By Ashiadey Dotse
The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has issued a strong warning about a looming power crisis, commonly referred to as ‘dumsor,’ urging the government to act swiftly to prevent nationwide outages.
This warning follows concerns raised by Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu John Abdulai Jinapor, who revealed that Ghana’s fuel reserves are critically low, with only five hours of supply remaining.
Speaking after President John Dramani Mahama’s inauguration on January 7, 2024, Jinapor criticised the previous administration for failing to secure adequate fuel supplies, leaving the new government in a challenging position.
He also disclosed that President John Mahama has instructed the Chief of Staff to hold an emergency meeting with power sector players regarding the looming power crisis.
Executive Director of the IES, Nana Amoasi VII, echoed these concerns during an interview on Citi FM. He blamed the crisis on poor planning and systemic inefficiencies, warning that without urgent reforms, the country could face a prolonged power curse.
He explained that Ghana heavily relies on natural gas for electricity production, but insufficient backup fuel reserves make the power sector vulnerable to disruptions.
“Almost all our power plants, except the hydro and solar ones, can run on liquid fuel. However, we don’t have adequate reserves to ensure reliability,” Nana Amoasi VII said.
He expressed disappointment over the lack of proper fuel procurement arrangements during the transition period, calling it a missed opportunity to prevent this crisis.
The IES is urging the current administration to act immediately to secure fuel supplies and stabilise the power sector to avoid plunging the nation into darkness.
“We appeal to those in charge to start working immediately. Without swift action, the country remains dangerously exposed to power shortages,” Nana Amoasi VII concluded.
