate effect.

2. Suspend temporarily all legal mining activities to comprehensively review and enforce existing policies and regulations.

3. Cancel all prospective mining contracts and/or licenses.

4. Ensure that all companies and individuals involved in or found guilty of irresponsible mining and the destruction of forest reserves or water bodies are surcharged and are made to bear the cost of restoring the damaged ecosystems.

5. Clearly make budgetary allocations from the national budget to support the District or Municipal Assemblies in fighting galamsey or irresponsible mining.

6. With immediate effect repeal LI2462 which we find very destructive to our environment and future.

7. Collaborate closely with community leaders, media and civil society organizations to improve surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement across the country’s forest reserves and rivers.

8. Present a blueprint of pragmatic livelihood alternatives for young people involved in irresponsible or illegal mining activities.

The time for action is now. Irresponsible mining is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of injustice and against the right to clean environment and good health of present and future generations. We therefore urge the Government of Ghana to lead the charge in holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring that the damages caused to our natural resources are reversed especially when Ghana has signed onto international protocols and conventions that enjoins us to promote and ensure environmental protection.

We at Youth-NREG remain resolute and unswerving to working with government, civil society, media, religious bodies, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to protect Ghana’s environment and promote sustainable development for future generations.

We call on all Ghanaian youth to support and actively contribute to interventions that will lead to the restoration and protection of our ecosystem. Let us remember that our survival as humans depends on how well we manage the environment!

The National Identification Authority (NIA) Division of the Public Services Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana, has officially petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider the removal of Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah from his position as the Executive Secretary of the NIA.

Citing various grievances and concerns, the workers union highlighted alleged mismanagement, lack of transparency, and other issues under Prof. Attafuah’s leadership. The petition, signed by union representatives, calls for immediate action to address these issues and restore confidence in the operations of the NIA.

According to the petition dated July 1, 2024 the division stated that this request reflects a Divisional Council decision, endorsed by nearly the entire staff of the NIA, calling for Prof. Attafuah’s removal.

“The staff and union’s decision to petition your high office for the removal of Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah is grounded on unfair labour practices contrary to the labour laws and Human Resource Manual and Policy Framework for Ghana Public Services, violations of SSNIT law, poor corporate governance structure, selective and administrative injustice in the recruitment, placement and promotion of staff and lack of innovative ideas to manage the administration of the authority,” it stated.

They believed that Prof Attafuah’s continued tenure could lead to further harm and reputational damage to the authority.

“His staff have absolutely lost trust in his administration and can no longer work with him in confidence. These coupled with infractions in the labour laws and SSNIT Acts are enough justifications for his immediate removal from the office without further delays,” it stated.

They are optimistic that Prof Attafuah’s dismissal would restore staff confidence and improve the authority’s reputation.

“We believe his removal from the office would restore confidence among the working staff and reignite the reputation of the authority,” it said.

The petition was signed by 920 staff members of the authority.