A persistent, irregular, and unpredictable electric power outage is referred to in the Ghanaian local parlance as “Dumsor”. It was one of if not the biggest night mere in Ghana.
Former President John Dramani Mahama‘s era was badly hit with a nearly 4years power crisis. A problem some who do not really do a deeper analysis of issues before passing judgement blamed solely at his doorsteps as the leader of the nation at the time. Mr. Mahama accepted the blame and promised to fix it. The situation badly affected businesses across the country and one can easily say it contributed to his defeat in the 2016 general elections.
Taken a closer look at Ghana’s development trends, one may suggest that the problem of dumsor was not a Mahama created problem rather, and partly, due to a failure of successive governments after Nkrumah and before Prof. John Evans Atta Millis to invest into the power sector to help produce adequate power supply to meet the growing demand of Ghanaians and Ghana’s industrial growth.
Though John Mahama came to meet the problem, the promised he will fix it.
Now let’s look at the governments’ investment into the power sector in Ghana since independence:
1. President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was Ghana’s first Prime Minister from March 6, 1957 to 1960 and Ghana first President from July 1, 1960 – 24 February 1966. During his tuner, he produced 1,030 Mega Watts of power through the construction of Akonsobo Dam.
2. President Flt. Jerry John Rawlings
He is a former Ghanaian military leader and subsequent politician who ruled the country from 1981 to 2001 and also for a brief period in 1979. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the democratically elected President of Ghana. During his tuner, he added 580 Mega Watts of power to the national grid.
3. President John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor
He is a Ghanaian politician who served as the President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009. His parents had nine children. During his 8year rule, he added 806 Mega Watts on power to the national grid. Mr. Kufour led the construction of Bui Dam.
4/5. President John Evans Atta Mills and President John Mahama
Prof. John Evans Atta Mills became in January 2013 with John Mahama as his Vice President. In July 2012, Prof. Mills died in office just about 4months to the Election 2012.
John Mahama was then sworn-in office to complete the expired 4year term of his boss, late Prof, Mills. In December 2012, he won the Presidential election and started his fresh four-year term.
Together with his boss in the 8year rule as Vice President and President, John Mahama and Prof. Mills added 2,885 Mega Watts of power to the national grid.
This unprecedented addition of 2,885MW is the biggest power investment and generation in the history of Ghana in just 8years.
6. President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo
He became President in January 2013 and has been in office for the past 3years, 10months and according to records, President Akufo-Addo has added not a single Mega Watts of power to the national grid. In short, he has added 0MW despite being the government that has the highest money borrowed in the history of Ghana.
Who Fixed Dumsor debate?
With the above figures, you can easily conclude who actually ended the power crisis in Ghana.
In 2016, MyJoyOnline.com reported:
I have fixed ‘dumsor’ – Mahama
President John Mahama said he has kept his promise to end a four-year power crisis that crippled businesses and left many jobless.
Delivering his 2016 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, the President expressed his excitement at dealing with the nagging problem.
He said, “I stood before this very august house and promised to fix the power sector deficit that at the time had become a significant constraint to the economic growth and a destruction to Ghanaians both home and at work.
“This was a time of considerable national anxiety. The deficit brought about a severe power rationing and I was very much concerned. Ghanaians had to sleep in darkness or spend money to fuel generators. Businesses faced challenges, and I expressed my full regret to the nation and I took full responsibility as President and leader of this nation and commander in Chief,” he added.
He said although getting through the task was not easy, the hard work has paid off and this has “made us achieve the fastest mobilization of emergency power in the history of Ghana.”
The President also indicated that about 800MW has been added to the national grid in the shortest period of time as part of measures to deal with the power crisis.
“Fast tracking the finalisation and commissioning of KTPP added 220MW, fast tracking the commissioning of TICO’s combined cycle added 110MW, mobilising Karpower added another 220MW and as I speak, AMERI is adding 250MW extra power to our transmission grid. In addition, 180MW of Asogli phase 2 is also available as soon as we can get extra gas for it.”
He, however, acknowledged that more work still needs to be done to give the comfort required for sustainable generation.
He commended former Power Minister, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, his deputy, John Jinapor and the Petroleum Minister Emmanuel Kofi-Buah, whose teamwork, he said “achieved this success.”
The president thanked Ghanaians for their patience and understanding even in one of the most difficult times in the country’s history and pledged that “I will continue to work to ensure that we never find ourselves in such a dreadful situation ever again.”
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com
