By Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has said Ghana has enough electricity to meet the country’s demand and is no longer experiencing power outages, popularly known as ‘Dumsor’.
He attributed the improved electricity supply to his government’s efforts to clear outstanding debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and introduce a new payment arrangement to ensure timely payments for power supplied.
Speaking during an engagement with members of the Ghanaian community in Moscow, Russia, President Mahama said his administration inherited about $1.7 billion in debt owed to IPPs when it assumed office.
He said the government also owed money for gas supplied from the Jubilee Field and by ENI, creating financial difficulties for companies involved in electricity generation.
According to him, settling the outstanding debts was necessary to restore confidence among power producers and prevent possible interruptions in electricity supply.
“With regards to energy, I can report that there’s no dumsor in Ghana. Everybody has adequate power. And that’s one of the areas that has been quite dramatic in terms of its management,” he said.
The President further announced that the government had cleared its outstanding debt to IPPs and was now making payments for electricity supplied.
“I’m happy to announce that we have cleared the IPP debt. That is, we are current. Any energy they supply today, we’re paying them,” he stated.
President Mahama explained that the government had also introduced a payment plan to settle its remaining financial obligations to energy suppliers.
Under the arrangement, initial payments are made, while subsequent amounts are settled when they fall due.
He said the new arrangement had improved relations between the government and power producers, some of whom had previously threatened to suspend electricity supply over unpaid bills.
The President maintained that the measures had strengthened the financial position of the energy sector and helped ensure a stable electricity supply across the country.
