Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), has voiced concerns over the lack of effective leadership in the energy sector.

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He emphasized that the sector's issues are not being properly addressed due to the absence of a capable leader.

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During an appearance on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Monday, April 22, 2024, Nana Amoasi VII highlighted the apparent lack of guidance within the energy sector.

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He called upon the government to urgently replace the current Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, with someone more efficient and effective in tackling the sector's challenges.

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“Today the power sector or the energy sector appears shepherdless. You don’t see a leader who is standing up to the issues, accepting them as they are and seeking to address them while calling for cooperation from Ghanaians," the IES Executive Director stated.

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“Today it is very unfortunate, and I think it is time we have a new leader probably for the energy sector. But as we speak there is no shepherd….He [Energy Minister] must be relieved to concentrate on any agenda he is bidding for. He must be relieved of his post. It is becoming too much,” he stated.

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His statement follows the intermittent power supply, which is adversely affecting both individuals and businesses.

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“We have been asking for a timetable for quite a long time. The PURC intervened as an arbiter between the utilities and consumers and asking the ECG to provide one, unfortunately, the Minister of Energy [tells] all of us including the PURC to produce a timetable if we need one and why will we wish the country evil by asking for a load shedding timetable,” he bemoaned.

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It should be remembered that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana to provide a load management schedule by April 2, 2024.

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Amid increasing worries regarding the persistent power interruptions nationwide, some Ghanaians urged the power distribution company to publish a load-shedding timetable, but their calls went unanswered.

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ECG’s administration insisted that the power cuts were due to technical issues, and no formal load-shedding plan would be enforced.

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In a letter dated Thursday, March 28, 2024, GRIDCo highlighted that ECG's disregard for load management directives was a clear violation of its regulations and posed a significant risk to the power grid's stability.

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Consequently, GRIDCo submitted a complaint against the Electricity Company of Ghana to the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, regarding the latter's refusal to provide a load-shedding timetable amidst the intermittent power outages, commonly referred to as 'dumsor'.

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