The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Shaffic Suleman, has disclosed that steps are being taken to ensure Ghana has sufficient electricity supply to sustain a proposed 24-hour economy.
Speaking on PM Express on Wednesday, Dr Suleman said electricity consumption is already exceeding projections, driven by improved economic conditions and stable power supply.
“We are now consuming more power beyond what has been projected,” he said, noting that although annual demand growth had been estimated at about 8 per cent, current usage is rising at a faster pace.
He attributed the surge to renewed consumer activity following improved reliability in electricity supply and broader economic stability. According to him, previously suppressed demand is now being realised as more consumers connect to the grid.
Dr Suleman stressed the need to accelerate efforts to expand generation capacity, adding that John Dramani Mahama and Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor are working to secure additional power to meet future demand.
He explained that Ghana’s electricity consumption patterns are also evolving, with both base load and peak demand reaching unfamiliar levels as the economy grows.
While he assured that power is currently adequate, he emphasised the importance of reinforcing capacity ahead of anticipated demand increases between 2027 and 2029.
Addressing concerns about the potential impact of round-the-clock industrial operations, Dr Suleman pointed to demand-management measures such as the Time-of-Use tariff system, which encourages consumers to shift electricity usage from peak periods — typically 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. — to off-peak hours late at night.
He noted, however, that even off-peak consumption is now rising, reflecting broader growth in electricity use across the economy.
