Barely four months into President John Mahama’s new administration, widespread power outages—popularly known as dumsor have returned, reigniting public anger and testing the government’s goodwill.
Social media platforms have become a hotbed of public frustration, with citizens demanding immediate government intervention to tackle the ongoing power crisis. The hashtag #DumsorMustStop has gained substantial traction on Facebook and X as avenues for angry Ghanaians to express their grievances.
Investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, voicing the sentiments of many, lamented, “We’ve been off for close to 3 hours now! The rate of dumsor in this area is almost deliberate. It’s crazy.” This sentiment echoes the exasperation felt in many households and businesses nationwide.
Similarly, journalist Seth Bokpe issued a stern warning to Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor, stating, “Your government’s goodwill dissipates faster than lightning if these crazy blackouts continue. We won’t tolerate another traumatic four years of dumsor.”
These comments reflect broader dissatisfaction and concern over the impact prolonged outages are having on both personal lives and economic activities.
Amid the rising complaints, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has responded, calling for cooperation from the public in reporting outages.
Charles Nii Ayiku, General Manager for External Communications at ECG, apologised for the disruptions and stressed that timely reporting by customers can help expedite fault resolution.
“I do apologise for the challenges some of our customers are experiencing.
“With some of our systems, you would have to call our district office or helpline for us to do the restoration of power for you.”
He explained that while ECG operates advanced monitoring systems, not all faults are automatically detected. Some outages, such as transient tripping issues, may not trigger alarms on their dashboards, requiring manual reporting from affected communities.
Commitment Amid Equipment Challenges:
Beyond the immediate response to outages, the ECG has acknowledged that systemic issues are contributing to the current instability.
“As you are aware, ECG works with equipment, and some of them are not functioning as they ought to.
“That is why we sometimes have to do periodic maintenance to get the systems working,” Nii Ayiku explained, further emphasizing that despite these setbacks, ECG is dedicated to providing reliable and safe power to its customers.
“Indeed, we have some of our systems not operating in their optimal situation.”
The recurring power crisis, while not new to Ghanaians, is sparking renewed calls for robust policy interventions and infrastructure upgrades to prevent further disruptions.
Experts warned that dumsor continues to have dire consequences for small businesses and industries reliant on electricity, further straining Ghana’s already fragile economy.
On social media, the frustration is palpable. Citizens across various demographics are expressing their anger, disappointment, and concerns, with many urging the government to expedite reforms in the energy sector.
“It’s not just about missing a TV show or sweating in the heat,” one shop owner in Ashiaman remarked. “Power cuts mean lost income, spoiled goods, and higher costs for generators and fuel.”
The current crisis has also reignited conversations around governance and accountability in Ghana’s energy sector.
Many citizens are demanding greater transparency in the operations of state-owned enterprises like ECG, as well as clearer communication on steps being taken to resolve the issue.
Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor, facing mounting criticism, has yet to offer a detailed plan to address the situation, leaving citizens anxious about whether the crisis will persist.
The electricity crisis serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic reforms in Ghana’s energy sector to ensure long-term sustainable development. For many citizens, the hope remains that their voices will be heard, and meaningful change will follow.