By Stanley Kwabla Arku As Ghana prepares to mark its 68th Independence Day, 52 exceptional students, including those with special needs, have been recognized for their outstanding performance in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The prestigious 2025 President’s Independence Day Awards celebrated the young achievers for their academic excellence and dedication to learning. The awards ceremony, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, was led by Vice President Her Excellency Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang. In her address, the Vice President commended the students for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to excellence. She emphasized that their achievements reflect the promise of a brighter future for Ghana, urging them to continue striving for success. The awardees, drawn from both public and private schools

BY: DANIEL ASARE Executive Director of the Institute for Development and Economic Research, Dr. Felix Larry Essilfie has shared his expectations ahead of the upcoming budget to be delivered by the Finance Minister on March 11, 2025. According to the Development Economist, he expects the government to scrap nuisance taxes imposed on macro-businesses in order to create decent and sustainable jobs for the teeming youth. He is also entreating government to rollout effective practical policies to boost agricultural production in the country. “In terms of the macro-economy or the macro-economics, I’m actually looking for removal of nuisance taxes because these taxes over the years have negatively impacted on businesses such that they have not been able to expand in order to create more jobs

Story by George Yawson Vineh Pan African Television got result as its campaign to connect Tubong community in the Upper East Region to the National Grid gained response from government having battled with darkness for sixty years. Residents of Tubong, a farming community in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region have been in darkness for the past sixty years as several calls to government to connect them to the National Grid fell on death ears until the presence of Pan African Television campaign to alert opinion leaders and government to help solve the menace. The joy of Tubong to be added to the National grid came after close to a year campaign by Pan African Television. The Moba or Bimoba people

BY: DANIEL ASARE Presidential advisor on the economy, Seth Terkper has opined that government will revert the Ghana Integrated tax management and Information system to ensure compliance Speaking at the Ghana’s economic outlook organized by the Ghanaian German economic association in Accra, Mr. Terkper touched on the need for tax rationalization to enhance efficiency “To contain your expenditures you are going to borrow, and if you borrow and you do not have the mechanism for repayment   you are going to default. This is the challenge you know, facing our country.” Says Seth Terkper

Story by George Yawson Vineh The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has established a new price floor for petroleum products, effective for the second pricing window of February. This directive requires Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to comply strictly with the minimum price set for fuel sales. The measure aims to prevent price distortions and ensure market stability within the downstream petroleum sector. The regulation, which takes effect from 16th to 28th February 2025, prohibits any company from selling fuel below the designated price threshold. Petrol and diesel have been priced at a minimum of GH₵12.56 and GH₵13.45 per litre, respectively, while Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been fixed at GH₵14.26 per kilogram. Companies found breaching this directive risk facing regulatory sanctions from the NPA.

BY: DANIEL ASARE Member of the Climate Communicators Network, Dorcas Mawuena, has expressed her optimism over the inauguration of the Young Climate Innovators Program (YCLIP) a bold and transformative initiative that seeks to equip young minds with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration needed to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change. According to her, the aforesaid movement recognizes the power of young people as drivers of change, as problem-solvers, and as the architects of a sustainable issue. She also asserted that Climate change is not limited only to scientific issue but also an economic, social justice and most importantly a leadership challenge. Speaking on the aforementioned issue, the Chief Director for the Ministry of Transport, Mrs. Mabel Sagoe believes this innovative initiative, represents