A group calling itself, Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana) has called for strong governance, transparency and accountability measures to tackle Ghana’s energy sector crisis.
According to CFF-Ghana, the nation must seek for purposeful and sound solutions in addressing the energy sector challenges.
“As we may be aware, Ghana’s energy sector is facing myriads of challenges including financial shortfalls, escalating debts amounting to $3.1 billion, systemic inefficiencies, and gas shortages among other challenges.”
In a press statement issued by the Cooperate Communication Department of CFF-Ghana, believe that the cause(s) of the perennial energy sector crisis are not just financial, but it is as a result of mismanagement and wanton corruption.
In fact, it is a matter of public knowledge that there is a syndicate in the energy sector consisting of political appointees and the so-called technocrats who sheepishly exploit the sector for their personal benefits.
The question therefore is why has governments over the years not been able to crack the whip on these energy sector cartels to ensure energy stability in Ghana?
While acknowledging the challenges, CFF-Ghana is of the strongest view that over reliance on tariffs increment cannot take the country out of the woods.
At best, it will place unnecessary financial burden on poor households and industries who are already suffocating under draconian energy sector levies introduced by the erstwhile regime.
To address the existing energy sector challenges, CFF-Ghana calls on government through the Energy Minister, Hon. John Jinapor to implement strong governance, transparency and accountability measures including regulatory reforms, and transparent procurement processes with the view of promoting fiscal discipline and reducing corruption in the energy sector.
Further, “we call on government to consider regulating the free fuel coupon scheme including sanctioning appointees who witch on their engines with air-conditions on during events to ensure value for money.”
On the Ghc1 fuel levy, we call for broader stakeholders’ engagement towards consensus building to ensure stakeholders ownership for energy security.
In the spirit of transparency and accountability, we urge government to update the public on how criminals accused of wrongdoing in the energy sector are being prosecuted in accordance with the law.