Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of the Institute of Energy Security (IES), has raised critical concerns over Ghana’s ongoing power outages, commonly known as dumsor. Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile program, he asserted that Ghana should not have experienced significant power challenges after 2017, given the resources and capacity available at the time.
“With a dependable capacity of 4,300 megawatts in 2017, rising to 5,100 megawatts today, there is no reason for us to struggle to produce just 3,100 megawatts,” Nana Amoasi said. He noted that the country had sufficient infrastructure to ensure a stable supply of electricity and attributed the current challenges to mismanagement and financial constraints.
The issue, he explained, stems from the government’s inability to settle debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), who play a crucial role in supplementing the state’s power generation. Notably, Sunon Asogli, one of Ghana’s major IPPs, suspended operations in October 2024 due to outstanding payments. Three additional IPPs have also reduced power output, warning of complete shutdowns if their debts remain unpaid.
Nana Amoasi expressed skepticism over assurances by the acting Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ing. Asamoah David, who claimed that the crisis would improve in the coming weeks. “The promises by ECG cannot be relied upon,” Nana Amoasi remarked, citing a lack of transparency and ineffective communication within the energy sector.
He also criticized the government for “suppressing information” that would allow the public to assess the situation and contribute viable solutions. In previous years, data on power supply and generation was more accessible, enabling better monitoring and accountability, he argued.
The recurring issue of dumsor has historical roots, with frequent outages under the John Mahama administration giving rise to the term. The previous government took steps to address the crisis before losing power in 2016, paving the way for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Akufo-Addo. Despite initial stability in electricity supply during the early years of the NPP administration, the recent setbacks have reignited public frustration.
Critics argue that the current government has failed to build on the progress made and has allowed financial mismanagement to derail the power sector. The debt owed to IPPs remains a pressing concern, as prolonged delays in payments threaten to deepen the crisis and undermine Ghana’s economic stability.
As the nation grapples with this challenge, experts call for urgent reforms in revenue management and improved collaboration between government and private power producers. Addressing the financial bottlenecks in the energy sector will be critical to ensuring consistent and reliable electricity for Ghanaians.
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