In a groundbreaking move, Cabinet has thrown its weight behind a revolutionary plan crafted by the Energy and Green Transition Ministry, aiming to usher solar power into the forefront of our energy supply.
Energy Minister, John Jinapor, dropped the bombshell revelation, emphasizing the pivotal essence of shifting certain key institutions like schools, clinics, and streetlights away from the clutches of the national power grid.
The bold move not only aims to alleviate strain on the grid but also seeks to alleviate the financial burdens weighing down these institutions, freeing them from the shackles of owed debts to ECG.
Funding for this ambitious project is set to be sourced from the coffers of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), derived from revenues generated by fossil fuels.
“We’ve laid the groundwork, Cabinet has given the green light, and now we are set to kick things off… drawing funds from fossil fuels via NPA to nurture renewables. It’s the logical course — channel revenue from fossil fuels into renewable energy sources to pave the way for a seamless transition,” Jinapor shared on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana.
Jinapor, speaking against the backdrop of a recent bombshell committee report exposing the mysterious disappearance of over 1,300 ECG containers and the recent power hiccup at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), pointed fingers at institutions like KIA and Ghana Water Company for their delinquency in settling outstanding bills, exacerbating ECG’s financial woes.
The assertive minister threw his weight behind the proposal to unplug airports, streetlights, schools, clinics, and other delinquent institutions from the national grid, advocating for the embrace of solar power to ease the burden.
“We need to rethink our power consumption habits. Electricity isn’t a freebie anymore… With debts reaching a staggering 80 billion, we can’t turn a blind eye to this crisis. It’s high time we crack down on errant consumers with a no-nonsense approach,” Jinapor highlighted.
Drawing attention to the damning missing containers saga, Jinapor pledged transparency and accountability, vowing to seek the President’s nod to make the exhaustive findings public and set the wheels in motion for a sweeping probe to track down the culprits involved.
In a bid to clean up the house at ECG, Jinapor outlined plans to overhaul the procurement setup, calling for the separation of the Estate and Procurement departments to inject professionalism and efficiency into the procurement process.
The visionary minister’s bold initiatives underscore the dawn of a transformative era in Ghana’s energy landscape, with sustainability and accountability taking center stage to steer the nation towards a brighter, cleaner future.
