Ghanaians to pay more levies for renewable energy

Ghanaians would be required to pay more levies to generate revenue for investment in renewable energy to address the current energy crisis facing the country, the president has said.

The President also promised to fix the problem.

Giving the State of the Nation Address to Parliament Thursday February 26, 2015, President John Dramani Mahama outlined the impact of the energy crisis on citizens and businesses. He also pointed out some of the factors contributing to the crisis including architectural designs and increasing use of air conditioners.

He stated however, that he would solve the energy crisis.

He said the energy challenge has been managed in the past, even though it has been a recurring problem, indicating that he would not manage it but fix it.

“I John Dramani Mahama, will fix this energy challenge,” he said.

He indicated that Ghanaians would pay an increase on the Energy Fund on petroleum products. The levy would be raised  from Gp0.05 to Gp1, part of which would be used to establish a renewable energy fund. He noted that, the government intends to introduce an ancillary service charge of Gp1per kilowatt hour of electricity transmitted to generate revenue for investment in renewable energy. According to the president, part of this charge would also be used to fund solar energy in the country.

“We estimate that if we install 200,000 solar systems on rooftops, we would save this country 200 megawatts of power daily,” he said.

He also called on Ghanaians to practice energy conservation, urgency citizens to follow the simple text published by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to lower their energy consumption.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi