President John Dramani Mahama has accused his predecessor of mismanaging revenues generated from the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA).
Mr. Mahama has said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) failed to use the funds for their intended purpose.
The President raised these concerns during a meeting with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Accra on Monday, January 13.
“After we passed it and left office in December, the new government came in, and they had other ideas and other ways of trying to do things. But unfortunately, one of the outcomes was that ESLA was not used for its intended purpose.
“Revenues of ESLA were mismanaged. So, what should have gone to pay down a lot of the debts that have accumulated today was used for other purposes,” he bemoaned.
The ESLA was introduced in 2015 during President Mahama’s previous administration to tackle the growing debts in Ghana’s energy sector, stabilize the industry, and ensure a reliable power supply.
However, the alleged diversion of funds has exacerbated challenges in the sector, particularly with IPPs still grappling with payment arrears.
President Mahama emphasized the need for accountability and prudent management of public funds to restore confidence in the energy sector.
He assured the IPPs of his administration’s commitment to resolving the issues and fostering a sustainable energy environment.
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