Ghana spends an average of $92 million every month in additional financing to keep electricity supply stable, the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) has said, highlighting the scale of ongoing fiscal support to the energy sector.
Executive Secretary of the PURC, Dr Shaffic Suleman, said the funds are provided by the Ministry of Finance to cover the cost of fuel and other obligations required to sustain continuous power generation, beyond what is recovered through electricity tariffs.
“So every month on average is $92 million. As we speak, it’s $92 million. So when you see your lights on for 30 days, what it means is that aside from the tariff we are paying, the Ministry of Finance is also putting in $92 million to make the lights come on,” he said on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition.
He said the financing forms part of broader government interventions in the energy sector, which have also been used to clear arrears owed to independent power producers and gas suppliers, as well as restore financial guarantees linked to key energy contracts.
According to him, revenue from a GH¢1 levy on petroleum products has contributed to reducing long-standing energy sector debts and supporting payments across the power value chain.
Dr Suleman said the funds have helped settle obligations to independent power producers, gas suppliers, and other partners, while also supporting measures to stabilise Ghana’s credit outlook in relation to energy-related commitments.
He added that the energy sector requires sustained annual financing to maintain uninterrupted power supply, describing the $92 million monthly support as part of a recurring obligation rather than a one-off intervention.
