The Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policy and Research (INSTEPR), Mr. Kojo Poku, has indicated that he is confident that the power supply challenges will be resolved soon.
Speaking during an interview, he stated that he was assured by the Minister’s statement that the issue will be resolved soon after personal discussions with engineers of the project.
“Some of us have had in depth discussions with some of the engineers. We don’t like what the politician will tell us, we like to go to the source. So, yes, we are assured that by the end of the year, most of these problems would have been rectified.”
Kojo Poku
Mr. Poku further cautioned Ghanaians that, the completion of the ongoing power supply projects doesn’t insinuate there wouldn’t be any power challenge in the future.
“That is the caution that we should all sound to Ghanaians. Everybody is trying to make it look like this power transmission project will solve all the problems. The completion of the Pokuase Bulk Supply and others wouldn’t guarantee that other parts of the nation will not experience power challenges.
“Yes, with the regions which are affected let’s say Kumasi through to the Kintampo land, the upgrade will solve the perennial problems in Kumasi. That will be solved but it doesn’t mean that some parts of Kumasi will never have their lights off.”
Kojo Poku
INSTEPR calls for investment
Mr. Kojo Poku then called on government to have a holistic approach in continuous investment in infrastructure and also called for private sector participation in energy related issues.
“This would help government to that level of giving these concessions to private companies that would go to these problematic areas, do the disconnections of the illegal connections and collect the revenue that is due.”
Kojo Poku
He indicated that the maintenance works being undertaken by GRIDCo is to improve quality of service of the electricity;despite some challenges that will be encountered.
The Executive Director also sided with the Energy Minister that;enough is being done to address the systematic problems in the energy sector. He suggested that attention should be given to the projects and the problems that come with them all the time and not become a one-off activity.
“Well enough is being done now because we have a problem and lights are going off. Some years ago, some called on government to pay attention to solve these problems.
“This should continue, it doesn’t have to only be now that we have a problem;then two years down the line everybody goes back. Like we did post 2017 where everybody saw that the lights are on and we solved ‘dumsor’ and everybody went to bed.”
Kojo Poku
Finance Ministry delays maintenance works
He further accused the Finance Ministry for being the cause of delay in efforts to undertake maintenance works.
“I have always said that Ministry of Energy is not the problem but Ministry of Finance is the problem.
“Ministry of Energy through their procedures will come up with the problem their facing and that money that is needed. You go to Ministry of Finance and it becomes a problem because it does not have the money.”
Kojo Poku
