Ghana now buying power from Cote D’Ivoire – Gridco

The Chief Executive of the Ghana Grid Company (Gridco), William Amuna has disclosed that Ghana in the last week and a half has been buying power from neighbouring La Cote D’Ivoire.

According to him, “we have been getting power from La Cote D’Ivoire for the past week and a half. The thing is that Cote D’Ivoire has some hydro plants and they have enough water there so they produce and supply us some of the power. It is something that we’ve been doing over the years.”

Mr. Amuna said these in an exclusive interview with TV 3’s energy reporter, Sandra Amarquaye who further asked whether Ghana was paying for the power received from Cote D’Ivoire.

“Definitely we are paying for it and it is also because our situation is very bad. However it is also good for them because If the water in their reservoir is so much, instead of spilling they rather generate and supply to us.”

The current energy situation in Ghana has worsened following the shutting down of about 4 different plants for maintenance and repair works and also the drop in water levels in the Akosombo dam.

Bui Hydro dam, which is supposed to generate about 400 megawatts of power, is also under producing following the low levels of water in the dam coupled with the non-availability of gas.

Supply of gas from Nigeria has been terribly low with forcing Ghana to resort to power rationing, a phenomenon that has adversely affected businesses in the country.