Ghana: Sceptical response to president’s power pledges

President John Dramani Mahama devoted large sections of his state of the nation address to the steps his government is taking to resolve the blackouts that have plagued the country in recent months. Reiterating many of the pledges made by minister of power Kwabena Donkor a month earlier, Mahama pointed to the 1,000MW of emergency power expected in the short term, in addition to the 3,665MW promised in the medium term. He cited plans to integrate the Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and announced two new taxes designed to raise money to subsidise the roll-out of renewable energy.