When Angels Depart: Birthday That Became Benediction -- Honouring the memory of Alhaji Limuna Muniru

When Angels Depart: Birthday That Became Benediction -- Honouring the memory of Alhaji Limuna Muniru

By: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham (AB)Assemblyman, Canteen Electoral Area(0241129910/0200704844)

Today , August 8, was meant to be a day of light, laughter, and legacy. It was meant to shine with hope. The birthday of our beloved fallen hero.

One hundred adolescent girls from the Greater Canteen Electoral Area were poised to benefit from the noble heart of Honourable Alhaji Limuna Muniru through a life - transforming initiative championing menstrual hygiene,  empowerment, and skills development. A man whose name echoed compassion, whose every birthday was an act of selfless giving.

But alas,death, which is too painful to remember, too cruel to understand - interrupted our joy and wrote sorrow across the skies. It stole from us a leader and a legacy in motion. 

Today, the 8th of August, would have marked the birthday of Alhaji Limuna Muniru, Ag. Deputy National Security Coordinator, former Minister for Agriculture, and the visionary behind the "Hope Again" literally translated as Tamawuta Foundation - in our cherished Gonja tongue. A fallen hero in the tragic plane crash that took the lives of eight of our finest statesmen. Our hearts still bleed.

Alhaji Muniru habitually dedicated this day to lifting the downtrodden, empowering the voiceless, and nurturing the hopes of the underprivileged. 

He was not a man of mere words; he lived his values. On every birthday, he chose service over celebration. It was on this very date, just last year, that he launched the Tamawuta Foundation - a beacon of hope for the underprivileged child. I had the rare privilege of witnessing that launch and the sincerity with which he pledged to sustain the vision.

Barely weeks ago, I received a call from the project coordinator of the foundation. Plans were underway to commemorate Alhaji’s birthday with a life-changing programme, where 100 young girls from my beloved electoral area stand to benefit hugely - offering free sanitary pads, menstrual hygiene education, and a precious chance to interact directly with the CEO himself at the Damongo Community Centre. The honour extended further: I was invited to a private birthday dinner with him. It was a moment I treasured deeply.

I immediately mobilised the girls, collected their contact details, and began preparing them for the occasion. They were full of joy, eager to meet the man behind the kindness. Later, the coordinator followed up with news of an expanded programme - a Tamawuta Skill Hub to train girls in soap and detergent making, vegetable preservation, branding, entrepreneurship, and legal advocacy in child and human rights. It was to be a four-day experience - August 8 to 11 - blessed with wisdom and hope.

But then came August 6: where fate had other plans:

A missed call. A heart too preoccupied. And then… silence turned to sirens.

On this faithful dark Wednesday,I missed a morning call - likely a reminder about the programme. Later that day, the airwaves filled with chilling reports: a government aircraft had gone missing. Anxiety gripped the nation. And when the dust settled, our fears were confirmed. Alhaji Limuna Muniru was among the fallen. I was left in disbelief. Shocked. Broken.

At that moment, everything stilled. The programme was postponed indefinitely. The dream deferred.

Savannah Region has lost an irreplaceable gem. Ghana has lost a statesman of deep convictions and a boundless heart. A man with a heart vast enough to carry the hopes of a generation.  As HE John Dramani Mahama rightly described him, "a humble yet effective public servant."

Many dreams rested upon his shoulders - dreams now suspended in sorrow.

My personal memories with Alhaji are too vast for this tribute. Words may fail to capture them. They stretch beyond this moment and call for an entire memoir. 

For now, I mourn quietly, with a trembling heart.

Yet we do not weep without hope.

We do not question the will of God. 

For it is written, "it is appointed unto every soul to pass through the veil..."

We are too mortal to question the eternal. But in our grief, we pray - for his family, for the grieving nation, for the many lives he touched and would have touched still.

May the Almighty stretch forth His healing hand and comfort our broken hearts and the troubled soul of our beloved nation.

This is a dark day in our collective history. But even in this darkness, his legacy shines. We shall carry forward the light he left behind.

May the good Lord show compassion to the eight fallen heroes and all the faithful, departed souls.

Forever in our hearts. Never again.

Four Years of Grace: Sibi Celebrates Prophetess Who Brought Life Through Water

Four Years of Grace: Sibi Celebrates Prophetess Who Brought Life Through Water

In the heart of Sibi, a remote community in Ghana’s Oti Region, hope once ran dry—literally. For years, residents struggled daily to access safe drinking water, often sharing stagnant streams and ponds with livestock. But on February 22, 2022, that long season of hardship gave way to a new dawn. The community woke to the sound of water flowing freely from a mechanized borehole—gifted by a renowned woman of God, Prophetess Ruth Natie.

A servant of God and a beacon of compassion, Prophetess Ruth Natie leads the Mount Zion Holy City Church International and is the founder of the Ruth Natie Foundation. With a heart for the vulnerable and a mission rooted in faith, she has invested her life and resources into transforming communities—providing clean water, supporting education, and offering hope where despair once reigned.

The intervention in Sibi, carried out under the “Jesus Christ Living Water Project,” was more than a philanthropic gesture—it was a divine lifeline. Guided by the biblical wisdom of James 3:13, which urges believers to prove their understanding of God’s ways through honourable lives and humble service, Prophetess Natie turned scripture into action.

Today, nearly four years on, the borehole remains the only reliable source of potable water in the community. It continues to serve a growing population of over 18,000 people, standing as both a symbol of resilience and a reminder of one woman’s unwavering faith and compassion.

A recent Joy News documentary marking World Water Day spotlighted the urgent need for additional support. As Sibi’s needs evolve, stakeholders are being called upon to build on the foundation laid by the Prophetess—to ensure no child drinks from a contaminated stream and no woman walks miles for a single bucket of water.

As the people of Sibi reflect on this transformative chapter in their history, their hearts overflow with gratitude. They remember the day their lives changed, not with fanfare or fortune, but with the quiet arrival of clean water—and the love of a woman who answered God’s call to serve.

They continue to lift their eyes to the hills, in hope and in prayer, believing that as God sent them a saviour once, more help will surely come.

And in the silence of every sip, the legacy of Prophetess Ruth Natie flows on.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

Salaga South MP Partners with Government to Expand Access to Technical and Vocational Education

Salaga South MP Partners with Government to Expand Access to Technical and Vocational Education

As part of ongoing efforts to broaden access to technical and vocational education, the Member of Parliament for the Salaga South Constituency in the Savannah Region, Hajia Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, has partnered with the government to construct an ultra-modern Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institute.

During an official visit to the proposed construction site, accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry of Education, the MP—who also serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation—pledged her full support towards the successful implementation of the TVET Senior High School project in the constituency.

According to her, the project, when completed, would serve as the missing link in promoting skills development among the youth, particularly in underserved communities. She emphasized that it would pave the way for economic empowerment and a brighter future for the teeming young population in the area.

She expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Paramount Chief of the Kpembi Traditional Area and his sub-chiefs, the Municipal Chief Executive, heads of institutions, security agencies, and the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their individual and collective commitment to the project and the overall development of the constituency.

As the only female legislator in the Savannah Region, Hajia Zuwera reaffirmed her readiness to facilitate the completion of the project, reiterating her unwavering commitment to education and skills development in the constituency.

The Paramount Chief of the Kpembi Traditional Area, Yiram Kpembewura Bambanye Ndefoso IV, expressed great excitement about the project and gave his full blessing for its commencement. In a demonstration of leadership and support, the chief released 15 hectares of land along the Salaga-Kafaba road for use in the construction of the institute.

The team from the Ministry of Education, after conducting a thorough assessment, expressed satisfaction with the chosen location and commended the traditional authorities for their cooperation and enthusiasm. They assured the MP of timely and high-quality delivery of the facility, in alignment with the vision of H.E. John Dramani Mahama to reposition technical and vocational education in Ghana.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

Beyond Jubilee: Lessons from Ghana's Oil and Gas Journey and Promise of Eban-Akoma Discovery

Beyond Jubilee: Lessons from Ghana's Oil and Gas Journey and Promise of Eban-Akoma Discovery

By: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham(AB)

Freelance Journalist | MSc Oil and Gas Resource Management

Contact: 0241129910 / 0200704844

For many resource-rich nations, the ultimate aspiration is to transcend the cyclical trap of the “resource curse,” a paradox often attributed to the “Dutch disease." This phenomenon arises when revenues generated from the extractive sector, particularly hydrocarbons(petroleum), distort the domestic economy by increasing demand for imports over domestic goods (“spending effect”) and shifting labor and capital away from other key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing(“resource pull effect”). The resulting imbalance often leads to weakened economic linkages, volatile commodity markets, and long-term macroeconomic instability. Mehlum et al. (2006) observed that resource-rich nations such as Nigeria, Angola, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela have experienced slower or stagnant growth compared to resource-poor yet industrially successful countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

As a general principle, natural resource endowments,particularly petroleum, can serve as catalysts for national development if exploited efficiently and managed prudently. Petroleum refers to naturally occurring deposits of hydrocarbons, including crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids—formed over millions of years through geological processes. Ghana, having only commenced commercial hydrocarbon production fifteen years ago, is still in the formative stages of determining its long-term trajectory(success  or failure) in this sector.

Historical Overview of Ghana’s Oil and Gas Sector:

Ghana's emergence as an oil-producing nation was officially marked in December 2010 with the commencement of commercial production from the Jubilee Field, located offshore in the Tano-Cape Three Points Basin. This milestone followed the 2007 discovery and drilling of the Mahogany-1 well by a consortium comprising Kosmos Energy, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Tullow Ghana Limited, Sabre Oil and Gas Holdings Limited, the EO Group, in conjunction with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The Jubilee Field, located approximately 75 miles offshore, is considered one of the largest offshore discoveries in West Africa, with estimated recoverable reserves of between 600 million and 1.8 billion barrels of high-quality light crude (37.6 API), and approximately 800 billion cubic feet of natural gas (Kapela, 2009). In addition to Jubilee, Ghana has since brought two other fields—TEN and Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN)—into production, from a total of approximately 25 offshore discoveries.

Petroleum resources in Ghana are located within four sedimentary basins: the Western Basin (Tano to Cape Three Points Basin), the Central Basin (including the Saltpond Basin), the Eastern Basin(Accra-Keta Basin), and the onshore or inland Voltaian Basin.

Following the 2007 discovery and with full awareness of the risks posed by the Dutch disease, Ghana adopted a comprehensive institutional and legislative framework to govern upstream and midstream operations. These frameworks were modelled on international best practices, particularly those of Norway, Timor-Leste, and Trinidad and Tobago. While commendable progress has been made, structural and implementation challenges persist and must be addressed—especially in light of the recent commercial discovery at Eban-Akoma.

Recent Seismic Surveys and the Eban-Akoma Discovery:

On July 3, 2025, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition announced the successful appraisal and commercial viability of hydrocarbon deposits at the Eban-1X (oil) and Akoma-1X (gas and condensate) wells. These wells are located in the Cape Three Points Block 4 (CTP-B4), and their confirmation marks a significant advancement in Ghana’s upstream sector.

The joint venture responsible for this exploration and appraisal comprises Eni Ghana Exploration & Production Ltd, Vitol Upstream Tano Ltd, Woodfields Upstream Ghana Ltd, and GNPC’s subsidiary, Explorco, operating in collaboration with the GNPC itself.

Constitutional and Legal Framework: Resource Ownership and Citizen Empowerment.

Under Article 257(6) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, all natural resources, including petroleum, are vested in the President on behalf of and in trust for the people of Ghana. Section 3 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 2016 (Act 919) reiterates this point, reinforcing the notion that these resources are public assets and owned by the people of Ghana

However, the enforceability of this constitutional trust was tested in Adjaye & Others v. Attorney-General & Annor (Suit No. C144/94) where the court held that the trust created was not enforceable in the law court. The Court, in arriving at this decision, relied on Tito v. Waddell (No. 2) [1977] to hold that the trust created under Article 257(6) was not judicially enforceable since it was not in the nature of a fiduciary relationship(trust in the lower sense). Rather, it represents a higher political trust that is executed through governance mechanisms(trust in the higher sense).

To check executive authority, Article 268(1) of the Constitution mandates parliamentary ratification of any contract involving the grant of rights for resource exploitation. A two-thirds majority in Parliament may exempt certain contracts under Article 268(2). In Republic v. High Court, Ex Parte Exton Cubic (2019), the Court underscored the necessity of parliamentary oversight as a proxy for the people’s approval, reinforcing democratic accountability in resource governance.

Institutional and Legislative Frameworks for Upstream and Midstream Petroleum Operations:

Although a detailed evaluation of the adequacy of Ghana’s petroleum legislation is necessary, it is broadly acknowledged that the current legal framework is robust. The key issue lies in addressing the structural and implementation deficiencies.

The core legal instruments governing Ghana’s oil and gas sector, especially the upstream and midstream petroleum operations, include:

●1992 Constitution of Ghana.

●GNPC Act, 1983 (PNDCL 64).

●Petroleum Commission Act, 2011 (Act 821).

●Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815), as amended by Act 893 (2015).

●Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, 2016 (Act 919).

●Petroleum Income Tax Act (PNDCL 188).

●Model Petroleum Agreement (MPA).

A. Petroleum Commission: regulating the Upstream Sector.

The establishment of the Petroleum Commission under Act 821 and in accordance with article 269 of the 1992 constitution marked a significant shift in regulatory governance. The Commission assumes responsibility for oversight of upstream activities, thereby eliminating the conflict of interest previously associated with GNPC's dual role as regulator and operator.

In addition to regulating upstream operations, the Commission promotes local content, enforces health, safety, and environmental standards, and ensures that petroleum activities contribute meaningfully to national welfare.

B. Petroleum Exploration and Production Act (Act 919):

Act 919 provides a comprehensive legal regime for managing petroleum exploration, development, and production. It defines the contractual relationship between the State, GNPC, and investors, prioritizing transparency, sustainability, and national interest.

Sections 5 and 11 prohibit petroleum operations without a formal agreement, except by GNPC. The Act mandates transparency and accountability (Section 4), empowers the Minister to demarcate Ghana's sedimentary basins into blocks, allocate those blocks (Section 6), and restricts share transfers exceeding 5% without ministerial approval.

The State, through GNPC, has the right to acquire up to 15% carried interest during exploration and development (Section 10.14), with an option to increase its stake to 25% following a declaration of commercial discovery, safeguarding public interest in strategic resources. 

C. Petroleum Revenue Management Act (Act 815, as amended):

This Act was enacted to ensure the transparent and sustainable management of petroleum revenues. Its objectives include prudent fiscal management, intergenerational equity, and public accountability in accordance with Article 36 of the 1992 constitution.

Key provisions include:

1. Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF): Established at the Bank of Ghana to receive and disburse all petroleum-related revenues.

2. Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC): A citizen-led statutory body that ensures citizen engagement, oversight, and regular reporting on the use of petroleum revenues thereby, deepening transparency and accountability. 

3. Investment Advisory Committee (IAC): Develop a benchmark portfolio and advise the Minister on investment strategies for the Ghana Petroleum Funds, ensuring fiscal responsibility and reducing the risk of mismanagement.

4. Ghana Petroleum Funds (GPF): Comprising the Ghana Stabilization Fund (GSF) and Ghana Heritage Fund (GHF), these are strategic instruments for savings and stabilization(investment).GHF for instance secures the development of future generations through savings when the petroleum reserves are completely depleted.The GSF on the other hand, is to cushion and sustain public expenditure in times of un-anticipated petroleum revenue shortfall.They (GHF and GSF) are to be consolidated into the Ghana Petroleum Wealth Fund one year after the depletion of reserves.

5. Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA): Allocated to priority development areas under a medium-term framework, with a minimum of 70% earmarked for public investment and 25% for the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).

6. Exceptional Transfers: Permitted for specific purposes, including tax refunds and community compensation.

Challenges and Implementation Gaps:

Despite the legislative strengths, several systemic challenges persist:

1. Over-reliance on ABFA for recurrent (consumption-based) expenditures undermining transformative potential of oil revenue.

2. Weak linkages between petroleum and non-petroleum sectors.

3. Inconsistencies in ABFA-funded priority areas due to political transitions.

4. Weak enforcement of accountability provisions leading to misuse and misapplication of earmarked funds.

5. Inefficiencies in project execution and evaluation.

6. Underfunding of the GHF, undermining intergenerational equity.

The Promise of the Eban-Akoma Discovery: Lessons and Policy Recommendations

As Ghana transitions towards commercial development of the Eban-Akoma fields, it is imperative to draw lessons from previous experiences and implement targeted reforms:

1. Establish a Sovereign Petroleum Investment Authority, modelled after Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, to manage petroleum revenues independently and professionally.

2. Implement a long-term development framework for ABFA utilization under the National Development Planning Commission.

3. Amend the PRMA to curtail ABFA usage for recurrent expenditure and prioritize infrastructure and essential services delivery in health, education,  roads, and highways.

4. Enforce stricter legal sanctions for financial mismanagement, breach of investment rules, delays, and reporting failures.

5. Strengthen PIAC’s mandate with investigative powers and enhance community monitoring capacity for projects executed with petroleum revenue to foster grassroots accountability.

6. Unify political consensus on petroleum governance to depoliticize strategic decisions, as was the case under the Norwegian model.

7. Promote local content and participation, as stipulated in L.I. 2204, to enhance state control and inclusive benefits.

Conclusion:

The aspiration of every resource-rich country is to avoid the resource curse and transform its resource wealth into sustainable national development. Ghana’s early efforts—through legislative innovation and institutional establishment have laid a solid foundation. However, the recent Eban-Akoma discovery presents a timely opportunity to reinforce these gains through reforms that promote efficiency, accountability, and long-term national welfare. Strengthening enforcement, ensuring fiscal discipline, and committing to intergenerational equity will be critical in transforming Ghana’s petroleum wealth into a blessing, not a curse.

Sources:

1. Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) 2024 Semi-Annual Report

2. Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815) as amended by Act 893 (2015)

3. Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, 2016 (Act 919)

4. Springfield Group – Offshore Discovery

5. PIAC – Oil Production Decline

6. Kwesi Dartey-Baah et al. “Emerging Dutch Disease in Emerging Oil Economies: Ghana’s Perspective”

7. “Model of State Management of Petroleum Sector – Case Study of Norway,” Interdisciplinary and Political Science Journal, Vol. 20, No. 1/2017