John Dramani Mahama declares end to power outages in Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana’s persistent power outages, commonly known as "dumsor," have been resolved through the stabilization of the energy sector and the clearance of substantial financial arrears. Addressing the Ghanaian community in Moscow, Russia, the President stated that the country now possesses adequate electricity to meet national demand. He attributed this development to his administration's strategic intervention in resolving the financial challenges that had previously crippled the energy sector.

Central to this recovery was the payment of approximately US$1.7 billion in outstanding debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs). President Mahama explained that these massive arrears had previously created significant tensions between the government and the producers, often leading to threats of power supply suspensions. By clearing these inherited debts, the administration has successfully averted potential shutdowns and ensured a consistent flow of electricity to the national grid.

Beyond clearing past debts, the President highlighted the implementation of a new, timely payment system designed to prevent the accumulation of future arrears. This arrangement ensures that IPPs are compensated promptly for the electricity they supply to the national grid. Mahama emphasized that this measure has rebuilt trust between the government and power providers, stating that "there’s no dumsor in Ghana, everybody has power." He noted that the government remains current on its payments, which has restored investor confidence and secured the long-term reliability of the power sector.