‘Dumsor’ is not back – President Mahama

President John Mahama has shied away from declaring that the country has returned to the load shedding regime despite acknowledging of challenges with power supply in the country.

Addressing Muslims during this year’s Eid Mubarak, the president attributed the recent power outages to challenges in getting crude to power some of the country's thermal plants.

“We are not declaring load shedding; I believe things will normalize but we are taking steps everyday to ensure that Ghana has security when it comes to power,” he emphasized.

There have been cases of power cuts across the country which some have attributed to a resumption of load shedding otherwise referred to as dumsor.

But speaking to Muslims at the Independence Square on Wednesday, the president said the country is facing some challenges with crude oil supply which has culminated into erratic power supply.

According to the President, the difficulties being encountered in Nigeria has impeded Ghana’s ability to transport crude it ordered last month, into the country.

“Because of sabotage in Nigeria on the terminals, crude oil that we ordered last month has not arrived and so it has created some generational problems for us,” he explained.

Meanwhile Mr. Mahama has ordered the Bulk Oil Storage Company to keep a month's supply of light crude to avert a similar occurrence in the transportation of crude into the country.

“I have asked the Bulk Oil Storage Company to start storing at least one month of light crude oil supply for Ghana so that in the event anything happens at the supply end in Nigeria, we are not affected the way we are being affected right now.”

No subsidies on electricity 
The President has also discounted reports that the recent electricity billing system announced by the  ECG is a reflection of government subsidies to  cushion consumers of electricity.

He indicated that the development is a realignment of the ECG to make the billing system more transparent.

“Recently there have been some issues on the electricity tariffs. The ECG has done some work on it; they've done a realignment of their billing system and I believe that people can feel some relief … the bills have been made more transparent, it is not a subsidy, it is a realignment of the tariff system,” President Mahama stressed.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana