The Ghana Grid Company’s (GRIDCo) letter to the Minister of Energy, which expressed concerns about the Electricity Company of Ghana’s failure to provide customers with a load-shedding schedule in the midst of ongoing power outages, is perceived by Ben Boakye, Executive Director of the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), as a ploy to absolve itself of responsibility.

In a letter dated March 28, GRIDCo expressed grave concerns to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Energy, regarding ECG’s disregard for the National System Control Center’s (NSCC) load-shedding management guidelines.

On Friday, Ben Boakye discussed the contents of GRIDCo’s letter with host Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM. He stated that the letter was intended to formally absolve GRIDCo of any responsibility.

“GRIDCo is aware of the generational gap in the power sector and all other stakeholders are aware of the challenges affecting the sector so the letter to the Energy Minister is to officially take itself out of what is happening in the sector because the gas to generate the power is not enough.”

In a letter, GRIDCo claimed that ECG’s disregard for the National System Control Center’s directive presents a serious threat to the stability of the electrical grid, citing specific examples where ECG’s noncompliance has caused a decrease in system frequency in certain locations.

“Burkinabe authorities communicated recently about the power challenges to their people and said they are considering getting a power plant which will be a shoot in our foot,” Ben Boakye said, highlighting the potential impact the current power challenges may have on the ECG’s ability to generate revenue.