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Bawumia’s claim ECG staff sabotaged paperless system inaccurate, misleading – PUWU
The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has disputed Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s assertion that officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) sabotaged the government’s digitalisation of revenue collection.
Dr Bawumia, at the Annual AGM of Anti-corruption Agencies in Africa on May 9, claimed that certain IT unit staff at ECG introduced ransomware to disrupt the system’s proper functioning.
He stated that the ransomware caused the system to fail and that national security intervention was required to identify the staff responsible for the sabotage.
However, the PUWU issued a statement on Monday, May 13, refuting the Vice President’s claims as “inaccurate and misleading.”
The Union further expressed disappointment over the Vice President’s assertion that the incident was a deliberate act by ECG staff to thwart a project beneficial to the company and Ghana.
It said in September 2022, EOCO began a forensic audit on the ECG Power App, requesting the payment platform architecture, databases, API documentation, and the power app custom source code, including backend prepayment systems credentials.
The Union pointed out that EOCO employed third-party IT professionals for the task, implying that ECG IT staff were not the only ones with access to ECG’s ICT infrastructure.
The Union indicated that the first ransomware attack, which occurred on September 28, 2022, was reported to the Cyber Security Authority, as per regulation.
It said following the attack, which was perceived as a national security threat, the National Security took control of the ECG ICT system.
“In the midst of the takeover, the second and most severe of the ransomware attacks occurred on the 11th November 2022, at the time the National Security personnel had both full physical access and software administrative rights to all ECG systems. The National Security arrested and detained some ECG ICT staff for days but were later released,” they said.
But the Union emphasised that it was the ECG ICT staff who led the system recovery effort, working day and night to restore the systems and even assisting National Security operatives on how to operate the ECG systems with support from E-crime Bureau, a cybersecurity firm invited by the ECG Board.
The statement said, “In all these cases, the systems were restored with the major assistance by the ECG ICT staff. It is, therefore, factually inaccurate that National Security came in to recover the system, as reported by His Excellency the Vice President.”
Source: Citinewsroom.com
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Health Minister leads delegation Mimi Darko’s appointment as AMA Director General
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health and Member of Parliament has led a delegation to secure the appointment of Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, as the Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) during the ongoing 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties in Kigali, Rwanda.
This prestigious appointment, achieved through a competitive process, marks a proud and historic moment for Ghana and the entire continent.
It highlights Dr. Darko’s exceptional leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to enhancing public health and regulatory systems across Africa.
The Minister expressed his deep appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his strong support and leadership throughout this process.
Mr.Akandoh congratulated Dr. Mimi Darko and Team Ghana for their incredibly successful campaign.
The AMA was established by the African Union on November 5, 2021, with the primary objective of improving access to quality, safe, and effective medical products throughout the continent. Its creation aims to facilitate the regulation and oversight of essential medicines at a continental level while promoting collaboration among African countries and regions.
The Agency’s mission is to provide leadership in creating an enabling regulatory environment for the pharmaceutical sector in Africa, ensuring that the African population has access to essential medical products and technologies.
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Police arrest five suspects involved in robbery cases in Ashanti Region
The Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) in the Ashanti Region has informed the public about a recent breakthrough in the fight against armed robbery in the Denchemuoso District.
Following a series of robbery incidents in the area, on April 22, 2025, PID/Ashanti operatives, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended one Michael Owusu Ansah, alias Baby Last, aged 32.
The suspect had been on the police wanted list since 2016 in connection with a robbery and the murder of Police Officer G/Cpl Frank Essel of SWAT/Ashanti, which occurred at the Open Space Hotel in Denchemuoso on May 19, 2016.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to engaging in multiple street and residential robberies in Denchemuoso, Atwima-Techiman, Asuoyeboah, and surrounding areas.
He also disclosed that his gang operated with knives, pistols, and pump-action guns.
Further investigations led to the identification and arrest of his accomplices, namely:Emmanuel Owusu, alias Cassidy, Maxwell Gyimah, alias Nana Kwame, Sudais Oxford Ntiamoah, alias The Man Sudais and Rhano Okyere, alias Demon
These individuals were arrested from their hideouts within Atwima-Techiman and Denchemuoso.
However, one suspect, remains at large and efforts are underway to apprehend him and recover the weapons used in the robberies.
All five arrested suspects were arraigned before the Atasomanso Circuit Court on May 13, 2025.
They were remanded into police custody and are scheduled to reappear on June 4, 2025.
