“The energy sector was on a downward trend… It was a sector on life support.” – John Abdulai Jinapor
When John Abdulai Jinapor walked into the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition in January 2025, he wasn’t just facing the usual bureaucratic pressures, he was facing an all-out crisis.
Ghana’s energy sector, once touted as the lifeblood of national development, was riddled with ballooning debts, crumbling infrastructure, unreliable power supply, and falling oil production. At his first major public engagement at the Government Accountability Series, Minister Jinapor laid bare the realities his administration inherited—and the progress made in just seven months.
“When we assumed office, the energy sector debt stood at around GH¢80 billion. IPPs alone were owed $1.7 billion, and the total power generation debt exceeded $3 billion”
Compounding the fiscal mess was an alarming 720MW power deficit as of December 2024, with independent power producers (IPPs) threatening to shut down due to unpaid bills. According to the Minister, the country also had “very limited fuel stock” to keep the plants running, raising the specter of another era of prolonged power outages—known in Ghana as dumsor.
“The grid was unstable, the debt was crushing, and investor confidence had plummeted. But we saw in that chaos an opportunity—to build something stronger, cleaner, and more resilient.”
Fast-forward to July 2025: The lights are on, and there’s cautious optimism. Jinapor detailed how the government embarked on a multi-pronged recovery strategy, including emergency grid stabilization, upstream petroleum reforms, strict procurement audits, and revival of investor confidence.
One standout success? A recent gas infrastructure upgrade at the ENI facility, completed without cutting off even one megawatt.
“Some called it National Dumsor Day. We turned it into a national triumph.”
While the challenges are far from over, the tone has shifted. From a sector once in intensive care, Ghana’s energy infrastructure is now showing strong vitals—and the country, it seems, is ready to power forward.
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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