President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana currently has enough electricity supply and is not facing power outages, commonly referred to as ‘dumsor’. This follows actions taken by his government to resolve outstanding debts in the energy sector.
He mentioned that the government has settled its debts to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and has set up a payment system to ensure timely payments for the electricity provided.
During a meeting with Ghanaians in Moscow, Russia, President Mahama stated that these measures have restored trust among power producers, some of whom had previously threatened to cut off electricity supply due to unpaid debts.
He revealed that when his administration took over, the government owed IPPs around $1.7 billion, in addition to unpaid bills for gas supplied from the Jubilee Field and by ENI.
He emphasized that paying off these debts was crucial for restoring financial stability in the energy sector and avoiding interruptions in electricity supply.
“Regarding energy, I can confidently say that there’s no dumsor in Ghana. Everyone has sufficient power. This has been a significant area of improvement in management.
“I’m pleased to share that we have settled the IPP debt. We are up to date. For any energy they provide today, we are paying them,” he stated.
President Mahama also mentioned that the government has implemented a payment plan to address the remaining debts, which includes initial payments and settling future amounts as they become due.
He noted that this arrangement has enhanced the relationship between the government and power producers, who are now content with the payment system.
On the topic of electricity supply, he reiterated that the country has enough power to satisfy demand, highlighting that the management of the energy sector has greatly improved under his leadership.