KEY POINTS
- President Mahama reassures Ghanaians of swift solutions to the energy crisis.
- A technical committee is developing a roadmap to stabilize power supply.
- Fuel shortages threaten to plunge the nation into frequent power outages.
President John Dramani Mahama has reassured Ghanaians that the country has the human resources and expertise necessary to tackle an impending energy crisis.
During a meeting with a delegation of the World Bank Group, President John Mahama underlined his government’s determination in tackling the problems in the energy sector, such as the short supply of fuel and the possibility of consequent interruption of electricity supply.
Although recognizing the earthy political transition, President Mahama said that some unexpected issues have emerged in the energy sector that are serious challenges. However, he remains optimistic about Ghana’s ability to swiftly restore stability.
Energy sector surprises and the looming threat of “dumsor”
During the meeting, President Mahama referenced concerns raised by John Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, regarding critically low fuel reserves.
Jinapor warned that the nation’s reserves could only sustain power supply for five hours, raising fears of a return to the “dumsor” era of frequent power outages.
According to Graphic Online, President Mahama assured stakeholders and citizens that the government is fully committed to addressing the crisis. “Ghana has the human resources to deal with the situation and turn things around as quickly as possible,” he stated.
Government mobilizes resources to avert crisis
In light of the reality, the government has approved the formation of a ministerial technical committee on stabilization of the energy sector with all-round specifics as to the formation of a detailed strategy map.
The committee has been directed to submit its recommendations by the end of the day, January 8, 2025.
President Mahama underscored the importance of leveraging Ghanaian expertise to resolve the crisis, expressing confidence in the capability and resilience of local professionals to restore stability in the energy sector.
Public and stakeholder confidence in government efforts
While the government is striving to curb massive power black outs, the assurance made by President Mahama has elicited positive impression from players.
His administration’s proactive approach, including convening experts and seeking input from international partners, signals a commitment to mitigating the crisis effectively.
These energy challenges that are projected to come in future cannot be over-emphasized hence the call for both short term and long term energy policy in Ghana.
The role of the government determined in employing domestic chances and global partnership reflects a complex strategy to address the crisis.
