The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, who in opposition was an avowed critic of the government’s handling of the energy sector, now finds himself neck deep in similar challenges he once condemned.
His recent alarm over an imminent nationwide power crisis marks a sharp departure from his earlier position when he admonished leaders to focus on solving problems rather than offering excuses.
Once a vocal opponent of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government’s energy management while in opposition, Mr Jinapor had insisted that political leadership should take full responsibility during such crises.
At the time, he argued strongly that “When the good people of Ghana vote for you, your duty is not to go nagging, your duty is not to go whining, you must focus on the problem and deal with the challenges.”
Now at the helm of Ghana’s energy sector, the Minister finds himself grappling with the very predicaments he once decried.
Briefing Parliament last week , Mr Jinapor painted a gloomy picture of the current energy situation and disclosed that the country risks running out of liquid fuel for power generation within the next 2.6 days unless an urgent injection of GH₵1.1 billion was secured.
This comes amidst a ballooning monthly financial shortfall of GH₵2 billion within the energy sector, largely attributed to revenue collection challenges at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
“The fuel we have will last us just 2.6 days,” Mr Jinapor revealed adding that “Although we have placed orders for more fuel, these must be paid for. Some fuel has been procured on credit, and we are coordinating with the Ministry of Finance for payment. However, the Ministry of Finance also faces its limitations.”
He further indicated that the Cabinet will be convening to deliberate on long-term solutions, including the potential involvement of private sector entities in the operations of ECG to enhance efficiency and improve revenue mobilisation.
Another major concern raised by the Minister was the failure of public institutions to honour their electricity bills. He cited Ghana Water Limited as a prime example, noting that the utility provider has not paid its electricity bills for the past seven months, despite continuous power usage.
“Ghana Water Limited has not made any payment for the past seven months to the ECG but continues to consume the power,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Co-Founder and Executive Partner of Arthur Energy Advisors, Ing. Harriette Amissah-Arthur, has called for a paradigm shift in the management of the energy sector.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, 17 May, Ing. Amissah-Arthur argued that Ghana’s recurring power crises are less about money and more about systemic inaction and poor accountability.
“I think that if you look at what has been happening over the decades now, the problems we’re facing with our power sector are a combination of inaction on our part as Ghanaians,” she observed.
She bemoaned what she described as a flawed operational model that ignores basic business principles such as cost recovery, proper tracking of energy consumption, and targeted subsidy structures.
According to her, the current system lacks transparency in the allocation and usage of power across various sectors, including street lighting, education, and health facilities.
“Every unit of power must be accounted for,” she emphasised. “Operators should be able to tell us how much power goes into street lighting, educational institutions, or hospitals, and how much is lost due to non-payment or technical issues. Right now, everything is lumped together, and we’re just guessing.”
Ing. Amissah-Arthur urged policymakers to clearly identify institutions that require subsidised power and adopt transparent frameworks to ensure that the cost of such support is equitably shared among consumers.
As the nation faces yet another episode of potential power disruptions, energy sector experts and consumers alike are calling for urgent structural reforms, efficient revenue collection mechanisms, and a departure from the politicisation of energy supply issues. The coming weeks may prove critical as stakeholders assess whether current leadership can deliver on the stability the sector so desperately requires.
