The ECG Dilemma: We don't have a fully efficient power value chain - Sulemana Ibrahim

Sulemana Abubakar is the Deputy Director of Power at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition. He recently admitted that Ghana lacks an efficient energy value chain. This inefficiency contributes to the country's power supply challenges.

Mr. Abubakar spoke at the JoyNews National Dialogue on April 10. He stated that the government aims for uninterrupted power supply and affordable petroleum products. Achieving this requires a highly efficient energy sector.

He explained that Ghana's energy sector was once vertically integrated. Reforms aimed to improve efficiency led to unbundling key segments: generation, transmission, and distribution. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) now handles distribution.

“To have an efficient energy sector, we need efficient generation, transmission, and distribution,” he emphasized. However, he noted that the current situation does not meet this ideal.

“Unfortunately, we do not have a fully efficient co-value chain system,” he said. The distribution segment faces numerous challenges contributing to power supply issues.

“These inefficiencies within distribution are manifesting in some of the power supply challenges we are experiencing now,” Mr. Abubakar added. Despite these issues, he assured that the Ministry is reviewing strategies to improve the situation continuously.