ACEP laments under-recoveries in energy sector, calls for reform

Accra, Ghana - Nov 5, 2024 - Ghana's energy sector is facing severe challenges, with the country currently relying on approximately 150 megawatts, resulting in ongoing load shedding across major cities, commonly known as Dumsor.

Benjamin Boakye, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), expressed concerns over the state of the energy sector, citing a deficit that needs to be managed effectively.

Key Challenges:

- Insufficient Power Supply: Ghana's power sector is not robust enough, leading to frequent power outages and low voltages.
- Lack of Transparency: Power suppliers are not communicating accurate information to the public regarding power consumption.
- Financial Deficits: The energy sector's financial struggles are exacerbating the Dumsor issue.

In an interiew on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, November 4, 2024, Boakye emphasized the need for effective management of the energy sector, stating that it's not the Ministry of Finance's responsibility to pay electricity bills, but rather the sector's managers should ensure revenue collection. 

“The power sector is not as robust as we need it to be, and therefore we face these kinds of challenges. We currently have a deficit, which is not as significant as it was a couple of months ago; we now have about 150 megawatts of load to share.

“The reality is that the system also has a deficit that needs to be managed, and from our [ACEP] tracking, the power providers are moving it around quickly, creating the impression that we have enough, but it is actually not sufficient.”

“That is why it is important to communicate these matters properly, share the loads, and provide optimal power to those who have it, so they can be productive,” he stated.

Source: Lead News Online