General News of Tuesday, 17 April 2007

Source: GNA

PNC calls for sub-regional approach to solve energy crisis

Accra, April 17, GNA - The People's National Convention (PNC) on Wednesday called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to use his position as Chairman of the African Union (AU) to convene a sub-regional conference to discuss the energy crisis.

"We need to tackle the energy and water crisis disrupting economic activities in the sub-region through the ECOWAS structures to ensure that we develop a regional strategic solution," Dr Edward Mahama, PNC leader, said at press conference in Accra.

The press conference dubbed: "The PNC's State of the Nation," blamed the government for overlooking laudable energy policies of its predecessors purely for political convenience, and these had contributed to worsening the energy crisis.

He said the fundamentals in running the nation were off course.

"We do not have enough resources for tackling all our national problems. The low level of water in the Volta Lake that is the cause of our current energy crisis together with the frequent shortages of water for domestic use are clear indications of a drought of biblical proportions that is progressively unfolding."

Dr Mahama therefore appealed to politicians to separate national issues from political talk.

The PNC leader also called for another look at the "Operation Feed Yourself" policy of General Kutu Acheampong to make it consistent with the present realities of unfolding globalized world conditions.