Richmond Rockson, the Spokesperson and Head of Communications at the Energy Ministry, has addressed concerns about potential power outages due to a fuel shortage for the country’s power generation. During a meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy and various agencies in the energy sector on Thursday, May 15, Energy Minister John Jinapor expressed his worries about the current crisis, noting that the existing fuel reserves are expected to last for only 2.6 days. However, Richmond Rockson reassured the public that the Ministry is taking steps to resolve the issue.
In an interview on TV3 New Day’s Big Issue on Friday, May 16, 2025, he revealed that 450,000 barrels of light crude oil have been procured to help alleviate the fuel shortage.
He said the barrels of crude oil are expected to arrive in Ghana on Friday, May 16 or Saturday, May 17. “As at the time the Minister was speaking, we only had less than 3 days cover for light crude oil. The update now is that we have made provision for import, and we will be expecting 450,000 barrels of light crude oil between today (Friday, May 16) and tomorrow (Saturday, May 17). “And with that, people’s fear that they were going to sleep in darkness will be averted,” he stated.
During the meeting on Thursday, John Jinapor indicated that the government plans to hold discussions at the Cabinet level to devise sustainable strategies to address the ongoing challenges. These discussions are expected to explore various options, including the potential involvement of the private sector in ECG’s operations to enhance efficiency and improve revenue mobilisation efforts.
Beyond the immediate fuel concerns, the Minister also shed light on the persistent issue of non-payment by public institutions for electricity consumed. He specifically cited Ghana Water Limited, revealing that the entity has not settled its electricity bills for the past seven months, despite continuous power usage. “Ghana Water Limited has not made any payment for the past seven months to the ECG but continues to consume the power,” he disclosed.
This situation he notes, has exacerbated the financial strain on the power sector and raises broader questions about financial discipline and accountability among state agencies.
By: Raphael Ghartey
