Poor energy supply hindering Africa's growth - Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has reiterated the need for a public-private-partnerships to boost power generation in Africa.

Former President Kufuor said it is time for Africa to find new ways to tackle the supply of energy to help end the numerous problems facing the sector.

“Without reliable and efficient supply of energy industrialization and development are stunted and the progress we so much seek, as a continent, will be denied us,” he said. Former President Kufuor said this during the inauguration of the West African Energy Leaders Group aimed at providing reliable and affordable energy supply for all Africans by 2030 in Cote d’Ivoire.

The group is made up of African political and economic leaders at the highest level, who are pooling their complementary skills to build momentum for a new vision and new solutions to the energy challenge facing Africa.

It aims to leverage the continent’s rich resources for the benefit of its people and its wider economy by focusing on innovative public-private-partnerships and commercially viable regional power pools.

The forum later witnessed the inauguration of the refurbished Combined Central Cycle Energy Plant at Azito, near Abidjan, by the Ivorian President, Dr. Alassane Ouattara.

The plant’s output has now been increased from 290 megawatts to 430 megawatts.

Among the leaders present were Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Yemi Osibajo, Vice President of Nigeria, Mr. Kabalan Duncan, Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Alhaji Modibo Keita, Prime Minister of Mali and Alhaji Brigi Rafini, Prime Minister of Niger.

From the private sector were Dr. Tony Elumelu, President of Heirs Holdings, Nigeria, also co-private sector chair of the group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Dr. Kandeh Yumekella, Under-Secretary General of the of the United Nations who is the initiator and co-founder of the Group and ace singer Ackon, among others.