Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson targets 2 million prepaid meter installations

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a comprehensive plan to deploy two million prepaid electricity meters across Ghana by the end of 2027. Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement, the Minister outlined this initiative as a cornerstone of the government's strategy to modernize the energy sector and improve fiscal stability. The primary objective of the large-scale rollout is to significantly reduce distribution losses and enhance operational efficiency within the power sector, which has long been hampered by revenue collection challenges.

The government is also moving toward full private-sector participation in electricity distribution to address the persistent financial challenges plaguing the industry. By integrating private sector expertise and capital, the government expects to mitigate a significant financial shortfall and resolve substantial arrears currently owed to service providers. This structural shift is designed to ensure that power distribution is managed as a commercially viable enterprise while simultaneously protecting vital public assets and improving service delivery for consumers.

In addition to the meter deployment and distribution reforms, the government has committed to a US$500 million investment aimed at upgrading the national transmission network. This funding is intended to stabilize the grid and reduce the cost of power generation, providing a more reliable energy supply for both domestic and industrial users. The Minister emphasized that these combined interventions are critical for the long-term sustainability of the energy sector, ensuring it can support Ghana's broader economic growth objectives through the end of the decade.