The Ministry of Energy has assured that it is working with its agency in the various power sectors to ensure that the temporary power challenges are resolved immediately.
The Ministry said that the sector Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh has always been sensitive to the plight of the Ghanaian people and continues to ask for their forbearance, as has always been the case when challenges relative to power stability emerge.
The Ministry said these while providing clarification on recent remarks made by the sector minister, DrOpoku Prempeh, regarding the release of a timetable for ongoing power outages.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, March 26 by the Minister’s spokesperson, Kofi Abrefa Afena, Dr. Opoku Prempeh was simply stating facts.
During the inauguration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaign team in the Ashanti Region, the Manhyia South lawmaker challenged those advocating for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to issue a load-shedding timetable to present their own proposed schedules.
He encouraged critics to develop their own timetables if they deemed it necessary.
He questioned the rationale behind creating a timetable when the ECG has confirmed that no such plan is in place.
Despite widespread public criticism of his comments, the statement clarified that the Minister holds respect for Ghanaians as has been his attitude and did not intend to disrespect citizens.
According to the statement, Dr Opoku Prempeh asserted that there was no need for the release of a timetable for the recent power outages.
“The Minister dismissed the need for a load management time table because in his view and as indicated by the Electricity Company of Ghana, the causes of the temporary power challenges are being addressed.
“The Honourable Minister has always been sensitive to the plight of the Ghanaian people and continues to ask for their forbearance, as has always been the case when challenges relative to power stability emerge.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that the Ministry as the policy maker and mother agency of the various power sector actors is working assiduously with these agencies to ensure that the temporary challenges are resolved,” the statement concluded.
Below is the full statement.
The Ministry of Energy has taken notice of the spin around an interview granted Joy News by Energy Minister, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh on the margins of the inauguration of the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional Campaign Team last Sunday. The rather innocuous statements of the Minister as captured by the Interview have been distorted to portray him as being insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians and thus, we wish to avert the minds of Ghanaians to the context of the Interview and clarify as follows:
1. The Minister dismissed the need for a load management timetable because in his view and as indicated by the Electricity Company of Ghana, the causes of the temporary power challenges are being addressed. The Minister in the clip said, “Addressing the issues is not an event” which is rightly so.
2. The Minister’s comparison of the current energy sector to the one under former President John Mahama, where Ghanaians reeled under pervasive ‘Dumsor’ for 4 years, comes on the back of recent similar calls in the media space by the NDC Flagbearer for a load management time table. This call, in the view of the Minister is borne out of the quest to score cheap political points. In fact, a careful listen of the interview will show that, the comparative template was set by the interviewer.
3. In the said clip, the Minister is clearly seen straining his voice because of the obviously noisy background, in order to be heard by his interviewer. This has unfortunately been misconstrued. Dr. Prempeh is known to be very media friendly.
4. The Honourable Minister has always been sensitive to the plight of the Ghanaian people and continues to ask for their forbearance, as has always been the case when challenges relative to power stability emerge
5. The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that the Ministry as the policy maker and mother agency of the various power sector actors is working assiduously with these agencies to ensure that the temporary challenges are resolved.