Economist and lecturer at Pentecost University, Dr. Alexander Amo Baffour, has assured Ghanaians that the government remains firmly committed to delivering stable and reliable electricity supply across the country despite the recent wave of power interruptions.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Yepe Ahunu, a political talk show aired on Ahotor 92.3 FM on May 2, 2026, and hosted by Nana Dogbe, Dr. Baffour provided an extensive assessment of the country’s energy challenges, ongoing infrastructure upgrades, and the broader issues affecting the power sector.
According to the economist, the current electricity challenges facing Ghana are not due to insufficient power generation capacity, but rather long-standing infrastructure deficiencies that successive governments failed to address adequately.
“I must be sincere with you and the audience that the government is highly committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian has stable power supply,” he stated. “As we speak, there are still sections of Ghanaians who do not even have access to electricity, and government has outlined plans to ensure they are connected to power.”
Ghana Has Enough Power Capacity
Dr. Baffour emphasized that Ghana currently possesses enough electricity generation capacity to sustain the country’s energy demands. However, he explained that critical technical problems within the transmission and distribution systems continue to trigger recurring outages.
“The government has made it clear that this is not a generation problem,” he explained. “We have enough capacity as a nation, but there are technical and structural issues that are being addressed systematically.”
He disclosed that the major challenges identified by government include the replacement of aging transformers and the expansion of substations across the country.
According to him, the increasing demand for electricity resulting from Ghana’s growing economy has placed enormous pressure on outdated infrastructure that should have been upgraded years ago.
“The transformers being replaced are one of the major causes of the power outages we are experiencing,” he noted. “As the economy expands and demand increases, these systems also need expansion and modernization.”
Blames Previous Government for Neglect
Dr. Baffour strongly criticized the previous administration for what he described as years of neglect in the energy sector.
He argued that the current challenges reveal a failure to invest consistently in critical infrastructure upgrades over the past eight years.
“Many Ghanaians are asking why government is replacing all these transformers at once. It is a genuine concern,” he said. “But these issues also demonstrate how the previous government neglected the system. Investments that should have been made gradually in the energy sector were not done.”
He added that upon assuming office, the current government inherited serious financial and operational difficulties, including debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and unresolved gas supply challenges.
According to him, the government immediately allocated resources to stabilize the sector and has now expanded its focus to address the deteriorating transformer systems.
“Government came into power and committed resources to solve gas issues and settle debts owed to Independent Power Producers,” he explained. “Now they have discovered transformer-related problems and have assured Ghanaians that replacements are ongoing.”
Dr. Baffour disclosed that nearly 2,000 transformers are expected to be replaced nationwide as part of efforts to strengthen electricity distribution and reduce frequent outages.
ECG and GRIDCo Must Improve Efficiency
The economist also expressed concern about inefficiencies within state power institutions such as Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo).
He argued that some of the problems could have been prevented if the institutions had operated more efficiently and independently.
“These things should not have escalated to this level,” he said. “But because they are government institutions, once funds are delayed, projects also stall.”
Dr. Baffour further observed that ECG continues to record massive financial losses, raising concerns about operational accountability and sustainability within the power distribution sector.
Illegal Connections Worsening ECG Losses
A major concern highlighted during the discussion was the growing problem of illegal electricity connections, which Dr. Baffour described as a serious threat to the sustainability of the energy sector.
According to him, illegal power connections continue to contribute significantly to ECG’s mounting financial losses.
“Sometimes they say illegal connections are among the causes of these losses, and I believe there is truth in that,” he stated. “We are appealing to all Ghanaians to stop engaging in illegal connections because it is not a good practice.”
He lamented what he described as declining patriotism and civic responsibility among some citizens, citing incidents where public property such as streetlights are vandalized and stolen shortly after installation.
“Government will install streetlights, and some people will steal them. We ourselves are part of the problem,” he added.
Concerns Over Corruption and Declining Moral Values
Dr. Baffour also raised concerns about unethical conduct within some public institutions, alleging that certain ECG officials tasked with preventing illegal connections are instead facilitating the practice for personal gain.
“Some workers who are supposed to monitor illegal connections are rather helping citizens to do it and taking money from them,” he alleged.
The economist linked such misconduct to what he described as a broader decline in moral and societal values in Ghana.
According to him, patriotism, discipline, and integrity have weakened significantly in recent years, contributing to corruption and indiscipline across several sectors.
Drawing from experiences within the Church of Pentecost, Dr. Baffour revealed that church leaders have also become increasingly concerned about deteriorating moral standards in society.
“In the last five years, the Church of Pentecost has held several discussions on the decline of moral values and the need for the church to positively influence society,” he stated.
He recounted a sermon by Apostle Eric Nyamekye involving a respected church elder who disliked bribery but eventually felt compelled to pay a bribe to a police officer after being stopped for overspeeding while rushing to Cape Coast.
The story, according to Dr. Baffour, illustrates how deeply corruption has become embedded in society.
“We ourselves are part of the problem,” he stressed. “So we need to change our mindset, become patriotic citizens, and support government efforts so these challenges can become things of the past.”
The economist and lecturer at Pentecost University, Dr. Alexander Amo Baffour calls for stronger national discipline, institutional accountability, and collective responsibility to help Ghana build a more efficient and sustainable energy sector.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe/Ahotoronline.com