“We Have Averted the Dumsor We Inherited”: John Dramani Mahama Touts Achievements in Energy Sector

• President John Mahama has touted his government’s achievements just eight months into office
• He said his administration has managed to stop the power outages known as Dumsor
• The president said this during his first press engagement which was held at the Jubilee House

President John Dramani Mahama has touted the achievements of his administration barely eight months into office during his maiden engagement with the press at the Jubilee House.

Touching on the energy sector, the president said his administration has managed to avert the intermittent power outages, popularly known as Dumsor, which were handed over to him upon assumption of office on January 7, 2025.

“We have been able to avert Dumsor, which was handed to us,” he said.

According to President Mahama, his administration was able to stabilise the power sector through strategic interventions.

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President Mahama increases ESLA to fix Dumso

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Some of the strategic interventions by President Mahama's administration to fix the power sector upon assuming office included the amendment of the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA).

This saw an increase in the petroleum product levy by GH¢1 to address the country’s ongoing energy crisis.

The increase in the ESLA levy, which was approved by Parliament on June 3, 2025, aims to cover the high cost of procuring liquid fuels.

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, said the increase was not made to pay for the energy sector's legacy debts.

Speaking to Accra-based Joy FM, the Energy Minister stated that the government had assessed the energy sector and found that the liquid fuel consumed in the country was not part of the tariff structure.

He said the government requires over US$1B this year alone to procure liquid fuels.

John Jinapor added that even if all citizens are able to pay for the power they consume, and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) were to collect 100 per cent of the money, none of it would go towards the procurement of liquid fuel.

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"What we are doing is that we have studied the situation, conducted the analysis in the energy sector, and the basic truth is that the liquid fuel we buy is not currently part of the tariff structure. So, when you and I pay for electricity, even if ECG were to collect the money 100 per cent today, none of that money would go into the procurement of liquid fuel. Meanwhile, we require over $1 billion this year alone to procure liquid fuel," he explained..

Energy expert cautions Forson on Dumsor Levy

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported earlier that Benjamin Boakye, the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), warned the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, against repeating the mistakes of his predecessor in relying heavily on taxes.

He criticised the amended ESLA levy, calling it a poor way to address the sector's inefficiencies, which require decisive leadership.

The energy expert said the only thing that could resolve the inefficiencies was decisive leadership to deal with the challenges.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh