3,500 megawatts coming soon to end power crisis – President Mahama

President John Mahama has stated that 3,500 megawatts of electricity would soon be added to the national grid to end the power crisis, popularly known as ‘dumsor'.

The power crisis has compelled the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to implement an electricity management programme (load shedding), which has been met with dissatisfaction and disapproval by many Ghanaians.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York Wednesday, the President acknowledged the power crisis had made life difficult for Ghanaian individuals and businesses.

“Load shedding has slowed growth” and “taken steep toll on social and economic life”, President Mahama said, pledging that it would soon be a thing of the past.

According to him, the incoming 3,500 megawatts would be powered by Ghana’s recently discovered gas reserves, and supplemented by wind and solar energy.

President Mahama, who spoke for nearly 20 minutes, also drew attention to efforts he was making to empower deprived and marginalised people in Ghana.

He said through the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP), the government had provided cash grants to thousands of households in Ghana.

The President also spoke about the government’s effort to encourage girls to go to school – something he said would be aided by the introduction of progressively free Senior High Education. (Free SHS)

On maternal mortality, he said government had introduced several initiatives to end it once and for all.