A former Power Minister is praising a recent decision by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to hold the board of Ghana’s Electricity Company (ECG) accountable for recent power outages.
Board Fined for Lack of Transparency
The PURC fined the ECG board members who served between January and March 2024 for failing to notify consumers about power cuts. This lack of transparency resulted in a penalty of GHS5,868,000.
Former Minister Supports Fines with a But
Dr. Kwabena Donkor, a former Power Minister, agrees with the PURC’s action of holding individual board members responsible. However, he believes the fine amount is excessive.
Donkor Calls for Accountability
Donkor emphasizes the importance of holding directors personally liable for their decisions, especially regarding service delivery. He believes this will improve corporate governance in state-owned enterprises like the ECG.
PURC Blames ECG for Misinformation
The PURC also criticized the ECG for providing inaccurate explanations for the power outages. The ECG blamed overloaded transformers and unplanned requests from the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) for the disruptions. However, the PURC’s investigation found these claims unsubstantiated.
Donkor Explains Power Shortage
Donkor suggests that insufficient power generation might be the root cause of the outages. He clarifies that GRIDCo, a transmission company, relies on generation from the Volta River Authority and Independent Power Producers. If these entities don’t produce enough power, GRIDCo cannot supply enough to ECG for distribution.
ECG Must Follow Instructions to Avoid System Collapse
Donkor highlights the importance of ECG complying with GRIDCo’s instructions to reduce consumption during peak hours. Failure to do so could force GRIDCo to implement power cuts to prevent a system collapse.
The Fight for Reliable Power Continues
The PURC’s actions and Donkor’s comments highlight the ongoing challenge of ensuring reliable electricity supply in Ghana. While Ghanaians hope the fines will lead to better communication and planning, questions remain about the underlying causes of the power shortages.
