Jubilee House, all MDAs will pay for their electricity bills – John Jinapor

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has announced a new directive requiring all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including the seat of government, Jubilee House to make budgetary provisions for their electricity consumption.

Speaking at a meeting with the Energy Committee and key power sector stakeholders on Thursday, May 15, Jinapor stressed the importance of fiscal discipline in managing the nation's power supply.

He explained that while some critical institutions will receive exemptions, most MDAs must now take full responsibility for their energy bills.

“All MDAs are supposed to pay for their electricity bills. They have to budget for it. These include the health sector, education, security agencies, and the presidency. Even with that, in the health sector, it is the laboratories, theatres, and wards that will be exempted.

“In the educational sector, dormitories and restaurants are not included; it is just the lecture halls. We have classified these, and parliament is approving, so we can publish them,” he said.

Jinapor’s comments come as part of broader efforts to instill financial discipline in energy consumption and ensure sustainable power provision across public institutions. The classification and exemption system is being finalised with parliamentary input to ensure clarity and accountability.

In a related development, the Ministry has disclosed a pressing need for GHS 1.1 billion to procure liquid fuel for power generation. According to the Ministry, current fuel reserves are sufficient for only 2.6 days, making the funding requirement urgent to maintain grid stability and prevent interruptions.

The new policy marks a shift in how government institutions manage utility costs, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to energy efficiency, financial responsibility, and long-term sustainability in the power sector.