Ghana will experience up to 700 megawatts of power shortage early next year which may be dragged lower as Akosombo is being over drafted in spite of the low water level.” that is the prediction of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP).
Addressing a Press conference today in the capital- Accra, the Policy Advisor to the NPP campaign, Boakye Agyarko said the current stability in power being enjoyed is only temporary insisting that it will get worse early next year on the back of the drop in gas supply and a reduction in power imported.
“Temporary stability in power supply has been anchored on imports [from Cote d’Ivoire] of an average of 160 megawatts, mainly hydro power, but this will not be available when the dry season sets in,” he added.
According to him, retaining the current government will see Ghana plunge into “Dumsor” again as the Mahama led NDC administration has no practicable solution to retire the country’s power problems.
“Government owes more than 50% of ECG debt, which is one of the root causes of these inter utility debts. Rather put a credible mechanism to redeem its indebtedness, government is forced to escrow revenue from electricity tariff for the payment of crude oil on top of choosing to burden the Ghanaian people with killer electricity tariff and punishing power credit.
“There is increased uncertainties about the future stability of power supply under the NDC government. And many businesses and residential consumers of electricity are justifiably afraid that Dumsor will come back if the NDC is retained in power, as it had not demonstrated any measure of control in addressing the challenge.
“This view is further justified by information available to us that there will be a resumption of load shedding immediately after the elections are over. For example gas supply from Nigeria stopped since June this year and may not be resumed soon due to government’s failure to pay outstanding debt in excess of 150 million USD.
“Gas supply from Jubilee field will also stop as the FPSO is expected to shut down for repairs for a period between three to six months. Therefore with these development, Asogli and AMERI will not be able to generate power.”
