Some residents of Accra have raised concerns about the recent power outages in their localities, stating that the unannounced outages are hurting their businesses at work and home.
The areas that have experienced the outages the most include Oshiye, Boartianor, Adabraka, Dansoman, Teshie, Adenta, Madina, Mataheko, Kaneshie, Sarpeiman, Shukura, Mallam, Gbawe, Accra New Town, and Ngleshie Amanfro.
A resident of Oshiye, Abena Gyan, reported that unannounced light-offs had been occurring in her area for the past two months. Last Saturday and Sunday, for instance, she noted that there were power outages in her area and its environs, mainly in the afternoon.
Ms. Gyan mentioned that the power outages lasted about two hours before being restored. Previously, on Thursday and Friday, she said there were also outages in the evenings. “As for my area, there have been persistent light-offs,” she emphasized.
Another resident, Hannah Asamoah from Sarpeiman, stated that outages affected her area virtually the entire day last Sunday, preventing her from undertaking domestic and business activities.
She reported that the power went off around 7 a.m. and was restored at 7 p.m. When she called the Electricity Company of Ghana office in Amasaman, an official informed her that the lines were being worked on, hence the outage.
“The unannounced outages are a big worry to us because they affect the work we do at home, especially during the weekends,” she said.
Residents in Mataheko and its environs also complained of the outages, saying that business activities were being negatively impacted.
A steel bender named Robert Tetteh from Ngleshie Amanfro stated that power outages in his area were not surprising. Over the weekend, he noted outages, and last Monday, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the lights were off.
“It came on around 10 p.m. and went off again. I only woke up in the middle of the night to see the lights back on, so it’s a problem,” he emphasized.
Gas Shortage
The Daily Graphic has contacted the Ministry of Energy for comment, but the ministry stated that its Director of Power would be detailed to respond to the queries; however, he had not responded 24 hours after the inquiry.
Meanwhile, Daily Graphic sources, who do not have permission to comment, disclosed that there has been a drop in the availability of gas from Eni to independent power producers (IPPs) due to commercial issues related to gas supply.
This situation has persisted for about a week, affecting the operations of power producers. The sources indicated that until the commercial issues are addressed, there will be a continuous drop in gas supply to thermal plants for electricity generation.
Eni, for instance, is reportedly owed $400 million by the Government of Ghana. The sources noted that the current situation is unrelated to the Sunon Asogli Plant, which has already shut down due to the government’s indebtedness to it and other IPPs. The bottom line of the power outages, according to the sources, is the lack of sufficient gas supply to meet local demands.
