Energy Minister Orders MDAs, Jubilee House to Budget for Electricity Use
By: Rebecca Okine
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has issued a directive requiring all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including the Jubilee House, to budget and pay for their electricity consumption.
The directive, part of a broader push for fiscal discipline and energy sector reform, marks a major shift in how public institutions manage utility costs. It was announced during a meeting with the Energy Committee of Parliament and key power sector stakeholders on Thursday, May 15.
“All MDAs are supposed to pay for their electricity bills. They have to budget for it. These include the health sector, education, security agencies, and the presidency,” the Minister stated.
He added that some critical areas within these institutions would receive exemptions, but the list is limited and guided by operational necessity. “Even with that, in the health sector, it is the laboratories, theatres, and wards that will be exempted. In the educational sector, dormitories and restaurants are not included; it is just the lecture halls. We have classified these, and Parliament is approving, so we can publish them,” Mr. Jinapor explained.
This policy is part of efforts to reduce inefficiencies, encourage responsible energy consumption, and ease the financial burden on the central government. It also aligns with the Ministry’s drive to improve sustainability in public power usage.
In a related development, Mr. Jinapor revealed that Ghana is currently facing a shortfall in fuel reserves for power generation. According to the Ministry, an urgent GHS 1.1 billion is needed to procure liquid fuel to maintain a stable electricity supply, with existing reserves expected to last only 2.6 days. The dual approach — tightening internal consumption controls and securing fuel for generation — aims to safeguard the national grid while improving public sector accountability.
