The Ministry of Energy has clarified recent remarks made by Sector Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, regarding the release of a timetable for ongoing power outages.
In a statement released on March 26, Kofi Abrefa Afen, the Energy Ministry’s Spokesperson stated that the minister’s position reaffirmed the government’s denial of the need for a “load management timetable.”
He claims that this stance, as expressed by the Electricity Company of Ghana, is predicated on continuous initiatives to deal with the underlying issues causing the intermittent power outages.
“The Ministry has taken notice of the spin around an interview granted by Energy Minister, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh on the margins of the inauguration of the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional Campaign Team last Sunday. The rather innocuous statements of the Minister as captured by the interview have been distorted to portray him as being insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians and thus, we wish to avert the minds of the Ghanaians to the context of the interview.”
Kofi Abrefa Afen, the Energy Ministry’s Spokesperson
According to the statement, Dr Opoku Prempeh asserted that there was no need for the release of a timetable for the recent power outages.
The Ministry further noted that the Minister’s comparison of the current energy sector to that of former President John Mahama, where Ghanaians reeled under pervasive ‘Dumsor’ for 4 years, comes on the back of recent similar calls in the media by the NDC flagbearer for a load management table.
The statement suggested that in the said clip, the Minister is seen straining his voice because of the noisy background, to be hard by his interviewer. This has unfortunately been misconstrued.
“The Minister dismissed the need for a load management timetable because in his view and as indicated by the Electricity Company of Ghana, the cause of the temporary power challenges is being addressed. The Minister in the clip said, ‘Addressing the issue is not an event’ which is very so. The Honourable Minister has always been sensitive to the plight of the Ghanaian people and continues to ask for forbearance, as has been the case when challenges relative to power stability emerge.”
Kofi Abrefa Afen, the Energy Ministry’s Spokesperson
Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s comments were made during the inauguration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaign team in the Ashanti Region, where he challenged those advocating for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to issue a load-shedding timetable to present their own proposed schedules. He also questioned the rationale behind creating a timetable when the ECG has confirmed that no such plan is in place.
During the inauguration of the NPP campaign team in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh made specific remarks regarding the ongoing power outages in Ghana. He challenged those advocating for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to issue a load-shedding timetable to present their own proposed schedules.
He stated, “Ask those who want it to bring it if there is. I haven’t seen any timetable.” This remark was made in response to the demand for a structured load-shedding timetable to aid in planning amidst the power crisis.
Dr. Prempeh emphasized that the current power outages cannot be classified as the dumsor that happened in the NDC administration and that efforts are underway to address the challenges.
Despite public criticism, the Ministry’s statement clarified that Dr. Opoku Prempeh was simply stating facts and did not intend to disrespect citizens. The Ministry assured the public that it is working assiduously with various power sector actors to ensure that the temporary challenges are resolved.
Despite the clarification, some individuals and groups have continued to express their concerns and criticisms, with some even labeling the situation as “very insulting.”
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