According to market analysis conducted by the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), fuel prices at the pump are projected to increase by between 6% and 9% during the second pricing window of July 2025. This anticipated rise comes as a response to current market indicators and is set to take effect from Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The mean retail price of petroleum products is expected to rise by an average of 8% from current levels once the new pricing window opens. Specifically, petrol prices are forecasted to increase by 6.47%, moving from an average of GHS11.59 per litre. Diesel, on the other hand, is anticipated to experience the most significant jump, rising by 9.30% from its current mean price of GHS12.97 per litre. In contrast, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is projected to see a slight decrease, with prices expected to fall by 0.45% per kilogram, providing a small relief amidst the broader increases. In a statement released on Tuesday, July 15, COPEC explained that these projections are based on current market indicators. The estimates assume stability in global Free-On-Board (FOB) petroleum prices and the cedi-dollar exchange rate in the near term. This is notable, especially as crude oil prices have recently seen a 4.89% drop, falling from $74.43 to $70.79 per barrel, and the Ghanaian cedi has depreciated by 0.47%, shifting from GHS10.5288 to GHS10.5785 per dollar. COPEC attributed the expected price hikes primarily to the introduction of a GHS1 Energy Sector shortfall and debt repayment levy, recently implemented by the Ministry of Energy. This new financial measure is seen as a significant driver of the upcoming price increases. The Chamber also warned that final pump prices could vary within a ±5% margin from the estimates, depending on actual market movements as the pricing window progresses. As consumers brace for these changes, the implications of rising fuel prices on everyday expenses continue to be a pressing concern for many. Read below the statement by COPEC CHAMBER OF PETROLEUM CONSUMERS – (COPEC) ACCRA 14 July 2025 * FUEL PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO GO UP 6%-9% IN THE SECOND PRICING WINDOW OF JULY 2025* The current mean fuel price is expected to go up by about 8% in the next Pricing Window Analysis of Projection Barring any unforeseen major changes in global Petroleum FOB prices and the Dollar: Cedi exchange rates, indications across the downstream petroleum market are that, in the next window beginning 16 July 2025, the mean pump retail price of Petrol is expected to go up by 6.47% of the current mean price of GHS11.59/L ii. The mean price of diesel is also expected to go up by 9.30% of the current mean price of GHS12.97/L and iii. Mean LPG price per kg is also to go down by about -0.45%. Acknowledging that, the Crude price has gone down by -4.89% from $74.43/barrel to $70.79/barrel and that the Cedi has slightly depreciated relatively to the Dollar from an average rate of $1:GHS10.5288 to $1:GHS10.5785 (-0.4720%), coupled with the introduction of the Energy Sector shortfall and debt repayment levy of GHS1 by the Ministry of Energy, the following will constitute the projected mean retail prices for Petroleum products to within ±5% of COPEC’s projection starting from 16 July 2025. Petrol .. GHS12.34/L Diesel .. GHS14.18/L The Mean Price for Petrol and Diesel..GHS13.26/L LPG.. GHS11.55/kg Thus, a 14.5 kg of LPG cylinder would be expected to be sold at GHS167.43 within the next window. Below are the detailed descriptions. PETROL Though the international FOB price of petrol has decreased from $740.93/MT to $716.30/MT (-3.32%), the retail price works up to GHS12.34/L Thus, the retail price of Petrol is expected to increase by 6.47% of the current mean pump retail price of GHS11.59/L, to close selling between GHS11.72/L and GHS12.96 /L , within ±5% range of COPEC’s projected figure of GHS12.34/L. DIESEL In the same manner, with the International FOB price of diesel increasing from $722.48/MT to $743.07/MT (2.85%), the projected mean retail pump price for the next window shall be GHS14.18/L Diesel is therefore expected to increase in price by about 9.30% of the current mean pump retail price of GHS12.97/L to be selling between GHS13.47/L and GHS14.89/L , within ±5% range of COPEC’s projected figure of GHS14.18/L. 3.0 Mean Price of Petrol and Diesel The mean price of petrol and diesel for the coming window per available parameters shall be GHS13.26/L . The mean pump price is therefore expected to increase by 7.96% over the current mean price of GHS12.28/L to be be selling between GHS12.60/L and GHS13.92/L, within ±5% of COPEC’s projected mean price of GHS13.26/L. LPG With the international FOB price of LPG decreasing from $492.70/MT to $465.52/MT (-5.41%), the projected retail price of LPG is expected to be on the average at GHS11.55/kg. Thus, within ±5% error, LPG is expected to be selling between GHS10.97/kg and GHS12.12/ kg. Remarks: 1. COPEC is very much appreciative of the fairly stable Dollar:Cedi exchange rate, which is being enjoyed in the fuel industry. * It is anticipated that the Dollar: Cedi exchange rate will continue to improve for the benefit of the general consumers of petroleum products. COPEC maintains that, Government must do all it can to reduce taxes on LPG or to subsidize the price of LPG to promote and encourage its nationwide accessibility and usage which will eventually help save the environment from further degradation by the use of firewoods. Currently, the total taxes and levies on retail prices of Petrol and Diesel is about 26.55%. * COPEC is requesting for the reduction of tax rates or to take off some of the fuel taxes to lessen the burden on consumers. * Alternatively, a formula can be adopted to vary the total levies with change in the Dollar:Cedi rate. We further appeal to the government not to relent in getting Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) back on stream in order to avoid or reduce the importation of finished products, with possible associated fuel contamination. COPEC wishes to appeal

13 banks that experienced capital shortfalls following the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) have successfully met or exceeded their recapitalization requirements as of the end of 2024. These institutions are on track to restore their Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) to the mandated 13 percent by the end of 2025. Despite this encouraging progress, one state-owned bank, alongside several others, remains significantly behind schedule. Factors contributing to their struggles include delays in shareholder capital commitments, elevated levels of non-performing loans (NPLs), and slow recognition of credit impairments and provisioning. According to a recent IMF Country Report, these banks are now under intensified supervision from the Bank of Ghana, which is enforcing corrective measures to ensure they meet their recapitalization targets by the approaching 2025 deadline. Furthermore, the approval and implementation of the World Bank-funded segment of the Ghana Financial Sector Stability Fund (GFSF) could provide additional support to some of these institutions, contingent on securing adequate capital injections to qualify for assistance. The report highlights ongoing efforts from Ghanaian authorities to improve credit quality and tackle financial sector legacy issues. While growth in NPLs has slowed, the overall NPL ratio remains high, standing at 22.6 percent as of 2024—though this is a decrease from 26.7 percent in the first quarter of the year. To mitigate the NPL burden, regulators are urging banks to strengthen their credit risk management systems, enhance skills in loan classification and provisioning, and closely monitor the effectiveness of NPL reduction strategies. Furthermore, the IMF report indicates that specialized deposit-taking institutions (SDIs), crucial for promoting financial inclusion, continue to be weighed down by undercapitalization and unresolved legacy challenges. Key components of the Ghana Financial Sector Strengthening Strategy (GFSSS) remain to be implemented in order to address these issues effectively. The Bank of Ghana is also revisiting its prudential and operational risk standards, progressing with the implementation of Basel II and III framework. Notably, the Bank has officially communicated to the industry that all regulatory reliefs granted after the DDEP will come to an end by the close of 2025, signaling the need for banks to bolster their resilience moving forward. As the Ghanaian financial sector navigates these challenges, the combined efforts of regulatory bodies and banking institutions will be critical in ensuring a sustainable and stable economic environment. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

As of today, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the revised Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1141) is officially in force, marking a significant shift in the energy financing landscape of Ghana. Commonly referred to as the Dumsor Levy (D-Levy) in local parlance, the government has announced this new levy regime and will be enforced by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The implementation of the amended levy comes after a previous postponement, which allowed authorities to closely monitor global market trends and maintain recent stability in domestic fuel prices. This strategic pause aimed to ensure that the activation of the levy would not adversely impact consumers during a delicate economic period. The decision to implement the revised levy was reached after comprehensive consultations with both the Ministries of Finance and Energy, alongside a thorough review of the current economic landscape. Officials assert that the timing of this activation is part of a broader initiative to stabilize the economy while addressing critical funding gaps in the energy sector. Under the new legislation, the rates associated with the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (ESSDRL) have been increased across several key petroleum products. These adjustments are designed to bolster revenue mobilization efforts, which will aid in settling legacy debts and providing essential investments in energy infrastructure—an area considered vital for the nation’s growth and development. As the new levy is rolled out, stakeholders in the energy sector are hopeful that this move will lead to enhanced stability and improvements in service delivery, ultimately benefiting both consumers and the economy at large. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

As part of its commitment to close the digital access gap and enhance customer experience in underserved areas, MTN Ghana held a community engagement in Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region aimed at empowering residents with knowledge on digital tools and mobile money safety measures. The forum focused on digital and financial inclusion for rural and remote communities and services designed to simplify their everyday lives. The forum also provided residents with vital information on how to prevent MoMo fraud. The community members were given updates on ongoing investments MTN Ghana is making to improve network infrastructure and reliability in Donkorkrom and surrounding areas. Commenting on the engagement, Georgina Fiagbenu, Corporate Communications Senior Manager at MTN Ghana said, “Our visit to Donkorkrom is a reflection of our commitment to serving all customers especially those in communities that have been historically underserved. We are listening, investing and working with urgency to improve the quality of service.” The community members actively participated in the forum, asking questions about product and services, the network and were taught how to spot and avoid MoMo scams. MTN’s team emphasized the importance of customer awareness. They also introduced the participants to digital tools to support their business operations and everyday tasks”. The District Chief Executive of Donkorkrom, Hon. Kate Mawusi, expressed her gratitude to MTN Ghana for their support to the district noting “I am happy to host MTN Ghana in Donkorkrom today. This visit demonstrates your commitment to your customers. We are excited to have you here in Donkorkrom”. The chief of Donkorkrom, Nana Akuamoah Boateng, commended MTN Ghana for coming to the community to engage with its residents. He commented that it was the first time a corporate organisation had recognised his community and organised such a forum to engage and solicit feedback on its services. He therefore urged MTN Ghana to continue to strengthen the relationship with Donkorkrom. Donkorkrom, a community with growing digital needs but limited infrastructure, was chosen as the location for the community engagement to reinforce MTN’s commitment to inclusive service delivery and improve connectivity in hard-to-reach communities. MTN Ghana has for several years organised community fora across Ghana to educate and solicit feedback on its services. These community fora underscore MTN Ghana’s dedication to providing timely information, improving digital literacy and strengthening trust through face-to-face engagement with its customers. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen  

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has claimed victory in the Ablekuma North parliamentary seat, with candidate Ewurabena Aubynn emerging as the winner after a closely fought re-run election. The official results, announced by Returning Officer Joseph Nii Kwartey Okpoti, revealed that Aubynn garnered an impressive 34,090 votes, edging out the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, who received 33,881 votes. The results indicate a nail-biting margin of just 209 votes between the two candidates. Of the 68,328 ballots cast, a remarkable 67,917 were classified as valid, while only 411 votes were rejected, highlighting the high level of engagement from the electorate. This victory is particularly significant for the NDC, marking a decisive turnaround in a constituency that experienced disputes during the parliamentary elections following the Electoral Commission’s re-collation exercise. Aubynn’s win not only flips the seat in favor of the opposition but also bolsters the NDC’s influence in the Greater Accra Region. With this significant achievement, the party now holds 184 seats in Parliament, further cementing its two-thirds majority. However, the re-run was marred by unsettling reports of violence, including alleged assaults on journalists and political party agents. These incidents have triggered widespread outrage and calls for urgent investigations and accountability, as the need for a peaceful electoral process resonates within the community. As the dust settles on this contentious election, the NDC stands poised to make its mark in Parliament, while the broader implications of the electoral violence continue to raise concerns regarding the integrity of the political landscape in Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com