Be transparent on energy sector woes – IES to Jinapor

The Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII, has called on the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, to be more transparent with Ghanaians about the critical challenges facing the country’s energy sector.

His call comes after the Ministry revealed it urgently requires GH₵1.1 billion to purchase liquid fuel for power generation, warning that the country’s current reserves could run out in just 2.6 days.

The situation is part of a deeper crisis, as the sector reportedly suffers from a staggering GH₵2 billion monthly deficit, a shortfall largely attributed to the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) persistent failure to collect enough revenue.

In an interview, Nana Amoasi VII acknowledged the Minister’s efforts to reassure the public but stressed that honesty and realism are what consumers need most at this critical time.

“We’re facing a major challenge in the sector, and while I understand the Minister wants to comfort consumers, it’s more important to level with them. The truth is, we can’t guarantee reliable power supply until the inefficiencies in ECG are fixed,” he stated.

He urged the Minister to openly admit the problems and seek public support and patience as solutions are pursued.

“The Minister should tell consumers the facts. After all, he inherited the power crisis, popularly known as ‘Dumsor’ and should ask for time to fix it,” he added.

Nana Amoasi VII also emphasised the need for a sustainable financial structure across the energy value chain.

According to him, fuel suppliers, power producers, and power transmitters all need to be paid adequately and on time to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

“We need a system where there’s enough funding to pay the fuel supplier, the power generator, and the transmitter. That’s the only way to guarantee efficiency and reliability in the sector,” he stressed.