Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Minority in Parliament has criticized the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor for his continuous unfavourable public comments on the energy sector.

They argued that not only has his statements instilled fear among Ghanaians but also sent troubling signals to the business community.

As such they charged him to prioritize implementing tangible actions that will resolve the ongoing issues plaguing the power sector over rhetoric.

At a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, and addressed by George Kwame Aboagye, Ranking Member on the Energy Committee and Member of Parliament for Asene- Manso Akroso, he noted that such remarks create an atmosphere of uncertainty and instability, which is detrimental to investor confidence.

“The Minister’s recent claim that Ghana has only “2.6 days of fuel left” was not just baseless, but economically damaging. Such remarks create an atmosphere of uncertainty and instability, which is detrimental to investor confidence”.

While acknowledging the financial challenges in the sector, the Minority charged the Minister to:

1- stop the fear-mongering and focus on fixing supply issues for IPPs;

2- Engage stakeholders to renegotiate burdensome take-or-pay contracts;

3. Strategically set KPIs for ECG and NEDCO to reduce operational and distribution losses and improve revenue collection;
4. Address challenges of the Cash Water Fall mechanism and enforce it;
5. Diversify the Energy Mix with renewables and Gas optimization (maximize Jubilee and TEN fields to reduce reliance on imported fuels;
6. Encourage off-peak consumption by industries to flatten demand curve;
7. Accelerate the roll-out of smart metering to curb theft and increase revenue mobilization;

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Chereponi Seidu Alhassan Alajor has disclosed that spending a whole month in his constituency since the House went on recess has been a fulfilling experience as he had time to visit every community and interacted with the people.

According to him it is the first of its kind as the constituents came to him and indicated that this is the first time an MP has stayed with them for a full four weeks without traveling to Yendi, Bawku, Tamale or Accra.

I interacted with them, played with them and share with them things that happened on the floor of the House before we went on recess, he said in an interview.

“Why I am doing that is that, I want to bring the position of the MPs to the door steps of the people, because over the years I have seen that there is a gap between the people and the MP, sometimes the
MP comes in for one or two days dash out to Accra and this has been the norm over the years?”

He stressed that there is the need to keep in touch with the people and discuss with them the things they go through day and night, so that we can better serve them, adding that the more time you spend with them the better appreciation you get of their needs and aspirations.

“Again, I use the opportunity to tour every community in the constituency over two hundred and something communities in the constituency through the one month I visited every single community to thank them and show appreciation for electing me to represent them”.

More importantly, he noted that for electing John Mahama as the president of the Country, the people wants a lot of things including good roads, health facility education good water among others to better their lives.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Chairman of the Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) of the Community Parliament, Sen. Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. has praised Guinea’s military government for announcing plans to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2025.

He was however quick to point out in an interview that, the devil is in the details. “We are still looking out that it would be an election that would be free, fair and transparent and would be inclusive of all the political actors. But so far it is just a news of returning to constitutional rule and its welcoming and I commend the military junta in Guinea for taking the bold step to return the country to constitutional rule”

The move comes after the country missed its initial deadline for a return to civilian administration on December 31, 2024.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah stated that everything is being done to ensure the elections take place at the end of the year. “We haven’t set a date, but everything is being done to make sure it happens at the end of the year, in December” – Bah said in a telephone interview with AFP.

Meanwhile, on the three Sahel states, he indicated if they return to constitutional rule and the constitutional leader believes they should return, “I am sure ECOWAS would excise that power to ensure that it happens because we are together as a people and as a Community.”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng has called on member states of the West Africa sub-regional bloc to ensure that their operatives in the immigration and customs stop the extortion and harassment of citizens of the ECOWAS at the land borders.

According to him they are aware of the challenges citizens of members states face like harassment and extortion. “But like I do say, ECOWAS itself does not have ECOWAS police and immigration or customs; it is totally dependent on member states that their operatives do the right things. Curbing these negative acts by operatives, it has to be looked at by member states to ensure they are dealt with”.

In an interview at the end of the bloc’s three-day regional validation meeting of The ECOWAS labour migration strategy and action plan in Accra Ghana, he recounted that May 7, 2025, a team led by the Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray visited the border between Benin and Nigeria just to observe some of these reports that have been brought to the attention of the commission.

“It was quite interesting to know that on the way; we made quite a few stops, spoke to traders and passengers as well as drivers and road users and some of these issues came up. And most of the complaints have to do with unauthorized border check points, which on the side of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a task force has been set up by President Bola A. Tinubu”.

On the check points, those not authorized between Lagos and Seme, when you get to the part of the Republic of Benin you notice that once you cross the border there are no check points until you get to Hilaconji, the Benin and Togo border, he stated.

He noted that when crossing himself, one of the operatives from the Benin side indicated to him that before he stamped his passport, he needed to pay him two thousand CFA, adding that they had to engage that operative to ensure that such acts to do not continue.

Again, “what happens to the majority of travelers who do not get such intervention, so it tells us that advocacy and sensitization, needs to be key among these officers and that is one of the drive of my directorate of migration as the ECOWAS office, for these officers and the ECOWAS citizens”

There is a yearly meeting that we do have for all heads of immigration of member states, where some of these issues are addressed but the whole thing is to look at the border crossing challenges that citizens face and find an appropriate way of addressing it; if possible at the highest level, that is the summit of the Authority of Heads of States and Government, he emphasised.

He disclosed that they are looking forward to organize the summit as part of the 50th anniversary celebration and one of the critical issues to be discussed among the Heads of States is challenges faced by community citizens when crossing land borders.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Senator Edwin Snowe Jr. has vehemently distanced himself from the quote “I’m not a man that runs from what I say. I want all the human beings to die in the country. I want the people to suffer. I want hardship in the country” attributed to him by DN-News Liberia during his appearance on the “Spoon Talks” radio program.

Senator Snowe in a rebuttal said he has never made such a vile, disgraceful, or inhumane statement.

Describing the publication as “a shameful example of political propaganda and journalistic malpractice”, he demanded the immediate retraction and a public apology from DN-News Liberia. Failure, he noted, will attract legal action.

Read Below the full rebuttal:

It has come to my attention that DN-News Liberia has published a deliberately manipulated and malicious post misrepresenting my recent appearance on the radio program “Spoon Talks.” In their post, they falsely attributed the following quote to me:

Spoon: Do you want this government to succeed?

Snowe: I’m not a man that runs from what I say. I want all the human beings to die in the country. I want the people to suffer. I want hardship in the country.
– Sen. Edwin Snowe

Let me state categorically and unequivocally: I never made such a vile, disgraceful, or inhumane statement.

What I actually said—and what anyone listening to the full, unedited interview would clearly hear—is that I want Liberia to prosper. I want development and progress for my country. I want the government to succeed, not because of politics, but because the success of any administration means progress for the Liberian people.

As a public servant and a patriot, I would never wish suffering, hardship, or death upon the very people I have dedicated my life to serving. The doctored quote being circulated is not only false—it is deeply offensive, dangerous, and clearly intended to damage my reputation and mislead the public.

This is a shameful example of political propaganda and journalistic malpractice. Accordingly, I am demanding an immediate retraction and a public apology from DN-News Liberia. Failure to do so will leave me with no choice but to instruct my legal counsel to take appropriate legal action against the outlet and all individuals responsible for this smear campaign.

Let it be known: I remain firmly committed to peace, unity, and the forward march of Liberia.

Sen. Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr.
Senator, Bomi County
Chairman, ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and APRM

As technical experts from Ministry of Labour within the sub-region gather in Accra for a three day conference on the validation of the ECOWAS Labour Migration Strategy and Action Plan (LMSAP), the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) resident representative in Ghana Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana has noted that, migrant work force remit forty billion dollars inflow into the ECOWAS every year, supporting education, healthcare, family welfare and small business at the opening of the three-day conference.

According to him in 2019 alone, migrant workers accounted for 2.8% of the continent’s total labour force. Within the ECOWAS region, 3.7 million international migrant workers make contributions in key sectors such as agriculture, construction, mining, domestic work, and services.

These figures underscore the vital role that labour migration plays as a development driver.
Between 2010 and 2019, the number of international migrant workers in Africa grew from 9.6 million to 14.5 million, a 50% increase in less than a decade. The annual growth rate of migrant labour now stands at 4.8%, nearly twice the growth rate of Africa’s general population.

Employment absorption rates are also impressive: 94.6% of migrants in Ghana and 90.1% in Nigeria were successfully integrated into the workforce, showing how crucial migrant workers are to our economies.

Beyond their labour, migrant workers contribute significantly through remittances, which remain a major economic lifeline for millions of families across the Member States.

These figures underscore the vital role that labour migration plays as a development driver. However, to fully harness the potential of labour migration, we must confront several pressing challenges. These include irregular migration, lack of adequate social protection for migrant workers, weak governance structures, limited data and research, and the continued marginalization of women and other vulnerable groups in migration policy and practice.

It is against this backdrop that the ECOWAS Labour Migration Strategy and Action Plan has been developed. The Strategy sets out five key strategic objectives – each targeting a crucial pillar of effective labour migration governance.

The first is to promote regular migration, labour mobility, and human security. This objective aims to create safe, legal, and well-regulated migration pathways, reduce the risks of exploitation and trafficking in persons, and ensure that people can move in dignity to find decent work.

The second objective focuses on protecting the rights of migrant workers. No migration system is complete without safeguarding the dignity and well-being of those who sustain it. This pillar calls for strengthened labour rights, fair recruitment practices, access to justice, and social protection for migrant workers. It also encourages the signing of bilateral labour agreements and promotes decent working conditions for both men and women, especially in the informal economy.

As the third objective is to maximize the development impact of labour migration. Migration must benefit both people and economies. This includes enhancing financial literacy among migrants, supporting reintegration programs for returning workers, and ensuring that migration is integrated into national and regional development plans.

Fourth objective aims to strengthen regional cooperation and governance. Labour migration transcends national borders, and so must our collective response. The Strategy proposes stronger institutional frameworks, improved coordination among ECOWAS Member States, and harmonized data systems and standards. A Technical Coordination Committee on Migration will oversee implementation, supported by a soon-to-be-established Labour Migration Technical Working Group.

And the last objective is to ensure gender and social inclusion in migration policies. This involves crafting gender-responsive and youth-focused policies while also protecting the rights and welfare of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Inclusion must be central to every step of our migration governance.

This Strategy is the product of strong leadership from ECOWAS, with critical support from the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Free Movement of Persons (FMP) initiative, and our donor partners. We also deeply appreciate the active involvement of Member States, many of whom are here today to review and validate the Strategy.

“What we present today is more than a policy document, it is a commitment; a commitment to protect and empower migrant workers. A commitment to ensure that migration is a choice, not a necessity; a commitment to align regional migration, governance with continental frameworks, including the AU’s Free Movement Protocol and the JLMP”.

He urged the media and their partners to tell the story and help shine light on the experiences of the millions of migrant workers who seek not just employment, but dignity, safety, and opportunity.

Use your platforms to raise awareness about this Strategy and the hope it offers for a better-managed, more humane, and more effective labour migration system in West Africa. The dream is to work towards a future where migration is safe, orderly, dignified, and beneficial for all, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has shown that the World and Africa that free movement can work hence regional cooperation is not only possible, but powerful.

Madam Adaeze Molokwu, programme officer of the African Union Commission (AU) remarked at the Labour Migration Strategy launch on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 noted that this deepens that legacy, and takes the ideals of free movement and roots them in the realities of labour markets, social protection, and decent work.

“It answers the pressing questions, how do we protect migrant workers’ rights; how do we match skills with demand; and how do we make mobility safe, fair, and productive for all?”

This strategy reflects the synergy between freedom and responsibility, between movement and management, and between opportunity and protection.

According to the World Migration Report, there are 21 million Africans living in another African country in 2020, up from 18 million recorded in 2015. This shows steady increase in intra-regional migration over the past decades. Historically, migration has provided an opportunity for Africans to access enhanced

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.The AU-ILO-IOM-ECA Joint Programme on Labour, Migration, Governance for Development and Integration in Africa (JLMP), signed by African Union Heads of State in 2015, aims to improve labour migration governance to achieve safe, orderly and regular migration in the continent.

It is through the JLMP that various initiatives have been rolled out to support RECs and Member States towards improving policy coherence, partnerships, and coordination between different stakeholders at national, regional and continental levels with the aim of supporting targeted labour migration and employment policies.

Now is the moment to act and this call for action:
* To ECOWAS Member States: Breathe life into this strategy. Harmonize national policies. Strengthen institutions. And most importantly, ensure that migrant workers are treated with the dignity, protection, and opportunity they deserve. Ensure full implementation of the ECOWAS Rights of entry, residence and establishment, in line with Abuja Treaty. (Given ECOWAS’ experience on free movement, we implore you to lead by example in ratifying the African Union Protocol on Free Movement, which up till now has only 4 ratifications.)

* To Employers and the Private Sector: Be champions of fair recruitment. Invest in skills development. Build inclusive labour markets where diversity drives growth.

* To Civil Society, Trade Unions, and Community Leaders: Keep the human face of migration front and centre. Be the voice for the voiceless, and the bridge between policy and people.

* To Development Partners and International Allies: Align with Africa’s vision. Support us with respect, flexibility, and a shared sense of purpose.

* And to my fellow African Union colleagues Let us build on the ECOWAS example. Let us work toward a continent where mobility is well governed, mutually beneficial, and anchored in our shared values and goals.

Let us walk boldly, as one region, one people, toward the Africa We Want—an Africa of free movement, decent work, social justice, and inclusive growth.

As we celebrate ECOWAS’s achievements, let us match them with action and acknowledge the progress, let us accelerate the pace, she concluded.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com