Blackouts Rock Accra: MPs Demand Answers from GRIDCo and Energy Minister
A widespread blackout on Thursday morning left Accra in the dark, the second major disruption to the national power system within a month. The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Energy Minister are now under fire from MPs demanding answers on the recurring nationwide power outages.
MPs Call for Emergency Meeting to Investigate Power Disruptions
The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament's Energy Committee, Collins Adomako-Mensah, is leading the charge, calling for GRIDCo and the Energy Minister to appear before Parliament to explain the recurring nationwide power outages. In an interview on Joy FM's Top Story, he expressed concern over the frequency of the outages, stating that they require Parliament to demand clear answers from the agencies responsible for the country's power transmission system.
"We need to get to the bottom of this," Adomako-Mensah said, emphasizing the need for Parliament to establish exactly what is going wrong within the power system. He noted that the repeated disruptions demonstrate the need for a thorough investigation into the causes of the power outages.
GRIDCo's Report on Earlier Incident Remains Elusive
Adomako-Mensah also highlighted the lack of access to the full report on the earlier power system incident, which he claimed has made it difficult for Parliament to properly assess the causes of the disruptions and determine whether the recommended corrective measures have been implemented. According to him, the Energy Committee had only seen commentaries about the report on social media and news platforms, making it impossible to independently assess its findings.
GRIDCo reportedly indicated that the report had been submitted to the Energy Minister and had ruled out sabotage as a cause of the earlier incident. However, the committee's inability to access the full report has raised questions about the effectiveness of the investigation.
Urgent Need for Answers on Power Disruptions
The latest blackout, which affected several parts of the country, has heightened concerns over the reliability of the power system. Adomako-Mensah stressed that the recurring outages should concern every Ghanaian, given the importance of reliable electricity to businesses, households, and essential services. He emphasized that the issue has become even more urgent, requiring immediate attention from the responsible agencies.
The Energy Committee is expected to reconvene on an emergency situation on Monday, with Adomako-Mensah confident that they will get to the bottom of the power disruptions. As Accra and the rest of the country wait for answers, one thing is clear: the recurring nationwide power outages will no longer be tolerated without a thorough explanation from the agencies responsible.
Source: Joy Online
