The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding an explanation to the ongoing erratic power supply in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region.
According to the party, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has failed to explain why the metropolis has been experiencing irregular power supply for the past month.
“We are dismayed that ECG has not been able to explain to residents and businesses in Sekondi-Takoradi why their lights go off unannounced and at periods when they need power the most. What we have realized is that minutes before the light goes off, you will see some hurriedly written notice being circulated on social media announcing an outage. This is not fair. Business cannot be treated like that.”
Complaining to 3news.com in a telephone conversation on Tuesday after Sekondi was knocked off the grid, Western Region Communications Officer of the NDC Richard Kirk Mensah, who sounded frustrated, said the unannounced power outages are making it difficult for residents and businesses to plan.
“Due to the oil find you know, Sekondi-Takoradi now plays host to many oil and oil service companies. What is going on may affect business confidence in the Sekondi Takoradi economy. Already, we are being told that one of the mass employers Tullow Ghana is about to lay off works. If these businesses are facing this challenge it means they have to look for money to provide alternative power supply. So, cost of production will go high and that is not good for an investor who is already facing challenges. What about the hospitals, what about residents,” he wondered.
Referring to the current water rationing in Sekondi-Takoradi, Mr. Kirk Mensah said the Ghana Water Company Limited have been bold to “tell the whole world the reasons why the challenge has come about and so why can’t ECG do same”.
“Your media house reported the water crisis and the Ghana Water Company Limited attributed their inability to supply to their ability to among other things illegal mining on the Pra River. This increase in this galamsey is because of Nana Addo and his appointees. I was expecting that just as Ghana Water [Company Limited] have been bold to tells us why the challenge, ECG should follow suit.”
According to him, Nana Addo and his government should accept the reality that Ghana is facing “dumsor” and release a timetable for effective planning just as the former administration of John Dramani did.
“Ghana between late 2013 and mid 2016 experienced a nationwide dumsor due to 3 major reasons given by a team of energy experts from VRA, GRIDCO and ECG. These reasons were generation shortfall, financial burden due to generational debt and irregular fuel supply. The NDC government under His Excellency John Dramani Mahama boldly admitted the challenge and solved ‘dumsor’ in the 1st quarter of 2016 and every honest Ghanaian will bear witness to that. Why can’t Nana Addo and his government tell Ghanaians the truth and look for means to solve it just like former President Mahama did. President Nana Addo should tell Ghanaians the truth and call for a timetable while he works to fix the challenge.”
He suspects that President Akufo-Addo is unable to tell Ghanaians the truth because “we are in an election year and that will cause him to lose votes”.
“Ghanaians, especially the people of Sekondi-Takoradi demand that the stable 24 hour electricity supply bequeathed to President Nana Addo’s government by his predecessor should be maintained. What is the reason for the incessant darkness we are experiencing? We need to be told.”
He is bemused that the many civil society organizations and celebrities who were constantly on former President Mahama’s nerves about the ‘dumsor’ have gone quiet “as though Nana Addo is writing the names of talkative”.
“To the media, the opinion leaders and the general public speak out and ask ECG, GRIDCO and VRA to explain why we are experiencing dumsor now, just as you did during the reign of former President Mahama.”
By Eric Yaw Adjei|3news.com|Ghana