Energy sector appears shepherdless, we need a new leader - IES

Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII, has asserted that the energy sector does not have a leader who is working properly to ensure that the problems that have sprung its head up in the sector are addressed.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Monday, April 22, 2024, he stated categorically that the energy sector appears to be operating without any guide.

Nana Amoasi VII therefore appealed to government to as a matter of urgency replace the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh with a more efficient and effective person.

“Today the power sector or the energy sector appears shepherdless. You don’t see a leader who is standing up to the issues, accepting them as they are and seeking to address them while calling for cooperation from Ghanaians," the IES Executive Director stated.

“Today it is very unfortunate, and I think it is time we have a new leader probably for the energy sector. But as we speak there is no shepherd….He [Energy Minister] must be relieved to concentrate on any agenda he is bidding for. He must be relieved of his post. It is becoming too much,” he stated.

His comment comes on the back of the intermittent power supply which is having dire consequences on both individuals and businesses.

“We have been asking for a timetable for quite a long time. The PURC intervened as an arbiter between the utilities and consumers and asking the ECG to provide one, unfortunately, the Minister of Energy [tells] all of us including the PURC to produce a timetable if we need one and why will we wish the country evil by asking for a load shedding timetable,” he bemoaned.

It would be recalled that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission directed the Electricity Company of Ghana to furnish it with a load management timetable by April 2, 2024.

Amidst escalating concerns over the persistent power cuts across the country, some Ghanaians called on the power distribution company to release a load-shedding timetable, however, it came to no avail.

ECG’s management maintained that the power outages stem from technical difficulties and no formal load-shedding schedule will be implemented.

In a letter dated Thursday, March 28, 2024, GRIDCo noted that ECG's disregard for load management instructions was a clear violation of its regulations and posed a significant threat to the stability of the power grid.

GRIDCo subsequently filed a report against the Electricity Company of Ghana to the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh over the former's refusal to provide a load-shedding timetable amidst the intermittent power outages, otherwise, known as 'dumsor'.

SA/MA