Illegal Power Tappers to Face Stiffer Punishment (Page 3)

Wednesday Feb 18, 2008

THE Minister for Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, says he intends to liaise with Parliament to introduce new laws which would provide stiffer punishment for people who use illegal means to tap energy from the national grid.
Outlining the government’s vision for the energy sector on his first day in office, he said his mandate was to work towards ensuring availability and accessibility of power to every Ghanaian.
He therefore declared his opposition to the situation where a few criminals would use illegal means to tap from the nation’s resources.
He said the time had come for the country to generate more energy and export some to boost the national economy.
Dr Oteng-Adjei pointed out that since he had served as the Director of Power at the ministry for about 10 years, he was aware of the challenges facing the energy sector and therefore poised to confront them together with his team.
To ensure that every part of the country was supplied with the needed energy, the Minister said the Ministry would continue with the rural electrification programme as well as initiate new programmes.
In addition, Dr Oteng-Adjei indicated that the sector would be made to effectively play its role in creating employment.
He pointed out that it was high time the country pushed the perennial energy shortage behind it adding that the age-long problem of power shortage could be solved if issues of the energy sector was taken seriously by all.
Dr Oteng-Adjei took the opportunity to challenge people in the various communities to be vigilant and bold to detect and report to the security agencies those who connect power illegally.
He stressed that through the activities of people who indulge in illegal connection, the country lost 10 to 12 percent of revenue that was accrue from energy supply and gave the hint that those criminals would not have it easy under his administration.
He said it was important for the rest of the people to find ways of telling those criminals to “leave us alone” to enjoy the power which we paid for instead of them making use without paying.
The Minister said the energy sector was crucial when it comes to the country’s economic growth as well as poverty alleviation and pointed out that it would be better if suggestions from people with the requisite knowledge were welcomed and incorporated into the ministry’s programme.
When he was asked whether the new government would continue with the Bui Hydroelectric Project, Dr Oteng-Adjei was emphatic that the project would have to be continued.