A former parliamentary candidate for the Oforikrom constituency, Henry Osei Akoto, has attributed the current power crisis in Ghana to the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

According to Akoto, the provision of free electricity and water by the Akufo-Addo government during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to the country’s energy sector debt, which has now accumulated and is impacting the power supply.

Speaking on a panel discussion on TV XYZ on February 25, 2025, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) member asserted that, in addition to the financial burden caused by the subsidies, maintenance issues have also played a role in the ongoing power outages.

“What has triggered all the power sector issues is, do you remember before the 2020 elections, Nana Addo provided free electricity and free water? That is what brought this problem to Ghanaians.

“We have a backlog, so it got to a time when they realized there was huge debt, and later, they increased electricity and water tariffs to recover the money, but they couldn’t get it. That has accumulated till today, along with some maintenance issues,” Akoto stated.

His comments come amid growing concerns over frequent power outages in parts of the country, with many citizens and businesses expressing frustration over the negative impact on daily activities and economic productivity.

AM/KA