ACCRA: Industries in Ghana have bemoaned the incessant power supply challenges emanating from limited gas supplies from Nigeria’s West Africa Gas Pipeline.
The water shortages that have stalled turbines at Akosombo Dam have exacerbated the generation of electricity internally.
“We are of the view that if the government does not have a clear solution on how to arrest this energy challenge, then the Ghanaian government should invite Independent Power Producers (IPP) to contribute energy. Apart from relying on state energy enterprises, the government should support its innovative power producing individual to harness the abundant solar energy into electricity,” said business woman, Eunah Koffi.
Echoing the sentiments, Agbesi Kola Agbesi, who runs a solar energy project outside Accra, said government should support the Independent Power Producers in order to aid power supply to the national grid.
“Everywehere across the world, where you see consistent power distribution, the government works with independent power producers to add value or compliment the good work that the government is doing but it is a different story altogether here in Ghana,” said Agbesi.
Early this week, Ghana had to import about 80-megawatts electricity from neighbouring Ivory Coast in order to ensure football fans watched the African Cup of Nations semi-final tie against Equatorial Guinea.
Ironically, Ghana went on to win the match 3-0 to book a final against Ivory Coast.
Ghana, which imports gas from Nigeria, has previously borne the brunt of the strike by oil workers in the continent’s biggest producer of crude oil.
