Power outages: Akufo-Addo orders suspension of electricity export

President Akufo-Addo has instructed the Volta River Authority to decrease the export of electricity to neighboring countries in reaction to the ongoing intermittent power outages, or “dumsor,” according to Samuel Atta Akyea, the chairman of the Parliamentary Energy Committee.

The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South stated in an interview with JoyNews in Accra that the decision demonstrates the President’s preference for domestic energy needs over possible revenue from electricity exports.

“The President has a sense of the national need rather than making profits abroad,” he stated.

“We cannot afford to say “Okay, let’s make good money abroad and let the national economy suffer.” So in the meantime, whatever is going outside would be curtailed and fed on the national grid so that we have electricity,” he told.

Recently, Ghana has struggled with inconsistent energy supply, which has disrupted several industries and caused annoyances for consumers.

In the meantime, the nation exports electricity to neighboring nations like Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso; hence, the government’s decision to reduce exports of electricity is a first step in lessening the impact of the power crisis on the country’s economy and people.