Ghana’s largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), has given indication of restructuring the country’s power if the party returns to power after the upcoming December 7, 2020, general elections.
A former Deputy Minister for Power and a Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu in the Savannah Region on the ticket of the NDC, John Jinapor, who dropped the hint on Monday, said the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Bui Power Authority (BPA) would be made to focus their attention on hydro power generation instead of venturing into other areas of generation.
According to him, the next NDC gov’t would create a separate entity called Ghana Thermal Plant for the management of the thermal power plants in the country. And in this, he said Ghanaians would be given the opportunity to own a stake in it.
“What we want to do on assumption of office is to ensure that we put the hydro plants together. We want to restructure the whole power sector so that Bui and Akosombo, being hydro, will concentrate on hydro. Then you have what we call Ghana Thermal Plant. We will bring the thermal plants together. Then, you can float it through a transparent process for Ghanaians to own that stake. And I want to put on record that President Mahama will put Ghanaians and their interest first,” Mr Jinapor said at the Energy Manifesto Town Hall organised by Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) and its partners in Accra, capital of Ghana.
This would be a complete departure from what the incumbent New Patriotic Party administration, led by President Akufo-Addo, has done.
Under the current administration, Bui Power Authority Act 2007 (ACT 270) has been amended to enable the Authority assume additional responsibility in the area of developing other renewable energy projects apart from the hydro.
The Authority is currently executing 50MWp of Solar Power Park at Bui in the Bono Region.
It has also acquired sites in the Northern regions for the development of both solar and wind energy projects.
On the other hand, the VRA has also developed five years’ development plan for renewable energy. So far, VRA has developed 9MWp solar project comprising 2.5MW in Navrongo and 6.54MWp at Lawra in the Upper West Region. The Authority is also currently executing 13 MWp solar park at Kaleo.
Although, the NDC has proposed the creation of Renewable Energy Commission to spearhead its golden age of Renewable Energy agenda, Mr Jinapor failed to explain what would become of the renewable energy projects VRA and BPA have planned to undertake.
Source:www.energynewsfrica.com