Ghana’s power sector is to become more competitive in the next five years as the power markets would be opened for electricity consumers to choose their sources of power from varied service providers.
The move is to enhance competition in the power market and drastically reduce the cost of electricity to ensure that consumers have access to cheap energy for enhanced productivity.
Presently the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is the main distributor of electrical to consumers for both domestic and industrial use in all parts of the country.
Power Sector Reform
Mr. Ofosu Ahenkrah, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission said this at a dialogue session held in Accra on Wednesday to discuss the success of the implementation of Ghana Power Sector Reforms initiated in the 1990’s, as part of the commission’s 20th anniversary celebration.
The Ghana Power Sector Reform Programme was initiated to remove barriers hindering the private’s sectors participation and investment in the power sector
The dialogue session was attended by industry players in the power sector who brought on board, challenges in Ghana’s power sector and how to address them.
Mr. Ahenkrah believed that a competitive market would expand the industry and set a pace to efficient power delivery.
Competition and Varied Power Options
“Presently, consumers connected to electrical cables of the EGC have no choice but to use electricity from ECG, but in five years’ time you can buy electricity from any supplier not necessarily the one whose wire is connected to your house,” he said.
He said the under the reforms, Ghana has been able to improve access to electricity in the country to 85 per cent and is poised to attain the set target of 100 per cent electricity supply coverage in all parts of the country by 2020.
Provision of efficient Energy
The energy commission will according to him focus on providing efficient energy to the public by attracting more private investors.
The reform has according to him made significant contributions into the sector and will in the coming years create a contestable electricity market.
Mr. Ahenkrah expressed concerns about the high cost of fuel which was affecting the sector negatively.
He suggested that the gas markets be liberalized to enable Ghana generate more power from gas for multiple gains.
By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey