The Co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr. Steve Manteaw, has accused the sitting government of being uncomfortable with admitting that the country is facing another energy crisis “dumsor”.
According to Dr. Manteaw, the government is reluctant to openly acknowledge the current power challenges because the energy sector has become heavily politicized in Ghana. This political nature of the energy sector, Dr. Manteaw explained, is the main reason the government is unwilling to openly discuss the current power challenges facing the country.
He revealed that, the energy sector currently lacks the financial muscles to to procure enough fuel to generate power, however, he said the government is uncomfortable admitting the energy crisis, as it may be seen as a failure of their policies and management of the sector.
“Challenges that confronts the energy sector today is lack of finance to procure fuel, hence generation shortfall but because we have so much politicize the energy sector, the sitting government is having challenges admitting that we yet again in “dumsor”.
“Because the President has told Ghanaians that he leaves that titled, that “dumsor” titled to former President Mahama and having said that in just some couple of months, it becomes to admit that we are where we were in 2015 but if we don’t confront this politicization sector, we will never be able to resolve the problems of the sector.” He said.
He made this revelation while Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, on last Wednesday .
The GHEITI Co-chair’s comments come at a time when Ghana has been experiencing intermittent power outages, raising concerns among businesses and households.
Experts have called on the government to prioritize finding practical solutions to address the power challenges, rather than focusing on the political implications of the crisis.
Political parties usually make promises and claims about their ability to solve power challenges during elections, making the energy sector a highly contentious issue.
This political nature of the energy sector, Dr. Manteaw explained, is the main reason the government is unwilling to openly discuss the current power challenges facing the country.
Source: Elvisanokyenews