President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered for a halt in the exportation of electricity to neighbouring countries to make available, more power for the national grid to curtail the ongoing power outages locally referred to as ‘dumsor’.
Samuel Atta Akyea, Chairman of the Energy Committee in Parliament who made the disclosure indicated that the President’s directive stemmed from his resolve to protect local businesses at the expense of selling power to neighbouring countries for profit.
He emphasised the President’s commitment to addressing the power challenges that has bedeviled the state and killing businesses.
He said “the President has a sense of the national need rather than making profits abroad.”
Mr. Atta Akyea, who is the Member of Parliament for Akyim Abuakwa South stressed the need for redirecting electricity generated for export back into the national grid to alleviate the ongoing power crisis.
Ghana, has for some months now been grappling with erratic electricity supply, leading to disruptions in various sectors of the economy, creating an inconvenience environment for businesses especially.
Meanwhile, Ghana exports power to neighbouring Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, making the decision to stop electricity exports a preliminary step by the government to mitigate the impact of the power crisis on the economy and the populace.
Per Mr Atta Akyea’s disclosure, the directive is expected to be implemented swiftly, with immediate measures to reroute electricity generated for export back into the national grid.
“We cannot afford to say “Okay, let’s make good money abroad and let the national economy suffer.” So in the meantime, whatever is going outside would be curtailed and fed on the national grid so that we have electricity,” he said on Accra-based JoyNews Tuesday, April 02, 2024.
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