News
‘Place metro guards on Controller and Accountant General’s Dept payroll’
The Chairman of the Ghana National Guards Union (GHANGU), Mr Mawuli Ahiakpor, has appealed to the Minister of Local Government to facilitate the placement of metro guards onto the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) payroll system.
Mr Ahiakpor made the call at the 5th National Guard Meeting held at the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, where he underscored the critical role of Metro Guards in the operations of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He explained that Metro Guards play a dual role of revenue mobilisation and law enforcement, yet their conditions of service do not reflect the risks and responsibilities they bear.
“Metro Guards ensure that the Assembly’s by-laws are strictly enforced, particularly in areas such as sanitation, street trading, and land use. They also play a vital role in disaster rescue and recovery operations, safeguarding lives and property during emergencies.
The GHANGU Chairman stressed that despite these important contributions, Metro Guards face several challenges, particularly regarding remuneration, welfare, and career development.
He therefore outlined a number of key requests on behalf of the Union, which include uniform allowance, insurance cover, risk allowance etc.
According to Mr Ahiakpor addressing these issues would not only improve the welfare of Metro Guards but also enhance their efficiency and commitment to duty. He therefore urged the Ministry of Local Government and other relevant authorities to act swiftly to place Metro Guards on the national payroll and provide the necessary allowances and incentives.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Metro Guards Unit in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Chief Ernest Awuah, encouraged personnel to use the gathering as an opportunity to reflect their achievements, learn from each other, and grow collectively.
Chief Awuah further noted that the presence of Metro Guards underscores the importance of their shared mission to protect communities and highlights the need for collaboration in strengthening public security.
Providing historical context, he explained that the Metro Guard Unit was carved out of the Youth Brigade and established in 1964 by Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to assist the Assemblies in revenue generation and mobilisation, as well as perform other basic policing duties.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
All 6 US crew members on refueling aircraft that crashed mid-air are confirmed dead, bringing total US killed in action to 13 during Operation Epic Fury.
Earlier report from the US Central Command(CENTCOM) noted that four out of the six had passed on.
However, in an update, they have confirmed that all 6 crew members have died.
The crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq.
The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury.
The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, CENTCOM noted that the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.
They added that identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has announced a reduction in electricity and water tariffs for the second quarter of 2026.
According to the Commission, electricity tariffs will reduce by an average of 4.81 percent while water tariffs will go down by 3.06 percent.
The new tariffs will take effect from April 1, 2026.
In a press release issued on March 13, 2026, the Commission explained that the review forms part of its quarterly tariff adjustment mechanism which allows it to reflect changes in key economic indicators that affect the operations of utility service providers.
It noted that the quarterly review considers factors such as the exchange rate between the Ghana cedi and the United States dollar, the rate of inflation, the cost of fuel used in electricity generation, and the mix of electricity generation sources.
The Commission indicated that it applied a projected weighted average exchange rate of GHS11.1931 to one United States dollar for the second quarter of 2026.
This represents a 6.78 percent reduction from the previous quarter rate of GHS12.0067 to one dollar.
It explained that a three month average inflation rate of 4.17 percent was used for the review period, which reflects a downward change of 47.87 percent compared to the previous quarter.
The Commission further stated that the weighted average cost of gas used for power generation increased slightly to 8.0988 dollars per MMBtu, representing an increase of 2.84 percent from the previous rate.
It added that the electricity generation mix for the period remains unchanged, with 20.90 percent coming from hydro sources and 79.10 percent from thermal generation, as outlined in the 2025 Multi Year Tariff Order.
The Commission explained that these adjustments are meant to maintain the real value of tariffs so that utility service providers remain financially stable while continuing to deliver reliable services to consumers.
It announced that, for the first time, a commercial electric vehicle charging tariff has been introduced to support the transition to green energy.
According to the Commission, the new tariff is expected to encourage the growth of electric vehicle charging services in the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
