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The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has revealed that Ghana Water Limited owes the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) nearly GH₵1 billion in unpaid electricity bills accumulated over the past seven months.
Speaking at a meeting between the Energy Committee of Parliament and stakeholders in the power sector, Jinapor urged ECG to act swiftly in retrieving the outstanding amount. He stressed that the debt significantly hampers the company’s ability to function effectively.
“I was listening to the news at 10 pm, where Ghana Water made a complaint that, because of some erratic power situation, they are unable to supply adequately. I empathise with them, and I think that what we have inherited, we should improve on it,” Jinapor stated.
He continued, “But the other notice is that Ghana Water hasn’t paid any GH₵1 for seven months. We need that money to stabilise the power. If you don’t pay GH₵1 for seven months and it compounds to GH₵1 billion, the power sector will not be stable. The private sector or ordinary citizens alone cannot be made to shoulder the burden.”
In addition to concerns over Ghana Water’s debt, the Minister disclosed that Karpower has issued a warning to suspend operations by May 18 due to unpaid debts exceeding $400 million. Jinapor noted that this is part of a broader debt crisis in the energy sector.
“Karpower has just sent us a letter that by the 18th, they will shut down the plant because we owe them more than $400 million. IPPs alone, we owe them $1.7 billion,” he said.
The Minister’s remarks highlight the growing financial strain within Ghana’s energy sector and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to recover debts and secure consistent power supply.
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