John Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has acknowledged the significant challenges facing Ghana’s energy sector, particularly debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
According to the Minister, the government is working to renegotiate terms with the IPPs as part of efforts to resolve the debt crisis.
He explained that the debts are so substantial that even a 100% increase in tariffs would not be enough to address the problem.
Jinapor revealed that the early days of his tenure were marked by operational threats from the IPPs, including potential shutdowns due to unpaid arrears and other pressing sector issues.
“When I looked at the bill, I asked, ‘How much do we owe the IPPs?’ They said $1.7 billion. Then I asked, ‘How much do we owe the entire power generation sector?’ They said $3 billion. For the energy sector, how much do we need to clear the pipeline? They told me GH¢81 million.
“If you look at the amount we spend on the energy sector through the budget and combine the key ministries, the sector far surpasses them. I was initially demoralised. I kept thinking, how can we fix this? Even if we were to double tariffs, the challenges would still remain. So, the beginning was very tough,” he said during the Government Accountability Series on July 16, 2025.
Despite these hurdles, the sector minister expressed optimism about the progress being made.
“We started working, and I can say that, compared to where we were, we have made significant progress. If we maintain this trajectory, I’m confident we can turn things around,” he said.
Jinapor further noted that ongoing negotiations with some IPPs, led by Ben Boakye and his team, are expected to yield favourable terms.
“We believe that under the leadership of Ben Boakye and others spearheading the negotiations, we can reach agreements that create a win-win situation for all parties involved,” he concluded.
SSD/MA
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