Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has admitted Ghana's electricity system is running too tight, citing a lack of Ghana power generation redundancy as a major hurdle to reliable supply.
Speaking in Ho at the Ministry's 2026 Annual Review Meeting, he said the shortage of backup capacity forces difficult choices on procurement.
He didn't sugarcoat the situation. "The challenge we face, I need to be real, is that as we speak today, we don't have enough redundancy in the generation sector, and so, as Minister, I would love to procure more power, but I am also careful," Jinapor told stakeholders.
The strategy now leans heavily on reviving Volta River Authority's idle plants and pushing the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam to full capacity. The goal is to cut reliance on expensive private-sector generation while keeping costs down.
He expressed confidence that bringing these plants online would eventually provide reliable supply at affordable costs, though he acknowledged the process would bring challenges.
Procurement decisions are being tied strictly to financial safety. Jinapor argued that loving the country means treating it like a private company where every cedi counts.
"If you love this country, you will treat this country as if it were your company; you will be guided," he said. Beyond generation, the ministry is targeting the transmission network.
He disclosed that the Finance Minister is helping raise $500 million to strengthen GRIDCO's infrastructure. Stability has already improved slightly following the installation of some transformers under a broader plan to deploy 10,000 units across the network.
Upstream and Refinery Gains
On the upstream side, private companies have shown interest in exploring designated oil sites. Jinapor also took a moment to commend the Tema Oil Refinery management for turning things around financially after a period of significant losses.
The meeting in Ho served as a platform for stakeholders to hash out strategies for improving infrastructure after persistent supply challenges.
The Minister's comments suggest a shift towards maximising existing state assets before committing to new costly contracts.
While the $500 million transmission investment aims to fix bottlenecks in moving power from plants to homes, the generation side remains the critical pinch point.
Restoring VRA plants is not just about capacity but about affordability, given the high cost of independent power producer tariffs that have strained the sector for years.
Jinapor's caution on new procurement signals that the ministry is prioritising fiscal health alongside light stability, aware that solving one problem cannot create another debt crisis.
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