Vice President of IMANI Africa Bright Simons has criticised the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yapei-Kusawgu, John Abdulai Jinapor, over his claim that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government left the John Dramani Mahama administration with only five hours' worth of fuel.

In a post shared on X on January 8, 2025, Simons indicated that the comments made by Jinapor, who is a member of Ghana's energy transition technical committee, are unnecessary and do nothing to solve the problem.

He pointed out that the comments, which suggest that the Akufo-Addo government sabotaged the incoming government by not leaving enough fuel stock, only leaves Ghanaians confused.

“It was quite surprising that the claim that Ghana only has enough fuel for its power plants for less than a week was made in off-the-cuff remarks in an unplanned interview by an NDC government transition team member.

“Important information like that, when delivered in random snippets, makes analysts and the public alike more confused than informed. The suggestion that this was a deliberate act of 'sabotage' by the outgoing government feeds tabloid sensations. Usually, the more critical policy issues go beyond the sensational," Simons wrote on X.

The IMANI vice president pointed out that the government should be focused on how to resolve the challenge in the energy sector.

He questioned why the focus of fixing the challenge is not on the supply of gas needed to produce the country's energy needs, but rather on finding liquid fuels.

“The liquid fuels are an emergency substitute for gas, which is supposed to be the main fuel for thermal power plants in Ghana. Where is the country with fixing the gas supply issues? Why have the problems been prolonged? What solutions are favoured by the new government?

“More urgently: what are the security of supply arrangements for the emergency liquid fuels? Are there contracts? With whom? Are there penalties for non-performance to protect national interests?” he queried.

Simons also raised concerns about reports of the government contacting Harry Campbell of Stratcon to supply the liquid fuels needed to fix the looming challenge in the energy sector.

“There have been reports that Harry Campbell of Stratcon was somehow 'imposed' on the emergency fuel supply system. That without tender or any meritorious process, suppliers of lower standing in the industry have been forced on the system. What is the full context of these reports?

“I recall that when Harry Campbell tried to break into Liberia, analysts there quickly established that he was exaggerating his standing in Ghana. The question is: how did he come into the equation in the first place?”

What Jinapor said:

The Member of Parliament for the Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency in the Savanna Region warned of a pending power crisis.

According to him, the outgoing government did not stock up on enough fuel for power supply. He said Ghana has only five hours' worth of fuel stock for the generation of power across the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of John Dramani Mahama on January 7, 2025, as Ghana's president, he said that the country faces a serious energy crisis.

“I have bad news for you. As of today, the confirmation we are receiving is that we have only five hours' worth of fuel left,” he was quoted by myjoyonline.com.

He also stated that the outgoing government failed to purchase fuel despite repeated concerns and calls from the NDC transition team.

According to him, the country’s current fuel supply for power generation will not last more than two days.

Read Bright Simons’ full post below:

1. It was quite surprising that the claim that Ghana only has enough fuel for its power plants for less than a week was made in off the cuff remarks in an unplanned interview by an NDC govt transition team member.

2. Important information like that when delivered in random… pic.twitter.com/ufPP048mrb

— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) January 8, 2025