PNC flagbearer slams “knee-jerk approach” to energy crisis

The Presidential Candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC) has lashed out at what he described as a “knee-jerk approach” in solving the energy crisis.

Dr Edward Mahama said the adoption of the Power Barge by the Mahama-led government to solve the energy crisis will amount to nothing.

Rather, he said, we need a “national grid by shifting to efficient renewable energy such as solar.”

The PNC leader made this comment when he unveiled his vision to Ghanaians on the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)’s Evening Encounter Series platform held on June 21 for all the Presidential Candidates ahead of the November polls.

As part of the PNC’s vision for the country, he said, “A municipal waste generation profile (MWGP) will be developed. It will be useful in building waste-to-energy plants in communities with excessive waste generation such as Accra.”

This Dr Mahama believes “will help improve the energy mix and promote development through green reliable and affordable energy delivery.”

He also lamented about the way contracts awarded under the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) lack transparency.

He promised to change the legal regime that gives backing to sole sourcing in the country.

On corruption, Dr Mahama said: “The PNC will mandate all public office holders and politically exposed persons to fully declare and publish their assets. This in particular will apply to all government appointees, [and] Directors of public institutions.”

Speaking to Joynews at the end of the programme, President, and Founder of the think-tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe lauded the PNC leader for his detailed vision.

“I think it is satisfying to hear that he would necessarily stop this whole idea of sole-sourcing,” he said, adding if he does that a lot of government contracts given under sole sourcing would be reduced.

Cudjoe, however, chided the PNC leader for failing to touch on the extent of changes he would want to bring to bear in the award of government contracts.

“The degree though he didn’t say, but the intention was clear,” he said, noting “It is for you and I to hold him to how much public procurement would he rather have it done through legitimate transparent and indeed value for money based procurement.”

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]