In an attempt to rectify inefficiencies and stabilize the power industry, John Jinapor, the Minister-Designate for Energy, has instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to immediately stop making any payments for supply.

Employees of ECG, particularly those in the finance directorate, were warned by Jinapor that disregarding the command would have fatal consequences.

The instruction, which has the Chief of Staff's approval, intends to stop money leaks in ECG, Jinapor said while speaking on Citi FM's Eyewitness News.He emphasized the company's financial difficulties, pointing out that more than 40% of power generated is lost, which is a proportion that is much greater than the 2-4% losses observed in other nations.

Jinapor said that inefficiencies are the root cause of the financial problem.


"There is no way to fix an ECG that loses more than 40% of its generated power, no matter what you do. Even if ECG only makes $60 on $100 worth of power, deductions are made for IT, contracts, quality control, and other things.

Furthermore, Jinapor pointed out that ECG manages more than 70 bank accounts, making it nearly impossible to monitor and manage finances. Through the implementation of stringent financial discipline and the consolidation of these accounts, he promised to streamline ECG's operations as part of his reform plan.

"Every single one of those many accounts will be closed. We're going to restructure this area," he emphasized.

Following his prior worries about an imminent power crisis, or dumsor, brought on by a severe fuel shortage, Jinapor issued the instruction.


In remarks following President John Dramani Mahama's inauguration on January 7, 2024, Jinapor disclosed that the country's gasoline supply was critically low, with only five hours of supply left.

He accused the departing administration of not acquiring enough gasoline supplies, which put the future government in a vulnerable situation.

Although it was promised during the handover that gasoline parcels had been purchased, inspections revealed insufficient supplies to last even two days.

Even with urgent fuel orders, Jinapor said, it would take roughly eight weeks for the supplies to arrive and be processed, which might lead to extended power disruptions.

The Minister-Designate has reassured Ghanaians that these harsh measures are necessary to improve service delivery, increase efficiency, and stabilize the power sector.