Mr. Kwesi Pratt, Managing Editor of The Insight newspaper has foreseen a regrettable defeat for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 elections if the current energy situation continues.
“I have no doubt at all in my mind that if the current situation persists into 2016, this government should say goodbye to power; I have no doubts at all in my mind…if the current energy situation persist into 2016, none of the objectives outlined in the budget would be achieved.
“You cannot expand exports, you cannot reduce imports, you cannot increase production, and you cannot increase national revenue if the current energy situation persists” he warned.
In his argument, government ought to have paid attention to the most essential thing that can improve the day-to-day struggle of the ordinary Ghanaians; and that, according him is energy.
The ace journalist was reacting to the 2015 budget presented to Parliament on Wednesday by Finance Minister Seth Terkper which he believed failed to focus on the countries energy misery.
Speaking on Alhaji and Alhaji Saturday, Mr. Kwesi Pratt believed the entire 2015 budget should have been dedicated to address the ‘dumsor dumsor’ pandemonium that has bedeviled the country.
“And I would have expected that the entire budget would have focus on the energy situation. Unfortunately, the finance Minister went to parliament and read a very normal budget while the country is in an extraordinary situation”, he said.
He noted that what Ghanaians expect from government is for the finance Minister to go to parliament and announce government’s resolve to mobilize all the available resources to tackle the power challenges the country is facing at the moment.
“…So I believe, honestly from the bottom of my heart that the most important thing to do now, [not just for the economy but even for the survival of the government] is to address the energy questions”, he pointed out.