The Minority in Parliament has demanded for a full audit of the Energy Sector to ascertain the state of indebtedness.
The caucus reveals that the Energy Sector debt currently stands at over 2 billion dollars as a result of the government's misapplication of proceeds from the Energy Sector Levy Act ESLA.
It adds that the Ministry of Finance has failed to pay for about 1.8 billion Ghana Cedi power consumed by Ministries Departments and Agencies since August 2023 thereby crippling the sector.
Addressing the media, the Ranking Member on the Energy Committee of Parliament, John Jinapor said the Akufo-Addo government seeks to hand over a collapsed Energy sector to a Mahama-led government. "PURC based on its statement, has indicated that ECG is not abiding with the Cash Waterfall Mechanism and it is the mechanism that allows companies and entities throughout the energy sector value chain to get some revenue or payment, that has been jettisoned.
As if that is not enough, the Ministry of Finance, since August 2023 has not paid up even a Cedi for power consumed by ministries, departments and agencies. "From our rough estimates, that debt alone amounts to GH¢1.8 billion.
Clearly, they are passing the dock just trying to manage the system and handing over dilapidated, ageing equipment, collapsed energy sector to President Mahama when he assumes office. "A lot of work awaits President Mahama when he assumes office.
The energy sector debt alone based on our rough estimate is around $2 billion as we speak.
They are misplaying the energy sector levy revenues, they are also misapplying the energy sector recovery levies.
So, clearly, there is a major problem confronting us. "We therefore call for a full audit of the entire energy sector.
So that we will have a fair and firm appreciation of this state of indebtedness so that whoever assumes office will prepare to tackle the challenges. "This is an attempt to sweep all the challenges under the carpet and hope that they can just cross over the next election and that is not the way to go," he stated.
The Minority adds that a future NDC government will abrogate the proposed merger of VRA, the Bui Power Authority, ECG and NEDCo.