CJA unhappy with intervention in Aboadze Plant

Accra, May 07, GNA - The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) on Monday criticised Government's decision to acquire 100 per cent shares from the Aboadze Thermal Plant, saying, the initiative was a mark of policy inconsistency.

Mr Kwesi Pratt Junior, member of the CJA said Government must therefore come out to explain to all Ghanaians why it had opted for this strategic intervention contrary to its policy approach of not doing business.

Addressing the media to voice out CJA's concerns on the recent energy crisis, Mr. Pratt said the initiative had raised questions of competency since Government had not done the necessary cost benefit analysis to secure such intervention.

He entreated Government to develop keen interest in the input of the entire citizenry on all projectS aimed at resolving the energy crisis. Mr. Ato Ahwoi, also a member of the CJA said Government should take the blame for not being pro-active enough, to implement recommendations made by the Energy Commission, the World Bank and other energy experts since it assumed office in 2001.

" If the NPP Government had implemented the sound proposals given by experts to meet Ghana's increasing demand of 10 per cent per annum, an additional electric capacity of 835 Mega Watts (MW) would have been installed by 2007".

He said Government should adopt short-term measures such as the importation of more emergency power plants to deal with the energy deficit, instead of going in for projects such as the Bui Dam and the Nuclear Power Project which would take years to be operational. According to him, Government should not have promised that Nigeria would supply Ghana with 200 MW of power, since there was no interconnectivity between the two countries.

He noted that the West African Gas Pipeline Project should not be presented as a solution to the crisis, saying, "Until and unless additional thermal plants are put in place, the WAGPP would fuel only 550MW Aboadze Thermal Plant.

Government, he said, should also reconsider its decision to increase electricity and water tariffs, as well as fuel prices, since it would have effect on all commodities and services.

Mr Ahwoi urged Government to resource the Volta River Authority to enable it complete the construction and installation of its 126 MW thermal plant at Tema, adding that the 80 MW generating set imported by the mining companies should also be installed immediately. He said as the general public were being educated to conserve energy, there was also the need to expedite the commencement of the expansion of the Aboadze Plant Project to reduce the cost of power generated. 07 May 07