PhD Contributes to Electricity Literature in Ghana

BY: .

The supply of electricity in Ghana was the focus of a study by Dr John Dramani who was awarded a PhD in Economics.

Dramani of the Garden City University College in Ghana titled his thesis: “An Analysis of Electricity Demand and Policy Options for Ghana”. It was supervised by Professor Dev Tewari.

The study focused on key determinants of increasing electricity demand in Ghana, the efficiency level of the service provision companies in supplying and distributing the commodity to the growing number of customers as well as the demand-side policies necessary for ensuring its efficient consumption.

‘My study made various important policy recommendations to both government and the private sector to adopt to ensure efficient consumption of electricity and address the negative effects of electricity shortages on the economy,’ said Dramani.

‘My study is unique as it is the first to look at the determinants of electricity demand by dichotomising it into residential and industrial demand and applying robust mathematical and econometric methodologies in estimating them. It was also the first examination of how institutions of the electricity sector could influence the efficiency in terms of supply and demand,’ he added.

Dramani’s wife and their six-year-old son travelled from Ghana to see him graduate at UKZN.

-          Hazel Langa