Minister for Energy Backs PPA Transparency to End Secret Power Deals

In a significant shift toward open governance, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has declared that Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) will no longer be shrouded in secrecy.

Speaking during a high-level working visit from the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, the Minister emphasized that transparency in the energy sector is not just a preference but a necessity for national accountability.
The visit, led by Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Vice Chairperson and MP for Akim Oda, was designed to evaluate the progress of state institutions in meeting the requirements of Ghana’s National Action Plan.

A primary objective under this plan involves amending the mandate of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to legally require the public disclosure of all power-sector contracts.

This move aims to dismantle the traditional culture of “behind closed doors” negotiations that have historically characterized the energy sector.
Addressing the delegation, Mr. Jinapor revealed that the Ministry is already taking proactive steps to bridge the information gap.

He noted that all current PPAs are submitted to Parliament for scrutiny, including a recently renegotiated agreement inherited from a previous administration.

To further institutionalize these reforms, the Minister announced the upcoming launch of a dedicated ministry website specifically designed to host these documents.

He assured the public that once the portal is live, any citizen or stakeholder will be able to access and download PPAs freely.
This push for openness arrives as a direct response to years of fiscal instability linked to opaque energy deals.

The consequences of such secrecy were starkly highlighted by the 2017 cancellation of the Ghana Power Generating Company agreement.

That decision triggered international arbitration with Trafigura, ultimately resulting in a massive $140 million judgment against the state.

By making procurement processes public and regulated by a recently passed Legislative Instrument, the government aims to prevent such costly legal disputes and ensure better value for taxpayers.
Ghana’s involvement with the OGP dates back to 2011, and the current Caucus remains active in supervising transparency commitments across various agencies, including the Internal Audit Agency and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.

The meeting was attended by a broad parliamentary cohort, including Hon. Dominic Nampare, Hon. Shirley Kyei, Hon. Gloria Owusu, Hon. Adelaide Ntim, and Hon. Professor Kingsley Nyarko, all of whom underscored the collective legislative drive to ensure the energy sector remains accountable to the people of Ghana.