The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has resisted accusations that its Minister, John Jinapor, is spreading fear over Ghana’s energy situation, insisting his statements to Parliament were both factual and responsible.
Responding to criticism from Walewale MP Tia Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, who accused the minister of “alarmist tactics,” a spokesperson for the Ministry told Channel One TV’s The Big Issue that Jinapor’s remarks were misrepresented by the media and misunderstood by his critics.
“The Minister for Energy and Green Transition is not engaged in scaremongering,” the spokesperson said.
According to the Ministry, during his briefing to the parliamentary select committee, Jinapor was open about the fuel supply status and made it clear that steps were already being taken to address the shortfall.
“He also disclosed that at the time he was speaking, it was left with 2.6 days, and that his headache was how to find money and that fuel had been procured.
“It’s unfortunate that that point the minister made was not captured, but consistently the media reported the 2.6 days and failed to report that the minister there and then said that fuel had been procured.”
The spokesperson added that the minister’s comments were aimed at promoting a long-term solution to the country’s fuel procurement challenges, not inciting panic.
“[He said] We need to find sustainable ways to procure fuel because we can’t keep going back to the Ministry of Finance, and there are structural reforms that we should look at.
“If it means that we should take a second look at the tariff structure, which is currently before Cabinet, we will do that.”
“So it is not accurate if he [Kabiru Mahama] keeps saying that the minister is scaremongering. What the minister did was to be truthful to the parliamentary select committee,” the Ministry clarified.
