Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the remarks made by Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, regarding the release of a timetable for ongoing power outages, smacks of disrespect to customers.
Mr Mahama indicated that the best government can do under the circumstances to eat a humble pie and take responsibility for fixing the power challenges.
Speaking with members of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) on Tuesday, April 2, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said “Today they have plunged the country into darkness. Mismanagement of generating assets and collateralization of the ESLA have which was meant to generate the resources to finance current and legacy debt have led us back into dumsor. The best government can do is to eat humble pie, take responsibility for the problem and address it.
“Unfortunately, that is not the case. I am aware that businesses and households cannot plan because of the erratic power situation. When citizens demanded for a schedule to enable them plan, which is the least that a responsible government should do, the Energy Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, who was one of the frontline participants in the Dumsor Must Stop campaign while in opposition is reported to have said that those asking for a load shedding schedule wish ill for the country and should publish their own schedule. This is most disrespectful to customers.”
Energy Ministry clarifies Opoku Prempeh’s loadshedding timetable comments; says no malice intended
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy has provided clarification on recent remarks made by the sector minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku 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.