The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for greater openness in the management of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), insisting that such critical energy contracts must not be kept secret.
Speaking during a working visit by members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus to the Energy Ministry, the Minister stressed the importance of transparency in ensuring accountability in the power sector.
“Power Purchase Agreements must not be shrouded in secrecy,” he said, adding that transparency efforts are instrumental to Ghana’s governance reforms.
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The visit formed part of ongoing oversight activities by the Open Government Partnership Caucus, which is assessing government progress under Ghana’s National Action Plan.
Leading the delegation, Vice Chairperson and MP for Akim Oda, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, explained that the engagement is aimed at tracking institutional compliance with transparency commitments.
He noted that a key proposal under the plan is to expand the mandate of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to ensure public disclosure of PPAs.
Mr. Jinapor assured the delegation that steps are already underway to improve openness in the energy sector.
He disclosed that all PPAs are currently submitted to Parliament and that recent renegotiations of inherited agreements have also been laid before lawmakers.
“We already submitted all PPAs to Parliament,” he stated.
The Minister further revealed that a Legislative Instrument has been passed to regulate procurement processes within the power sector.
Mr. Jinapor announced plans to establish a dedicated ministry website where all Power Purchase Agreements will be publicly accessible.
“Anyone who wants a PPA can go there and download it,” he assured, emphasizing the government’s commitment to accountability and open governance.
The initiative is expected to significantly improve public access to energy sector contracts and reduce opacity in procurement processes.
The push for transparency comes after years of public debate over the structure and cost of power contracts in Ghana, with some agreements previously linked to financial inefficiencies.
A notable case involved arbitration with Trafigura following the cancellation of a power agreement, which resulted in a $140 million judgment against Ghana.
Policy analysts argue that stronger disclosure mechanisms could help prevent similar disputes in the future.
Ghana has been a member of the Open Government Partnership since 2011, with Parliament playing a central role in implementation.
The OGP Caucus continues to engage state institutions, including the Internal Audit Agency and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, as part of its oversight mandate.
Other MPs present at the engagement included Hon. Dominic Nitiwul Nampare, Hon. Shirley Kyei, Hon. Gloria Owusu, Hon. Adelaide Ntim, and Prof. Kingsley Nyarko, reflecting broad parliamentary participation in transparency reforms.
The engagement concluded with renewed calls for stronger institutional cooperation to ensure that Ghana’s power sector operates under full transparency and accountability standards, aligning with global best practices in public financial governance.