ACEP Warns Weak Accountability Costs Power Sector Billions

Ghana's power sector faces significant financial risks due to weak accountability, according to the African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP). Executive Director Ben Boakye stated that poor governance and safety standards cause repeated infrastructure failures and system weaknesses. He estimates these failures cost Ghana billions of cedis.

Mr. Boakye cited the recent fire at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) substation near Akosombo as a prime example. He believes proper planning and modern safety measures could have avoided this incident. The ACEP director highlighted that basic tasks often remain undone, leading to massive financial burdens for the nation. This situation contributes to ongoing power issues, including low voltage problems in Kumasi.

This warning from ACEP follows recent power outages across various parts of Ghana. Some areas have reported intermittent blackouts, known locally as 'dumsor'. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and President Nana Akufo-Addo have attributed these disruptions to ongoing system upgrades. They state these upgrades aim to improve long-term power stability across the country. However, ACEP suggests underlying systemic issues are more impactful.

Ben Boakye directly attributed defective accountability within the energy sector to these issues. He said, “We need to really look at how people get negligent. Accountability is defective in the energy sector. Basic things don’t get done, and when they don’t, they cost us billions of dollars.” He further noted that ACEP had warned years ago about political decisions impacting the grid. He believes these decisions are now causing long-term damage to the power system.

The lack of robust accountability measures will likely continue to strain Ghana's energy infrastructure and national budget. Decision-makers in the energy sector face increasing pressure to address structural governance issues. Investors and citizens will closely watch how authorities respond to these long-standing criticisms. Continued system weaknesses could impact economic stability and public trust in Ghana's power supply.