Former Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has stated that the decision to release a load-shedding timetable lies solely with the Energy Minister.
According to him, only the Energy Minister possesses the authority to authorize its publication, given his responsibility of overseeing power generation.
At a forum on open government partnerships and construction sector transparency in Accra, on Tuesday, April 23, Osafo-Maafo said only the Energy Minister and relevant authorities can assess power generation and consumption patterns to determine the necessity and distribution of rationed power.
“To publish the rationing of the power, nobody can do it except the Minister of Energy because he is seeing the generation and they [ECG] are looking at the utilization. So, they can look at it and say that in this particular area, this is how it should be done,” Osafo-Maafo said.
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He further emphasized the feasibility of implementing a load-shedding timetable based on available resources and the need to distribute and utilize the available power supply efficiently.
“But it is something which can be done because it is what you have and what you have to use and spread it,” he added.
Since the beginning of the year, Ghana’s power crisis has become an issue of concern, with intermittent outages experienced all around the country. This has necessitated calls from citizens who are requesting a load-shedding timetable to help them plan accordingly. The energy minister, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, has rejected those calls, arguing that the nation is not currently experiencing power shortages.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has assured that the government is actively implementing measures to address the intermittent power cuts.
Afenyo-Markin expressed confidence in the government’s capacity to effectively manage and resolve the situation, citing past instances where similar challenges were successfully addressed upon assuming office.
Speaking to reporters in Accra on Friday, April 19, the Effutu MP underscored the government’s track record of ensuring stable electricity supply, even during challenging times.
Ghana has been contending with ‘Dumsor’ for several months now, prompting concerns from businesses about its adverse effects.