Amidst President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s recent declaration that Ghana has successfully overcome its intermittent power supply challenges, Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of the Institute of Energy Security (IES), has raised objections, cautioning against what he perceives as a misrepresentation of the current reality.
During the annual May Day celebration in Accra, President Akufo-Addo proclaimed that the era of power supply challenges, commonly known as dumsor, was a thing of the past. Assuring Ghanaians of the resolution of the issue, he asserted that there were no plans for dumsor to return.
However, Nana Amoasi VII, in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, expressed skepticism regarding the president’s assertions, highlighting instances of recent power outages in various areas including Weija, Ekumfi, Mankessim, Nungua, and Tema Community 2 and 25. He underscored the importance of the president’s statements being grounded in the actual situation rather than relying solely on advisors.
“The first thing that we picked from the president’s statement is that today he is admitting that under his tenure, there has been dumsor,” remarked Nana Amoasi VII, pointing out what he perceived as inconsistencies in the president’s claims. He cautioned against potentially misleading the public about the true state of the country’s power supply and urged caution in the president’s pronouncements.
Expressing concern that the president’s advisors may not be offering an accurate portrayal of the ongoing power challenges, Nana Amoasi VII emphasized the need for transparent and factual communication to avoid creating misconceptions among the populace.
“The value is the same. We’ve just seen a bit of change last night but if the president says that yesterday we didn’t experience dumsor anywhere around the country, that is untrue. I can recount some few places we have checked,” he stated, urging the president to exercise caution and ensure that his statements align with the lived experiences of citizens.
As Ghana grapples with the complexities of its power supply issues, the dialogue between government officials and industry experts like Nana Amoasi VII underscores the importance of transparent communication and accountability in addressing challenges and fostering public trust in governance.