Reliable electricity supply is fundamental to Ghana’s economic development – Vice President

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has emphasized the critical role of a reliable electricity supply in Ghana's economic development. She stated that electricity is essential for sustaining businesses, supporting industrial growth, and ensuring the effective functioning of households and public institutions. At a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Kpone Independent Power Plant (KIPP), the Vice President highlighted that CenPower Generation Limited's operations had become a significant contributor to Ghana's electricity supply.

The plant operates on three different fuels, demonstrating fuel efficiency and flexibility. The Vice President praised CenPower for its role in the country's infrastructure development, noting that it required substantial capital, specialized expertise, and the ability to maintain partnerships over several years. She emphasized that Ghanaian entrepreneurs could play a leading role in developing critical infrastructure and building capacity to mobilize investment, manage complex projects, and develop technical expertise.

The Vice President also acknowledged the challenges the energy sector faced, including insecurity in electricity supply and a significant debt burden. She highlighted the government's efforts to address these issues, such as settling arrears, restoring the World Bank guarantee for the Sankofa gas project, and renegotiating Power Purchase Agreements.

The measures aimed to ease the financial burden on the sector, protect public finances, and restore investor confidence. Another priority was reducing the cost of electricity generation by increasing reliance on natural gas. The government's gas-to-power strategy aimed to improve the utilisation of natural gas, reduce generation costs, and enhance the efficiency of the power supply system.

The Vice President reiterated that improving the financial position of the energy sector and increasing generation capacity alone was insufficient if electricity did not reach communities, businesses, and public institutions. To address this, the government was expanding electricity infrastructure to underserved communities through its Big Push program, including an electrification project in the Volta Region that connected 206 communities to the national electricity grid.

The Vice President also highlighted CenPower's contributions beyond electricity generation, particularly its educational program on waste management and biodiversity conservation.