“Buck stops at the top” — Minority calls for Energy Minister’s removal over power challenges

The Minority in Parliament has intensified calls for the removal of John Abdulai Jinapor, arguing that ultimate accountability for Ghana’s ongoing power challenges rests with the top leadership of the energy sector.

Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews, Member of Parliament for Oforikrom and a member of the Parliamentary Energy Committee, Michael Kwasi Aidoo, criticized recent leadership reshuffles within key institutions, insisting they fail to address the root causes of the country’s intermittent power supply.

According to him, changes at agencies such as the Ghana Grid Company Limited do little to resolve the deeper structural and financial challenges affecting electricity generation and distribution. He argued that while lower-level officials are being suspended or replaced, the broader issues driving instability in the sector remain unresolved.

“If you remove the MD of GRIDCo and even direct supply at ECG, then why not you? Because the buck stops at the top,” he stated, emphasizing the need for leadership accountability at the highest level.

His remarks come in the wake of a directive by the Energy Minister asking the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Grid Company Limited, Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside pending investigations into a fire outbreak at the Akosombo Power Control Centre. The incident has contributed to recent disruptions in electricity supply across parts of the country, raising concerns about the resilience of Ghana’s power infrastructure.

Mr. Aidoo accused the government of focusing on dismissals and administrative changes as a way to ease public pressure, rather than confronting the systemic problems within the energy sector. He pointed to persistent fuel supply constraints, mounting debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and broader financial inefficiencies as key drivers of the instability in power delivery.

Describing the situation as one of “desperation and deflection,” the Oforikrom MP maintained that meaningful reform in the energy sector requires comprehensive policy action, improved financial management, and long-term investment strategies—not just leadership changes.

The ongoing debate highlights growing political and public concern over Ghana’s power reliability, with calls increasing for sustainable solutions to ensure stable electricity supply and restore confidence in the sector.