President Nana Akufo-Addo has defended his administration’s achievements in the energy sector, asserting that his government successfully resolved the power crisis, popularly known as “dumsor,” inherited from the former Mahama administration.
In his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on January 3, 2025, Akufo-Addo highlighted significant improvements in electricity access and renewable energy projects during his tenure.
He noted that when he took office, Ghana was grappling with power shortages, but he leaves behind a nation where electricity is more reliable.
Despite the President’s remarks, some Ghanaians took to social media to criticize his statements, claiming that the Mahama administration had already addressed the power crisis before it left office.
However, Akufo-Addo emphasised the improvements made under his leadership, saying, “I inherited a nation plagued by dumsor, but I am very happy to say that I leave office in 2025 with the lights on.”
Akufo-Addo said, “Mr. Speaker, Ghana has made significant progress in expanding electricity access, with electricity access rate increased to eighty-eight-point-eight five percent (88.85%), up from the 79.3% I inherited. In renewable energy, completed projects such as a four-megawatt (4MW) floating solar PV at Bui and a fifteen megawatt (15MW) solar PV at Kaleo, together with a one hundred megawatt (100MW) solar PV under construction at Bui and a mini-grid Electrification Programme in Ada East have advanced efforts to reach the ten percent (10%) renewable energy target by 2030. Mr. Speaker, it is worth emphasizing that I inherited a nation plagued by dumsor, but I am very happy to say that I leave office in 2025 with the lights on.”
“This achievement did not come without its challenges. When my administration assumed office, we inherited an energy sector legacy debt of two-point-five billion dollars ($2.5 billion). The Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP), developed by Government and the World Bank, projected that this debt would balloon to a staggering twelve-point-five billion ($12.5 billion) within five (5) years, if no decisive actions were taken. We knew that such a scenario would cripple the sector, undermine investor confidence, and plunge the nation back into darkness.”
