I will solve ‘Dumsor’ by putting private sector in charge of energy sector – Alan

The founder and leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen, has called for a major overhaul in Ghana’s energy sector to address the recurrent “Dumsor” (power outages).

Speaking at a media engagement on August 13, Kyerematen identified the root of the problem as the outdated and fragmented control within the public sector.

Kyerematen explained that Ghana has excess power capacity, which he believes is not being effectively utilized due to inefficiencies within the public sector.

He criticized the proliferation of agencies under the Ministry of Energy, such as the Energy Commission, Petroleum Commission, NPA, GAPC, BOST, and ECG, which he claims contribute to confusion and operational overlap.

“The problem is not with generation. In fact, at one point, we had excess power,” Kyerematen said. “The real issue is the public sector’s control over our energy institutions. There are so many agencies falling over each other, creating inefficiencies.”

To address these challenges, Kyerematen proposes a significant shift towards privatization. He advocates for consolidating energy departments and agencies to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic overhead.

He argued that bringing the private sector into the energy market would introduce the necessary investment and efficiency to modernize infrastructure and improve service delivery.

Kyerematen’s plan involves allowing private companies to take charge of energy generation and distribution, while the government would regulate their operations.

He pointed to examples from mature economies, where private sector involvement in energy has led to improved performance and reduced outages.

“The only way to rebuild our energy infrastructure is through private sector investment,” Kyerematen stated. “Government does not have the funds or efficiency to do this alone. By bringing in private sector players, we can ensure better investment, efficiency, and reliability in our power supply.”

Kyerematen’s proposal aims to resolve the energy crisis by leveraging private sector capabilities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Ghana’s energy sector, ultimately leading to a more reliable power supply for the nation.