Information Minister Says $30 Million Power Debt Is Not Significant Amid Ongoing Electricity Disruptions

By Fatou Sillah

The Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has downplayed concerns over a reported power-sector debt of approximately $30 million, arguing that the amount is relatively modest within the context of the energy industry and is not the primary cause of the country’s ongoing electricity challenges.

Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay said the debt being discussed in connection with the recent power outages should be viewed within the broader realities of the energy market, which is characterized by substantial capital investments and large-scale financial transactions.

“When you consider energy and how energy markets work, the debt is not that much. I think it is something about 30-something million dollars if I get it right,” he said.

The minister noted that electricity generation and regional power trading involve significant financial commitments, making debts of such magnitude relatively manageable within the sector.

“This is not peanuts we are selling here and buying; this is energy; this is a high-capital-intensive product,” he said.

He further stressed that the current electricity disruptions are primarily the result of technical challenges rather than outstanding financial obligations. “The problem is a technical issue, and that has to be clear as well. If it is about debt, we would have solved it because the debt is not that much,” he said.

Dr. Ceesay said the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) is working closely with regional partners, including the Electricity Company of Ghana (EDG) and Senegal’s national electricity provider, SENELEC, to address the situation and restore stability to the power supply system.

“What I can tell you is, NAWEC is working around the clock together with the regional partners EDG and SENELEC to resolve this technical issue,” he said.

The minister maintained that the debt should not be viewed as the driving factor behind the ongoing power outages and expressed confidence that efforts currently underway would soon yield results.

“Very soon, this problem will be resolved,” he said.

His remarks come as consumers across the country continue to experience intermittent electricity disruptions, prompting public concern over the reliability of the national power supply and the factors contributing to the outages.