Gov’t pledges to strengthen power sector gains

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Jinapor, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the gains made in Ghana’s power sector to drive economic growth and improve the lives of citizens.

Speaking after a high-level stakeholder engagement on the future of the energy sector, the Minister said government is working to ensure a reliable and sustainable power supply across the country. The meeting, held in Accra, focused on comprehensive strategies and actionable plans to enhance electricity generation, transmission and distribution from now through to 2030.

“As government, we are determined to ensure that the progress made in the energy sector is not only protected but further enhanced to support economic growth and improve livelihoods,” Mr Jinapor stated in a Facebook post following the engagement.

Ghana, according to the Minister, currently enjoys about 90 per cent electricity access, one of the highest rates on the African continent. He said government remains resolute in its determination to achieve universal access to electricity.

“No community should be left in the dark!” Mr Jinapor declared during the commissioning of a rural electrification project that extended electricity to 13 additional communities in the Central Gonja District of the Savanna Region on Saturday, 11 October.

He urged citizens to complement government’s efforts by paying for the power they consume, stressing that the sustainability of the energy supply depends on the collective responsibility of both government and consumers.

“We can keep the power on if customers pay their electricity bills. It is a shared responsibility. In Tamale, my own people have raised concerns and are agitating. I hear you, and we are willing to engage,” the Minister said.

Mr Jinapor emphasised that while government is expanding access to electricity, consumers must also fulfil their obligations to ensure the continued efficiency of the system.

“In order to ensure fairness in the system, those who have not been able to pay their electricity bills should be put on a payment plan. However, those who are hooking up illegally must desist from such acts,” he added.

The Minister reiterated that sustaining the gains in the power sector remains a key priority of government’s broader agenda to stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life for all Ghanaians.