By The Institute of Energy Security (IES) has criticized a statement from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) claiming that the nation has a stable power supply amid the ongoing crisis. The IES finds the statement misleading and contradictory to previous ECG communications.
“The IES is scandalised by this misleading statement, and the inconsistencies in ECG’s public releases relative to the recent power outages being recorded across the country. In the recent statement, the ECG sought to equate “stable national power supply” to “stable national grid,” both of which are non-existent in our present power sub-sector”, a statement signed by the Executive Director of IES, Nana Amoasi VII said.
The statement further expressed the IES’s dismay at how the ECG is allowing external pressures to hinder its legitimate business operations, thereby tarnishing its reputation in the public eye.
“These public relation (PR) gimmicks by the ECG are unwarranted, disgusting, and diversionary; capable of denting the reputation and credibility of the institution”.
“In any case, how can we have a stable national power supply when since the start of the year, the ECG barely receives from GRIDCo 85% of power required to fully meet the demand of its customers. Again, one wonders the capacity of the ECG to confidently suggest that Ghana has a stable national grid”, the statement said.
According to the IES, the current situation demands that the system operator, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) speak to the issues.
“Unfortunately, GRIDCo has gone mute, an attitude uncharacteristic of the entity”.
Below are the demands of the IES
1. The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) must break its silence on happenings in the power sector and be willing to indicate to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) the quantum of power that could be made available to the ECG within a set time frame. Such an information is vital for the ECG to plan its load response with a timetable.
2. The ECG must concern itself with its load management based on the quantum of power made available by GRIDCo, as well as its effective mobilisation of revenue; necessary to prove full cost recovery.
3. The Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC) must look beyond the ECG to audit the upstream segment of the power sub-sector, particularly the GRIDCo, and export sales by the Volta River Authority (VRA).
4. The Minister of Energy, and by extension, the government must allow the ECG to freely deliver its mandate without the usual political interference. The best intervention Ghanaians can expect from government at this critical moment is to cause the ECG and GRIDCo to cooperate so a load-shedding timetable can be issued as expected by Ghanaians.
