I’m at your service – Donkor tells Mahama

Resigned minister of Power Dr. Kwabena Donkor has pledged his support for President John Mahama and assured him of his wiliness to serve in any capacity in order to render service to the people of Ghana.

According to him, although he and his team “practically” brought an end to the protracted load shedding, he left his post on a matter of principle.

“My team has thus practically brought an end to the load shedding that has disrupted the lives of the citizens of our dear country.

But we need to complete a few details in the next few weeks to bring a final end to load shedding. I refer to the imminent commencement of power generation by the AMERI plant that will ensure that supply consistently out scripts demand, thus bringing load shedding to a definitive end,” the MP wrote in a resignation letter to the President.

He continued: “But that formal event is still a few weeks away. This means that technically I have not met my promise to end load shedding by the end of 2015.

"It is a principle of public service I cherish, that a solemn promise must be scrupulously kept. That explains why I do not intend to use the substantial improvement in the power situation as a reason to disavow my pledge”.

Dr. Donkor in the letter also promised to always make his services available to Ghanaians.

“Mr President, I know that with your leadership this country will be safe and continue to make progress. I pledge my support to you and will be willing to put my considerable experience of public service available to the people of this country in whatever way it may benefit the country I love very much”.

The power minister resigned his post on December 31 , 2015 after falling to fulfil his promise of ending the power crisis by the end of the year.

Below are details of the letter

Your Excellency,

I write to inform you that, consistent with the pledge I made to the Ghanaian people, I intend to vacate the office of minister of Power with effect from the close of business tomorrow 31st December, 2015.

It has been an immense privilege to serve you and the people of Ghana in the high office of Cabinet Minister.

Just over a year ago, on 19th December, 2014, while our country was going through a critical power shortage, you swore me into office as Minister of Power. Following a question at a press briefing on Monday, 2nd February 2015, I pledged that if I were unable to end the load shedding by the end of the year, I would quit my position.

Since my appointment, I have led a team of dedicated officials that has laboured to install additional generation to the national power grid. The Karpower project has added 230MW to the national grid. We also applied ourselves to stabilize the finances of the power utilities, especially VRA. We are assured that with new tariffs in place, VRA will be able to import crude oil for its thermal generation plants without direct Government intervention and support.

My team has thus practically brought an end to the load shedding that has disrupted the lives of the citizens of our dear country.

But we need to complete a few details in the next few weeks to bring a final end to load shedding. I refer to the imminent commencement of power generation by the AMERI plant that will ensure that supply consistently out scripts demand, thus bringing load shedding to a definitive end.

But that formal event is still a few weeks away. This means that technically I have not met my promise to end load shedding by the end of 2015.

It is a principle of public service I cherish, that a solemn promise must be scrupulously kept. That explains why I do not intend to use the substantial improvement in the power situation as a reason to disavow my pledge.

Mr President, I know that with your leadership this country will be safe and continue to make progress. I pledge my support to you and will be willing to put my considerable experience of public service available to the people of this country in whatever way it may benefit the country I love very much.

Signed

Dr Kwabena Donkor