Mahama Inherits Energy Crisis: A Sabotage of the Nation?

President John Dramani Mahama’s inauguration on January 7th, 2025, marks the beginning of a challenging term, significantly hampered by an inherited energy crisis bordering on collapse.

While outgoing President Akufo-Addo boasted of handing over a nation “with the lights on,” the reality paints a far grimmer picture. This seemingly innocuous statement masks a deliberate and potentially malicious act of sabotage.

The Akufo-Addo administration’s claim is demonstrably false. Ghana’s power plants are critically low on fuel, with less than a two-day supply of Distillate Fuel and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). This precarious situation is no accident. It’s the direct result of a calculated decision not to replenish dwindling fuel stocks, despite knowledge of a crucial upcoming maintenance shutdown.

The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) had scheduled routine pipeline cleanup and inspection – a necessary “pigging” exercise – from January 20th to February 16th, 2025. This was known to the Akufo-Addo government since October 2024, giving ample time to prepare. However, instead of ordering liquid fuel to mitigate the expected gas shortfall during this period, the government chose inaction.

This inaction can only be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to undermine the new Mahama administration. By leaving Ghana perilously close to a complete power outage, Akufo-Addo has effectively set a trap for his successor. This is not simply poor governance; it’s a reckless and unpatriotic act designed to cause widespread discontent and cripple the new government’s early efforts.

The consequences are stark. Ghana faces a projected 1000 MW power deficit from January 20th, that could lead to widespread load shedding. The lead time for procuring and processing Light Crude Oil (LCO) – approximately 10 weeks – means any solution will take time to implement. The country is staring down the barrel of weeks, potentially months, of significant energy shortages.

The sheer negligence is shocking. Despite assurances to the transition team, the Ministry of Energy failed to order even a single parcel of liquid fuel to address the looming crisis. This inaction, coupled with the deliberate scheduling of the WAPCo maintenance during the period of lowest fuel stock, paints a damning picture of intentional sabotage.

President Mahama is now tasked with navigating this self-inflicted crisis. While the situation is dire and the challenges immense, his commitment to finding swift solutions is clear.

He faces the monumental task of securing emergency fuel supplies in a tight timeframe and mitigating the inevitable impact on the nation. The question remains: will the perpetrators of this calculated energy crisis be held accountable for their actions?

Anthony Obeng Afrane