In a surprising turn of events, the Executive Director of the Institute of Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII, has publicly challenged President Nana Akufo-Addo’s recent assertion regarding the stability of the country’s electricity supply. During the annual May Day celebration in Accra, President Akufo-Addo highlighted the government’s efforts in ensuring a constant power supply, despite the ongoing challenges in the energy sector.
The annual May Day celebration, a significant event in Accra, was marked by President Akufo-Addo’s address, where he praised the hard work of government officials for their role in maintaining a stable electricity supply over the past few days. This statement came amidst a period of heightened scrutiny on the government’s handling of the energy sector, particularly in light of recent power outages and supply disruptions.
In a statement released shortly after the President’s address, Nana Amoasi VII, the Executive Director of the IES, expressed skepticism about the claim of electricity stability. Nana Amoasi questioned the accuracy of the President’s assertion, citing ongoing challenges within the energy sector that have not been adequately addressed.
“The first thing that we picked from the President’s statement is that today he is admitting that under his tenure, there has been dumsor. So, he made it clear in his statement that the load shedding that we are seeing is probably normal.
To say that the issues have been dealt with is misleading and we pray that the handlers of the President will rather lead him than mislead him. Sometimes the President looks awful in the eyes of industry players, the watchers, and even consumers.”
Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of the Institute of Energy Security (IES)
The challenge from Nana Amoasi VII raised questions about the government’s transparency and accountability in managing the country’s energy resources. It also underscored the need for a more comprehensive and transparent approach to addressing the energy sector’s challenges.
Nana Amoasi VII pointed out that several areas, including Weija, Ekumfi, Mankessim, Nungua, and Tema Community 2 and 25, experienced power outages between Tuesday and Wednesday as well as some deficits in the power system.
Additionally, Nana Amoasi VII emphasized that the President’s statements should be based on the reality of the situation, not just what his advisors tell him. He expressed concern that the President’s handlers might not be providing him with an accurate picture of the ongoing power issues.
The IES boss urged the president to be cautious with his pronouncements, as they could potentially mislead the public about the true state of the country’s power supply.
“I am sure any pronouncement that he made is contingent on what they tell him but he must be very careful because the handlers are not putting out what the issues are. The value is the same. We’ve just seen a bit of change last night but if the President says that yesterday we didn’t experience dumsor anywhere around the country, that is untrue. I can recount some few places we have checked.”
Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of the Institute of Energy Security (IES)
The IES, under Nana Amoasi’s leadership, has been at the forefront of advocating for reforms in the energy sector, calling for greater investment in renewable energy sources and improved infrastructure.
The challenge has sparked a heated debate among energy sector stakeholders, with some supporting Amoasi’s call for a more critical assessment of the government’s performance. Others, however, have defended the government’s efforts, arguing that the improvements in electricity supply are a result of targeted interventions and investments in the sector.
The disagreement between President Akufo-Addo and Nana Amoasi VII underscores the complexities of managing the country’s energy resources. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the IES’s challenge and what steps will be taken to address the ongoing power supply issues.
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