Ghana on Brink of Nationwide Blackout: $1.1 Billion Needed to Avert Crisis

Ghana Faces Looming Power Crisis: Unpaid Bills and Fuel Shortages Threaten Nationwide Blackout Ghana's energy sector is teetering on the edge of collapse, with the government warning of an imminent nationwide power outage. The crisis stems from a combination of factors, primarily the non-payment of electricity bills by large businesses and a critical shortage of fuel for power plants. Energy Minister John Jinapor stated, "We need $1.1 billion to procure liquid fuel alone." This highlights the staggering financial burden facing the country. The situation is so dire that the government is resorting to using oil intended for national revenue to keep the lights on. A ranking member on Parliament's Energy Committee, George Kwame Aboagye, added another layer to the crisis, stating, "Some big businesses are to be blamed for defaulting on their power bills." This points to a systemic issue of non-payment within the energy sector. With only a couple of days of fuel remaining, the government is working to secure emergency funding from cabinet to avert a complete shutdown. The clock is ticking, and the consequences of inaction could be devastating for Ghana's economy and its citizens.