Ghana’s Electricity Company (ECG) disclaims accountability for last Thursday’s power disruption. On October 26, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) attributed the power outages to a reduced gas supply in Tema. This deficiency caused a 550MW shortfall during peak hours, leading to Thursday night’s blackout. GRIDCo has since apologized for the inconvenience.
By October 28, both ECG and GRIDCo confirmed that power had been successfully restored. This followed the resumed gas supply to Tema’s generating plants from Takoradi.
However, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) denies culpability for the power challenges. On October 30, GNPC addressed allegations from “misinformed individuals” who blamed them for the outage. GNPC clarified that ECG directly pays the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCO) for transported gas.
This gas is then utilized by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to generate electricity, which ECG distributes. ECG manages payments to all electricity service providers, including WAPCO.
On PM Express, ECG’s Managing Director, Dubik Mahama, voiced his disappointment with GNPC’s press release. Mahama emphasized the importance of collaboration within the value chain. He recalled how ECG previously assisted in settling WAPCO bills without seeking public recognition. Mahama also highlighted the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM), which determines resource allocation from ECG’s monthly collections. The system prioritizes payments to IPPs, which ECG has consistently honored.
When questioned about the power outage’s origin, Mahama responded, “Honestly, I don’t.” He reiterated that ECG’s focus is on electricity sales, not gas quality or transportation. Mahama also revealed a seasonal decrease in ECG revenues, attributing it to reduced power purchase during cooler periods.
