The Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), as part of its four-year initiative to engage political parties on energy sector matters relative to their manifesto promises, hosted this year’s Energy Policy Townhall at the UPSA Auditorium. The event served as a platform for representatives of the country’s two major political parties—the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on 9th October and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on 16th October 2024—to present and discuss their energy policies in the lead-up to the December 7th polls.
Key energy industry players, including institutions, civil society organisations, media, and other stakeholders, were in attendance, offering a dynamic audience of experts who engaged with the policy proposals through a Q&A session after each presentation. Each party representative was given 20 minutes to present their manifesto commitments for the energy sector before engaging in dialogue with stakeholders.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) was represented by Hon. Egyapa Mercer, Member of Parliament for Sekondi, and Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the party’s Vice-Presidential candidate. Their presentation focused on the NPP’s achievements and commitment to ensuring affordable and reliable power should their flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, win the upcoming election.
Hon. Mercer outlined the NPP’s plan to offer affordable energy to alleviate the burden of high fuel costs on Ghanaians, stressing that the policy aims to strengthen Ghana’s industrial base, making it more competitive both locally and internationally. A key strategy in this initiative is the procurement of 2,000 MW of solar power, which will contribute to the country’s broader goal of securing 4,000 MW of energy. Additionally, Mercer highlighted the party’s intention to work closely with the private sector to enhance power distribution, metering, billing, and service delivery systems across the nation.
On the other hand, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was represented by Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Member of Parliament for Ellembele, and Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu Constituency. Their presentation underscored the party’s plans. They also shared their intention to cancel the Gold-for-Oil (G4O) programme introduced by the current administration, which they argue has not succeeded in stabilising fuel prices or the local currency. The NDC’s representatives expressed concerns that despite the government’s claims, the policy has not delivered its promised benefits, with fuel prices remaining high and the cedi continuing to depreciate.
The Chief Executive Officer of CBOD, Dr. Patrick Ofori, also shared the Chamber’s perspectives, acknowledging both parties for honouring CBOD’s invitation and urging them to ensure that they fulfil their manifesto promises to the sector.
The CBOD Energy Policy Townhall provided a unique forum for industry stakeholders to gain insights into the future direction of Ghana’s energy policy, and the discussions from both parties offered critical perspectives on the challenges and opportunities ahead for the sector.
