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Dumsor looms, Mahama’s govt must act swiftly – IES
The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has issued a dire warning about an impending power crisis, commonly referred to as ‘dumsor,’ urging the Mahama administration to take immediate action.
This follows concerns raised by John Abdulai Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, who cited a severe fuel shortage as the root cause of the looming crisis.
Speaking after the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama in Accra on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, Jinapor revealed that Ghana’s current fuel stock is critically low, with only five hours of fuel supply remaining.
He criticized the outgoing administration for failing to secure sufficient fuel, leaving the incoming government in a vulnerable position.
Backing these claims, Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), highlighted the fragile state of Ghana’s power sector during an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM.
He attributed the crisis to systemic inefficiencies and poor planning, stressing the urgent need for reforms to prevent prolonged power outages.
The IES and other stakeholders are calling for decisive action to address the situation and stabilize the country’s power supply.
“It is not something that we were not expecting. Being watchers of the space, we knew very well that we had a very fragile power sector stemming from systemic inefficiencies, including poor planning,” Nana Amoasi VII stated.
He emphasised the reliance on natural gas and the lack of adequate backup or stock of liquid fuel, which has left the country exposed to potential power outages.
“Today we are more reliant on natural gas, but thank God almost all the plants that we have in Ghana, excluding the hydro ones and the solar, all of them can run on liquid fuel as well. But we knew that we don’t have any backup or any stock of liquid fuel in adequate form, so we knew that at a certain point in time we could be exposed,” he explained.
Nana Amoasi VII expressed disappointment that no procurement or lifting arrangements were made during the transition to ensure a seamless power supply.
“Unfortunately, we were expecting that as part of the transition arrangement, some form of procurement or lifting would have been made to ensure that there is no gap left within the space, but our checks indicate that we don’t have enough liquid fuel to give us that reliance and assurance that we won’t have any shock in power supply,” he added.
The IES Executive Director appealed to the current administration to take immediate action to address the looming crisis.
“So we will appeal to the men in charge today to get back to work and start work as soon as possible. Either than that, we are largely exposed,” he stated.
Source: citinewsroom.com
The 24 Hour Economy Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunan Architectural Design Institute Group to support the planning of the Volta Economic Corridor.
The agreement aims to guide how land within the corridor will be used, design key infrastructure, and develop systems that will support large scale production.
The partnership will focus on detailed planning to make the area ready for investment and smooth business operations.
The project will include the development of agroecological parks, industrial zones, and transport networks to connect production centres to markets.
According to the Authority, proper planning is critical to building strong economic systems and expanding production across the corridor.
It noted that the collaboration with the Chinese design firm will help lay a solid foundation for industrial growth and long term development within the Volta Economic Corridor.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, has called on judges and lawyers to carry out their duties with humility, fairness, and a strong sense of responsibility.
She made the appeal during the Supreme Court at 150 celebration held at the University of Ghana, under the theme “Honouring the past, celebrating the present and defining the future.”
Addressing participants, she noted that those in the legal profession occupy positions of great power and influence, and must therefore remain humble in the discharge of their duties.
She urged both the bench and the bar to deliver justice without fear or ill will, stressing the need for fairness in handling cases.
Reflecting on the significance of the celebration, she explained that the year 1876 marks not only the establishment of the Supreme Court but also the beginning of formally trained lawyers in the Gold Coast.
The GBA President questioned what Ghana would be without the rule of law, which is upheld by judges and lawyers, adding that the country could descend into a system where only the strongest survive if justice is not properly administered.
She further encouraged legal practitioners to reflect on their responsibilities and remain committed to upholding the rule of law for the benefit of all citizens.
By: Jacob Aggrey
