Energy crisis: Mahama deserves commendation - Buah

Energy Minister Kofi Buah says President Mahama deserves commendation for being proactive in fixing the country’s power crisis.

According to him, successive governments failed to increase Ghana’s power producing capacities over the years resulting in the current challenges.

Mr. Buah recently visited Nigeria to investigate the cause of a drastic shortfall in gas supply to Ghana for power generation.

He said there are indications there will be improvements soon.

He also rejected claims that government is not on top of the situation.

He explained: “The reasons we are in this trouble have nothing to do with any outstanding payment…Nigeria needs the gas, there is also a problem with the pipeline and so the volumes that are supposed to come have not come and so they [Nigeria] are prioritizing the gas internally”.

"The point that has to be emphasized...go to 1962 and see the yearly addition to power and see the governments that have come and you would know why today you and I are talking.

“There was a whole long period where generation addition did not happen that is why President Mahama has to deal with issue today,” Mr. Buah said.

The Energy Minister also conceded the load shedding exercise is creating inconveniences for industrial and domestic consumers.

He urged consumers to conserve power as part of efforts to manage the situation.