By Grace Zigah
The Country Power sector is once again teetering on the edge of a crisis, with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition sounding the alarm over a looming nationwide power outage—popularly known as dumsor—due to an acute shortage of fuel for electricity generation.
Addressing Parliament’s Energy Committee on Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Energy Minister John Jinapor delivered a stark warning: the country’s liquid fuel reserves will only last for 2.6 days.
Without an immediate injection of funds, Ghana risks plunging into rolling blackouts reminiscent of the crippling energy crises of previous years.
Immediate Threat to Power Stability
According to the Minister, the sector urgently needs GH₵1.1 billion to purchase liquid fuel to keep the thermal power plants operational.
While orders for additional fuel have been placed, the suppliers require payment upfront or soon after delivery.
Some of the current stock has already been secured on credit, and further procurement hinges on the Ministry of Finance’s ability to release funds.
“We are coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, but they also have limitations,” Jinapor told the committee.
“We must prepare for all outcomes if the necessary resources are not secured.”
The Ministry’s plea comes as Ghana’s power sector grapples with a GH₵2 billion monthly revenue shortfall, attributed largely to the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) inability to recover payments from both public and private electricity consumers.
Mounting Arrears
In a startling revelation, Jinapor disclosed that Ghana Water Limited (GWL), a major state-owned utility, has not paid its electricity bills in over seven months.
Yet, the company continues to consume power, further deepening ECG’s cashflow challenges.
“Ghana Water Limited alone owes the ECG over GH₵1 billion,” the Minister said. “This is not sustainable.”
This pattern of default by public sector institutions has become a recurring concern.
Jinapor noted that discussions are ongoing at the Cabinet level to enforce strict payment compliance across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
