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President Mahama reaffirms commitment to safeguarding the safety of journalists
The Government of Ghana has condemned the attempted arrest of a JoyNews reporter and the assault of an eyewitness by a soldier during a recent demolition exercise involving properties linked to McDan Group.
The incident occurred during the demolition of structures allegedly associated with Daniel McKorley, also known as McDan, the Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group.
The operation, which involved military personnel, sparked public concern after a Joy news journalist covering the exercise was nearly arrested, and an eyewitness filming the scene was physically assaulted.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the actions of the soldier were unacceptable and have no place in a democratic society.
“I am directed by President John Dramani Mahama to unequivocally reaffirm his unwavering commitment to the freedom and safety of journalists,” the statement read.
The President described press freedom as a key pillar of democracy, necessary for promoting transparency, accountability, and informed public debate.
He also emphasized that the rights of all citizens must be respected at all times.
To ensure justice and prevent similar incidents, President Mahama has directed the Minister for Defence and the National Security Coordinator to investigate the matter and impose appropriate disciplinary measures without delay.
The government further assured the public of its commitment to protecting the rights and safety of all Ghanaians.
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
