Ministry Loses Case to Solar Panel Supplier

Feb 15 , 2020


The Federal High Court ordered the Ministry of Trade & Industry to pay half a million Birr to Vera International Business Plc, a local solar equipment importer. The two parties were in a battle for over two years after Vera took the case to the Court, claiming 1.6 million Br in compensation from the Ministry. Vera claimed that it was subjected to 110 days of warehouse rent after the Ministry refused to give it a clearance for the 12,710Kg of solar panels it imported with a duty-free privilege. The Ministry refused the clearance stating that the product did not have a pre-shipment inspection certificate, stating that the items should be inspected before being distributed in the community. After reviewing the case, the High Court passed its ruling on January 1, 2020, against the Ministry. The Court ordered the Ministry to pay compensation to Vera for rent it paid for 32 days along with nine percent interest and judgment and lawyer service fees.


Radar

Parliament Reviews Bill Allowing Foreign Property Ownership

A draft proclamation that would allow foreigners to own or occupy immovable property in Ethiopia has been submitted to parliament by the Council of Ministers. Designed to attract foreign investment, the draft law plans to ensure that Ethiopian citizens retain their right to land ownership and use. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the draft was among six agenda items discussed and approved during the Council's regular session held on May 2, 2025. The proclamation is e...


Radar

Speeding in the Spotlight as New Safety Drive Begins

The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, E...


Radar

Askari Metals Secures Five Gold Licenses in Untapped Adola Belt

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia's Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. "The exploration areas—Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado, and Wayu Boda—lie near Ethiopia's top gold mines, including Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have produced over three million ounces of gold. The area is known for orogenic gold systems hosted...