Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor has rejected claims that Ghana is experiencing power outages due to financial issues, insisting that the country has sufficient fuel supply and no need for a load-shedding timetable.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV with Moro Awudu, Mr. Jinapor responded to comments made by energy analyst Kwadwo Poku Nsafoa, who alleged that despite the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Energy releasing over $200 million for fuel procurement, parts of the country are still experiencing power cuts.
“Lights going off isn’t about money,” Mr. Nsafoa argued.
“You [Jinapor] need to manage the sector. He keeps saying he’s going to talk to Tullow, or go to Nigeria to get gas but how long does it take to talk to Tullow or go to Nigeria? People are still in darkness. So if there’s a timetable that can be published, why not?”
But the Energy Minister countered those assertions, expressing his surprise at what he described as politicisation of the issue by the Minority in Parliament.
“I’m surprised at the Minority,” Mr. Jinapor said.
“You invite me to brief you, I come in good faith, and you walk in with media without my consent. After I give you all the necessary information, you turn around and say I’m talking too much.” He added
He emphasised that there is no imminent crisis and no basis for panic, noting that his ministry had already made arrangements to boost the country’s fuel reserves.
“I told them we had two days and six hours’ worth of crude oil for one of the plants, and that we had ordered 450,000 barrels of light crude oil to augment existing stock. I never said there would be load shedding,” Jinapor clarified.
He insisted that Ghana is currently not exporting power and that supply still meets national demand, making the publication of a load-shedding timetable unnecessary.
“As we speak, the supply meets the demand, so why publish a load-shedding timetable if the plants are working?” he questioned.
