Some random thoughts on the energy crisis facing Ghana under President Mahama

Sunday, December 6, 2015
Folks, Ghana has not ever had any adequate supply of energy (electricity, especially) to meet its requirements, but no one batted any eyelid until the scarcity assumed frightening dimensions to be named as "Dumsor" and pointed to as a major failure of the government that will cost it at the polls.

Of course, the energy crisis didn't just crop up under Mahama. It has been with us over the years but assumed a troubling dimension because of its persistence and devastating impact under Mahama. Only in this sense has it been named "Dumsor", a word which is now synonymous to the political opponents' characterization of President Mahama and his government as "incompetent" (their new-fangled buzz word).

Long before now, some political analysts had observed that the "Dumsor" crisis would be a major factor to influence voter decisions at Election 2016, apparently because the electricity problem has damaged economic interests and caused much havoc in the lives of the people as industries suffered and laid off workers to keep afloat. Those laid off won't forgive the government. Neither will those whose businesses have suffered adversity thereby. We are even not talking about the disruption of domestic lives and other aspects of human existence tied to electricity.

Not only that. Other incidental areas include those sectors of the national economy depending on electricity for their operations. The health and educational institutions have suffered adversely too. Lives have been lost and good opportunities for advancement have vanished into thin air as a result of the energy crisis. There is much bitterness in the victims, especially when they have to pay high tariffs for services that are not supplied—and when they are still being threatened with yet higher tariffs!!

Putting everything together, then, it is clear that this "Dumsor" problem has become a major issue that will add to others to shape and shave the political and credibility problems confronting the government as its opponents hammer on such problems to influence the electorate. Everything will come together at the polls. We can tell how the government is strenuously putting things together to solve problems, even if those things are "knocking things" at this stage that the political rhetoric seems to be its only credit. The reality is that the "Dumsor" crisis can't be easily tackled. It is a huge albatross around its neck that is weighing it down heavily. Recourse to private entrepreneurs to solve the problem isn't yielding any relief.

The problem is that the emphasis placed on thermal generation is too high. The cost of fuel to power such generators is abnormally high, which raises the need for cheaper alternative sources like solar or others verging on bio-diversity. The government claims it is looking into the solar sector but the reality is that it isn't investing much in that area. Yet, Ghana is endowed with everything solar!!

The persistent reliance on thermal sources (including the Aboadze Thermal Plant) is counter-productive unless the cost can be shifted to the consumers. But in our current circumstance, it will be politically suicidal to push that burden to the consumers, especially when the economy is wobbling and unemployment is rising. As for the existing hydro-electricity sources (Akosombo, Kpong, and Bui), the least said about them, the better. Even, Burkina Faso's ability to starve Ghana of "water power" as a result of its construction of five dams on the White and Black Volta is a major worry. The annual havoc caused when the Bagre dam is opened is enough to make us sad that we are at a dead-end with this hydro source.

Talking about other sources (including coal, as stated by Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Minister of Power) is absurd. Ghana doesn't produce coal. The only opening, then, is thermal energy, even if others exist but aren't being considered.

The arrival of the Karpower barge and all that fanfare placing it in context isn't solving the problem. Neither is the constant irritating utterances of Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Minister of Power (whatever at all that designation means!!). Nowhere in the world is there a Ministry of Power!! Probably filled with so much "power", he talks more loosely than acts to solve the problems for which his particular irrelevant portfolio was created by President Mahama (A spur-of-the-moment manouevre?).

Now that the Karpower barge has docked at Tema and the fanfare welcoming it is over, what exactly is the practical action being taken to solve the problem? Dr. Donkor is on record as saying that the Karpower barge cannot solve the "Dumsor" problem all by itself. So, what is its exact contribution and where are we now?

As if being prompted by supernatural powers, the Ghana Gas Company has also come out to say that it is about pumping gas to plants at Tema to improve power generation. They claim they will be doing so through the aegis of the West Africa Gas Pipeline. Is that really true?

And what is the place or role of Nigeria in this West African Gas Pipeline dream? And if the Ghana Gas Company pumps gas through that pipeline, what will be at stake? Has Ghana already paid what it owes to Nigeria? And is the Ghana Gas Company's move to supply gas through that West African Pipeline network an attempt to subvert, undermine, circumvent or challenge Nigeria? Who really controls that West African Gas Pipeline Project such that it can tackle any subversive move by who-knows-whom/what?

Folks, while thinking about these issues, it is important to consider the stance of political opponents too. The NPP's stance seems to be encapsulated in the words of its Running Mate, Dr. Bawumia, who condemned the government for renting and not buying outright the Karpower barge. To him, bringing in the energy-generating facility itself is misplaced. He has even accused President Mahama of not being interested in solving the energy crisis.

We can conclude that the NPP is against this transaction, which won't surprise us because we already know how the Danquahs and Busias kicked against the Great Osagyefo's strategic moves to seek the support of the United States government and Kaiser Aluminium Company for the construction of the Akosombo Dam in 1962.

Even after Nkrumah had prevailed over them, they never relented in their negative politics about electricity (as is being done by the NPP today). Just consider Prime Minister Dr. Busia’s statement that it was impossible for anybody to think that the Akosombo Hydro-electricity project could be extended to the Brong-Ahafo Region and Northern Ghana. Yet, Rawlings did so, which might be considered as the beginning of the huge demand that has brought us where we are today as no expansion occurred in the electricity generating capacity beyond Akosombo!!

But the NPP's negative stance on the Karpower barge says a lot more to challenge the Mahama-led administration. If it can put this barge to immediate good use without further burdening the consumers more than they can cope with, it should be on course toward redeeming its image. If it fails to do so, woebetide it!!

Anything more to add? Clearly, the clock is ticking for the government. It has taken steps to deflate the NPP and its flagbearer in many ways as far as attention-grabbing promises (such as the free senior high school education and others) are concerned. Can it solve this energy crisis to prove that it is worth retaining in power to move the country forward?

President Mahama recently visited India to participate in a conference on energy (solar-oriented); he was also at the COP1 conference on climate change; and also attended the Africities summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. All these conferences focused on energy to improve living conditions. What has he gathered from those conferences to help him change the situation in Ghana? If nothing new comes forth from him, it will be difficult to see his participation in those internal engagements as anything beneficial to Ghana. In other words, it will be dismissed as a mere opportunity for junketing in foreign lands at the expense of the tax payer. It shouldn't be so.

Truly, this energy crisis is a major test case for it and none in government or the NDC should be deceived that the electorate will gloss over it as they make their electoral decisions. Too much has been affected by this "Dumsor" problem to warrant its being made a major yardstick to measure the government's performance. As my good friend, Kwasi Pratt, said about two years ago, this "Dumsor" crisis will go a long way to make or mar President Mahama's re-election bid. He couldn't be far from right!!

So much for now, folks. Your own thoughts?
I shall return…

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