Power Crisis: Ministry Needs a Plan, Not Panic – Energy Analyst Benjamin Nsiah Blasts Sector Leadership
Benjamin Nsiah, a renowned energy policy analyst, has criticized Ghana’s Ministry of Energy over its handling of the current power crisis, warning that the ministry is creating public fear instead of offering clear solutions.
Speaking on Kessben TV’s Maakye show today, Nsiah dismissed recent claims by the sector minister that power cuts are imminent if $1.1 billion is not paid for liquid fuel, a statement originally raised by Ranking Member John Jinapor.
“It doesn’t lie on the mouth of the minister to say that if the money isn’t paid, the lights will go off. That’s not leadership. It’s fearmongering,” he said.
Nsiah questioned the real cause of the fuel shortage, stating that emergency fuel is only needed when there is a shortage of natural gas, and that, he believes, is not the issue at hand.
“We don’t need to constantly buy fuel to feed our plants. That’s not the solution. Let’s focus on long-term energy sources and stop feeding the crisis,” he noted.
According to Nsiah, the contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) must be reviewed. He believes many of these producers have already made a return on their investments.
“Some of these contracts are outdated. The government must renegotiate them. We can’t keep funding inefficiencies,” he said.
He further pointed to Ghana’s obsolete transmission infrastructure as a key cause of instability in the power supply.
“The real issue is our transmission system. It’s old and neglected. No government has committed enough resources to fix it,” he lamented.
Nsiah criticized the Ministry of Energy for talking too much without showing a clear, actionable roadmap for solving the crisis.
“Enough of the talk. Ghana needs a strategic plan with timelines, milestones, and funding alternatives for modernization and upgrades,” he stressed.
He warned that without a master plan for generation, distribution, and transmission, the sector will continue to fall behind.
The energy expert also warned against looming electricity tariff increases, saying the financial burden on end users should not be used to cover systemic inefficiencies.
“The debt in the power sector isn’t new. Governments have always managed it quietly. You don’t come out to scare Ghanaians just to justify a tariff hike,” he added.
Nsiah urged the ministry to rather explore cost-saving measures, funding alternatives, and policy-driven reforms that will reduce pressure on consumers and stabilize the energy sector.
By: Adeline Mumuni
