Ghana’s Energy Minister, John Jinapor, has warned of an impending nationwide power crisis due to a critical shortage of liquid fuel for electricity generation.
According to the Minister, the country’s current fuel reserves are expected to last only 2.6 days, prompting urgent efforts to secure funding for additional supplies.
“We have a huge challenge in securing the next parcel of liquid fuel,” Jinapor told the Parliamentary Committee on Energy.
Although some fuel has been procured on credit, the absence of immediate financing threatens to disrupt power generation across the country.
The Minister said he is engaging the Ministry of Finance to address the funding gap, but admitted that fiscal constraints are limiting the Ministry’s ability to intervene effectively.
To find a long-term solution, Mr. Jinapor is exploring private sector participation in the management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). He said improving revenue collection is key to stabilizing the sector.
“It does not entirely solve the problem, but it takes us to another level. If the collections are reduced from the current 40% to 5%, it means we will be collecting more,” he explained.
He also called for adequate budget allocations for critical institutions such as healthcare, education, and security agencies, including the presidency, to ensure consistent power supply.
Additionally, the Minister urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to settle their electricity bills and for all essential institutions to receive proper budgetary provisions for energy consumption.
