Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director CEMSE
The Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has been given a harsh reality check in the energy and petroleum sector, with Energy Policy Analyst Benjamin Nsiah scoring their performance at a meager 20% over the past four years. Nsiah’s damning assessment comes in stark contrast to the NPP’s self-congratulatory claims of success.
In their 2020 manifesto, the NPP boldly promised to overhaul Ghana’s energy sector, pledging to deliver reliable and affordable power, enforce competitive procurement, and bolster the oil and gas industry. Fast forward to 2024, and according to Nsiah, these promises have largely fallen flat.
Speaking on the government’s track record, Nsiah didn’t mince words, describing Ghana’s electricity tariffs as “one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.” He argued that the government has failed spectacularly in making power more affordable for the average Ghanaian. “Power is still expensive, in terms of affordability, the government could not achieve that,” Nsiah stated, highlighting the stark difference between Ghana’s energy costs and those of countries like South Africa and China.
This scathing review is a direct rebuttal to recent statements by Dennis Miracle Aboagye, Communications Director for the Bawumia for President Campaign, who claimed the NPP had fulfilled 80% of its manifesto promises across all sectors. Nsiah’s critique suggests that the government’s self-assessment is overly generous, at least when it comes to energy.
While Nsiah acknowledged some positive steps taken by the government, particularly in improving revenue collection from debtors, he was quick to point out that these efforts are far from sufficient. “They may be doing well in terms of recovering some money from their debtors, which the major debtor is the government. But that doesn’t mean they are doing so well because the data continues to show that ECG cannot even mobilize 50% of power sold to them,” Nsiah noted, signaling the deep-rooted inefficiencies still plaguing the sector.
Among his recommendations, Nsiah proposed a radical restructuring of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), suggesting it be divided into regional or zonal subgroups to boost efficiency. He also called on the NPP to address the high cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), urging them to develop policies that would make LPG more affordable and reduce the reliance on charcoal in Ghanaian households.
Despite the NPP’s lofty goals outlined in their 2020 manifesto, including enforcing competitive procurement and reducing losses in power distribution, Nsiah’s evaluation suggests that the reality on the ground has fallen woefully short. His critique is a sobering reminder that promises made on paper don’t always translate to tangible results for the people.
As Ghana approaches the December 2024 elections, the NPP’s energy sector performance—or lack thereof—could prove to be a significant talking point. For now, Nsiah’s blistering 20% rating serves as a stark indictment of the government’s efforts, leaving the NPP with a lot to answer for as they seek another term in office.
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