Former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, Dr. Alphonse Kwao Dorcoo, has praised President John Dramani Mahama for energy sector policies that the president announced during the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In an exclusive interview in Tema, Dr. Alphonse Kwao Dorcoo said that particularly uplifting among the policies announced is the aim to achieve one hundred percent reliance on the utilization of gas for the generation of electricity.
“This outlook is particularly noble because if achieved, the country will cut a lot of cost in its energy generation bill. It is therefore something that we must all support wholeheartedly.”
According to the energy expert, Dr. Dorcoo, attaining the vision that the President has for gas will also ensure that the country stops a painful waste of the important natural resource through flaring.
“Gas flaring is the burning of the natural gas associated with oil extraction. The World Bank will tell you that the practice has persisted from the beginning of oil production over 160 years ago. It entails burning gas away simply because you do not have storage facilities for it or you do not know what to do with it.”
Dr. Dorcoo’s point comes after president Mahama informed the nation during the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the government aims to achieve one hundred utilization of gas for power production.
“We also aim in the medium term to achieve 100% gas utilisation for power production and eliminate the use of crude oil. This will save Ghana hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the importation of fuel oils for power production,” President Mahama said.
According to Dr. Dorcoo, “having a government which comes up with an innovative way to use gas to generate electricity rather than flare it is one of the most applaudable things that can happen to any nation.”
He said this means that the government is seeking to make use of a resource that is wasted all over the world.
“The amount of gas currently flared each year around the world is estimated to be about 148 billion cubic metres. This could power the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. Imagine that we are able to utilize gas to generate all of our power, that would mean seriously cutting cost.”
The former TOR boss has also praised the president’s decision to set up a renewable energy and green transition fund, saying this would help Ghana reduce its carbon footprint drastically.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dorcoo has urged members of the NDC to be patient with President John Mahama as his government still jostles into place.
“I know there are many who are afraid that they have been overlooked by the president and therefore are agitating. I urge them to exercise patience with President John Mahama because we have seen his administration before. I believe that in due time, he will allow all who have contributions to make to get onboard the governance.”
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