Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Independent Power Generators, Ghana (IPGG) Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, has welcomed the order given by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to stop expecting power from neighboring countries.
He said that this action would go a long way in providing some respite and stability to the domestic market by increasing supply.
Chairman of the Energy Committee Samuel Atta Akyea had revealed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commanded the expert of power to neighbouring countries to stop.
Mr Atta Akyea explained that the president intends to prioritize the national needs for those of other countries.
“The President is on top of the issues and I am even being educated that there is a command that our export of electricity to other countries should be curtailed. The President has an acute sense of the national need than making profits abroad so that is a factor that would come and help,” he told Joy News in an interview.
Commenting on this in a statement, Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, said “We are gladdened that H.E the President is reported by the Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Energy, Hon. Atta Akyea, who doubles as the MP for Abuakwa South, as having ordered the VRA to suspend electricity export to our neighbours. This action would go a long way in providing some respite and stability to the domestic market by increasing supply, even though it may not solve the power supply challenge entirely.
“It is thus important and appropriate to commend H.E the President of the Republic for prioritizing the domestic market which is the right thing to do at this critical moment. As we commend HE the President of the Republic for the intervention, we equally commend the media, Parliament and the public for taking keen interest in the issue. The VRA equally deserves our commendation for obeying the directive of H.E the President and putting the national interest first.”
Earlier, he indicated that Ghanaians should be prioritised in the distribution of electricity.
He wondered why jurisdictions that contribute nothing to Ghana’s economy could be prospering on a cheap resource.
Mr Apetorgbor was replying to the Volta River Authority (VRA) following the Authority’s comment to that he should stop misleading the public regarding his comments that the VRA’s export activities are affecting the supply of energy to the Ghana market.
The VRA indicated that Dr Kwabla Apetorgbor’s claim was erroneous and misleading.
“The attention of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has been drawn to a publication in the electronic media which attempts to suggest that the VRA is not meeting its power supply obligation to the Ghana market due to excessive export of power to neighbouring countries.
“This assertion which is attributed to the Independent Power Generators Ghana, is not only erroneous but misleading,” the statement by the VRA said.
It added “The VRA wishes to state that since 1972, the Authority has been supplying power to neighbouring countries without reneging on its mandate to deliver reliable and affordable power to Ghana; and this the Authority continues to do.
“Also, it is important to mention that the allocation of the power generated from the Akosombo and Kpong hydropower stations is supervised by the Electricity Market Oversight Panel (EMOP) and not the VRA.
“By this arrangement, the allocation always prioritizes the Ghana market, in accordance with government policies to ensure long-term optimization of the nation’s hydro resources”
But in a response to the VRA, Mr Apetorggor said “We are currently in crisis, Ghanaians are sleeping in darkness, companies cannot operate with a guaranteed power supply, there is a shortage in supply, etc., making the available cheap hydrogeneration to Ghanaians, the taxpayer, is supreme and must be of prime consideration, irrespective of your survival concerns.
“Why should jurisdictions that contribute nothing to Ghana’s economy be prospering on a cheap resource? Ghanaians are paying very high tariffs, averaging 14 cents/kWh particularly at peak time, while those neighbouring countries enjoy about half of the tariff. This is not fair to the Ghanaian. Energy Commission will be seen as biased to other participants in the sector, if this export is not stopped immediately for the benefit of the Ghanaian taxpayers. We are aware of situations in the recent past where load shedding is high and at the same time over 200MW of generation capacity is being exported.”
