Ghana’s Energy Minister, John Jinapor, has issued a stark warning about the country’s dangerously low fuel supply for power generation, with only 2.6 days of reserves remaining.
During a meeting with the Parliamentary Energy Committee on Thursday, Mr. Jinapor highlighted the urgent need for GH₵1.1 billion to purchase liquid fuel to keep power plants operational, describing the situation as critical and emphasizing the need for swift government action.
“We only have fuel to last 2.6 days,” he stated, noting that while additional fuel has been ordered, payment issues persist. “Some of the fuel has already been bought on credit, and the Ministry is collaborating with the Finance Ministry to settle outstanding bills, but the Finance Ministry is also facing financial constraints.”
To find long-term solutions, Mr. Jinapor mentioned plans for high-level discussions, including the potential involvement of the private sector in managing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to enhance efficiency and boost revenue.
Another pressing issue is that many public institutions are failing to pay their electricity bills. For instance, Ghana Water Limited has reportedly not settled its power usage for the past seven months, further complicating the energy sector’s financial challenges.
To address this, the government will require all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to budget for electricity payments, with exemptions only for essential services in health and education—such as hospital wards, laboratories, and theatres—while school dormitories and dining halls will not be exempted.
Mr. Jinapor stressed that all government institutions must take responsibility for their electricity consumption to help resolve the current crisis and prevent future shortages.
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