Minister for Energy, John Jinapor, has dismissed claims by Joy FM that the country is facing a power generation deficit, describing the assertion as misleading and inconsistent with the realities of electricity system operations.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Mr. Jinapor argued that the analysis presented by the Accra-based radio station relied on a “static snapshot” of data and drew conclusions that fail to reflect the dynamic nature of power generation and distribution.
“Power supply is dynamic. It is managed in real time to respond to hourly, daily, and seasonal fluctuations in both demand and generation,” he stated, cautioning against interpreting isolated data points as evidence of a structural problem.
The minister explained that Ghana’s installed generation capacity stands at just under 6,000 megawatts (MW), compared to a peak demand of about 4,300 to 4,400 MW. According to him, this demonstrates that the country is not experiencing a structural shortfall in power generation.
He noted that system operators routinely manage electricity supply using established measures such as dispatch optimisation, fuel switching, and reserve deployment, describing these as standard operational practices rather than indicators of system failure.
Mr. Jinapor also addressed recent supply challenges linked to disruptions from the Akosombo hydropower system, characterising them as temporary setbacks rather than signs of a broader crisis. He said restoration efforts are ongoing, with a significant portion of lost capacity already restored and full recovery expected soon.
Looking ahead, the minister outlined steps being taken to strengthen the power sector. These include government approval of nearly 1,000 MW of additional generation capacity and the procurement of a 200 MW battery energy storage system to improve grid stability and manage peak demand.
He added that targeted interventions are also underway to address bottlenecks within the power distribution network.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Jinapor maintained that the core challenges facing the sector lie in reserve margins and distribution infrastructure, not in a lack of generation capacity.
“Ghana does not lack generation capacity. The challenges are known, being addressed, and are largely concentrated in reserve margins and distribution infrastructure,” he said.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
