Ghanaians react to power rationing, saying it's unreasonable
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot

Accra, May 8, Ghanadot - The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCO) and the Electricity Company of Ghana Ltd (ECG) have announced a power rationing exercise due to a faulty transformer at the Achimota Bulk Supply Point which has affected power supply to certain parts of Accra.

According to the release issued recently, and signed by Mr. Albert Kwasi Quainoo, head of Public relations, GRIDCO, and Gloria Dua Sakyi, Divisional Manager, Public Relations of ECG, the fault had created a shortage of seven percent (20 MVA) of the average power ration for the area.

It said power supply to one area will go off from 9am to 6pm, and another group from 6pm to 11pm every day for the next eight weeks. The statement said Saturdays and Sundays and statutory public holidays will not be affected.

Many Ghanaians, especially businessmen do not seem to symphatise eith GRIDCO and EEG, even though the two companies have given well constructed reasons for the action.

Speaking to GhanaDot, Mr. Yeboah Frimpong, owner of a printing press in Accra said, it is unreasonable for the lights to be off during working hours when people need power to work, adding "they have no idea what happens to some of us when they do that".

He blamed management of ECG, saying the recent outage is a symptom of the lack of efficiency in Ghana's public services .

" If we don't do something about this and find a lasting solution to this problem, soon all our investors will leave this country. In fact we are tired of this, does it mean that all this while we were wasting money? For how long can a country like ours continue with this uncivilised behavuor," he lamented angrily.

"It is a pity that ECG and GRIDCo issued this announcement. How come they were able to exempt weekends and holidays?, does it mean they are not business minded? Who is working during these days, that is why I said they have lost their priorities. Even if we give eternity, they will not be able to solve this problem".

Others think the action was not necessary since there are other practical avenues to solve the problem, while some believe power rationing for the next two weeks will not make any difference since the nation have been in a similar situation before.

Brother Kyere, a businessman concluded that ECG and GRIDCo have not really thought of the consequences of their action on small businesses and the national economy.

"Maybe they think we are the same as the big companies who can afford generators for their businesses, and if I should come to work the whole day without getting anything done and go home and sleep in the dark, how would I get revenue to pay my workers for the next two months?

"I don't think they think about us at all, they just do what they think is right without consulting the people. If they had done that they would have known that taking the lights in the morning during working hours will not help the country in anyway".

He said a country like Ghana that lacks an efficient public service administration, must not be proud to be called the gateway to West Africa, and that if Ghana wants to be mentioned as one of the best countries, then much must be done, starting with ample eletricity supply at all times.  

Ghanadot