Opoku Prempeh Criticizes Mahama's Economic Record as Ghana Faces Power Woes

Ghana's Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has taken aim at former President John Mahama, criticizing his administration's handling of the economy and power sector during his four-year tenure. Speaking at a Government Assurances Committee meeting in Accra on Friday, Dr. Opoku Prempeh asserted that the power outages known locally as 'dumsor' were a defining feature of Mahama's presidency.

Why this matters: The criticism of Mahama's economic record has broader implications for Ghana's political landscape, as it may influence public perception of the former president's leadership and potentially impact his future political ambitions. Moreover, the ongoing power supply challenges in Ghana highlight the need for effective governance and infrastructure development to support the country's economic growth.

"Dumsor as inflicted on Ghanaians has only happened as characterised his excellency John Dramani Mahama's governance," Dr. Opoku Prempeh stated emphatically. "He is the only president on record that for four years that he reigned, for four years that he ruled, for four years that he governed, there was 'dum dum dum.'"The Energy Minister's remarkscome as Ghana continues to grapple with power supply challenges, despite President Akufo-Addo's previous declaration of an end to the power crisis. Many parts of the country are still experiencing inconsistent electricity supply, prompting frustration among citizens and businesses alike.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh sought to distinguish the current situation from the prolonged power outages under Mahama's leadership. "...I told you that when I got to the Ministry we've gone past the era where we had 72 to 96 days of lights out and six hours of lights on. We are in the era of 'dum siesie' which is profoundly different from dumsor," he explained.

However, the Ranking Member on the Government Assurances Committee of Parliament, Oti Bless, countered Dr. Opoku Prempeh's criticism. He argued that former President Mahama took responsibility and worked to address the power crisis before the end of his term in office.

Ghana has a history of power supply challenges, with the 'dumsor' crisis becoming a major issue during Mahama's presidency from 2012 to 2016. The power outages had far-reaching impacts on the economy, businesses, and daily life, leading to widespread public discontent and political pressure on the government to find solutions.

As Ghana continues to navigate its current power supply difficulties, the exchange between Dr. Opoku Prempeh and Oti Bless underscores the ongoing political debate surrounding the country's energy sector and the legacy of past administrations in addressing the challenges. The government faces mounting pressure to deliver reliable electricity to its citizens and ensure the stability of the power grid for the nation'seconomic growth and development.

Key Takeaways

• Ghana's Energy Minister criticizes former President John Mahama's handling of the economy and power sector.
• Mahama's presidency was marked by frequent power outages known as "dumsor".
• Current power supply challenges persist despite President Akufo-Addo's declaration of an end to the crisis.
• Energy Minister distinguishes current "dum siesie" from prolonged "dumsor" under Mahama's leadership.
• Ghana's power supply challenges have far-reaching impacts on the economy and daily life.