The prolonged energy situation leading to worsening power cuts in
Ghana that has become known as dumsor, has been attributed to the
inability of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to supply gas to the
country as a result of an accident caused to its pipelines by pirates
operating in West African waters.
That is also said to have put pressure on the local currency, the
cedi, because foreign exchange had to be used to import crude to power
thermal plants.
Addressing an IMF Programme Stakeholders meeting today May 20, 2015
in Accra, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Seth Terkper said, for two and a
half years, the WAGP was unable to supply gas to power the country’s
plants for electricity due to that accident. He also indicated that, for
the same reason pressure was put on the cedi because foreign exchange
had to be used to import crude, leading to the country’s foreign
exchange issues and the depreciation of the cedi.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company announced a shut-d…