Energy sector needs urgent surgery – Mahama

President-elect John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep concerns about the dire state of Ghana’s energy sector, calling for immediate and comprehensive reforms to address its challenges.

During a courtesy visit by the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, in Accra on Friday, Mahama underscored the sector’s fragile condition, warning of its potential impact on the country’s economic stability.

Mahama reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising reforms that would ensure efficiency, sustainability, and reliable energy supply for all Ghanaians.

“The energy sector needs urgent surgery otherwise it can collapse everything,” Mahama stated.

He criticised the current administration’s portrayal of economic recovery, pointing out the significant debt burden that remains unresolved.

“You have a $2.5 billion debt, your bailout is only $3 billion, and so $2.5 billion sitting and breathing and you say the economy is turning around.”

Mahama warned that the unresolved debt could undermine any progress made, suggesting that the current government’s optimistic economic narrative is misleading.

“That alone can crush everything that has been done and so they want to create a more upbeat story about their economic management before they leave office,” he said.

The President-elect assured Ghanaians that his administration would provide transparency regarding the true state of the economy.

“We are going to open the books when we come and let Ghanaians know what the true situation is. Because if Ghanaians understand what the true situation is then they will understand some of the measures we will have to take to bring things back,” Mahama said.