Accra, Ghana – 27 February 2025 | Report by Edem Alorzuke, Sweet Melodies FM
Ghana’s government has pledged to implement urgent reforms to stabilize the country’s power supply, amid growing fears of a return to ‘Dumsor’—the prolonged power outages that crippled businesses and households in the past.
Speaking during his State of the Nation Address, President John Dramani Mahama acknowledged the fragile state of the energy sector, citing a GHS 70 billion debt burden, inefficiencies, and the threat of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) withdrawing their services over unpaid arrears.
“The energy sector is under immense pressure,” Mr. Mahama told Parliament. “But let me assure Ghanaians: we will not allow a return to widespread load shedding. We are committed to comprehensive reforms to secure reliable power for all.”
Stabilizing Power Supply
The President outlined key interventions, including:
- Enforcing the Cash Waterfall Mechanism to ensure prompt payments to IPPs and prevent debt accumulation.
- Transitioning to 100% gas utilization for power generation, reducing reliance on expensive fuel imports.
- Investing in renewable energy through the newly announced Renewable Energy and Green Transition Fund.
- Tackling commercial losses by strengthening regulations against power theft and improving revenue collection.
According to Mr. Mahama, these measures will help restore confidence in the energy sector, attract investment, and ensure consistent power supply.
Ghanaians Wary of Empty Promises
While the government’s commitment to energy reforms has been welcomed, many Ghanaians remain skeptical. Previous administrations have made similar promises, yet power cuts have persisted due to funding shortfalls, operational inefficiencies, and mismanagement.
Some energy experts warn that without significant infrastructure investment, the sector will continue to struggle. Others argue that addressing corruption and enforcing strict financial discipline will be key to preventing another full-blown crisis.
For now, many Ghanaians are watching closely, hoping that this latest set of reforms will finally bring an end to years of power instability—and ensure that ‘Dumsor’ remains a thing of the past.
Edem Alorzuke, reporting for Sweet Melodies FM.
