Government has said it requires $98million each month to produce fuel to provide stable power in the country.
Deputy Power Minister John Abdulai Jinapor disclosed this at a news conference in Accra Wednesday January 13, 2016.
“We require about $98 million, which is almost a $100million, per month to procure fuel for the thermal plants. This translates into 1.18 billion dollars per annum and if you do the conversion in cedis that takes you to about GHS 4.5 billion for this year alone and, so, we have to work very hard and tirelessly towards raising revenue to the tune of GHS 4.5 billion this year because the Akosombo Dam today runs at about 30 per cent of its rated capacity,” he told journalists.
The deputy power minister also said in order to avoid further tariff hikes, the sector ministry has directed the Electricity Company of Ghana to embark on mass meter and systems distribution audits to enhance revenue mobilisation efforts to facilitate government’s thermal generation drive.
In his words: “We are in the process of setting up a distribution revenue mobilisation task force that will commence its work in the coming days. We want to do a full audit of our metres, we want the task force to go from area to area to ensure that those who are consuming power but are not paying for the power consumed, we are able to capture all of them.”
He added: “We are determined to collect revenues from consumers on the bases of principle, fairness and equity. To this end, we shall not counter excuses from individuals, companies, private sectors, and even from state institutions that are supposed to pay bills. If you consume the power, you are supposed to pay for it.”
