Accra: The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus of the Energy Committee of Parliament has expressed concern over Ghana’s alleged power sector crisis, criticizing the Minister of Energy, Mr. John Jinapor, for ‘panic-then-retreat’ communication. As a result, the Caucus demanded tangible actions to resolve the ongoing alleged issues plaguing the sector.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Caucus has called for action and results from the Minister of Energy and the government. Mr. George Kwame Aboagye, the Ranking on the Energy Committee of Parliament, emphasized the need to stop the talking and put the lights on during a Press Conference held at Parliament House.
The Caucus made key demands, including the fixing of alleged fuel supply issues to ensure stable fuel supply for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), renegotiating alleged burdensome ‘take-or-pay’ contracts, and improving efficiency by setting KPIs for the Electricity Company of Ghana and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to reduce operational and distribution losses.
Additionally, Mr. Aboagye highlighted the importance of diversifying the energy mix to optimize renewables and gas and reduce reliance on imported fuels. He also called for the acceleration of smart metering roll-out to curb theft and increase revenue mobilization.
The Minority Caucus criticized the Minister’s recent statements about Ghana’s fuel reserves as ‘baseless and economically damaging.’ Mr. Aboagye, also the NPP Member of Parliament for Asene-Akroso-Manso, urged the government to prioritize action over rhetoric and address the sector’s financial challenges.
The ongoing power sector challenges include an alleged $1.7 billion debt owed to IPPs, alleged over 35 percent transmission and distribution losses, and alleged frequent power outages affecting businesses and the economy. The Minority Caucus’ call to action underscores the urgent need for immediate solutions to Ghana’s power crisis.