Residents and business owners in the Western Region request “Dumsor” timetable

Western Region Residents and Business Owners Frustrated by Power Cuts

Residents and business owners in Ghana's Western Region are frustrated. They are urging the government to intervene quickly. Persistent power cuts threaten their livelihoods and businesses.

Many residents have suggested creating a "Dumsor" timetable. However, Energy Minister John Jinapor dismissed this idea earlier this year. He insists that Ghana has enough energy production capacity.

Electricity consumers in the Western Region have faced ongoing outages. This situation is similar to issues in other parts of the country. The frequent blackouts disrupt daily life and harm business operations.

Emmanuel Baffour manages a betting company in Takoradi. He spends nearly GH 500 every three hours on fuel for his generator. This cost helps keep his machines running during outages.

Baffour finds the situation very frustrating. He worries that continued spending on alternative energy will drive him out of business. His potential profits are being lost due to these blackouts.

Philip Ampofo, a member of a demonstration group, shares similar concerns. They previously called for an electricity distribution timetable from former Energy Minister Dr. Opoku Prempeh. Despite their efforts, the previous government did not respond.

Ampofo hoped that current Minister Jinapor would provide a timetable as well. Unfortunately, Jinapor stated earlier this year that it is not a viable option.

The ongoing power disruptions cause significant hardship for businesses and residents alike. Many people rely on electricity for their livelihoods, making these outages unbearable.

Awal Boye, Public Relations Officer for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), addressed customer concerns recently. He explained that many outages stem from upstream challenges beyond their control.

Boye assured customers that ECG is working hard to improve service delivery. They are implementing projects like the Loss Reduction Project to replace faulty meters and enhance reliability.

The power crisis extends beyond the Western Region as well. Residents in the Volta Region also face ongoing power fluctuations and low voltage issues.

This situation has persisted for months, leading to public anger and calls for action from ECG, GRIDCo, and government officials.