1. Introduction
Welcome to Africa Centre for Energy Policy (“ACEP”)
These Terms of Service (s) (“Terms”), govern your use of this Website (located at acep.africa (together or individually) including all pages, subdomains and other online platforms, operated by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), collectively referred to as “Websites”.
Service (s)
Service (s) here means anything in a digital form on any of ACEP’s Websites, i.e. (acep.africa, open tax ghana, africa oil gas summit, our oil money, oil money tv, electricity monitor, petroleum contract monitor), made available to you by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP). These include:
a. Other Websites (stated above).
b. Surveys.
c. Apps (opentaxghana and the Dumsor App).
d. Available content on this Website and the other Websites (above).
e. Content available through feeds, like RSS, social media handles.
The Privacy Policy also governs your use of ACEP’s Websites and explains how we collect, safeguard and disclose information that results from your use of our web pages.
Your agreement with ACEP includes these Terms and our Privacy Policy (“Agreements”). You acknowledge that you have read and understood Agreements, and agree to be bound by them.
If you do not agree with (or cannot comply with) Agreements, then you may not use the Websites. If this is the case, please let us know by emailing at info@acep.africa so we can try to find a solution. These Terms apply to all visitors, users and others who wish to access or use these Websites.
2. Communications
By using these Websites, you agree to subscribe to our newsletters, promotional materials, publications and other information we may send. However, you may opt out of receiving any, or all, of these communications from us by following the unsubscribe link or by emailing at info@acep.africa.
Collection of Information
ACEP may collect information from you in various ways:
Direct interaction – ACEP, through its various physical programs and interactions, may collect information from you in our ongoing relationship (s) with you.
Public Sources – ACEP may collect information about you through publicly and legally available sources such as libraries, public institutions and agencies, as well as private organizations, for purposes of research.
Third parties – ACEP may collect information about you from third parties providing specific service (s) to it or acting on its behalf.
It must be noted, that all of the above ways in which information may be collected by ACEP, can be done electronically (Virtual / Online) or in hard copy format (on Paper). The amount of information ACEP may collect will depend on the frequency and nature of your interactions with the Organization.
ACEP may collect and store the following information about you mainly online (electronically – using cookies on its Websites, or on paper:
a. Your name
b. Bio information (date of birth, location, nationality, gender, disability status, level of education, linguistic status) for the purposes of adequate inclusive planning.
c. Present and past professional/educational affiliations and roles.
d. Mail addresses (physical), electronic addresses (digital and emails), and/or telephone numbers.
e. Topics about which you wish to interact with ACEP.
f. ACEP may collect information on the type, form, location, and date of your interactions with it in events, conferences, seminars or forums, including the capturing of your photograph or visual (video) with your consent.
g. Correspondences and exchanges you have with ACEP.
h. Public interest information about you published publicly..
i. Your public social media posts made via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or made via direct messages to ACEP and its staff.
j. Other materials, including but not limited to speeches you have authored or published.
k. Your available social media handles and profiles published publicly.
For the effective and efficient user experience and continuous improvement on our Websites, ACEP may collect and store the following when you contact us electronically:
l. Your email address and subscription preferences when you agree to receive emails from us.
m. How you use ACEP’s emails.
n. Your IP address and which version of a web browser you used.
o. Through cookies and other available technologies, ACEP may also collect information on how you use its Websites.
Who can use your information . . ?
Every information ACEP may collect about you or from you in hard copy or electronic format, can be viewed by authorised people at the Organization, for the purposes of:
p. Site improvement and management by monitoring how you use it.
q. Gathering feedback on user experience.
r. Responding to your inquiries, questions, comments, requests and feedback.
s. Giving you updates on its Websites on events, newsletters, publications and general information for your use.
t. Data download audit and website use analysis.
ACEP’s use of Cookies
ACEP uses cookies for its Websites.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers downloaded on to your computer or on your mobile device when you access certain websites. Like virtual door keys, cookies unlock a computer’s memory and allow a website to recognise you when you return to the site.
The purpose of a cookie is to help the website page keep track of your activities, visit history and restore same whenever you visit the page later in the future. ACEP uses cookies to help restore your website preferences to enhance your browsing experience
Additionally, ACEP uses cookies which may track how much time you spend on our Websites and the pages you visit, to understand how subscribers (You) use our Websites and ways in which we can improve your browsing experience. These analyses are done using Google Analytics.
In some cases, ACEP also uses cookies provided by third parties such as Twitter and Facebook. If you use a function associated with any of these parties on one of our Websites, these parties may place cookies on your computer or mobile device.
You can disable cookies by adjusting the settings on your browser, usually found in the “options” or “preferences” menus, or use your browser’s “help” function to aid you adjust the settings on this function.
Please be aware that disabling cookies will affect the functionality of your browsing experience when you visit ACEP’sWebsites. We therefore, advise that you do not disable these cookies.
3. Content
ACEP’s Websites allow you to post, comment, link, store, share and otherwise, make available, certain information in text, graphics, videos, audios, or other material (“Content”).
Content here means anything digital, which is available on these Websites of ACEP. This can be created by ACEP (Owner-generated) or by you (in which case it will be referred to as User-generated). These Includes:
a. Texts and comments
b. Documents
c. Audios
d. Videos
e. Publications
f. Images
g. Technical stuff such as metadata and open-source code.
h. Anything made by subscribers as a result of their use of our Websites.
You are responsible for Content that you post on or through our Websites, including its legality, reliability, and appropriateness. By posting Content on or through ACEP’s Websites, You represent and warrant that:
i. The Content is yours (you own it) and/or you have the right to use it and that you have the right to grant us the permission and license as provided in these Terms; and
j. That the posting of your Content on or through our Websites, does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, contract rights or any other rights of any person or entity in line with the laws of Ghana.
ACEP reserves the right to terminate the account of anyone found to be infringing on a copyright.
You retain any and all of your rights to any Content you submit, post or display on or through ACEP’s Websites and are responsible for protecting those rights. ACEP takes no responsibility and assumes no liability for Content you or any third party posts on or through our Websites.
However, by posting Content using ACEP’s Websites, you grant it the right and license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Content on and through its Websites. You agree that this license includes the right for ACEP to make your Content available to other users of its Websites, who may also use your Content subject to these Terms.
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has the right but not the obligation, to monitor and edit all Content provided by users (You) on its Websites.
In addition, Content found on or through these Websites (excluding user-generated content) are the sole property of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) or used with permission. You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, download, repost, copy, or use said Content, whether in whole or in part, for commercial purposes or for personal gain, without express advance written permission from the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP).
4. Prohibited Use
You may use ACEP’s Websites only for lawful purposes and in accordance with the Terms.
You agree not to use these Websites:
a. In any way that violates any applicable national or international law or regulation.
b. For the purpose of exploiting, harming, or attempting to exploit or harm minors in any way by exposing them to inappropriate content or otherwise.
c. To transmit, or procure the sending of, any advertising or promotional material, including any “junk mail”, “chain letter,” “spam,” or any other similar solicitation.
d. To impersonate or attempt to impersonate ACEP, its employees, another user, or any other person or entity.
e. In any way that infringes upon the rights of others, or in any way is illegal, threatening, fraudulent, or harmful, or in connection with any unlawful, illegal, fraudulent, or harmful purpose or activity.
g. To engage in any other conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone’s use or enjoyment of Websites, or which, as determined by us, may harm or offend ACEP or users of its Websites or expose them to liability.
Additionally, you agree not to:
h. Use ACEP’s Websites in any manner that could disable, overburden, damage, or impair it services or interfere with any other party’s use of its Websites, including their ability to engage in real time activities through these Websites.
i. Use any robot, spider, or other automatic devices, process, or means to access the Websites for any purpose, including monitoring or copying any of the material on the Websites.
j. Use any manual process to monitor or copy any of the material on the Websites or for any other unauthorised purpose without ACEP’s prior written consent.
k. Use any device, software, or routine that interferes with the proper workings of the Websites.
l. Introduce any viruses, trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, or other material which is malicious or technologically harmful.
m. Attempt to gain unauthorised access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any parts of the Websites, its services, the server on which the Websites are stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to the Websites.
n. Attack Websites via a denial-of-Websites’ attack or a distributed denial-of-Websites’.
o. Take any action that may damage or falsify ACEP’s rating.
5. Analytics
ACEP may use third-party web sites (Providers) to monitor and analyze the use of its Websites.
6. No Use by Minors
ACEP’s Websites are intended only for access and use by individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years old, can consent to and be bound by the ‘Terms’ herein. By accessing or using these Websites, you warrant and represent that you are at least eighteen (18) years of age and that you have the full authority, right, and capacity to enter into this agreement and abide by all of the terms and conditions of Terms. Individuals below the age of (18) years, can only use these Websites with the Consent of their Parents or Guardians. If you are not at least eighteen (18) years old, you are prohibited from both the access and usage of services on these Websites without your Parent’s or Guardian’s Consent.
7. Accounts
When you create an account with ACEP on its Websites, you guarantee that you are above the age of 18, and that the information you provide to ACEP is accurate, complete, and current at all times. Inaccurate, incomplete, or obsolete information may result in the immediate termination of your account on our Websites.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password, including but not limited to the restriction of access to your computer and/or account. You agree to accept responsibility for any and all activities or actions that occur under your account and/or password, whether your password is with our Websites or our third-party web sites. You must notify us immediately, upon becoming aware of any breach of security or unauthorized use of your account.
You may not use as a username, the name of another person or entity, or that which is not lawfully available for use, a name or trademark that is subject to any rights of another person or entity other than you, without appropriate authorization. You may not use as a username any name that is offensive, vulgar or obscene.
ACEP reserves the right to refuse you access to its Websites and services, terminate your account, remove or edit your content, or cancel your orders, in its sole discretion.
International Users
ACEP’s Websites are operated in Ghana and are subject to Ghanaian Copyright, Data Protection, Privacy and Other national laws.
ACEP’s collection, processing, management and use of your information will be done in Ghana. By using our Websites, accessing or providing any information to same, you agree to the transfer of your information to Ghana. This means you may not have the same level (s) of Copyright, Privacy and Data Protection laws applicable in your respective country, which regulate the collection, processing, management and use of information, as described in this Terms of Use.
8. Intellectual Property Right
ACEP’s Websites and its original content (excluding User-generated Content), features and functionality, are and will remain the exclusive property of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) and its licensors, and are protected by the copyright, trademark, privacy and other laws of the Republic of Ghana and other respective applicable international Conventions to which Ghana has signed on to.
Our trademarks may not be used in connection with any product or websites without the prior written consent of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP).
9. Copyright Policy
ACEP respects the intellectual property rights of Users. It is our policy to respond to any claim that Owner-generated Content posted on our Websites, infringes on the copyright or other intellectual property rights (“Infringement”) of any person or entity.
If you are a copyright owner or authorized on behalf of one, and you believe that your copyrighted work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please submit your claim via email to info@acep.africa, with the subject line: “Copyright Infringement” and include in your claim a detailed description of the alleged Infringement as detailed under “Copyright And Related Rights Offences” Procedure for “Copyright Infringement Claims” under the Copyright Act of Ghana, 2005, Act 690.
You may be held liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) for misrepresentation or bad-faith claims on the infringement of any Owner-generated Content found on and/or through our Websites on your copyright.
10. Copyright, Related Rights Offences and Procedure for Copyright Infringement Claims
In the case of an alleged Copyright Infringement and pursuant to the Copyright Act (2005) of Ghana, Act 690 (sessions 42, 43 and 45), you may submit a notification by providing ACEP with the following information in writing:
a. An electronic or physical signature of the person authorised to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright’s interest;
b. A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed, including the URL (i.e., web page address) of the location where the copyrighted work exists or a copy of the copyrighted work;
c. Identification of the URL or other specific location on ACEP’s Websites where the material you claim is being infringed upon is located;
d. Your address, telephone number, and email address;
e. A statement by you, that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent (s), or the law;
A statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.
You can contact us via email at info@acep.africa.
11. Error Reporting and Feedback
You may provide ACEP either directly at info@acep.africa or via third party sites and tools with information and feedback concerning errors, suggestions for improvements, ideas, problems, complaints, and other matters related to ACEP’s Websites (“Feedback”). You acknowledge and agree that:
a. You shall not retain, acquire or assert any intellectual property right or other right (s), title or interest in or to the Feedback;
b. ACEP may have development ideas similar to the Feedback;
c. Feedback does not contain confidential information or proprietary information from you or any third party;
d. ACEP is not under any obligation of confidentiality with respect to the Feedback. In the event that the transfer of the ownership to the Feedback is not possible due to applicable mandatory laws, you grant ACEP and its affiliates an exclusive, transferable, irrevocable, free-of-charge, sub-licensable, unlimited and perpetual right to use (including copy, modify, create derivative works, publish, distribute and commercialize) Feedback in any manner and for any purpose.
12. Links To Other Web Sites
ACEP’s Websites may contain links to third party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy.
Africa Centre for Energy Policy, has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third party web sites or services. ACEP does not warrant the offerings of any of these entities/individuals or their websites.
You acknowledge and agree that ACEP shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any such content, goods or servicesavailable on or through any such third party websites.
We strongly advise you to read the terms on our Websites and Privacy Policies of any third-party web sites that you visit.
13. Disclaimer Of Warranty
These Services are provided by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy on an “as is” and “as available” basis. ACEP makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of its Websites, or the information, content or materials included therein. You expressly agree that your use of these Websites, their content, and any Services or items obtained from ACEP, is at your sole risk.
Neither ACEP nor any person associated with the company, makes any warranty or representation with respect to the completeness, security, reliability, quality, accuracy, or availability of the Websites. Without limiting the foregoing, neither ACEP nor anyone associated with the company represents or warrants that the Websites, their content, or any services or items obtained through the Websites will be accurate, reliable, error-free, or uninterrupted, that defects will be corrected, that the Websites or the server (s) that make them available are free of viruses or other harmful components or that the Websites or any services or items obtained through the Websites will otherwise meet your needs or expectations.
ACEP hereby disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, statutory, or otherwise, including but not limited to any warranties of merchantability, non-infringement, and fitness for particular purpose.
The foregoing does not affect any warranties which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable laws.
14. Limitation of Liability
ACEP and its officers, directors, employees and agents, will not be held liable for any harm, directly or indirectly, punitive, special, incidental, or consequential damage, that arises from using or relying on information obtained from its websites, unless where the appropriate laws prescribe otherwise.
15. Termination
ACEP may terminate or suspend your account and bar your access to its Websites immediately, without prior notice or liability, under its sole discretion, for any reason whatsoever and without limitation, including but not limited to a breach of the Terms, provided the action does not violate the Right to Information laws and similar legislations.
If you wish to terminate your account, you may simply discontinue using ACEP’s Websites.
All provisions of the Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, to ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity and limitations of liability.
16. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Ghana.
ACEP’s failure to enforce any right (s) or provision (s) of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights. If any provision (s) of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between ACEP and you, regarding its Websites and supersede and replace any prior agreements you and ACEP might have had in the past.
17. Changes To Websites
ACEP reserves the right to withdraw or amend its Websites, and any Services or material it provides via the Websites, inits sole discretion, without notice. ACEP will not be liable, if for any reason, all or any part of these Websites is unavailable at any time or for any period. From time to time, ACEP may restrict access to some parts of the Websites, or the entire Websites, to users, including registered users.
18. Amendments To Terms
ACEP may amend the Terms at any time by posting the amended Terms on these Websites. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically.
Your continued use of ACEP’s Websites, following the posting of the revised Terms, means that you accept and agree to the changes. You are expected to check these pages frequently so you are aware of any changes, as they are binding on you.
By continuing to access or use ACEP’s Websites after any revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, you are no longer authorized to use these Websites.
19. Waiver and Severability
No waiver by ACEP of any term or condition set forth in the Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition, and any failure of ACEP to assert a right or provision under Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
If any provision of the Terms is held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be eliminated, such that the remaining provisions of the Terms will continue in full force and effect.
20. Acknowledgment
By using ACEP’s Websites and services, you acknowledge that you have read these Terms of Use and AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM.
21. Contact Us
Please send your feedback, comments and requests by email to: info@acep.africa.