Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has officially submitted his nomination to contest the 2024 general elections as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate.
After completing the submission process at the Electoral Commission, Mercer expressed confidence in his ability to retain the seat he has held since 2017.
Speaking to the media, he emphasized his achievements in the constituency, including transforming Effia Nkwanta into a Teaching Hospital and initiating several road and infrastructure projects.
He believes these efforts have significantly improved the lives of Sekondi’s residents and will form the foundation of his re-election campaign.
Mercer reiterated that Sekondi has long been a stronghold for the NPP, and he is optimistic about the party’s chances of maintaining its dominance in the area.
He pledged to continue bringing development to the constituency if given another term.
He also urged NPP supporters to come together and work toward a united campaign, ensuring both parliamentary and presidential victories, particularly for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s presidential bid.
The duo, represented by Danita Yeboah (Afronitaaa) and 7-year-old Abigail Adjiri, captured hearts on the international stage with their audition for the 17th season of the ITV competition, earning praise from both the audience and judges for their breathtaking performance.
Their showcase has sparked national pride, drawing support from dignitaries and the public.
Minister-designate Mercer extended an invitation to Afronitaaa, which was attended by notable figures including deputy minister Mark Okraku-Mantey, Amy Frimpong, and Stephany Yamoah from Ghana’s National Theatre and National Dance Company.
Mercer expressed deep emotion, recalling their moving display of the Ghanaian flag on the global platform.
“This beautiful lady and little girl brought the Ghana flag up on stage at Britain’s Got Talent. When I watched the clip, I shed a tear. It was extremely emotional. And the way the Ghana flag was hoisted, you held it out when you were about to start… You placed it on the stage. It was amazing,” he said.
He commended their impact on Ghana’s image abroad, echoing Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell’s optimistic view of their future, stating, “The sky is only the beginning.”
“What you guys did for our country was excellent. There’s no doubt at all. Like Simon Cowell said, ‘the sky is only the beginning for you guys’. It was an amazing performance,” he added.
Watch video below of Afronita and Abigail’s performance:
His commitment was highlighted during a meeting with Ghanaian dance sensation Danita Yeboah, also known as Afronitaaa, on May 10, 2024.
Afronitaaa has gained renown as a professional dancer and content creator, with her recent viral performance alongside Abigail on Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) garnering national attention.
Mercer was particularly impressed by the artistic talent displayed by Afronitaaa, stating that he watched her performance multiple times and was compelled to personally congratulate her and her partner.
He emphasized that their representation on the BGT stage elevated Ghana’s cultural presence globally.
In a statement relayed by the Press Secretary to the Minister-Designate, Shadrach Owusu, Mercer expressed optimism that such displays of Ghanaian talent could attract more international visitors interested in dance and performing arts.
“Although the performance was at the auditions of BGT competition, the performance by Danita and Abigail raised the flag of Ghana high,”, Shadrach Owusu said.
He affirmed his dedication to providing increased government support and attention to the creative arts sector.
Mercer’s meeting with Afronitaaa underscored the significance of recognizing and fostering local artistic talent, with the MP commending her and Abigail for their outstanding performance and emphasizing its importance on both national and global stages.
Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer recently engaged in discussions with the leadership of the Ghana Culture Forum to delve into the potential of the cultural sector.
This meeting, which took place on April 18, 2024, highlighted several key points.
Egyapa Mercer commended the Ghana Culture Forum’s esteemed reputation as a leading cultural Civil Society Organization (CSO) and stressed the importance of enhancing the cultural and arts sectors’ prosperity.
He acknowledged that while tourism has garnered significant attention within the Ministry’s purview, it’s crucial to distribute resources more evenly among all three sectors.
Recognizing that policymakers play a pivotal role in fostering an enabling environment for sector practitioners to excel, Egyapa Mercer emphasised the necessity for policymakers to engage regularly with practitioners to grasp their needs comprehensively.
In response, the Ghana Culture Forum, represented by Vice-Chairperson Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, outlined several critical areas for the Ministry to focus on.
Foremost among these was the call for commissioned research to gather comprehensive data periodically on the culture and creative sector, culminating in an accessible data hub for stakeholders.
Additionally, the Ghana Culture Forum urged the Ministry to expedite the finalisation and enactment of Legislative Instruments pertaining to cultural sector laws.
Bosco also highlighted the pressing need for improved access to funding, echoing the sentiments of many creative practitioners in Ghana.
He proposed that the government establish funds as outlined by cultural laws and consider utilising the existing Ghana Culture Funding Scheme for disbursement.
Moreover, the Ghana Culture Forum sought the Ministry’s support in securing office space and expressed interest in advancing the amphitheatre project.
Egyapa Mercer pledged to prioritise finalising legislative instruments for cultural laws and ensuring the operationalization of the Creative Arts Agency and National Film Authority.
Addressing concerns about the National Theatre, Egyapa Mercer mentioned exploring commitments from the Chinese government for maintaining the facility.
The meeting concluded with plans for the Ghana Culture Forum to submit formal proposals for the discussed projects, indicating a collaborative effort to enhance Ghana’s cultural and arts landscape.
Minister-Designate for Tourism and MP for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has revealed that significant progress has been made in the process of outsourcing the billing and collection responsibilities of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to a private entity.
Egyapa Mercer disclosed that a consultant has been engaged and is collaborating with ECG on the operational details following approval from the cabinet.
During a discussion on the JoyNews national dialogue concerning the power sector, the NPP MP for Sekondi highlighted that the policy has already undergone pilot testing in various regions.
He acknowledged potential resistance from within ECG but emphasised the potential benefits, stating, “Discussions are far advanced and of course typically you will have resistance from our friends in the ECG. But it is something that I believe will help them.
“We have tasked them to put in boundary metres as a first step that they are working on. Of course, the digitization programme that they have also rolled out is also helping with the collections.
“So when they can put the boundary meters in all their operational districts and know the volume of power that is going to every district then you can introduce private sector people to bill and collect the revenue for the power that is coming to that enclave,” he said.
The announcement comes amidst intermittent power disruptions across the country, attributed in part to ECG’s financial challenges in meeting obligations to power suppliers.
Experts point to the financial imbalance at ECG, with the company reporting significant collection losses.
In September 2023 alone, the losses amounted to GH¢2,050,373,143.47, reflecting a concerning trend from previous years.
Furthermore, ECG faces a substantial debt of $1.5 billion, stemming from overdue payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and outstanding electricity purchase bills.
The Deputy Energy Minister stressed the urgency of addressing ECG’s financial losses, expressing confidence that privatizing billing and collection services could bolster revenue streams and facilitate debt repayment.
“This initiative has already undergone successful trials,” he noted, hinting at a potential solution to ECG’s financial challenges.
The nominee for the position of Tourism Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has affirmed his dedication to securing funding for the completion of the National Cathedral project in Ghana.
Speaking before the Appointments Committee on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Mr. Mercer, formerly Deputy Energy Minister, stressed the importance of finishing the National Cathedral.
He expressed concern about its current status, humorously referred to as ‘the world’s most expensive hole,’ and emphasized its significance as a national asset.
“It is our national asset that is in that state. It has to be completed, to my mind. So if you want a definitive answer that if I have the opportunity to request parliament to consider and approve a budget for the completion of the National Cathedral, then yes,” Mr. Mercer stated during his vetting.
Addressing resource allocation during his vetting, Mr. Mercer acknowledged the finite nature of resources but asserted that funding should be prioritized for completing the National Cathedral.
He expressed readiness to propose a budget specifically for this purpose, seeking approval from parliament.
“As we look at something like the Cathedral that has economic benefits beyond what we see…In Africa, we have some 600 million people who are Christians so imagine Ghana as the new Jerusalem and these 600 million people floating through with $3,000 to spend, it is a very different reality.”
The National Cathedral project, initiated by the government, has sparked debates and controversies due to its cost and use of state resources. In December 2023, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta suggested reconsidering discussions on the cathedral’s construction, emphasizing its potential to drive economic growth.
Speaking at the Ghana Tourism Investment Summit 2023, Ofori-Atta highlighted the cathedral as a strategic investment to boost the nation’s tourism sector. He envisioned it becoming a pilgrimage destination for millions of Christians across Africa, contributing to substantial economic benefits for Ghana.
Ofori-Atta urged a more constructive approach to the ongoing debates, suggesting that the government carefully consider the cathedral’s potential contribution to Ghana’s economic development.
In a pivotal step towards solidifying the new government’s administration, Parliament’s Appointments Committee is gearing up to commence the rigorous vetting process for the newly-nominated Ministers of State.
The proceedings are slated to unfold from Tuesday, March 5, 2024, to Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
The inaugural day of the vetting session promises to be packed with notable figures facing scrutiny from the committee. Among those expected to appear are Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture; Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources; Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development; Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation; and Darkoa Newman, Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
Joining them on the first day will be Kingsley Nyarko, Deputy Minister-designate for the Education Ministry; Festus Awuah Kwofie, Deputy Minister-designate for the Employment and Labour Ministry; Akwasi Konadu, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; and Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba, Deputy Minister-designate for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
This vetting process serves as a critical checkpoint in ensuring the suitability and competency of the nominees to assume their respective roles within the government. Parliamentarians will meticulously examine their qualifications, experience, and vision for their designated portfolios, probing into their plans and strategies to address pertinent issues facing their sectors.
Subsequent days of the vetting period will see the remaining nominees take their turn before the committee, providing them with the opportunity to present their credentials and articulate their plans for driving progress and development in their designated ministries.
The outcome of these vetting sessions will significantly shape the composition of the new government and determine its ability to effectively address the myriad challenges confronting the nation. With the nation’s eyes fixed on Parliament, anticipation mounts as the vetting process unfolds, paving the way for a government poised to deliver on its mandate and propel Ghana towards a prosperous future.
Mercer, previously with the Ministry of Energy, highlighted the vast opportunities within the tourism sector and conveyed his determination to contribute to its growth and development.
During the interview on Citi FM, Mercer emphasised that the move from the Ministry of Energy to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture was not prompted by day-to-day issues but rather by the significant potential he sees in the tourism sector.
He acknowledged the pivotal role tourism plays in the country’s economy and committed to working diligently to expand the sector.
Recognizing the economic impact of tourism, Mercer pledged to build on the efforts of those who have contributed to the sector’s success.
“We all know the role tourism can play and have played in our economy, so I see it as an opportunity to do my best. Others have laboured, and we shared their glory, so it’s up to us to exploit and add to their gains,” he stated.
His nomination on February 14 was part of a broader cabinet reshuffle announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, marking changes in key ministerial positions since his assumption of office in 2017.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal is Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
A Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, is slated to now work as Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture as President Akufo-Addo wraps up his second term in office.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has unveiled significant changes to his ministerial team in a major cabinet reshuffle, responding to growing calls for a shake-up.
As such, Egyapa Mercer will leave the Energy Ministry to the Tourism, Arts and Culture as its head, taking over from Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has not been reassigned, meaning he will cease to be a Minister once Egyapa Mercer receives Parliamentary approval and subsequently sworn in as minister by President Akufo-Addo.
Member of Parliament for Bongo and a member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Edward Bawa, has attributed Ghana’s recent power outages to the financial insolvency plaguing the energy sector.
Despite the Deputy Energy Minister Andrew Egyapa Mercer assuring that power supply challenges have been addressed, including a $10 million disbursement to WAPCo for gas supply, intermittent blackouts persist.
This scenario mirrors the “Dumsor” crisis of 2015 and corresponds with the foresight of Nana Amoasi VII, predicting persistent power challenges stemming from economic constraints.
Bawa’s remarks underscore the government’s challenges in effectively managing finances related to energy and sustaining a reliable power supply.
Speaking in an interview on Citi TVon Saturday, Mr Bawa said “As to whether what is the situation as we have it now, simple and short the sector is broke. That’s all. That’s the situation.
“As we speak now as of yesterday if you look at our peak demand it was 3680 but the available capacity, which means the amount of power that we could supply even if we decided that we were going to have a reserved margin or redundancy was going to be 3363 which means that on the word go even without putting the redundancy there, that was obviously around almost 300 megawatts.”
A Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has launched the 7th edition of the Ghana Energy Awards (GEA), in Accra.
The launch of the 2023 GEA event, which officially opened nominations for prospective candidates to submit entries, also unveiled the theme for this year, which is “Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework: Sector Institutions as Building Blocks for the 2030-2040 Targets.”
In its 7th year, the Awards Scheme, organized by the Energy Media Group (EMG), aims to recognize the excellence and innovation of individuals, institutions and organizations in the country’s energy sector.
Speaking at unveiling, Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer said “the government’s vision for a just and equitable transition framework aspires to discharge the country’s international obligations on climate change”.
He noted that across the value chain of the petroleum industry, the agencies and institutions are critical to the energy transition. “This is because almost invariably, their activities and operations impact on climate change or are affected by it. We simply cannot have a discussion on energy transition without institutions that are focused with the right leadership to implement the policy,” he said.
Andrew Egyapa Mercer called for a collaboration with the sector’s agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the country’s goals are aligned to the conversation on the future of the energy sector, and the national industrialization agenda.
Chairman of the Awards Panel, Lawyer Kwame Jantuah, indicated that this year’s event seeks to recognize the various interventions and innovations being pioneered and introduced by players in the energy sector towards achieving the transition’s targets.
“We believe at the GEA, that every institution operating in the Energy Sector, both Petroleum and Electricity Power with the support of the Ghanaian Public should contribute its quota in the national quest to make the country one that is providing clean, affordable and reliable transitional energy for electricity power” and called for all to join hands with one mind and work together to achieve this goal.
The 2023 Ghana Energy Awards features 23 competitive categories, and four (4) non-competitive categories.
The competitive categories include the Energy Personality of the Year (Male and Female), Chief Executive of the Year (Power and Petroleum), Rising Star (Individual and Company), the Energy Signature Award, Visionary Leadership Award, Green Chief Trailblazer Award, Energy Reporter of the Year, among others.
The non-competitive categories are the Lifetime Achievement Award, Women In Energy Excellence Award, Osagyefo Young Leadership Award, and the Exemplary Leadership Award.
The 7th GEA launch also introduced the GEA Hall of Fame, which will honor outstanding winners of the Ghana Energy Awards community whose contributions to the country’s energy sector are substantial and longstanding.
The Ghana Energy Awards is an initiative backed by the Ministry of Energy and the World Energy Council, Ghana.
Nominations into the 2023 Ghana Energy Awards are open from June 27 until September 29. Prospective candidates can apply at www.ghanaenergyawards.com
Deputy Energy Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has revealed that government has no intention to takeover the petroleum market through its Gold for Oil programme.
According to him, concerns that the government through the Gold for Oil programme will increase its market share thus driving out private competitors are unfounded.
He stated that such a move is in contrast to the capitalist orientation of the ruling New Patriotic Party, and thus will never happen.
“I don’t think so at all…there’s a 100% market. Government already plays through some state owned entities, play in the region of 40 -50% and that hasn’t changed. It’s not like they’re doing 100%. The BDCs play in the 50 -60% space, and that is still there. And it was important for us to do the test run so that some of the issues that come up could be addressed,” he said.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express Business Edition, he further explained that Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) and other state actors have limited capacity thus would be unable to handle the full demands of the nation if that was even the intention.
“There’s a limited capacity that BOST has anyway, there is a limited capacity that Go Energy has anyway, so it cannot be the case all of a sudden that they’re increasing their capacity overnight. And really, like I said, we are a party that believes in the private sector.
“We’re a government that consistently maintains that the private sector is the engine of growth. But you ought to go back to the history, in the past, all our petroleum products were imported by GNPC to complement what TOR was doing, so that entire space was government dominated.
“Government of Ghana under the presidency of His Excellency President Kufuor took out the GNPC factor and allowed private sector people to complement what TOR was doing. That hasn’t changed over the years and that’s exactly what is happening today,” he assured.
According to him, the programme was instituted within the mandates of the Bank of Ghana and thus does not fall within the purview of parliament.
Arguing his point out on JoyNews’ PM Express Business Edition, he said, “On even the import side, BOST, before the commencement of this programme [Gold for Oil], if you like, imports petroleum products as part of their operations, do they take it to parliament for approval?
“So if Bank of Ghana is buying Gold in-country as part of its mandate and externalizing it to as it were either swap for commodity on behalf of Ghanaian importer and or monetize to pay on behalf of a Ghanaian importer which then the Ghanaian importer pays in cedis in Ghana, how does that require parliamentary approval?”
There have been calls from the Minority side of parliament for the Gold for Oil policy be brought to the house for perusal.
However, according to Egyapa Mercer these calls are merely to truncate the success of the programme which as at Monday, January 16, had delivered 41,000 metric tons of oil from the United Arab Emirates to Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST).
He said, “But I know why, especially people in the NDC led by former President Mahama will call for parliament because you know the dynamics there. To the point that the parliament of Ghana passed a law, the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act which then empowered government through requisite agency to set up a company for purposes of monetising our royalty.
“It’s all in the law. But when government sought to implement the law that had been passed by parliament by way of the Agyapa transaction you saw what happened.”
He added that “they need to give details so that we can all interrogate the issue, and not hide behind we are going to buy forex for the local market…only for it to turn out to be a fiasco, a lie, then I think that they have not treated all of us fairly. The gold-for-oil policy seems dead on arrival because the cargo that was delivered seemed not to have had any impact on pump prices. I think they should halt or end this dangerous expedition and go back to fixing the cedi.”
Even though the first consignment was received in January, fuel prices have increased twice in 2023.
Duncan Amoah, has thereby, questioned the Bank of Ghana’s failure to auction dollars to the Bulk oil distribution companies since the policy is to help deal with the cedi’s depreciation.
“If you tell us gold-for-oil is a shield for forex so that the BDCs’ demand for forex and the pressure it puts on the cedi goes down, and it ends up that we rather took the dollar, real cash from here to now go and import, shouldn’t you have auctioned the dollars to the private firms to reduce the pressure that the BDCs are facing as opposing to this dangerous transaction?” Mr. Amoah questioned.
The Deputy Energy Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has said that government’s first shipment of oil imported into Ghana under the “Gold for Oil” scheme was not paid with gold as speculated.
According to a report by citinewroom.com, the minister stated that the first consignment of 40,000 tons of oil brought into the country was paid for with cash.
Egyapa Mercer explained that the government could not exchange gold for oil because the company it dealt with initially did not have the capacity to exchange gold for oil.
“The policy actually started with an intent to do strict barter for gold and petroleum products, but it became apparent that any of the international oil trading companies that do not have a commodity wing to deal with gold on their behalf will be excluded from the policy.
“We developed the policy such that we were operating two streams; one was direct barter, and the second was monetising the gold so we can pay for IOTs that were not other commodity focused but solely petroleum products,” he is quoted as having said on Citi News.
Meanwhile, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is reported to have bragged about the Gold-for-Oil policy after the first product under it was delivered.
He said that the delivery of the first batch of oil shows that the policy will work.
“…Ghana took delivery of its first cargo under the gold for oil policy. This is our test cargo, it is the cargo to test the framework if everything that has been put in place will work, by the grace of God the Framework will work and if that should happen we are going to save a lot of foreign exchange and reduce the pressure on our currency,” Bawumia is quoted to have said at 2023 New Year School event.
Background:
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in November 2022 first announced the government’s plan to undertake the gold-for-oil initiative. The deal hinged on buying oil products with Ghana’s gold instead of the US dollar.
Dr Bawumia on Facebook earlier explained that the usage of gold to purchase oil would also address Ghana’s dwindling foreign reserves as well as reduce demand for US dollars by oil importers.
“It will fundamentally change our balance of payments and significantly reduce the persistent depreciation of our currency,” the vice president earlier wrote.
Under the policy, the government believes that using gold to purchase oil products would also bring stability to the exchange rate market and ensure domestic oil operators do not solely depend on foreign exchange to import products.
It also questioned why the government, which has the bulk of the oil refinery’s shares, hasn’t spoken out about how to get the refinery producing oil so that Ghanaians can be protected from the rise in petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, and LPG at different pumps.
The policy think tank said in a release seen by GhanaWeb that the Finance Ministry was cash-strapped and unable to invest in the nearly bankrupt refinery as a result.
“The government as majority shareholder of the refinery has been quiet on any plans to get the refinery working to cushion the suffering of Ghanaians. The cost to revamp TOR and provide capital for its operations is estimated at USD $500 million. We all know Ministry of Finance does not have this money especially under the watchful eyes of the IMF,” part of the release read.
Aside from the inadequate crude oil in the country’s only oil refinery, TOR is faced with other challenges like broken equipment, piled debt, among others.
It would be recalled that the management of TOR in April this year sought approval from the Energy Ministry to engage the private sector players to revamp the oil refinery.
The question on the minds of most Ghanaians is, why is Tema Oil Refinery not working? In recent months there has been over 150% increase in prices of Petroleum products. This has brought immense hardship on the average Ghanaian through the increase in the prices of goods and transport.
The last time the Refinery refined crude Oil was in April 2021, just before the appointment of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) on 15th June 2021. The Minister tasked the IMC among other things to receive and assess viable partnerships for TOR. The three member IMC was at TOR for 9 months and during that period there were no procurement or refining of crude.
INSTEPR in several publications questioned the work of the IMC and felt they did not perform according to their scope of work. A new Managing Director, Mr. Jerry K. Hinson and board of directors were appointed on 2nd March 2022. The refinery, 8 months after the new board, has still not refined a single parcel of crude oil. A situation which is becoming very worrying to industry experts.
The premier Oil Refinery when working reduces the importation of petroleum products including LPG (Cooking Gas) and provides job security to the hundreds of technical staff. TOR until April 2021, had a tolling business model which was started by Mr. Isaac Osei with Woodfields Energy Resources. This business sustained the refinery with cashflow until the contract was frustrated and not renewed without any substitute arrangement.
Today, the problems at the refinery are as it was 5 years after the explosion that reduced its refining capacity from 45,000 bpd to 23,000 bpd. INSTEPR in the past, had outlined the following to solve the problems at Tema Oil Refinery:
Fix the CDU from the 23,000 bpsd to 45,000 bpsd
Solve the RFCC problem
Install hydrotreating catalysts and technologies for all crude oil fractions, enabling the refinery to meet 50 ppm or lower specification.
Construct a gas pipeline (less than 1KM) to power the refinery. This stops the refinery from using expensive Crude oil for power.
Put measures and security in place to stop the theft of products.
The government as majority shareholder of the refinery has been quiet on any plans to get the refinery working to cushion the suffering of Ghanaians.
The cost to revamp TOR and provide capital for its operations is estimated at USD $500 million. We all know Ministry of Finance does not have this money especially under the watchful eyes of the IMF.
The Institute in consultation with other civil society organization and industry experts will organize a forum to engage government to find a lasting solution to the TOR problem. We cannot allow a national asset like TOR to collapse and turned into a tank farm, as proposed by others in the past.
The Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer has decried allegations being made against his person that he has embezzled his common fund.
Speaking on Radio 360 with Kwame Malcolm in Sekondi, the lawmaker responding to the claims said that he uses his monthly salary for the needs of constituents who call on him.
“I am not a spending officer, I have not signed any cheque to my common fund before when Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) signs cheques for the beneficiaries to go and pay their fees. The cheques are addressed to the schools directly to avoid anyone misappropriating it.
“Even if the Lord has not been so good to me, my career all these years will not push me to go to the extent of looking for Common Fund monies. However, somebody is out there saying all sorts of things. In the name of claiming they have the development of Sekondi at heart.
The lawmaker stated that he cannot fathom the reason people can peddle falsehood against others just for political expediency.
“Then after all that, they want to go scot-free and not be held accountable for such malicious allegations? The trend in politics now is if you insult someone the person must keep quiet. How long can this continue? People who have lived their lives and feel they have to give their quota to the development of their country must be called criminals.
“What am I using common fund monies for? Even with the salary that I earn, I do not get to spend it, I give all out to people in my constituency who are in need.”
“They call daily with their needs of hospital bills, school fees and I have to strive to look for support for all of them. I do that willingly and with joy. How come can one say a fund that the government has set aside such as the common fund I have embezzled?” the lawmaker bemoaned.
“For the past 6 years that I have been a Member of Parliament, every year consistently I undertake community engagements in all the electoral areas. I avail myself for accountability. On many occasions, I avail myself to various radio stations including yours and speak on various developments and projects being undertaken in Sekondi. Phone lines are activated for all and sundry to pose any query. Is that not accountability? So how would anyone suggest that I have been invited to an accountability forum and I avoided it?
“Initially, however, I heard on WhatsApp platforms about a time for an accountability forum. Later they put up a banner and I heard someone alerted them whether they had sought my prior availability. They then wrote a letter and left it with one Jamkay and my mother. If I may ask, if you need someone for a program do you leave the invitation with the said person or with a third party? Which constituency has put up an event like that for their Member of Parliament to come and render accounts?” the deputy energy minister quizzed.
Information available to JoyNews indicates that a government delegation is in Abu Dhabi negotiating a deal to bring petroleum products onto the Ghanaian market.
JoyNews understands that they have been scheduled to meet the Chief Executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan Al Jaber on Friday, November 4 to see how possible government can secure a cheaper fuel for the Ghanaian market.
The final details of this meeting are expected to be known after the meeting on Friday, November 4.
It could be recalled that President Akufo-Addoin his broadcast to the nation last Sunday evening, revealed that his government is working to stabilise prices of petroleum products through new supply arrangements in a bid to tackle the high cost of living.
The Information Minister in an interview on PM Express on Monday said government has commenced plans to secure cheaper petroleum products onto the Ghanaian market.
According to him, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Ministry of Energy will provide further details about the importation of fuel onto the Ghanaian market in the coming days.
He noted that the Energy Ministry had already begun talks with some major sources and sovereigns in the supply of petroleum products.
“In President Kufuor’s time, we did it with Nigeria, Sahara lifting for us and you could have supply credit lines and a fixed price that you could bank on and it is a very similar arrangement that has already commenced and I am expecting that in the coming weeks the NPA, the Energy Ministry will have the opportunity to provide the details,” he said.
Andrew Egyapa Mercer, the deputy minister of energy, has made suggestions that the government intends to take use of the recent finding of lithium deposits in the nation to encourage domestic solar battery production.
He claims that the action is intended to advance Ghana’s goal on the usage of renewable energy and its drive toward an energy transition.
The deputy energy minister stated that the finding will present significant potential for the manufacturing of renewable equipment for the African market during the inaugural edition of the Africa Energy Conference 2022, which was organized by the Business and Financial Times.
“The opportunity for an industrial and commercial venture into the renewable market has a potential to generate revenue, job creation and energy security enhancement.”
“Ghana’s recent discovery of high-grade lithium is an achievement the government intends to leverage in exploring the real possibility of manufacturing solar batteries locally,” he stated.
He asserts that the Plan will act as a guide for Ghana’s journey to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
The deputy energy minister reaffirmed that Ghana will move toward transition at a relatively slow pace while taking into consideration not stranding its existing energy assets on October 4, 2022 at the first edition of the Africa Energy Conference organized by the Business and Financial Times Newspaper.
“Ghana has seen the need to develop a National Energy Transition Plan to guide its journey towards attaining net zero status at a pace realistic to the country’s peculiar circumstances.”
“Ghana’s plan is informed by both available and prospective energy sources, accessing financing measures and other factors. I am glad to hint to you that by the end of this month, the National Energy Transition Plan will be outdoored,” the Minister said.
“Local technical capacity must be speedily enhanced to reduced reliance on Western support energy-related and cross border collaboration amongst African nations must be encouraged”
He explained that this will ultimately ensure than African nations derive maximum value for their oil and gas resources which must be left to waste.
Through National Energy Transition Plan, Ghana plans to accelerate and focus on the promotion of sustainable energy through low carbon power generation with a target of 10 percent of renewable penetration by 2030.
However, achieving this will require an unprecedented shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind and solar as well as the provision of clean, affordable and reliable energy for consumers.
National Energy Transition Plan to be outdoored in October – Egyapa Mercer
Lawyer Andrew Egyapa Mercer has retained his seat as the Member of Parliament for Sekondi Constituency for the next four years.
Out of the 91 polling stations in the Constituency, Mercer won 87 with his closest rival, Charles Hagan, who stood on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), winning the rest.
Egyapa Mercer retained the seat with a total number of 17,259 votes.
Total Valid Votes: 27,961 Total Invalid Votes: 367
Parliamentary
Andrew Agyapa Mercer (NPP): 17, 259
Charles Hagan (NDC): 10,310
Eleanor Appiah (GUM): 468
Total Valid Cast: 28,087 Total Invalid Votes: 237
Since the creation of the Sekondi Constituency seat in 1992, the National Democratic Congress have won it only once in 1992 and have since lost it to the New Patriotic Party in subsequent elections.
Lawyer Andrew Egyapa Mercer has retained his seat as the Member of Parliament for Sekondi Constituency for the next four years.
Out of the 91 polling stations in the Constituency, Mercer won 87 with his closest rival, Charles Hagan, who stood on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), winning the rest.
Egyapa Mercer retained the seat with a total number of 17,259 votes.
Total Valid Votes: 27,961 Total Invalid Votes: 367
Parliamentary
Andrew Agyapa Mercer (NPP): 17, 259
Charles Hagan (NDC): 10,310
Eleanor Appiah (GUM): 468
Total Valid Cast: 28,087 Total Invalid Votes: 237
Since the creation of the Sekondi Constituency seat in 1992, the National Democratic Congress have won it only once in 1992 and have since lost it to the New Patriotic Party in subsequent elections.
