Kofi Anokye
An advocate for cheaper alternative source of energy says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s policies to solve the energy crisis cannot benefit the country both in the interim and long-term.
According to Kofi Anokye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Koans Building Solutions, the Mahama administration cannot solve the protracted power crisis, known locally as dumsor with the adhoc approach it has adopted.
“We have spent millions of dollars of the taxpayer to bring in barges that are producing at a very high cost to Ghanaians, but it is becoming clear that the solution to our energy problems do not lie in thermal but rather in hydro as we have seen over the years,” he told BUISINESS GUIDE yesterday.
He said Ghana needs urgent long-term solution that cannot take into consideration the procurement of power barges and added that the time has come for the government to reassess its handling of the various hydro dams, particularly Akosombo and invest heavily in those facilities to ensure cheaper supply of electricity.
“I have always insisted that the long-term solution to the power crisis cannot come from power barges because they are too expensive for our economy, environmentally not advisable and therefore hydro is the best by a mile, solar, barges and other alternative power generation methods can best serve as backups. As a matter of fact, no country relies on power barges as permanent source for electricity power.
According to Mr. Anokye, it is turning out that the approach might cost the NDC power in November polls because the solution has not worked out as expected.
“If it has the potential of costing the NDC power, then they have the right to right the wrong in order to retain power.”
“With the nation undergoing it longest load shedding, government has a point to prove that the crisis was not beyond it but it appears they are letting everybody down. The industrial sector has been ravaged by the dumsor and the economic implications have been dire.”
He said the method of recycling water back to the Volta Lake would ensure constant water for the turbines and the Volta River Authority (VRA) would be able to provide all the power the country needs at a bearable cost.
“I dedicated the whole of 2015 trying to get the VRA to take a look at my proposal which was on offer for free and one that their engineers could not discount its possibility and feasibility.”
He said “until we get Akosombo Dam operating at full capacity and increase our power production the hydro way, we will be feeding on an electricity power that will leave the nation in huge debt and the people of Ghana poorer by the day.
He said all the solutions by the NDC government have come with extra cost to Ghanaians which people evidently weren’t ready for.
“I am one person who advocates that utility consumers should pay the full cost of what they consume. This is also the reason why I am an advocate for cheaper power generation options. When the various labour groups kicked against the percentage of power increment, government was forced to reduce the tariff to 45% and 50% for lifeline consumers who spend between 0 to GHc50 and 50 to Ghc300 respectively. My question is where is government going to raise the money for the cost of reduction? It is going to be another burden on the state coffers and we all know what that means – more debt!”
By William Yaw Owusu