The Deputy Energy Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has disclosed that Ghana currently has more electricity than it needs, especially during peak hours.
According to him, though the country has more energy supply now, there is still a need to generate more due to the increasing population and the government’s industrialization policies, including the 1D1F program.
“Now to meet our demand, we actually have more than we currently demand at peak hours, but the economy is growing and we want to industrialize; the Integrated Aluminum Industry is coming up strongly and the 1D1F is everywhere and even growing further,” he stated.
The Minister added that, “Ghana cannot say that it is self-sufficient when it comes to the production of electricity in the country and that, due to this factor, it needs to expand to help continue supplying [electricity] to the neighboring Burkina Faso and Togo since this serves as a medium through which foreign exchange is gotten.”
Dr. Adam stressed that Ghana needs to upgrade its transmission systems in order to power more electricity domestically and supply more to neighbouring countries.
Touching on a recent collaboration between the Ministry of Transport, the Energy Commission and the Energy Ministry, he revealed that a project named ‘National Mobility and Immobility Program’ has been rolled out. The purpose, according to him, is to ensure that the large number of electric vehicles that are being produced can get enough power to charge their batteries in order for them to work efficiently.
Dr. Adam further disclosed that there are currently lots of hybrid used cars in the country that are being imported by some individuals.
He said that while some “smart” Ghanaians are building their own charging stations, the Electricity Company of Ghana, the major supplier in the country, is doing its best to support the new program.
The Deputy Minister was speaking to the media on Ghana’s energy transition plans on Monday in Accra.