Ghana is staring down a major electricity crisis as the country’s liquid fuel reserves drop to critically low levels, leaving less than three days of supply for its thermal power plants.

The alarm was raised on Thursday, May 15, by Minister of Energy John Jinapor, who told the Parliamentary Committee on Energy that the Ministry is in an urgent scramble to secure funds to pay for fuel shipments already ordered.

“My greatest concern is securing the next shipment of liquid fuel. Our existing stock can only last for 2.6 days,” Jinapor revealed, stressing the severity of the situation to Members of Parliament.

According to the Minister, although some fuel has been secured on credit, the failure to raise immediate payments puts the entire power generation system at risk.

“We’ve placed an order for fuel, but it must be paid for. We’re working closely with the Ministry of Finance to facilitate payment. However, the reality is that the Ministry is also financially constrained. We plan to take the matter to Cabinet to explore how we can strengthen the sector,” he said.

Jinapor acknowledged that while short-term interventions are necessary, Ghana must also consider long-term structural changes.

Among the options being weighed is the revival of private sector involvement in the management of aspects of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)—a move that could help improve revenue collection and overall efficiency.

“This approach may not entirely solve the problem, but it would take us a step forward. For instance, if revenue collection inefficiencies drop from 40% to 5%, it means we can recover more of what is owed,” he explained.

He also stressed the importance of accountability and planning at all levels of government.

Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) must reflect electricity obligations in their budgets, he said, just as national institutions in health, education, security, and even the presidency must be adequately funded for their energy use.

“It’s imperative that all public entities, especially essential services, allocate sufficient resources for electricity in their budgets,” Jinapor urged.

As Ghana’s energy future hangs in the balance, the crisis has become a broader wake-up call for fiscal reform, institutional accountability, and the urgent need for a more sustainable and collaborative approach to power management.