President-elect John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns about the precarious state of Ghana’s energy sector.
Mahama is calling for immediate and thorough reforms to prevent its potential collapse, which could jeopardize the nation’s economic stability.
During a courtesy visit by the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, in Accra, Mahama highlighted the urgent need for intervention in the sector, describing it as fragile and at risk of imploding.
“The energy sector needs urgent surgery; otherwise, it can collapse everything,” Mahama warned, underscoring its critical importance to Ghana’s development.
He also criticized the outgoing government’s claims of economic recovery, citing unresolved debt as a significant obstacle to genuine progress.
“You have a USD 2.5 billion debt, your bailout is only USD 3 billion, and so USD 2.5 billion sitting and breathing, and you say the economy is turning around,” Mahama stated.
The President-elect accused the current administration of painting an overly optimistic picture of its economic performance as it prepares to leave office.
“That alone can crush everything that has been done, and so they want to create a more upbeat story about their economic management before they leave office,” he noted.
Mahama reassured Ghanaians of his administration’s commitment to transparency, promising to reveal the true state of the economy upon taking office.
“We are going to open the books when we come and let Ghanaians know what the true situation is. Because if Ghanaians understand what the true situation is, then they will understand some of the measures we will have to take to bring things back,” he explained.
He also pledged to prioritize reforms aimed at ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and a reliable energy supply for all Ghanaians, as part of his broader strategy to stabilize the economy and promote long-term growth.