The recent statements made by President John Dramani Mahama in which he accused the previous administration of mismanaging the energy sector have been harshly criticized by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). At a press conference on Monday, 3rd March, titled the “True State of the Nation Address,” the NPP argued that President Mahama’s claim of having resolved the country’s power crisis, commonly known as dumsor, before the end of his first term in 2016 was misleading.
Addressing the media, Member of Parliament for Karaga and former Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, stated that the power sector was better managed under the Nana Akufo-Addo administration, which significantly reduced the sector’s debt.
Adam Dr. Mohammed Amin He asserted:
Mr President, you did not fix dumsor as you claimed in your address, unlike your predecessor, Nana Akufo-Addo, who kept the lights on.
Dr Amin further accused the current administration of leading the country back into an era of erratic power supply, stating:
Ghanaians recall, with fear and anxiety, the devastating impact this could have on their livelihoods and businesses—particularly small businesses such as hair salons, welders, dressmakers, and others who rely on electricity for their daily income.
Dumsor
Many people and businesses are already feeling the pinch of the current dumsor. We have also seen the return of generators in shops, clinics, and at social events.
The NPP called on the government to introduce a load-shedding timetable to help businesses plan and minimize losses.
In addition, the party criticized the government for its contentious decision to reverse the previous administration’s last-minute appointments and recruitment after December 7, 2024. Dr Amin argued that this move contradicts the President’s campaign promise to create more job opportunities for the youth under the proposed 24-hour economy policy.