The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has expressed concern over the politicization of power outages in the country, emphasizing the need for a swift national consensus to address challenges in the energy sector.
AGI decried the labeling of intermittent power cuts as ‘dumsor,’ stating it hampers Ghana’s industrialization efforts. Mr. Kwame Jantuah, Chairman of the Oil and Gas sector at AGI, stressed the importance of electricity as a crucial engine for industrial growth, urging for a non-political approach.
Speaking at a policy dialogue during World Sustainable Energy Day in Accra, Mr. Jantuah emphasized the significance of treating energy as a national discussion rather than a political issue. He called for political leaders to engage in dialogue and reach agreements for the benefit of the nation.
In response to recent outages, AGI urged the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to provide a timetable for consumer planning. Mr. Jantuah emphasized the need to move beyond politics and focus on effective governance to address energy sector challenges.
He called on Members of Parliament to lead efforts for a national consensus to address bottlenecks in the energy sector, supporting industrialization, economic growth, and sustainability. Mr. Jantuah emphasized the importance of both political parties collaborating to advance the country.
Regarding recent outages, Mr. Sam Dubik Mahama, Managing Director of ECG, clarified that the interruptions were due to local faults, not supply issues. He highlighted urgent measures to replace the gas plant valve, worth $200 million, which contributed to recent outages.
Mr. Jantuah urged ECG to take decisive steps to eliminate wastages, collect funds efficiently, and distribute resources effectively.
In November 2023, Ghana’s total electricity consumption reached 21,440 GWh, with a projected year-end figure of 23,617 GWh and an estimated consumption of 24,997 GWh, representing a 5.8% increase for 2024, according to the Energy Commission.
“So far as the lights are going off intermittently, once a day or twice a day, it’s ‘dumsor,’” Mr Kwame Jantuah, Chairman, Oil and Gas sector, said in an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency.
“Energy is like air, and so important for houses and industry, and we cannot mess with it. Where power is concerned, it shouldn’t be a political situation, but a national discussion where political leaders sit and come to an agreement,” Mr Jantuah said.