News
‘Stay away from illicit drugs’
The Abola Piam We Oblahii Mantse I, Nii Ayi Tunma, has appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs and channel their energies into education and productive ventures that would prepare them for the future.
According to him, some young people were heavy dependents on drugs which was wiping away their precious futures.
Speaking during the Pobiman Homowo festival celebration last weekend, Nii Tunma emphasised that the wellbeing of the youth was central to the progress of both family and country.
“My advice to the youth is that they should stop using drugs. Some of them are using these blue, red and other substances that would only create health problems in future,” he stressed.
Commenting on the festival, he said it was not only about preserving culture and tradition but also about reflecting on the responsibilities of the present generation.
He said drug abuse was crippling the potential of many young people, thereby reducing their ability to contribute meaningfully to society. .
He, however, sounded optimistic that with the right guidance and support, young people could rise above the challenges they face and take up their rightful place as leaders.
The Head of the Abola Piam We, Nurudin Nii Ardey Tackie Obllie, underlined that the Homowo festival serves as a gathering of family members and clansmen to offer prayers, seek protection from their forefathers, and strengthen unity.
Furthermore, Nii Tackie Obllie cautioned against encroachment on family lands, stressing that the land at some parts of Pobiman which included Doodu, Sly city, Electoral Commission down, Rock Church, among others belongs to the family and not to individuals parading themselves as chiefs.
“This is a family land, not a stolen land. Anyone who has bought land without proper documentation from the family should come forward so we can regularise it. We are Pobiman, and our doors are open to all who want clarification,” he declared.
By Cecilia Yada Lagba
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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
