Energy Minister-Designate, John Jinapor, has raised concerns about the escalating debt in the energy sector, which he claims the previous government left behind.
The country has been experiencing frequent power cuts due to the government’s inability to settle debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), who are responsible for a substantial portion of Ghana’s electricity supply.
Former President Akufo-Addo had claimed that his government successfully stabilized the sector through tough negotiations with IPPs, prudent financial management, and targeted interventions.
However, Mr. Jinapor disputed this claim, stating that the current debt has ballooned to $3 billion, up from $2.1 billion left by the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in 2017.
During his vetting on Monday, January 13, he emphasized that the energy sector’s legacy debt has increased significantly, posing a significant challenge to the new administration.
He said, “When we left office on August 31, 2017, the debt was $2.1 billion. As of yesterday, January 12, 2025, the outstanding debt has exceeded $3 billion.”
