I took off my generator to feel what Ghanaians feel – Deputy Energy Minister on life without power

Deputy Energy Minister Richard Gyan Mensah has disclosed that he made a deliberate and personal decision to remove the power generator from his residence in order to directly experience the ongoing electricity challenges affecting many Ghanaians.

Speaking in an interview on PM Express hosted by Evans Mensah, the minister explained that his action was driven by a desire to better understand the frustrations citizens face during frequent power outages.

“Immediately I was given my position as the Deputy Energy Minister, I took off the generator,” he said. “I did that because I wanted to feel what Ghanaians go through when the lights go off. I wanted to experience it personally.”

According to him, the country’s power challenges have been exacerbated by a sharp increase in electricity demand at the beginning of the year. He noted that this sudden surge has placed immense pressure on the power distribution system.

“At the beginning of the year, demand quickly shot up,” he explained. “When demand increases at that rate, it puts significant strain on the distribution network, and in several areas, transformers became overloaded.”

He revealed that investigations conducted by the ministry identified overloaded transformers as a major cause of outages in many communities. Despite this, he emphasized that response teams have been working efficiently to resolve reported faults.

“In most of the cases we have monitored, there has been a very prompt response time to complaints,” he stated, adding that technical teams are deployed quickly to restore power whenever faults occur.

Beyond the technical explanations, Mr. Mensah stressed that his decision to live without a generator has given him firsthand insight into the realities faced by ordinary citizens. He said he actively monitors outage reports and restoration efforts, often communicating directly with engineers and field teams.

“If my light goes off, I quickly receive calls or updates that our area has been affected,” he said. “Sometimes I send text messages to follow up, and they respond with updates on the situation.”

He added that he personally tracks restoration progress. “At times, I can monitor when power is restored, and they report back to me that electricity has been brought back.”

When asked directly during the interview whether he truly endures the outages without backup power, he responded firmly: “Exactly,” confirming that he sleeps in the dark just like many Ghanaians.

However, he admitted that the decision has not been easy for his household. “For about a year now, although I am able to cope, it has not been comfortable for my family—especially my wife,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the minister believes the experience has reshaped his perspective on public service and accountability. He emphasized that citizens judge government performance largely based on their access to stable and reliable electricity.

“People measure us by how consistently they have power,” he noted. “I wanted to be in that ordinary situation to truly understand how it feels when the lights go off.”

He further explained that without such a personal experience, the issue of power outages could easily feel distant or abstract to policymakers.

“But now, when the lights go off, my lights go off too,” he added, highlighting the importance of shared experience in leadership.

Interestingly, Mr. Mensah disclosed that he has also chosen not to install solar power at his residence, despite its potential as an alternative energy source. He said this decision was intentional, as he wanted to remain aligned with the reality faced by most Ghanaians who cannot afford solar installations.

“Yes, installing solar could solve the problem,” he acknowledged. “But then what about the ordinary Ghanaian who doesn’t have the means to do so?”

He also recounted a recent personal experience with a prolonged outage at his home.

“Last Saturday, from about 6 a.m. to noon, there was no power,” he said. “I was at home with my children, and although I kept calling Akosombo Dam to check on the situation, we had to endure it like everyone else.”

Despite the inconvenience, the Deputy Minister described his decision as temporary, explaining that his ultimate goal is to contribute to long-term improvements in Ghana’s power sector.

“I am focused on improving the system,” he concluded. “When I am confident that Ghanaians are enjoying stable and reliable electricity, I will consider bringing the generator back.”