Accra, Ghana — President John Dramani Mahama has called for urgent reforms in Ghana’s energy sector, citing inefficiencies and mounting debts as critical challenges. Speaking on Monday after a meeting with independent power producers (IPPs), he reiterated the importance of their role in bolstering the country’s electricity supply.
Mahama stressed the need for IPPs to complement government efforts by providing the capital required for energy generation. He highlighted the challenges faced by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), noting that 40% of electricity is lost due to commercial and technical issues, a situation he described as unsustainable.
The President said bold changes are required to improve transparency and competitiveness within the sector. He pointed to the need for efficient partners to optimize billing and metering processes to reduce losses and enhance performance.
Mahama acknowledged the growing debts in the energy sector, attributing part of the problem to the mismanagement of funds under the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA), which was introduced during his previous administration to address the issue. He called for a renewed focus to ensure revenues are allocated properly to address the sector’s challenges.
Ghana, Mahama said, remains open for business and he invited both local and international investors to collaborate in revitalizing the energy sector.
