Ghana’s Power Sector Faces GHS68 Billion Debt Amidst Rising Electricity Tariffs – Isaac Adongo
Bolgatanga Central Member of Parliament, Isaac Adongo, has revealed that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is burdened with a staggering GHS68 billion in debt, despite implementing several electricity tariff increases.
Speaking on TV3’s The Big Issue on Friday, February 28, Adongo blamed the financial crisis on reckless fiscal management by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
“If this is not recklessness or mismanagement, then what is it? ECG is now GHS68 billion in debt after multiple electricity tariff hikes. This country is indeed a crime scene,” he stated.
His comments came in response to President John Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, February 27, where the President outlined Ghana’s economic challenges and environmental crises.
Galamsey’s Devastation on Ghana’s Forests and Water Bodies
During his SONA address, President Mahama highlighted the severe impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
“This reckless activity threatens Ghana’s environment and public health. Presently, 44 of the country’s 288 forest reserves have been impacted—equivalent to approximately 7,504 football pitches. The pollution levels in major rivers within the Southwestern Basin are critically high, with turbidity levels far exceeding permissible limits,” he stated.
Government’s Response to the Galamsey Crisis
To tackle this environmental crisis, President Mahama announced several strategic interventions:
- Strict law enforcement against illegal mining operations.
- Expansion of Minerals Commission regional offices to enhance oversight.
- Introduction of a mining categorization framework for small, medium, and large-scale mining with tailored regulations.
- Creation of a Gold Board to regulate the gold industry.
- Development of the salt industry to boost exports under the AfCFTA.
- Investment in critical minerals like lithium as part of Ghana’s industrialization agenda.
Climate Change and Afforestation Initiatives
President Mahama also reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to environmental sustainability through key policies, including:
- The ‘Tree for Life’ Restoration Policy aimed at planting 20,000 hectares of new forests annually.
- The Blue Water Initiative, which will rehabilitate mined-out areas into ecological recovery zones.
- Public awareness campaigns on sustainable forestry practices and land tenure security.
- Climate action policies, with Ghana allocating 24 million metric tonnes of its carbon budget under the Paris Agreement.
A Call for Accountability
Isaac Adongo’s revelations about ECG’s debt crisis, coupled with President Mahama’s pledge to restore environmental integrity, signal a renewed focus on financial discipline and sustainability.
With Ghana’s energy sector struggling under mounting debt and the ongoing fight against illegal mining, the Mahama administration is under pressure to deliver on its promises and enforce accountability in public resource management.
Source: 3news