According to a report by Modern Ghana, Prominent Ghanaian activist and legal practitioner, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has called on the government to hold the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration accountable if it is established that the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA) funds were misappropriated.
His remarks come amid ongoing public debate about Ghana’s persistent power challenges, locally referred to as ‘dumsor,’ and renewed scrutiny of funds collected to address the issue.
Speaking on the matter, Barker-Vormawor urged the government not to shield anyone implicated in the mismanagement of ESLA proceeds, which were intended to resolve energy sector debts and stabilize electricity supply.
He argued that Ghanaians deserve transparency and accountability, especially in light of the country’s recurring power outages.
“If the NPP government misappropriated ESLA funds, the government should go after them,” Barker-Vormawor declared.
He stressed that citizens should not be made to bear the consequences of mismanagement by successive governments, particularly when financial provisions had been made through levies collected from the public.
The ESLA, introduced in 2015, was aimed at addressing the country’s energy sector debts, supporting power generation, and improving supply reliability.
However, nearly a decade later, the nation continues to grapple with frequent outages, prompting criticism from civil society groups and energy experts.
Barker-Vormawor emphasized that the lack of accountability over ESLA’s use not only undermines public trust but also weakens efforts to resolve the country’s energy problems.
He described it as unacceptable for political administrations to collect levies in the name of national development only for the funds to be diverted or poorly accounted for.
He also cautioned the current government against introducing new levies or increasing existing ones without first conducting a thorough audit of past collections.
“Ghanaians cannot continue to pay for incompetence and corruption. It is time those responsible for mismanaging public funds faced the law,” he added.
The activist’s comments have resonated with many Ghanaians, especially as the country endures another round of power rationing, disrupting businesses and households.
Several social media users and energy sector stakeholders have echoed similar demands for a comprehensive audit of ESLA funds and punitive measures for any wrongdoing uncovered.
As pressure mounts, energy authorities and government officials have yet to issue a formal response to Barker-Vormawor’s call.
For now, the public debate over accountability in Ghana’s power sector remains heated.