Dr. Nyame Baafi, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Energy, Resources and Public Policy (IERPP) and Senior Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has raised concerns over the ruling NDC administration’s performance in environmental management and energy reforms, recording a worrying 16.6 percent performance during its first 120 days in office.
Addressing journalists at a press conference at the Ghana International Press Centre on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, under the theme “The 120-Days Accountability Showdown: Are We Resetting or Repeating the Past,” Dr. Baafi presented a comprehensive review of the government’s performance to date.
He explained that the assessment, conducted by IERPP, evaluated twenty-five key manifesto promises across four thematic areas using verifiable implementation data and a weighted scoring system aligned with international benchmarks for measuring government performance.
Dr. Baafi emphasized that Ghana stands at a critical juncture and can no longer afford policy incoherence, reversals, or delays. He stressed the need for the government to uphold its commitment to protect forest reserves and enforce environmental laws.
He also highlighted the urgent need for the administration to address the energy crisis through competent leadership and structural reforms, consolidate previous gains in the tourism sector, and conduct a credible investigation into the Akosombo Dam spillage disaster.
Reflecting on the 2024 general elections, Dr. Baafi recalled that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), then led by flagbearer and now President John Mahama, unveiled a 120-Day Social Contract with the people of Ghana. This document outlined key commitments across sectors such as energy, environment, and tourism.
Among the promises were a ban on illegal and new mining activities within forest reserves, as well as initiatives such as the Tree for Life and Blue Water Initiative, which aimed to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and restore polluted water bodies.
Another pledge was the launch of the Black Star Experience to revitalize the tourism industry. Additionally, the NDC committed to initiating a comprehensive investigation into the Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillage disaster, which displaced thousands and devastated livelihoods across multiple regions.
Dr. Baafi noted that although the energy sector, one of the most critical pillars of Ghana’s economy was not explicitly highlighted in the original contract, it was later incorporated under the broader goal of resolving the power crisis.
Unfortunately, he stated, the country continues to suffer from frequent and prolonged power outages commonly referred to as dumsor which threaten economic stability and productivity.
Citing international comparisons, Dr. Baafi referenced how even advanced economies such as Germany have grappled with macroeconomic challenges due to high electricity costs let alone the persistent power shortages faced by Ghana.
He further emphasized that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has identified Ghana’s energy sector as a major economic risk.
He recounted how, between 2013 and 2015, the government signed numerous power purchase agreements on a take-or-pay basis, burdening the nation with excess capacity charges amounting to nearly one billion dollars annually since 2017.
These financial obligations, he argued, have diverted crucial public funds from essential sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, and education—raising serious concerns about Ghana’s fiscal sustainability.
Despite reassurances from the current Minister for Energy, Dr. Baafi said the energy crisis persists, with severe consequences for businesses, employment, investment, and healthcare delivery.
He warned that without bold reforms and enhanced efficiency particularly in the revenue collection efforts of the Electricity Company of Ghana the country risks missing targets under the ongoing IMF program.
While acknowledging that recent tariff increases by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission are intended to support cost recovery, Dr. Baafi criticized the move, arguing that these adjustments merely shift the inefficiencies of state-owned energy enterprises onto consumers, further increasing the already high cost of living.
On environmental issues, Dr. Baafi expressed disappointment at what he described as a reversal of the government’s pledge to ban illegal and new mining within forest reserves. He noted that instead of enforcing a ban, the government is reportedly seeking to amend legislation to permit such activities—a move he condemned as both contradictory and dangerous.
He described the environmental destruction caused by mining as alarming, citing widespread contamination of water bodies with heavy metals and toxic chemicals, destruction of farmlands, and threats to agricultural productivity.
Dr. Baafi emphasized that agriculture remains central to Ghana’s economy as its largest employer, a major contributor to GDP, and a key source of export revenue. Any policy that undermines the sector, he warned, poses a direct threat to national stability.
Turning to tourism, Dr. Baafi acknowledged the launch of the Black Star Experience as a commendable initiative with potential to boost domestic economic activity and job creation. However, he questioned the wisdom of launching a new brand instead of building on the internationally recognized Year of Return, which had already delivered significant economic benefits.
He also expressed concern that the initiative was launched on the same day that electricity tariffs rose by over fourteen percent, a development that adds pressure on businesses and undermines the tourism sector’s viability.
Dr. Baafi further criticized the government’s failure to fulfill its promise of a full investigation into the Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillage disaster. He questioned whether the government’s pledge outlined in the 2025 Budget Statement to resettle displaced persons had seen any meaningful progress.
He urged the government to remain faithful to its commitments, prioritize competent leadership, implement urgent reforms in the energy sector, protect the environment, build on previous tourism successes, and uphold transparency and accountability especially regarding the Akosombo disaster response.
In conclusion, Dr. Baafi stated that Ghanaians deserve better—a government that is transparent, consistent, and accountable, and that places the welfare of its people above political expediency.
AM/KA
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