"I will not manage, I will fix power crisis" - Mahama's State of the Nation address 2015
The president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama, has promised to fix the current energy crisis plaguing the nation in the coming days ahead. He made this pledge in his state of the nation’s address in Parliament earlier today the 26th of February. According to the president, the current power shortage will not be managed as it has been done by previous governments, but will rather find permanent solutions to them. He said “I do not intend to manage the situation, I intend to fix it. I, John Dramani Mahama will fix this energy challenge”
He said currently the power supply is at a deficit of 1000 megawatts as a result of an inconsistency in gas supply from Nigeria and broken down equipment. He however said this will change as government intends to add 3,665megawatts bringing the capacity of power supply to a total of 6465 megawatts. In his breakdown on how he intends to do this he said: Coal power will add on 750 megawatts, General electric will bring on board a 1000 megawatts, Asogli Phase 2, 350 megawatts, VRA and Kpong plant will generate 184 megawatts and 220 megawatts respectively.
The president also said that government will assist small-scale enterprises like hairdressers, barbers as well residential homes with solar-powered equipment. “Over 20,000 rooftop solar systems would significantly reduce the energy crisis”, he stressed.
He reiterated that he was keen on reforming the country’s energy crisis by beefing up the hydropower plants into independent power supplying entities and ensuring that Electricity Company of Ghana was reoriented into a customer-centered government organization.
On education President Mahama says government will introduce a first ever basic entrance examination resit opportunity to assist students with unimpressive results. He promised 10,000 free sandals to Basic Schools. Additionally about 367,000 Ghanaian students stand to benefit from free SHS policy starting September 2015. 156million World Bank facility, he said, had also been obtained to train teachers and head masters of schools in the country. “Education is the surest way to eradicating poverty in the nation” He opined.
In terms of road infrastructure, he said no efforts have been spared in remodeling and fixing our road works. He touched varying road constructions that were currently on-going in several regions including Ashanti, Central, Northern and Greater Accra. “We're undertaking the largest road project in the history of Ghana which starts this year & ends in 2019”
Among other issues he tackled corruption, a plague the county continues to battle. He admitted that the corruption was a canker affecting the country and it behoved on relevant organizations to do due diligence in removed the ghost names that existed in state organizations, such as the National Service Secretariat.
Other sectors he touched on included Health, Women and Gender issues, pension scheme, Religion ICT as well as investor opportunities.
President Mahama was optimistic and opined that it was inherent for Ghana to make a turn around and succeed. “Success in Ghana’s DNA,” he said. He called for unity and collaborative effort from all sectors and parties in moving forward.