The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has pushed back against criticisms accusing him of lamenting the country’s energy challenges, stating that his focus remains on delivering tangible solutions to stabilise the sector.
In a sharp rebuttal to comments made by the Member of Parliament for Walewale, Tia Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, and other critics, Hon. Jinapor clarified that his recent engagements with Parliament’s Energy Committee were not emotional outbursts but factual briefings intended to drive policy action.
“I understand grumbling very well, and I don’t think that when you appear before a committee and you present facts, they term that as grumbling. Unless, as a minister, I needed to hide that fact.”
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
The Minister has come under scrutiny for allegedly using “fear tactics” in his public addresses regarding Ghana’s power generation and fuel supply situation.
Critics argue that the Minister’s tone at parliamentary hearings and media briefings has stoked public anxiety rather than projecting the calm decisiveness needed during energy supply difficulties.
However, Hon. Jinapor insisted that laying out the challenges and steps being taken is part of responsible governance.
“When Karpowership threatened to shut down, we sat at the table, negotiated, and resolved it.
“That is not grumbling; that is leadership. These are the real issues we’re dealing with behind the scenes.”
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
Hon. Jinapor detailed several proactive measures the Ministry is undertaking to strengthen power supply and reduce Ghana’s reliance on volatile liquid fuel markets.
According to the Minister, a generation shortfall of 70 to 80 megawatts that existed when he assumed office has been significantly reduced.
“In addition to resolving Karpowership’s concerns, we’ve been enhancing capacity.
“That includes expanding our generation fleet and introducing long-term fixes such as gas processing infrastructure.”
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
He pointed to the establishment of a Gas Processing Implementation Committee tasked with designing a strategy to end Ghana’s dependency on expensive liquid fuels by scaling up domestic gas processing.
“I told Parliament that we are building gas processing capacity so we can transition from liquid fuels. That’s not complaining — it’s action.”
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
Private Sector Participation
On the broader structural reform agenda, the Minister confirmed that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has expressed interest in engaging private sector partners to improve revenue collection and operational efficiency.
“We’ve already inaugurated the committee handling stakeholder consultations for ECG’s private sector participation.
“Implementation will follow — again, that’s not rhetoric, that’s governance.”
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
Hon. Jinapor’s remarks suggest that the Ministry sees partnerships with the private sector as a critical pathway to stabilising ECG’s finances and boosting the broader energy sector’s viability.
Addressing recent concerns about dwindling fuel reserves for thermal power generation, Hon. Jinapor assured Parliament that fuel orders have been placed and are being processed.
He also clarified that his disclosures were intended to inform and galvanize solutions, not to incite panic.
“I never said we are in crisis. I provided data on our fuel stock and confirmed that we are replenishing our supply.
“Yes, there are challenges, but we are tackling them head-on.”
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
The Minister urged critics to adopt a more constructive tone in their engagements, reiterating that the government remains committed to addressing sectoral challenges.
“We were elected to solve problems, not hide them.
“So, if I point out an issue and follow it with a solution, that’s responsible leadership. Let’s focus on collaboration, not finger-pointing.”
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
As Ghana navigates a complex energy landscape marked by debt, supply constraints, and rising demand, the Energy Ministry’s call for reform and resilience appears to be gaining urgency — even if not without political resistance.
With a clear focus on gas infrastructure, revenue reforms, and generation stability, the Minister maintains that the government is on track to ensure energy security for all Ghanaians.
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