Mahama Can�t Solve Energy Crisis; Says NDC Propaganda Scribe

Newly-elected Propaganda Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti region, Samed Akalidu, has admitted that it would be difficult for the Mahama-led government alone to solve the country�s energy crisis. In his estimation, the nature of the energy problem facing the country currently demands a collective approach from all Ghanaians, especially technocrats in the field of energy from all political divide. He, however, bemoaned the way and manner the energy problem was being discussed in the media by politicians, saying �it is discussed as if it is an NDC problem only�� According to him, energy is crucial to every sector of the country�s economy and for that matter should be treated as a national issue devoid of partisan politics. �When power goes off, it affects everybody including NDC members and their companies� so it is with all other members of different political parties,� he indicated. The NDC Ashanti regional propaganda scribe made these observations on �Kanawu,� one of the flagship programmes of Amansan Television (ATV) in Accra at the weekend. Though Mr. Akalidu admitted the present energy situation was becoming an albatross on the neck of government, he was quick to pat President Mahama�s shoulder for standing firm in the face of the crisis by ensuring that the country moved on. He pointed out that the NDC government since 2010 had been able to increase the energy capacity to about 600 megawatts. And as part of measures to help find a lasting solution to the problem, he disclosed that the Mahama-led administration has added 2 megawatts of solar energy in Navrongo in the Northern region. He added that the Komenda Sugar factory when completed would generate 3 megawatts of solar energy to the existing ones. According to the NDC propagandist, the intentions of Mahama�s government were to make Ghana a net exporter of energy. Contributing to the programme, a member of the Communication Team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central region, George Ayisi, blamed the energy crisis largely on the inefficiency of the management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). He could not understand why the state company could owe so much when indeed its services were paid for by industrial and domestic users. For instance, he quizzed: �How can ECG owe Asogli GHC100 million and Volta River Authority (VRA) GHC1 billion� Even though he was not in support of the alleged sale of the ECG to private investors, he charged staff of the under-fired state company (ECG) to sit up and give off their best in terms of revenue mobilsation and generation so as to meet their demands. The NPP communication member also called on government to retool the ECG and ensure that it delivers efficiently. For his part, a member of Communication Team of the Progressive People�s Party (PPP,) Charles Owusu, who was also on the programme, nonetheless disagreed with the NDC for calling for non-partisan approach in solving the energy problem. According to him, President Mahama�s government must be held responsible for the erratic energy supply in the country. The outspoken PPP man argued that since Ghanaians voted for President Mahama to better their lot, it was therefore his administration�s responsibility to find a lasting solution to the energy problem. ��fixing the energy problem lies in the hands of President Mahama as he is in charge of all our resources,� he intimated. He attributed the problem to leadership failure and thus called on the government to sit up and change the status quo. �It is imperative for the NDC government to show more commitment in solving the problem rather than promising and promising,� he asserted.