The Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Producers (IPP), Dr. Elikplim Apetorgbor, has warned that three critical power plants face an imminent shutdown due to accumulating unpaid debts. He revealed that the government has defaulted on a $259 million payment owed by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The revelation comes shortly after President Akufo-Addo commissioned the Bridge Power Project, which was intended to address power shortfalls in the energy sector. In an interview with Citi Business News on Tuesday, November 19, Dr Apetorgbor urged the government to act swiftly to prevent the looming shutdown, emphasizing the urgent need to settle the outstanding debts to sustain energy production.
“I can confirm that all is not well, if there is no intervention before Friday, I can tell you that by Monday three key power plants will be off the grids. It is a serious matter, it is not fun,” he asserted He also stressed that: “We have received these assurances severally so this can’t sway us. We are resolute.”
He also criticized the assurance from President Akufo-Addo that the country will no longer experience the energy shortages, popularly known as dumsor, that plagued it in the past following the commissioning of the new Bridge Power Project “To say that the commissioning of this plant is going to put dumsor to rest I find it difficult to relate,” he added.
By: Emmanuel Oppong
