The Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has denied reports by a cross-section of experts in the energy industry that the cause of the current electricity crisis “Dumsor” is because the Akufo Addo government has failed to settle its bills with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
In a Press conference today, Sunday, May 16, the energy minister described such reports are of financial challenges as “wishful thinking” by critics.
“These problems are not financial because the problems are being solved, and we pleaded with Ghanaians to bear with us. We work to make the power supply more dependable in the country. I also urge you to ignore those making wishful thinking on the situation,” he told newsmen.
“The problems are being solved, and by the end of the year, we should have much stable power for all of us. Kindly bear with us as we fix these problems in our collective interest.”
However, critics like John Jinapor, former Energy and Petroleum Minister who also doubles as the Ranking Member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament,
Insists the power crisis is caused by financial problems, and that the government wasn’t being candid with Ghanaians.
“Somebody is not telling us the truth, and in this difficult moment, when people are struggling, there ought to be clarity and certainty. If indeed power is not adequate in terms of the transmission line, tell the people of Ghana and assure us of what you are doing,” he said.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Distribution Company (GRIDCo) have been releasing power outage schedules with no end in sight.