Clear leadership demonstrated in managing recent power crisis - Dr Theo Acheampong

Dr. Theo Acheampong defended the government's handling of Ghana's recent power supply challenges on Saturday, May 2, on JoyNews' Newsfile. Dr. Acheampong insisted that "there was clear leadership in how the situation was managed, including timelines and updates to guide consumers," adding that the response reflected active coordination among sector agencies. He explained that the situation required coordinated interventions, particularly after the incident at the Akosombo hydro facility, which significantly affected generation capacity.

Dr. Acheampong said authorities provided timely communication, operational updates and structured responses throughout the period of disruption in the energy sector. He acknowledged that there could have been improvements in managing specific localised challenges but maintained that the overall handling of the crisis demonstrated direction and control. According to him, the sudden loss of a substantial portion of supply placed pressure on the national grid, necessitating rapid balancing measures to stabilise electricity delivery across the country.

Kofi Bentil, Lawyer and Senior Vice-President of IMANI Africa, criticised authorities over what he describes as "insincere" communication regarding the persistent power outages. Mr. Bentil noted that the energy sector remains highly sensitive and inherently political, stressing the need for careful and responsible handling of both policy and messaging. He said the country's energy challenges are not solely technical but are compounded by poor and unreliable public communication.