How Jinapor reported fuel shortage leaves public more confused than informed — Bright Simons

Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has criticized the manner in which claims of a looming fuel shortage in Ghana’s power sector were communicated by John Jinapor, a member of the NDC’s transition team.

In a social media post on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Mr. Simons expressed concern about the lack of clarity in Mr. Jinapor’s remarks, noting that such critical information should not be shared in casual interviews without supporting evidence or detailed explanations.

“It was quite surprising that the claim that Ghana only has enough fuel for its power plants for less than a week was made in off-the-cuff remarks in an unplanned interview by an NDC government transition team member,” Mr. Simons wrote. “Important information like that, when delivered in random snippets, makes analysts and the public alike more confused than informed.”

Mr. Simons also questioned the narrative suggesting sabotage by the outgoing Akufo-Addo administration, warning that such claims tend to feed sensational stories in the media rather than focusing on real policy concerns.

He argued that Ghana’s energy problems stem from longstanding structural issues that need urgent attention.

“The suggestion that this was a deliberate act of ‘sabotage’ by the outgoing government feeds tabloid sensations. Usually, the more critical policy issues go beyond the sensational,” he said.

Bright Simons further urged the new government to prioritize transparency in the management of fuel supply contracts and focus on fixing persistent issues in the gas supply chain.

He emphasized that tackling the root causes of the energy crisis, rather than engaging in political blame games, would restore public trust in energy sector reforms.