On this day, the 28th of April, Minister John Abdulai Jinapor of Energy and Green Transition rejected claims spreading on social media about his supposed statement labeling 70% of Tamale residents as electricity thieves.
Mr Jinapor has released a press statement this morning, denouncing the reports as “entirely false, contrived and baseless,” He has appealed to the public to pay no attention to these allegations.
He underscored that the audio-visual recordings would prove that he never called the people of Tamale power thieves during his visit.
Mr Jinapor further elaborated on his remarks, stating that he had raised apprehension over the significant ATC&C losses in the NEDCo operational area.
The losses were pointed out as the highest in the area, and they have played a significant role in causing frequent power outages.
“For the avoidance of doubt, technical and collection losses have nothing to do with power theft but rather signify the inefficiencies of the utility company,” he stated.
The Minister emphasized the necessity for immediate changes in the power sector in Tamale, stressing the importance of both substantial investments and operational efficiency to address the current difficulties.
According to him, it is imperative to make enhancements in revenue collection and technical operations in order to ensure a dependable, steady and uninterrupted electricity supply for the residents of Tamale.
Mr Jinapor’s proposed actions demonstrate a larger mission to improve energy distribution throughout the Northern regions.
As he wrapped up his statement, Mr Jinapor reiterated his profound admiration and dedication to the people of Tamale, referring to them as his fellow community members.
“Let me finally assure the chiefs, elders and people of Tamale of my utmost respect and reverence to them and will never use derogatory words to describe my kinsmen,” he said.
His forceful response seems to prioritize maintaining the trust of the community while tackling the technical obstacles in the local energy distribution system.
