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Ghana: Tema Oil Refinery Signs First Collective Bargaining Agreement Since 2018
Ghana’s Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has signed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with its local unions, marking the refinery’s first such agreement since 2018.
The agreement was signed on July 9 in the presence of the refinery’s Board Chairman, Nayon Bilijo, and a member of the Board of Directors.
TOR’s management team was led by Managing Director Edmond Kombat and his deputy Alhaji Mustapha Abubakar, while the unions were represented by officials of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union (GTPCWU), the Union of Industry, Commerce and Finance Workers (UNICOF), and leaders of the refinery’s local unions.
The refinery said the agreement reflects its commitment to improving employee welfare and recognizes competitive remuneration as a key factor in motivating staff and sustaining productivity.
TOR said all relevant stakeholders participated throughout the negotiations as part of efforts to promote transparency, good governance and inclusiveness.
“This collaborative approach reflects management’s commitment to fostering constructive labour relations, promoting staff welfare, and supporting the professional growth and development of its workforce,” the refinery said in a statement.
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Ghana: PURC Should Adopt NPA’s Fair And Transparent Pricing Framework For Electricity And Water Tariff Setting(Opinion)
The recent increases in electricity and water tariffs have sparked widespread public discussion, with many Ghanaians calling on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to review or withdraw the new tariffs.
The new tariffs, which took effect on July 1, 2026, saw electricity tariffs increase by 3.49%, while water tariffs rose by 0.85%.
In an opinion piece, Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy, described the PURC’s tariff-setting model as opaque and lacking transparency.
He urged the Commission to adopt the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) pricing framework, which he said is fair, transparent, and provides a clear basis for periodic price adjustments.
Below is the full opinion piece by Benjamin Nsiah.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) recent decision to increase electricity tariffs by 3.49% and water tariffs by 0.85% respectively in the third quarter of 2026 exposes the regulator’s historical weaknesses concerning transparency and fairness in electricity pricing in Ghana. The lack of transparency may restrict end-users’ ability to understand or evaluate whether tariffs reflect fair costs or market realities. A critical deficiency lies in the limited disclosure of key market indicators and their respective weights in determining water tariffs, as well as the exact weightings associated with the exchange rate, inflation, generation mix, and weighted average cost of gas (WACOG) for natural gas in determining electricity tariffs. This opacity starkly contrasts with the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) pricing regime, which sets a commendable standard through comprehensive and transparent disclosure practices. The petroleum authority publishes detailed Petroleum Products Pricing Guidelines that specify the exact pricing benchmarks, conversion factors for each product, and the precise formula for calculating ex-refinery and ex-pump prices. The Authority clearly communicates the applicable pricing windows and FOB averaging periods and publishes actual ex-pump prices for public information. The NPA’s pricing demonstrates a higher degree of transparency than PURC’s approach by regularly publishing detailed pricing indicators such as exchange rates, ex-refinery prices, and conversion factors. This approach promotes accountability by elucidating the components driving price changes and enabling stakeholders to verify the integrity of pricing decisions. The PURC should urgently adopt a similar approach by publishing a comprehensive weighting scheme for its market and macroeconomic indicators. This can enhance its credibility and address public concerns regarding tariff fairness and regulatory accountability. The transparency and disclosure of influential variables anchor pricing decisions in objective and observable market factors rather than opaque administrative discretion, thereby reducing perceived arbitrariness. Just as the NPA specifies that FOB prices are based on Platts benchmarks with precise conversion factors (e.g., 1183.43 for gasoil), PURC should disclose its equivalent technical parameters. This would enable the independent verification of tariff decisions and likely reduce the perception of arbitrary adjustment. Publishing such benchmarks or indicators provides both utility providers and end users with adequate notice and enables stakeholders to anticipate adjustments based on established rules. This aligns with the principles of fair pricing, where stakeholders are informed in advance about potential tariff movements based on real economic variables. The established schedule should include key updates on exchange rate volatility, inflation, the cost of natural gas, and changes in weights or conversion factors that materially impact cost structures. Learning from the NPA, the utility regulator should institutionalize these transparency measures as a core regulatory function rather than as ad hoc communication. Voluntary disclosures by the regulator may fall short of expectations and could be perceived as serving the interests of utility providers and the government, particularly if the disclosure practices remain inconsistent. However, mandatory and consistent disclosures combined with self-regulatory frameworks can foster collective accountability and public benefit. In conclusion, PURC’s tariff-setting will benefit substantially from adopting transparent disclosure practices akin to the National Petroleum Authority’s model, particularly the publication of comprehensive pricing indicators and a formalized waiting scheme for periodic tariff reviews.Masdar Secures $5.1 Billion For World’s Largest Solar-And-Battery Project In Abu Dhabi
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Gambia, Ghana Petroleum Regulators Sign Deal To Strengthen Upstream Oversight And Capacity Development
The Petroleum Commission of The Gambia and the Petroleum Commission of Ghana have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in regulating and managing the upstream petroleum sector.
The agreement was signed on July 10 by Director General of the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, Engr. Cany Jobe, and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle, during a three-day visit by Ghanaian delegation to Banjul.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in upstream petroleum regulation, local content, petroleum data management, legal and regulatory frameworks, and compliance monitoring and enforcement.
It also provides for institutional strengthening and capacity development through staff exchanges, training, study visits, internships, secondments, technical assistance and joint programmes.
During the visit, the Ghanaian delegation paid courtesy calls on The Gambia’s Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Nani Juwara, and the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
The minister welcomed the delegation and conveyed his regards to his Ghanaian counterpart, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition. He reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between the two countries and The Gambia government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation between their petroleum institutions.
During the technical engagement, the two commissions exchanged experiences on regulatory governance, institutional development, upstream licensing and licence management, local content implementation, public procurement, institutional financing, stakeholder engagement, human resource development, and collaboration with Parliament and other oversight institutions.
Describing the agreement as a practical partnership founded on institution-building and shared learning, Engr. Cany Jobe said strong institutions were essential to ensuring petroleum resources deliver lasting national benefits.
“A country may discover petroleum, but without capable institutions, clear rules, technical discipline, public trust and responsible oversight, the opportunity can easily be weakened,” she said.
Jobe said while petroleum discoveries depend on geology, science and investment, it is strong institutions that ultimately determine whether those discoveries translate into sustainable national benefits.
She added that this was why the partnership with the Petroleum Commission of Ghana was significant.
She said Ghana’s petroleum sector provides valuable lessons for frontier petroleum jurisdictions such as The Gambia.
Ghana began commercial oil production in 2010 and currently produces oil from three fields: Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa-Gye Nyame.
For her part, Emeafa Hardcastle described the signing as “far more than a formal act” and “a landmark moment and a powerful symbol of our mutual commitment to a brighter future.”
She said the agreement comes at a time when African petroleum-producing and frontier countries face common challenges, including increasing competition for investment and the realities of the global energy transition.
She added that collaboration among African regulators had therefore become increasingly important, enabling institutions to leverage their complementary strengths, deepen technical cooperation and pursue mutual development.
Emphasising that implementation would determine the success of the partnership, Hardcastle said: “Our most important task begins: turning the commitments in our MoU into meaningful, on-the-ground results.”
She expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen not only the two institutions but also the enduring friendship between the peoples of Ghana and The Gambia.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Abdoulie Jallow, representing the minister, reaffirmed the ministry’s full support for the partnership. He described the MoU as a reflection of Pan-African cooperation and the shared belief that African countries can accelerate their development by learning from one another.
Under the MoU, the two commissions will establish a Joint Steering and Oversight Committee to guide implementation, develop annual work programmes and coordinate technical cooperation through specialised sub-committees.
The Petroleum Commission of The Gambia expressed its appreciation to the Petroleum Commission of Ghana for its visit, friendship and continued partnership, as well as to the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, the Commission’s Board, management and staff, and all stakeholders whose support contributed to the success of the visit.


