Ghana: New Administration Moves To Avert Load-Shedding

Ghana’s new administration headed by Mr John Dramani Mahama has constituted a technical committee made up of representatives from the energy sector agencies to present a roadmap aimed at averting a possible load-shedding in the West African country.

The committee has up to the close of today to present the roadmap to the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, for consideration by the government.

The committee held a meeting at the private office of President Mahama in the morning of Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by the Chief of Staff.

It would be recalled that in November 2024, the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) announced a planned maintenance exercise of its pipeline infrastructure that traverses Itoki, Ogun State in Nigeria through Benin, Togo and Ghana.

The phase 1 which involves the cleaning and inspection of the onshore section of the pipeline which is located within Nigeria had already been completed.

The phase 2 of the project scheduled to begin in January 2025 involves the cleaning and inspection of the main section of the pipeline, which is offshore, stretching from Badagry in the Lagos State, Nigeria, to Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana.

This will necessitate the shutdown of key facilities in Tema, Ghana; Lomé, Togo; and Cotonou, Benin.

This exercise will reduce the amount of gas supply to power plants in the east and western power enclaves.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting in Accra, the Spokesperson for President Mahama, Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, said the roadmap from the technical committee would help government weigh its options in addressing the impending challenge.

“As I indicated there is a committee, a technical committee with representation from all the key players in the energy valuation that will be meeting. They have up to the close of today to present a roadmap,” he said.

“So all options that can be explored to first of all avert any difficulty and address the situation at hand will be put on a table and government will make a decision based on what we receive,” Mr Kwakye added.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com