Former Power Minister asks for more investment in energy equipment

Dr Kwabena Donkor, Former Minister of Power has called for more investment and manufacturing of energy and power equipment if Ghana is to become hub of electricity power supply in the West African sub region.

He explained that Ghana had to become a supplier of power equipment as she positioned herself to be a leading supplier of electricity to her sister African countries.

Dr Donkor, MP for Pru East made the call in a contribution to the debate on the 2017 Budget Statement and Financial Policy of the Government.

He commended the Finance Minister for acknowledging in the budget that the NDC in 2016 added 800 megawatts of power, and called for all efforts to attain the 1200 additional projected megawatts of power this year.

Dr Donkor said he was excited that the proposed sale of the GRIDCO announced by President Nana Addo Dankw Akufo-Addo, was dropped from the budget following issues raised by the public.

Meanwhile, the Minority, at the commencement of the debate predicted a gloomy economic growth for the country and threatened to boycott debate on the government’s maiden budget over anomalies in statutory funds.

The NDC MPs faulted the financial statement of President Akufo-Addo over several anomalies in the statutory funds including the District Assemblies Common Fund, saying it was a clear breach of the constitution.

Former Deputy Finance Minister and Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam MP, Ato Forson said the MPs will be left with no option than to boycott the debate on the budget.

The NDC MPs also questioned the absence of the Finance Minister on the opening day of the debate, to which the Majority Leader Osei Kyei- Mensa-Bonsu replied that he had been around.

On their part, the Majority MP’s led by Chairman of the Finance Committee, Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah lauded the policies by the NPP government including the abolition of taxes.

Source: GNA