Fiifi Boafo, a former Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has taken aim at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the country's recurring power outages, saying the party has failed to demonstrate the capacity to manage the power sector effectively.
Boafo made the criticism on JoyNews' AM Show, where he questioned why the country continues to experience power challenges whenever the NDC is in government. According to him, the frequent disruptions in electricity supply are raising concerns among Ghanaians and undermining public confidence in the government's ability to resolve the problem.
Power Outages Undermine Public Confidence
Boafo noted that electricity is essential to virtually every aspect of daily life and economic activity, making the recurring power outages particularly worrying. He recalled a conversation he had with a 15-year-old boy after the change of government in 2024, where the young boy expressed concern about the return of President John Dramani Mahama to power.
NDC's Failure to Address Power Challenges
Boafo questioned the effectiveness of measures introduced to support the electricity sector, particularly the additional levy consumers were required to pay on fuel. He argued that the recent outages suggest that the expected results had not been achieved, and that consumers are still paying for a stable supply of power without seeing the same results.
Seeking Expert Advice
Boafo urged the government to consult people who previously managed the power sector successfully, rather than attempting to resolve every challenge on its own. He mentioned former government officials and individuals with experience in the energy sector, including Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, and Boakye Agyarko, saying their experience could be useful in addressing the current challenges.
Impact on Businesses and Citizens
Boafo stressed that the impact of power outages extends beyond households, affecting businesses, students, workers, and institutions. He cited students who are unable to study when there is no electricity, hairdressers who cannot work, and welders who are unable to operate their businesses. He also pointed to the effect of power outages on media organisations, particularly those that have to rely on generators to remain operational.
Call to Action
Boafo therefore called on the government to demonstrate greater competence and provide the public with confidence that the recurring power challenges would not become a permanent feature of the NDC administration. He urged the government to learn to manage the power sector effectively and give the public confidence that when they are in power, it is not going to be a recurring problem.
Source: Joy Online
