John Abdulai Jinapor warns energy sector heads over poor performance

Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, has issued a stern warning to the leadership of Ghana’s energy sector, stating that poor performance will no longer be tolerated. Speaking at the 2026 Energy Sector Performance Review Retreat in Ho, the Minister told Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors, and Board Chairs that they face dismissal if they fail to meet the government's efficiency and delivery targets. The retreat was convened to evaluate the sector's performance over the past year and to outline strategic goals for power generation, distribution, and the petroleum industry.

Addressing technical challenges, Dr. Jinapor revealed that Ghana currently lacks sufficient redundancy in its power generation system, which poses a risk to the reliability of the national grid. To address these vulnerabilities, the Minister announced that the government is working to secure $500 million specifically for upgrading and strengthening transmission infrastructure. These funds are intended to modernize the network and reduce technical losses. Additionally, efforts are underway to restore idle power plants under the Volta River Authority (VRA) and enhance the capacity of the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam to ensure a more stable electricity supply.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of fiscal discipline and transparency in procurement processes to protect national financial interests. He noted that the government has already made significant investments in the sector, including the deployment of over 2,000 new transformers to improve local distribution. Dr. Jinapor highlighted positive developments such as the profitability turnaround at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which he cited as an example of what can be achieved through disciplined management. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate more effectively to meet the country's growing energy demands.

Looking ahead, the Ministry plans to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy projects to diversify the national energy mix and promote sustainability. Dr. Jinapor reiterated that the development of the energy sector must remain in lockstep with Ghana’s economic growth. He concluded by stressing that the "perform or go home" directive is central to the government’s commitment to ensuring that energy services are efficient, reliable, and accountable to the Ghanaian public.