Former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Charles Wereko-Brobby has urged government and all stakeholders;to stop the ‘illusional game’ and have a proper conversation on what needs to be done in the energy sector.
Speaking in an interview, he called for this conversation in relation to the current energy crisis in the country.
“I think we need to stop the illusional game and have a proper conversation on what needs to be done in this country. But unfortunately, many people are not ready to do that.”
Wereko-Brobby
He also expressed displeasure over what he described as too much political interference being put ahead of the sustained provision of power.
“There’s too much political interference and that interference is being put ahead of the sustained provision of power. If we’re doing free water and power and the suppliers are left flat broke,;I don’t think anyone should expect the sustained provision of power.
“One of the ridiculous prices of democracy is that,;we have politicized everything and we forget that there’s nothing like free dinner.”
Wireko-Brobby
His comments come on the back of the current energy sector crisis having mainly to do with the provision of power in the country.
Touching on the recent power outages among others, Mr Wereko-Brobby blamed the happenings on the provision of free water;and electricity to Ghanaians during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
“You don’t give power away because of a political promise such that; even if you’re generating it at GHc10, you’ll sell it at GHC5. Those things will come back and hunt us.”
Wireko-Brobby
Expect More Taxes
Also commenting on energy sector related issues, the former MP for Damongo, Mutawakilu Adam;said Ghanaians must expect more taxes in the wake of the current power crisis in the country. According to him, this is due to the weak financial position facing the nation’s electricity transmission company, GRIDCo.
Mr Mutawakilu revealed that the $190 million government was supposed to receive to complete most of the energy projects will not come, hence the need to look elsewhere for the money.
“GRIDCo knows they’re supposed to do their maintenance at a certain time but they can’t because of their weak financial position.
“If GRIDCo was on its feet, it would have been able to carry out its projects as of now. The $190 million that would have come to complete most of these energy projects will not come, so we have to find money elsewhere.”
Mutawakilu Adam
In another development, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), says it is in discussion with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), to develop a load shedding timetable for power outages in some parts of the country.
According to the company, the table will provide details of the time and places that would experience power outages at any point in time between April and June, this year.
Mr Ebenezer Amankwaah, the Corporate Communications Manager of GRIDCo, who confirmed this said the load shedding schedule will enable both the ECG and GRIDCo to inform their customers ahead of the outages.
Some towns in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Winneba in the Central Region and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan would be affected.
