State power distributor Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has hinted at tariff hikes to mobilise revenue for its operations.
ECG MD Kwame Agyeman-Budu said at a public forum on Thursday, 8 April 2021 that: “We need money to do it [improve]. If we get the increase we will love it [but] that will be up to the PURC because, no matter what we propose, they will ultimately decide.”
“In terms of distribution, we need support, because we have to do upgrades to make sure the system is sustainable. We don’t wait till something is broken before we fix it. We need additional funds to upgrade our systems at all times,” he added.
Energy Minister justifies GRIDCo’s maintenance works induced dumsor LISTEN 3
Energy Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh has justified the need for the planned system upgrade and maintenance works by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo).
According to him, the exercise is a necessary evil to prevent widespread outages.
Power outages have heightened in the country since February 2021.
Over the weekend there were blackouts in different areas of Ghana’s capital, a development GRIDCo blamed on a fallen conductor on the Tema – Accra East transmission line.
The national grid company had earlier announced that it will be undertaking some system upgrades which are expected to be completed in September this year.
Politics of electric power
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They have found in the occasional power outage a subject for propaganda exploits.
Cashing in on this situation for political capital is the reason such persons would prefer a return to the dark days.
The recent power outages in the country prompted questions about whether or not there is a growing degeneration in the management of electricity, occasioned by a financial deficiency.
It was relieving therefore, when the new appointee in charge, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, swung into action, with appropriate questions to the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCO) and rightly so.
For those who expected the disturbing old days, when Ghana added to the English lexicology the word
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Energy Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh has revealed that some parts of the nation will from next month experience systematic power outages.
This, according to him, will be an addition to the current outages power consumers have been experiencing which has been attributed to system upgrades and maintenance works.
Energy analysts have in the last few weeks asked for a load shedding timetable that will enable power consumers plan in anticipation of power cuts.
So speaking at a Civil Society engagement on current challenges, Dr Opoku Prempeh said in the quest to prevent unplanned power outages that may disrupt business operation a systematic one will be drawn and implemented from May for affected persons to plan their lives accordingly.
Due to ongoing upgrade works on the Kasoa and Pokuase substations, there will be erratic power supply in May, the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has disclosed.
“Just two days ago, I received a letter from MiDA [Millennium Development Authority], who are helping upgrade the Pokuase and Kasoa substations.
“They informed me that the progress of the substation is such that in the month of May, there will be systematic power outages, so, we have invited both ECG and GRIDCo and in the light of that, let us sit and plan and communicate with the people who will be affected way before it happens”, he said.