Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has rejected suggestions that his recent remarks on the country’s power and fuel supply situation amount to lamentation, insisting his focus remains on finding and implementing practical solutions.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the minister defended his comments made before a parliamentary committee, stating, “I understand grumbling very well, and I don’t think that when you appear before a committee and you present facts, they term that as grumbling. Unless, as a minister, I needed to hide that fact.”
He explained that his disclosure of threats from Karpowership to shut down, and the government’s resolution of the issue, was not a complaint but a demonstration of proactive governance.
“The facts are that Karpowership threatened to shut down, and we resolved the matter; that is not grumbling, that is solving the problem. It is sitting around the table to find the solution.”
Jinapor also noted significant improvements made since taking office, especially in tackling load shedding.
“When we took over, load shedding was around 70-80 megawatts, which was a shortfall. We have brought in a lot of plants.”
He emphasized that during his appearance before Parliament, he laid out a comprehensive presentation—detailing statistics, challenges, and corresponding interventions.
“Before the committee, I gave them all the statistics, then I moved on to tell them the challenges and also the moves to solve the challenges.
“For instance, I told them that we have inaugurated the gas processing committee, to come out with how to build the gas processing plants so that we don’t depend on liquid fuel, that is not grumbling, we are solving the problem.”
Addressing the issue of private sector involvement in the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the minister said steps are already underway.
“ECG said they want private sector participation, we have inaugurated a committee, and they have done stakeholder consultation, and now we have to move on to implementation, that is not grumbling. It is dealing with the challenges.”
He further explained that Parliament had requested data on fuel stocks and he responded with detailed statistics and procurement updates.
“Parliament also wanted the statistics of all our fuel stocks, and I gave them to them. I also went further to say that we have ordered fuel, and we are getting those today, to replace what we have in stock.”
