Energy Minister John Peter Amewu must resign for his failure to provide solutions to the energy challenges that have resulted in the recent power outages in some parts of the country, Minority spokesperson on Mines and Energy, Adam Mutawakilu has said.

Mr Mutawakilu, who was speaking to journalists on Friday, 15 March 2019, said the recent power cuts could be attributed to liquidity problems and, so, Ghanaians should not accept excuses from the Energy Minister for his failure to fulfil previous promises.

“We are expecting him to tender his resignation because in November, he promised us and it did not happen and he is still promising and you are taking it? We do not need to take him seriously,” Mr Mutawakilu stated.

Mr Mutawakilu said the governing New Patriotic Party should be honest about the recent power crisis and announce a load shedding timetable.

“Last night, I slept in darkness. You know the Minority raised the issue that we are back to ‘dumsor’ and in November Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) gave the same explanation that it is due to technical challenges and I said it is because we do not have money. Since November, we have consistently had load shedding and it is not as widespread as it has happened the day before and, as we speak, many other areas are still experiencing it,” he lamented.

“There is a huge shortfall of 1,000 megawatts and I want President Nana Akufo-Addo to officially declare dumsor and come out with a load shedding timetable because this is causing a lot of havoc to businesses and he must do the honourable thing by officially declaring dumsor,” Mutawakilu stated.

Meanwhile, GRIDCo has written to the Power Distribution Service (PDS) requesting that it start shedding load from 8.00hrs to 18.00hrs each day in the affected parts of the capital, Accra.

The request for a 10-hour load shedding on PDS MV/LV lines, according to GRIDCo, is necessary due to the diversion of 330KV Aboadze-Volta transmission line at Pokuase to facilitate the interchange construction works being undertaken by the Department of Urban Roads at Pokuase.

The letter noted that the work, which was originally planned to be completed by Thursday, 14 March 2019, will be completed by 19 March 2019 due to some challenges encountered by the contractor.

Ghanaians have raised concerns about the recent power outages fearing a possible return to the ‘dumsor’ days. The PDS, however, said the blackouts were due to technical challenges and allayed fears of a return to ‘dumsor’.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM