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Tag: IMANI Ghana

  • IMANI Ghana uncovers ‘shady’ deal between ECG and Genser Energy

    IMANI Ghana uncovers ‘shady’ deal between ECG and Genser Energy

    Honorary vice president of IMANI Ghana, Bright Simons, says his uniform has uncovered what appears to be another instance of preferential treatment and questionable deals in Ghana‘s energy sector.

    The focus of scrutiny is Genser Energy, a private power producer that has allegedly secured advantageous agreements with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) at the expense of fair market practices.

    At the heart of the issue is the pricing disparity between what large mines in Ghana typically pay for high-voltage power and the rates at which Genser Energy is obtaining electricity from ECG.

    While mines are accustomed to paying approximately 28 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWh), Genser has reportedly negotiated a deal to acquire power at a significantly reduced rate of 8.2 cents per KWh.

    The concern deepens as it is revealed that Genser Energy benefits from heavily subsidized gas prices, courtesy of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

    Despite market rates suggesting gas should be priced at around $7.5, Genser is allegedly receiving gas at less than $3, allowing them to generate electricity at a fraction of the expected cost.

    This advantageous pricing structure raises questions about fair competition and market integrity, particularly when gas supplies are under strain.


    The fear is that such deals could lead to power shortages, commonly referred to as ‘dumsor,’ as resources are diverted to fulfill Genser’s contracts instead of meeting the broader energy demands of the country.

    IMANI Ghana and ACEP have long been vocal about the need for transparency and accountability in Ghana’s energy sector.

    They argue that these sweetheart deals not only undermine fair business practices but also contribute to financial instability within the sector.

    When power producers struggle to be paid and fuel procurement becomes challenging, the repercussions are felt nationwide, impacting both businesses and citizens alike.

    The situation has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the alleged preferential treatment extended to Genser Energy and similar entities.

    Additionally, there are growing demands for reforms to ensure that such practices are curbed, and the energy sector operates on principles of fairness, sustainability, and accountability.

    As Ghana navigates its energy challenges, the spotlight remains firmly on addressing these systemic issues to secure a reliable and equitable energy future for all.

    See post below:

  • Speaker prompted of Atta Akyea’s ‘bias conduct’ in IGP leaked tape probe

    Speaker prompted of Atta Akyea’s ‘bias conduct’ in IGP leaked tape probe

    The allegations of bias against the chairman of the committee investigating the leaked tape regarding the plot to remove Dr. George Akuffo Dampare from his role as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) do not appear to be subsiding.

    Several civil society groups, including Imani Ghana and CDD-Ghana, have chosen to report Samuel Atta Akyea to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

    Following their meeting with the Speaker, the President of Imani Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, stated that Mr. Atta Akyea has been diverting the committee’s focus away from its designated terms of reference.

    This deviation, he contends, has had a negative impact on the atmosphere and morale within the Ghana Police Service, necessitating immediate intervention by the Speaker.

    Mr. Cudjoe emphasized that the Abuakwa South lawmaker appears to be acting as both judge and jury within his own courtroom.

    “We wanted to find out from the Speaker what the original terms of reference for the Committee were. Because we realized that the Committee chairman seems to be setting his questions and answering them.”

    “The Speaker was categorical that well, look, I gave the Chairman of the Committee specific terms of reference. To get the authenticity of the tape, basically, those comments that were made and the persons who made them,” Mr Cudjoe said.

    Mr Samuel Atta Akyea has refuted the accusations of bias made against him. He contends that he has overseen the proceedings of the Committee impartially and without prejudice.

    “The word doctored I used is what did not sit well with him, but what I said is deduced from how it started. Was I not together with my committee members who afforded the IGP the best opportunity to speak to the press?” 

    Prior to this, Kwame Gyan, who serves as Counsel for Dr. Dampare, expressed his public disappointment regarding Mr. Atta Akyea’s leadership of the committee. He firmly maintained that the MP was treating his client unfairly. According to Kwame Gyan, the chairman, who should ideally remain impartial toward the witnesses, has exhibited clear biases.

    In an interview with JoyNews on Monday, October 9, the outspoken lawyer emphasized that Mr. Atta Akyea appears to be pursuing a specific agenda in this matter.

    “He has his agenda. He will be granting media interviews to the extent that after one sitting, he went out there and said the extended tape submitted by Bugri Naabu, which had not been played at the committee, has been doctored. Very prejudicial comments,” he said.

  • Govt disbursed US$2m to an Israeli firm for intelligence-related services – Bright Simons

    Govt disbursed US$2m to an Israeli firm for intelligence-related services – Bright Simons

    The government of Ghana allegedly paid an Israeli surveillance firm more than $2 million in 2021, according to Bright Simons, the Vice President of IMANI-Africa responsible for Research and Education.

    Simons claims that Rayzone, a company that specializes in espionage technologies, received more than $2 million from the government in the pretense of fighting cybercrime.

    “In the name of fighting cybercrime, the govt of Ghana paid more than $2 million in 2021 to an Israeli company, Rayzone, which specialises in tapping phones, snooping on people & advanced spyware. Recall that officials of the prev[ious] govt (government) were jailed for bungling a similar deal,” Bright Simons shared in a Twitter post on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

    In the meantime, a Bloomberg report from May 2023 accused Rayzone Group of utilizing data intended for advertisers to aid law enforcement in tracking individuals using their mobile phones via a device called Echo.

    The private Israeli spy business allegedly used a flaw in a mobile phone network to enable their clients to monitor people all around the world, according to a report by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the UK Guardian.

    According to the study, Rayzone was able to “geolocate” mobile phone users all across the world by gaining access to a global messaging system.

    Data protection groups are alarmed by Rayzone’s actions because they believe the corporation is illegally assisting governments in invading the privacy of the general population.

  • ‘Mr. President, shut schools down now!’ – IMANI urges government

    President of IMANI-Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has  the Minister for Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh to annul the 2019/2020 academic calendar and shut down schools as the country’s coronavirus cases keep rising.

    In his view, President Akufo-Addo’s decision to reopen schools for final year students despite the rise in cases reported, was a step in the wrong direction.

    This concern follows reports that suggest, about 6 students of Accra Girls Senior High School (SHS) have reported positive of virus.

    According to a media report, some 11 students of the school showed symptoms of the virus and were isolated in the school’s sickbay on Monday June 29, 2020.

    The report continued that after running several COVID-19 tests on 11 of the suspected students, 6 of them tested positive and were transferred to the the Ga East Municipal Hospital for treatment.

    Following this breaking report, the President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI has in a facebook post sighted by Georgeweb.org petitioned the President of the Republic to consider shutting down of all reopened schools.

    Mr. Franklin Cudjoe on his facebook wall urged that “Mr. President, shut the schools NOW!”

    Meanwhile, His Excellency Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo has gone into self-isolation for 14 days after one of his contacts tested positive of the novel deadly coronavirus, the Information Minister, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced on Saturday July 4, 2020.

    The Government spokesperson in a statement copied to Georgeweb.org said “on the advice of doctors, President Akufo-Addo is from July 4, 2020 taking a 2 weeks precautionary self-isolation measures in complaince with COVID-19 protocols”.

    The Member of Parliament for the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency and Minister for Information, in the statement disclosed that Akufo-Addo after several tested negative for the virus.

    Source: Georgeweb.org via opera.com