Tamale, April 28, 2025 – The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has categorically denied reports circulating on social media alleging that he described 70 percent of Tamale residents as power thieves.
In a strongly worded press statement issued Monday morning, Mr. Jinapor dismissed the claims as “entirely false, contrived and baseless,” and urged the public to disregard the misinformation.
“The audio-visual recordings will confirm that at no point during my visit did I refer to people of Tamale as power thieves,” the Minister stated.
Clarifying his comments during a recent visit to the region, Mr. Jinapor said he had addressed the issue of high Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses within the operational area of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
He explained that while the region records the highest ATC&C losses in the country, these losses should not be interpreted as acts of theft.
“For the avoidance of doubt, technical and collection losses have nothing to do with power theft but rather signify the inefficiencies of the utility company,” he explained.
The Minister also used the opportunity to advocate for urgent reforms in the energy sector, calling for substantial investments and enhanced operational efficiency to improve electricity supply in Tamale and the Northern regions at large.
He emphasized that improved revenue collection and technical operations are vital for delivering a “reliable, consistent and uninterrupted power supply” to residents.
Reaffirming his loyalty and respect for the Tamale community, Mr. Jinapor described the people as his kinsmen and assured them of his unwavering commitment to their welfare.
“Let me finally assure the chiefs, elders and people of Tamale of my utmost respect and reverence to them and will never use derogatory words to describe my kinsmen,” he concluded.
The Minister’s rebuttal appears aimed at maintaining community trust while addressing long-standing challenges in the region’s electricity distribution network.
Report By: Fuseini Safianu Mandeya
