Dr Kwabena Donkor, former Power Minister in December 2015, resigned from his post.
Dr Donkor had earlier promised to resign from his position should the power outage, popularly known as dumsor persist.
Even though a statement issued by his Ministry on 30th December indicated that dumsor has ended, Dr Kwabena Donkor tendered in his resignation on December 31, 2015, indicating that even though measures have been put in place to end the dumsor, there is still work to be done.
“…this means that technically I have not met my promise to end load shedding by the end of 2015. It is a principle of public service I cherish, that a solemn promise must be scrupulously kept. That explains why I do not intend to use the substantial improvement in the power situation as a reason to disavow my pledge” his letter indicated.
Read the content of his letter which was accepted by President John Dramani Mahama below
Your Excellency,
I write to inform you that, consistent with the pledge I made to the Ghanaian people, I intend to vacate the office of minister of Power with effect from the close of business tomorrow 31st December 2015.
It has been an immense privilege to serve you and the people of Ghana in the high office of Cabinet Minister.
Just over a year ago, on 19th December 2014, while our country was going through a critical power shortage, you swore me into office as Minister of Power. Following a question at a press briefing on Monday, 2nd February 2015, I pledged that if I were unable to end the load shedding by the end of the year, I would quit my position.
Since my appointment, I have led a team of dedicated officials that has laboured to install additional generation to the national power grid. The Karpower project has added 230MW to the national grid. We also applied ourselves to stabilize the finances of the power utilities, especially VRA. We are assured that with new tariffs in place, VRA will be able to import crude oil for its thermal generation plants without direct Government intervention and support.
My team has thus practically brought an end to the load shedding that has disrupted the lives of the citizens of our dear country.
But we need to complete a few details in the next few weeks to bring a final end to load shedding. I refer to the imminent commencement of power generation by the AMERI plant that will ensure that supply consistently outstrips demand, thus bringing load shedding to a definitive end.
But that formal event is still a few weeks away. This means that technically I have not met my promise to end load shedding by the end of 2015.
It is a principle of public service I cherish, that a solemn promise must be scrupulously kept. That explains why I do not intend to use the substantial improvement in the power situation as a reason to disavow my pledge.
Mr President, I know that with your leadership this country will be safe and continue to make progress. I pledge my support to you and will be willing to put my considerable experience of public service available to the people of this country in whatever way it may benefit the country I love very much.
