An energy policy can make Ghana net exporter: Heed World Bank’s Directive – Benjamin Quashie to government
Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, South African National Democratic Congress Council of Elders Chair and the Group Chairman for Allied Consortiums has thrown his support behind the World Bank’s directive to Ghana regarding an energy plan.
Having an energy policy as directed by the World Bank would help not to fall into the ‘dumsor’ ditch again. Speaking on Joynews Prime Morning programme Monday, 17th July, 2023, he claimed that, “I’ve always believed that if we do our things right, we could even be an exporter of energy and I think as a country we need to have a concerted effort in ensuring managers of the economy are able to come up with a policy in line with the World Bank’s policy”, he stated.
In offering counselling to government, Mr. Benjamin Quashie argued that Ghana needs to adhere to the directives of the World Bank since we have a programme with them. “This should help us steer our affairs properly and avoid any further energy crisis going forward as a country”, he emphasized.
With reference to the ‘dumsor’ debate, the SA NDC Council Chair indicated that this has always been an area where there has been a tug of war between “My NDC and the NPP about excess capacity. But, what the World Bank is saying is an indictment on the government. That, there is a looming danger in the energy sector, which we must stop the politicking in order to avert it”, he shared.
Further, he contended that, from the look of things there is something the government isn’t telling Ghanaians. “Who is government fooling by not telling the full story but telling us half truths?” He quizzed. “I think Ghanaians should hold the government responsible if anything untoward happens regarding the energy sector. They only presented to us the good side of the policies without telling us the realities”, he claimed.
According to Mr. Quashie, the time has come for the country to move away from policies that target the next election but, “Rather make policies that ensure Ghanaians are ok. The energy sector policies should be looked at devoid of politics to ensure we don’t go back into ‘dumsor’ “, he emphasized again. It was his considered view that with our ailing economy, if ‘dumsor’ should happen again, then it would be disastrous for our country.
