The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has condemned the failure of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to release a load-shedding timetable amid severe power outages known as ‘dumsor’.
ACEP’s Policy Lead for Petroleum and Conventional Energy, Kodzo Yaotse, criticised ECG in a press briefing on April 23, 2024, attributing the latest development to the company’s monopoly in the power distribution sector.
“They [ECG] are just lucky that they have a monopoly over the service that they provide for us. If there was competition in the distribution of power in this country, I am sure ECG would have lost all of its customers by now to a more efficient and competent power supplier.
“To the extent that ECG is exhibiting some regulatory recalcitrance and also with the blessing of the Energy Minister, who is a politician by the way and would never want to admit that we are in this fix, we may not see a timetable until we are able to isolate the political management of ECG from the technical management of ECG,” he noted.
It will be recalled that a Member of the Energy and Mines Committee of Parliament, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, recently accused the ECG of failing to recognise the desires of Ghanaians to be well-informed about the ongoing issues with electricity supply.
Several areas across the country have been experiencing intermittent power outages for some time now, compelling many of the affected residents to demand a load-shedding timetable from the ECG.
However, both the ECG and the Ministry of Energy have stated that a load-shedding timetable was not necessary because there was no problem with the power supply.
Dr Pelpuo, who is the Member of Parliament for Wa Central, described the absence of a load-shedding timetable from the ECG and the Ministry of Energy as a sign of disrespect towards ordinary Ghanaians because the authorities were not paying heed to the wishes of the masses.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Energy Security (IES) is calling for the immediate removal of Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh due to the worsening energy crisis.
Reflecting on the deteriorating state of the power sector, IES suggested replacing the energy minister to tackle the issue.
In an interview, the Executive Director of IES, Nana Amoasi VII, expressed disappointment with the minister’s reluctance to find a lasting solution to the problem.
He also expressed worry over the minister’s apparent disconnect from the reality of the energy situation, questioning the purpose of his presence in such a critical space.
“Where we have gotten to, there is no circuit and so what is the use of the minister in that space? He must be relieved, probably to concentrate on any other agenda he is bidding for. He must be relieved of his post. It is becoming too much. Is it not insulting with the statement that he made? Total disrespect to consumers. Are we asking for too much?
“For God’s sake, I am a prepaid consumer. I have paid for that power that you need to supply me. In fact, you chose to put a meter in my house at a fee, that is also a contract in a form, and he chose to take my money in advance,” he lamented.
“If I am not going to get the power, then just out of respect, at least tell me when I can have the power. But don’t look into my face and say I should go and produce my own timetable,” he noted.