Ghana Poised to Tackle Energy Crisis with Skilled Workforce – Mahama

President John Mahama asserts that Ghana possesses the expertise and human resources necessary to effectively address the ongoing energy challenges.

In his remarks, Mahama acknowledged the current difficulties but conveyed optimism regarding the nation’s capacity to navigate these issues. “While there have been surprises and challenges within the energy sector and related governmental decisions over the past seven years, I firmly believe that Ghana has the knowledge and skill set to overcome these obstacles and achieve a swift turnaround,” he stated.

His comments were in response to concerns raised by Yapei-Kusawgu Member of Parliament, John Abdulai Jinapor, who highlighted the risk of an energy crisis due to inadequate fuel stocks for power generation. Mr. Jinapor pointed out that the current administration is facing a shortage of essential fuels, which could lead to significant challenges in the coming days. “If we look at the stocks of heavy fuel oil and diesel, we may not have enough to sustain us for more than two days,” he warned.

Furthermore, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) emphasized the urgent need for $89.90 million to procure liquid fuel in light of the temporary halt in natural gas supply. This funding is crucial to ensure electricity generation companies can meet national demand adequately.

The West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAGP), which provides natural gas to Ghana, is planning major maintenance work, known as pigging, which will temporarily halt gas supply for nearly a month. Initially scheduled for October 2024, this maintenance has been moved to January 2025, following a decision from the previous government.

GRIDCo has cautioned that if WAGP proceeds with the maintenance, the nation might face serious power supply interruptions, commonly termed ‘dumsor,’ due to a lack of liquid fuel for power generation. However, with constructive measures and collaboration among all stakeholders, Ghana can navigate these challenges and work towards a stable energy future.