Power sector crippled by indebtedness – Minister

Minister of Power, Dr Kwabena Donkor, has admitted that the country’s power sector is crippled by indebtedness, causing the “bleeding” of utility companies.

He has indicated that no room will be given for wastage.

Dr Donkor was speaking during the commissioning of a seven-member committee to look into the December 21 fire outbreak at an Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) warehouse in the Ashanti Region.

Prepaid meters estimated to cost $2.8 million were lost in the disaster.

“Currently, the sector is crippled by indebtedness and, therefore, to have accessories worth close to $3 million plus a local component of about Ghc44,000 burnt at a time when the utilities are bleeding cannot be seen as one of those things,” the Power Minister said.

The committee is chaired by a representative of the National Security Council and has been given 10 days to complete investigations.

“The importance that we attach to this is reflected in the composition of the committee. They are all seasoned professionals, investigators and we thought let’s keep out the politicians and the non-technical people and have a purely technical investigative team.”

Many have ascribed arson to the disaster.