I can’t promise when blackouts will end - Mahama

Government cannot tell when the erratic power supply will end but working around the clock to address the situation, President John Mahama has said.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programme Thursday, President Mahama noted he has learnt his lessons after promising Ghanaians ahead of the 2012 elections that the power crisis will end in 2013.

He said he made those predictions and promises based on projections that the West Africa Gas Pipeline and the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant will be in full operation. However, delays in executing those projects coupled with other external factors stalled his plans in bringing power to Ghanaians.

President Mahama said it is a lesson well learnt. Although he did not give a timeline as to when the ‘dumsor’ will end, he was optimistic that it will ease soon.

“I’ve learnt not to make those kinds of promises anymore but I believe that we are doing enough to ensure that it is over sooner than later. At the time that I made those promises it was based on various parameters that have been worked out that the West Africa Gas Pipeline was going to be restored, Atuabo Gas was going to be available in 2013. I didn’t know that we were not going to realise it till 2014 because of slow disbursement of the loan facility,” President Mahama stated.

“These are all factors that are out of our control so when you make some predictions you make them based on the information that is available to you at that time. I don’t want to make those kinds of predictions again, but I’m sure we are working to see relieves sooner than later… We’ll continue to reduce the gap and as the gap reduces then more power will be made available,” he assured Ghanaians.