The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Eastern Regional Legal Director, Lawyer Isaac Minta Larbi, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of deliberately undermining former President John Dramani Mahama’s Home Solar Solution Policy.
Lawyer Minta Larbi, in a detailed statement, pointed out that the initiative, which was implemented between 2012 and 2016 was aimed to make individual homes less dependent on the national grid by providing free solar panels.
According to lawyer Minta Larbi, the Energy Commission of Ghana was responsible for overseeing the project, allowing individuals to apply for free solar panels for their homes.
“The plan was to install solar in over 200,000 homes in Ghana within a period of 5 years. This project was under implementation and many Ghanaians knowing how good and reliable solar is began to put in the necessary application in order to obtain the free solar panels.
‘This project was even expanded to include what we call Independent Power Producers (IPP) at a mini level where those individuals who can afford to generate enough solar power with excess can sell the excess power to the ECG who would buy the excess and sell it to Ghanaians”.
Lawyer Isaac Minta Larbi, NDC Eastern Legal Director
Additionally, Lawyer Minta Larbi indicated that a solar bank system was proposed for those unable to afford backup batteries, allowing them to store solar energy with the ECG and retrieve it when needed, a process known as net metering.
He pointed out that the “great solar power concepts” introduced by former President John Dramani Mahama got several Ghanaians to take advantage of it to enjoy free solar at their homes and some even in their offices.
Duty-Free Solar Equipment
Furthermore, the opposition National Democratic Congress Eastern Regional Legal Director mentioned that as part of the government measures to facilitate the adoption of solar power, former President John Dramani Mahama exempted all solar equipment, including panels, batteries, and inverters, from import duties.
This, according to him, made it easier and more affordable for Ghanaians to switch to renewable energy.
Lawyer Minta Larbi thus criticized the current administration, led by President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for halting such a laudable project upon assuming office in January 2017.
He noted that the government imposed exorbitant import duties on solar equipment, effectively stalling the initiative and leaving many Ghanaians without the promised solar power solutions.
Lawyer Minta Larbi alleged that the cancellation was driven by the NPP’s intention to privatize the ECG, thereby increasing reliance on the national grid to create more customers for the privatized entity.
This, he contended was a clear indication that the New Patriotic Party administration under President Akufo-Addo prioritized their financial interests over the welfare of Ghanaians.
“Due to this intention, this great project was canceled because PDS was coming to take over ECG so everyone would have to buy from PDS. It’s obvious that President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia never came into government intending to improve the lives of Ghanaians but themselves.
“It is unfortunate that such a great project which was to the personal and direct benefit of Ghanaians was cancelled because of the selfish agenda of President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia”.
Lawyer Isaac Minta Larbi, NDC Eastern Legal Director
Consequences of the Cancellation
Highlighting the significant repercussions of the termination of the “Home Solar Solutions”, introduced by the erstwhile Mahama’s administration, Lawyer Minta Larbi pointed out that if the initiative had continued, over 200,000 homes would have been equipped with solar power.
He posited that such development would have reduced the country’s heavy dependence on the ECG and potentially prevented the ongoing power crisis.
According to him, excess power generated by these homes could have been sold to the ECG, providing additional electricity for those without power and generating foreign exchange through the sale of surplus energy to neighboring countries.
Lawyer Minta Larbi also criticized the immediate Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for failing to reintroduce the project, criticizing the New Patriotic Party Vice Presidential Candidate for the upcoming general election of insensitivity.
He highlighted a recent incident where Dr Prempeh told Ghanaians to “prepare their own dumsor timetable”, describing it as an indication of the former Minister’s indifference to the plight of the citizens.
“In 2017 I personally imported hybrid inverters that could communicate with the ECG meters in order to be able to return excess solar power to the ECG after my backup batteries were fully charged so at the end of the day ECG could pay me as an independent power producer enabling me make some genuine money as a Ghanaian.
“Unfortunately, that dream was cut short by Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia because as soon as the equipment arrived I was told by ECG that the project had been canceled and from 2017 I imported solar panels, inverters, etc in order to take advantage of the net metering, I’ve never been able to do so”.
Lawyer Isaac Minta Larbi, NDC Eastern Legal Director
He expressed hope that with the return of former President John Dramani Mahama in 2025, such beneficial projects would be revived, alleviating the suffering caused by the current administration.
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