Ghana’s second emergency power barge is expected to dock in the country by the end of September this year. The construction of the Karpowership is currently at 70% complete and has been installed with a production capacity of 225MW of power.
In 2015, the government of Ghana signed an agreement with a Turkish company to deliver 450MW of power to meet the energy deficit in the country. The first two barges had already arrived in November 2015.
“Government should take advantage of the power stability to renegotiate or terminate some power contracts,” said Benjamin Boakye, Deputy Executive Director of Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP).
Most of the emergency power plants are supposed to have been delivered between three to six months so if after seven to eight months the plants have not yet been delivered, it clearly states that the agreed timeline are not being followed. However, Boakye is urging Ghana government to nullify those contracts for not delivering on time, since power situation in Ghana has stabilize.
Ghana mostly relays on hydropower, thermal energy (fossil-fuel) and energy renewable sources for power generation. Electricity is a key factor for economy growth in Ghana as Ghana Grid Company is oversees electricity transmission.
However, Ghana exports some of its generated power and fossil fuels to its neighbouring countries under the supervision of the Ghana Grid Company as Electricity Company of Ghana and Northern Electricity Distribution Company looks after the electricity distribution.
Early last year, Ghana’s electricity situation had worsened inducing difficulties in businesses as authorities blamed the situation on low water levels at the Akosombo Dam and lack of gas to power the country’s thermal plants.
