Ghana's former Energy Minister, Herbert Krapa, has called on the newly elected National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to focus on effective management of the power sector. Krapa's comments come in response to allegations made by John Jinapor, Co-Chairman of the Transition Team's Energy and Natural Resources sub-committee, who claimed that massive load shedding looms due to Ghana's depleting fuel stock .
Krapa dismissed Jinapor's claims as unfounded, stating that load shedding arises from technical issues, emergencies, or poor management, rather than simply "looming" . He refuted the assertion that the Akufo-Addo administration left inadequate fuel stock, citing verifiable evidence that light crude oil and heavy fuel oil supplies were in place for Cenpower and AKSA power plants.
"The responsibility of the new administration is to procure more liquid fuel to keep the lights on whenever required and plan competently to avert power supply disruptions," Krapa emphasized. He urged the NDC government to adopt a proactive approach to managing the power sector, highlighting the efforts of the previous administration to maintain stable electricity supply over eight years.
Krapa's statement also addressed the need for the new government to stop "needless finger-pointing" and instead focus on practical solutions. "The NDC government should get to work as we did, the reason we kept the lights on for eight years, regardless of the difficult times," he concluded.
In a separate statement, Krapa noted that the Akufo-Addo administration had ensured a steady supply of fuel to run important plants before leaving office. He emphasized that the new administration's responsibility is to not only procure more liquid fuel but also plan competently to avert power supply disruptions.
Krapa's comments come at a time when Ghana's energy sector is facing challenges, including a potential power supply deficit of about 1000 MW from January 20, 2025, when the West African Gas Pipeline maintenance exercise commences. The exercise, which is scheduled to last until February 16, 2025, may lead to load shedding if adequate measures are not taken.
Overall, Krapa's statement emphasizes the need for the NDC government to prioritize power continuity and effective management of the energy sector, rather than apportioning blame to the previous administration.
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