The Chairman of Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, Samuel Atta Akyea, has disclosed that the committee has instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to publish a timetable for ongoing power outages.
According to him, a load-shedding timetable will enable the public to plan accordingly.
He assured Ghanaians that the committee would closely monitor the situation to ensure the timely release of the timetable.
“The conversations we’ve had so far are very good. Some of the technical challenges relating to fuel and the rest of it may be tackled. If there’s under-generation, which there has been an admission, then we should do everything in our power to make sure that we generate enough power.”
“I think the committee was very strong on the matter that if there are power outages, those who are enjoying should know when it’ll be available, and then they plan their lives around the timetable. They’ll furnish them with.”
“They are going to do it, and we’ll do everything in our power to monitor them,” he told the press.
He stated that the committee held productive discussions with ECG concerning the necessary measures to address the situation.
According to the Abuakwa South MP, ECG has acknowledged a shortage in power generation, which has resulted in the outages experienced across the country.
Mr. Atta Akyea spoke to the press on Sunday, April 7, following a meeting with stakeholders in the power industry.
Meanwhile, on March 25, 2024, the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, challenged individuals advocating for a load-shedding timetable to release their own proposed schedules.
His remarks came amid the prevailing power challenges in the country, notably in the Greater Accra Region.
“Ask those who want it to bring it if there is. I haven’t seen any timetable. The ECG says that there’s no timetable coming. Why do you want to bring a timetable? For what purpose? Why would somebody wake up and wish evil and bad for the country? When it is not planned, you can’t tell the person.”
Despite mounting pressure for a structured load-shedding timetable, ECG has maintained its stance against implementing one, asserting the absence of an official “dumsor” situation and thus deeming a timetable unnecessary.
Recently, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) reported the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to the Energy Minister for failing to issue a load-shedding timetable for customers during the ongoing power outages.
GRIDCo said that the National System Control Centre (NSCC) has requested ECG to provide a timetable due to the unavailability of the maximum grid capacity and warns that ECG’s reluctance to comply with this request poses a significant risk to the stability of the national grid.
In a petition submitted to the Minister on Thursday, March 28, GRIDCo highlighted the potential consequences of ECG’s actions, warning of possible disruptions in power supply for customers.