CPP’s take on energy policy for election 2012

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has singled out energy for special treatment because of its overwhelming importance to the economy and society.

“Our energy policy will in addition to increasing the production of electricity, promote the use of alternative sources of power. This will include clean and renewable sources as well as fuel of all types.

“Our ultimate objective is to ensure adequacy and security of supply at all times.”

The CPP stated in its Election 2012 manifesto obtained by the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

The party proposes to develop a modern and well-resourced energy planning system to ensure that enough energy is generated to keep pace with the country’s economic and social needs.

The GNA observed that for energy security, the CPP seeks to diversify the sources and location of energy production, especially to minimize the risk of failure or disruptions and supply resulting from a disaster or a catastrophe in any part of the country.

“We shall add between 100 and 150 megawatts of power every year until we reach sufficiency,” the CPP added.

The CPP Government if voted into power will encourage and support production and research into renewable energy resources like solar, wind and biomass as part of CPP Green Agenda.

Under regulation and ownership, the CPP manifesto states that, appropriate legislation will be passed to govern the production, distribution, and utilization of fuel and electricity in the country.

“While we will welcome foreign partnership in the generation and distribution of energy in Ghana, we shall ensure at all times that Ghanaians and their Government have a strategic ownership to preserve our control over strategic national assets.”

The CPP hopes to conserve energy using legislation, public education and physical policy in combination of transportation policy, to promote the efficient use by households, Government, and businesses of the energy that is produced.

On oil and gas the CPP said: “Managing the oil revenue will form part of the larger programme to include the overall public and financial management, in line with its sustainable economic agenda” CPP stated.

The CPP will ensure increased state participation in the ownership of the oil and gas industry as well as, better auditing of the cost of exploration and development as well to improve monitoring of output of the oil and gas industry.

“A CPP government will make Ghana the oil and gas hub of the West African sub region with large scale petroleum refining capacity providing the regions gasoline, jet or aviation fuel, diesel fuel and lubricating oils, with better compliance of the petroleum revenue management Act, (Act 815) and oversight of revenue generation and better resourcing of oversight institutions, the CPP manifesto has outlined”.

Meanwhile, a National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) survey on “Election 2012: matters of concern to the Ghanaian voter”, reveals that 489 responses received, the highest proportion of 289 (59.1 per cent) responses said power outages should stop.

A copy of the survey report made available to the GNA indicates that Ghanaians abhor the frequent power outrages, which they said was destroying electrical gadgets and also rendering some newly established industries dormant.

They also wanted the government to extend electricity to the rural area, whilst another 143 (29.3 per cent) respondents wanted government to have more subsidies on energy; other responses 27 (5.5 per cent) said that there should be uninterrupted gas supply for Ghanaians.

According to the NCCE survey, 17 (3.5 per cent) respondents agreed that oil and gas proceeds should be used to finance the economy, but 11(2.2 per cent) wanted government to create in the oil and gas sector for the youth.

Respondents mentioned that the rate at which expatriates were infiltrating the oil industry to compete with Ghanaian for jobs was quite alarming.

The survey said an insignificant number of respondents, two (0.4 per cent), said the youth should be trained to take up jobs in the oil and gas sector.