Ghanaians angry at worsening power crisis

A number of Ghanaians have expressed anger and extreme distaste at the worsening level of the energy situation in the country, nearly two months after the President, John Agyekum Kufuor assured of plans to end the problem in his "State of the Nation" Address.

Several of the people who spoke to this reporter in an interview could not understand why the problem continues to linger on after the president himself promised to solve the problem within two weeks.

Mr. Anthony Arhin, a businessman and timber contractor was berserk when he spoke with "The Ghana Palaver" in an interview in which he questioned the sincerity of the president in his commitment to solve the energy problem. He questioned what had become of the president’s promise after the African-Latin American Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, in which Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Television announced in early December 2006 that President Lula Da Silva of Brazil in a meeting with Kufuor had assured of his [Lula’s] commitment and preparedness to end the energy crisis in Ghana.

What is more, he wondered why such a support initiative if anything at all, was not contained in the president’s "State of the Nation Address".

He lamented over the state of his timber operations which he claimed was loosing millions of Cedis as a result of the power crisis which compels him to end operations sometimes before 6.00 pm.

An energy expert at the Energy Foundation who wanted to remain anonymous spoke of even gloomier outlook for the energy sector.

He said the Interim Measures propounded by the president in his State Address concerning power supply from the West Africa Power pool arrangement within two weeks, including Nigeria and Cote D’ Ivoire supplying Ghana with 200 megawatts of power was based on fantasy but not fairness.

He said "prevailing conditions in the Nigeria’s oil Delta region and the present state of works at the gas pipeline do not provide good prospects for the government to start "rejoicing" in that".

On the supposed 120 megawatts of electricity that the Osagyefo Barge is expected to produce by the president, he said the fluctuating price of crude oil in the international market makes it difficult if not impossible.

Mr. Agyemang Ansong, a TV repairer was mad at the situation and lambasted the president saying he his "disaster".