The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), says Government has added only 585 megawatts of power to the national grid, contrary to President Mahama’s claim at the State of the nation address, that 800 megawatts have been added hence the improvement in the power situation.
ACEP also says the challenges in the nation’s power sector have not been sufficiently tackled as the President sought to portray by heaping praises on himself and his appointees.
[contextly_sidebar id=”UvikIX6faGiIUljATrlA2t2JWTaEKXnr”]Speaking at a press briefing, Deputy Executive Director of ACEP, Ben Boakye, said government cannot afford to be complacent because the challenges in the power sector are not far from over.
“We wish to state that we recognize the efforts being made by government to address the power sector challenges; but we strongly suggest the situation is far from comfort. Therefore instead of making merry at the modest gains, we wish to call on government to go back to work as the energy sector faces more challenges. The addition to the national grid stands at 585MW consisting of 225MW Karpower ship, 250MW Ameri plant and 110MW Tico Expansion,” he said.
ACEP also criticized the President for failing to touch on his promise to commission Price Waterhouse Coopers to probe the AMERI power deal in his state of the Nation address.
“We were hoping to hear from the President on his promise to commission PWC to evaluate the overpriced and poorly negotiated Ameri Deal. We are waiting for this important exercise and we can promise that for every month this remains undone, we will send the President a reminder,” Ben Boakye added.
ACEP further recommended that Government reverts planning and power generation addition to the technical people at VRA, instead of ministers turned procurement officers rushing emergency power agreements through parliament.
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By; Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana