Load-shedding time table: Ask those calling for it to bring it – Energy Minister

The Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has stated that the country is not facing ‘dumsor’ (erratic power supply), indicating that individuals calling for a load-shedding timetable should release it themselves.

He said the current power situation is “300 times better” than what was experienced under former President John Mahama in 2015.

“If you are comparing four years, four years, NPP administration is 300 times better than John Mahama”, he stated.

He admitted an erratic power supply, saying, “Nobody has said we haven’t [experienced dumsor]; I am just saying it is far much better than John Mahama ever did”.

The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) has, amongst other things, called on the power distributor, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), to release a load-shedding timetable to assist businesses in planning effectively.

But the energy minister disagrees. He said, “Ask those who want it [load-shedding timetable] to bring it”, adding that “I haven’t seen any timetable today. The ECG said that there is no timetable coming up.”

The minister therefore questioned the motive of persons demanding a load-shedding timetable.

“Why do you want to bring a timetable? For what purpose? Why would somebody get up and wish evil or bad for the country?” he asked the reporters.

Meanwhile, the minority in Parliament has insisted that the ECG come out with a load-shedding timetable.

Addressing journalists in Parliament on Thursday, February 29, the Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, John Jinapor, said, “We are reliably informed that dumsor will continue today at 12:00 and it’s only fair that Ghanaians are made aware.”

The minority spokesperson for energy said the government cannot purchase enough fuel to power some of the thermal plants due to financial constraints, leading to generation challenges.

“The best this government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, can do is to publish the schedule of the ongoing dumsor, so people can plan their lives,” he said.

The former deputy minister for energy has also attributed the current challenges facing the ECG to the government’s excessive debts to the power distributor.