You’re in charge; keep the lights on – Former Energy Minister to NDC

Immediate-past Minister for Energy, Herbert Krapa, has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to focus on effectively managing the power sector.

According to him, the erstwhile Akufo-Addo-led administration kept the lights on, and with the NDC in charge now, they must ensure that they do the same.

This follows comments by Yapei-Kusawgu MP and Co-Chairman of the Transition Team sub-committee on Energy and Natural Resources, John Jinapor on the looming dumsor crisis amidst a low fuel stock.

Mr. Jinapor accused the Akufo-Addo-led administration of leaving the power sector in crisis, which he claimed could lead to load shedding.

He asserted that the worth of fuel left for power generation could not last beyond two days.

However, in a post on Facebook, Mr Krapa refuted claims that Ghana’s fuel stock is dangerously low, threatening massive power outages.

“Mr. Jinapor is wrong. Load shedding does not ‘loom.’ It is caused either by technical or emergency power generation issues or a lack of competence in managing the power sector. Mr Jinapor seems to be haunted clearly by the latter,” Mr Krapa wrote.

Mr. Krapa emphasised that before leaving office, the Akufo-Addo administration ensured a reliable stock of fuel to power key plants.

He further stated that maintaining a stable electricity supply now lies squarely in the hands of the new government.

“The responsibility of the new administration is to not only procure more liquid fuel to keep the lights on whenever liquid fuel becomes required to complement gas supply but also to plan competently to avert power supply disruptions. We did it, and they can do it too if they can.”

He called on the NDC government to avoid “needless finger-pointing” and instead focus on practical solutions.

“The NDC government should get to work as we did, the reason we kept the lights on for eight years, regardless of the difficult times,” Krapa said.