In spite of erratic power outages in some areas of the nation, Lom-Nuku Ahlijah, a lawyer and infrastructure policy specialist, has insisted that Ghana is not in the “dumsor” era. Mr. Ahlijah told JoyNews’ AM Show that, overall, 2025 has been a good year for Ghana’s energy sector, notably in the fields of electricity, oil, and gas.
In his opinion, the comparative stability in the industry has had a beneficial impact on electricity prices as well as the different cost elements that go into calculating prices, such as fuel and petroleum prices in the international market.
He observed that, despite the fact that the nation’s electricity supply hasn’t suffered any significant interruptions this year, there is still potential for improvement, which is a good sign of the current government’s management of the energy industry.
Mr. Lom-Nuku addressed the debt in Ghana’s energy sector, admitting that the nation is currently struggling with large legacy debts that cannot be paid off in a single day.He said that resolving these debts would need significant structural reforms, which the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are now debating.
He went on to say that independent power producers (IPPs) have contracts in place with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and have kept providing electricity, particularly during times when gas supply is not accessible.
However, he noted that this comes at a significant price because ECG is compelled to use liquid fuels, which are considerably more costly than gas. Ultimately, the government is responsible for paying for these extra expenditures, he emphasized.
In the 2026 Budget Statement, the government has suggested the construction of a new gas processing facility to guarantee a lower fuel supply for thermal power stations in the long run, according to Mr. Ahlijah. He also praised the government’s assertions that the renegotiation of power contracts has resulted in savings of around $300 million, stating that this demonstrates that the financial effects of the renegotiated deals have been adequately measured.
He pointed out that if the renegotiation hadn’t taken place, the State would have been obligated to pay that sum under the current agreements, but the new conditions have freed up some financial resources and reduced strain on the State’s finances. In spite of these advancements, Lom-Nuku stressed that continued reforms and wise management are still necessary to guarantee the energy industry’s long-term stability.
