By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
The Ministry of Energy has issued a robust defense of sector minister John Abdulai Jinapor, dismissing calls for his resignation as “baseless” and “politically motivated” amid what it describes as concerted efforts to stabilize and revitalize Ghana’s energy supply.
The rebuttal follows demands from the Minority in Parliament on Tuesday, April 28, that the Minister vacate his post over persistent challenges in the energy sector, citing recent intermittent power outages in parts of the country as evidence of failed leadership.
According to the Minority, the erratic electricity supply warrants a change at the helm of the Ministry.
The Ministry, however, has vehemently rejected that narrative, insisting the current administration has delivered substantial progress in managing the sector and resolving entrenched challenges inherited from the previous government.
Speaking to Citi News, Ministry spokesperson Richmond Rockson mounted a spirited defense of Jinapor’s stewardship, pointing to what he termed demonstrable and measurable gains.
“For somebody who has kept the lights on…12 months of no load shedding, is he somebody you describe as a failure? For somebody who has kept paying debt, who has kept faith with utility companies and then, due to that, they are bringing more projects, is that the person you describe as such?” Rockson questioned.
Rockson underscored government’s commitment to bolstering generation capacity and maintaining a largely stable electricity supply, while aggressively confronting the sector’s fiscal constraints.
He referenced a recent $1.47 billion payment to utility companies as evidence of government’s fidelity to sector stakeholders.
“Read the press release by the utility company. After the government paid $1.47 billion, please read the press release. And then listen to what the industry is saying and not what the so-called politicians are saying, what the industry is saying about Dr. Jinapor,” he stated.
The Ministry maintains that industry sentiment, not political rhetoric, should guide public assessment of the Minister’s performance, crediting Jinapor with restoring confidence and attracting new projects into the energy space.
The development comes as GRIDCO recently restored four generation units at Akosombo following a fire incident, with the Energy Ministry reiterating its commitment to ensuring long-term reliability across the national grid.