John Abdulai Jinapor warns energy sector heads of removal for poor performance

Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has issued a stern warning to leadership within the energy sector, stating that chief executive officers, managing directors, and board chairs will face removal if they fail to meet performance standards. Speaking at the 2026 Energy Sector Performance Review Retreat in Ho, Dr. Jinapor emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring accountability and transparency as it seeks to address the country's growing power demands and infrastructure gaps. The retreat serves as a critical evaluation of the previous year's performance while setting strategic targets for future power generation and distribution.

The Minister revealed that the government is moving to secure $500 million to strengthen transmission infrastructure and improve electricity supply stability across Ghana. This investment follows the deployment of over 2,000 new transformers intended to modernize the distribution network and ensure that electricity services keep pace with national growth. Dr. Jinapor highlighted that the sector must shift toward greater efficiency and transparency in procurement to protect national financial interests, noting that current redundancy in power generation remains insufficient to guarantee a fully reliable supply.

Addressing specific operational goals, the Minister outlined plans to restore idle plants under the Volta River Authority (VRA) and enhance the generation capacity of the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam. He also pointed to the recent profitability turnaround of the Tema Oil Refinery as a positive benchmark for other state-owned agencies within the petroleum and energy sectors. Dr. Jinapor urged all stakeholders to collaborate on expanding renewable energy projects, which remains a central pillar of the government's green transition strategy.

Dr. Jinapor concluded his address by reiterating that the era of complacency in energy management is over. He stressed that every investment made by the government must reflect in improved service delivery for Ghanaians. The ministry expects all heads of agencies to align their operations with the national interest or be replaced by individuals capable of delivering the required results to meet the country's industrial and domestic energy needs.