By Wilhelmina Oddoye
Almost every online news portal has it that President Nana Akuffo Addo is set to commission a Thermal project in Kumasi today, Wednesday, April 17 2024.
But with a little research, one will find out the project he’s set to commission was commissioned under the NDC administration and was named Ameri Power Plant.
Though Ghana took full ownership of the 250-megawatt capacity power plant after paying 510 million within five years under the NPP administration, it does not make it theirs.
If my memory serves me right, the NPP administration immensely criticised the then-ruling party for introducing this project which was to boost the electrical system voltages and improve the overall stability of electricity.
Is it logical to commission an already commissioned project? Is the Akuffo Addo-Bawumia-led administration trying to claim this project because they have little to nothing to show as their achievements? This wouldn’t have been something to write about if the president said he was going to “rebrand” the project. But an attempt to claim it is another thing on its own.
It’s quite a shock to me because this project was introduced in the year 2015 when the country under Mahama was facing critical electrical outages. But in 2024, the Akuffo Addo government walks in majestically claiming the project and trying to take credit for it.
I read that Otumfuo Osei Tutu will be present during the “recommissioning” of the Kumasi 1 Thermal Project. Well, this looks like a joke to me!
I remember Otumfuo asking Mahama to pinpoint a single project he did when he was the president.
It seems Otumfuo has either forgotten or is ignorant of the fact that the project he will be “recommissioning” with the President was introduced by the NDC administration.
What even comes as a surprise to me more is the relocation. The country is currently facing an energy crisis and all the ruling government could think of was to relocate the power plant to Kumasi.
It is alleged that 35 million dollars was invested in the relocation of the plant from Takoradi to Kumasi. As to whether these figures are accurate or not, I believe the decision to rename and relocate the plant to Anwomaso in the Ashanti Region is costly.
It is quite exceptional how this administration misuses money on unnecessary projects while important ones are ditched and left to rot. Part of this money could be used to renovate the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital(KATH) and the rest could be used for other developments in the country.
Though past governments didn’t do any better, I bet most Ghanaians are patiently waiting for the end of this Akuffo Addo-Bawumia-led administration. We’ve had enough as a country!