Residents of Tamale and surrounding communities have been grappling with erratic power outages over the past two months, with the most extended disruptions occurring in the first week of September.
The residents fear that the persistent outages could lead to a return of the “dumsor” era, which was characterized by intermittent power cuts and electricity load shedding.
They are urging authorities to provide both explanations for these outages and lasting solutions to the issue, which continually plunges the city into darkness.
In an interview with Citi News, Martey Rafael, a storekeeper at ‘Enso Nyame Y3’ Cold Store, highlighted the severe impact these power outages have had on businesses.
He recounted instances of having to dispose of meat and fish due to spoilage caused by the outages.
Rafael urgently called on the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to address the erratic power supply situation, emphasizing the dire consequences it has on local businesses.
“Our business is suffering greatly from these outages, and NEDCo needs to act fast,” he asserted.
“Just last week, we had to dispose of some of our products to prevent this place from emitting foul odours that could drive customers away.”
Meanwhile, NEDCo has dismissed claims that the country is approaching a peak of electricity shortages, due to the recent power outages experienced in northern Ghana.
According to Maxwell Kotoka, the Corporate Communications Manager at NEDCo, the recent interruptions in power supply were a result of various factors, which their technical team is actively managing.
“We usually face challenges during the rainy season, as one storm can damage our power infrastructure, causing significant outages,” he explained.
Kotoka also linked the recent outages to the ageing machinery that NEDCo has been using since its inception.
However, he assured that management is diligently working to replace these machines for better service.
Kotoka expressed hope that the ongoing month-long Phase III of the revenue mobilization drive by the electricity company would yield the necessary results to equip NEDCo with the required resources.
He emphasized the importance of customer payments for power, as it constitutes a vital source of income to enhance NEDCo’s ability to serve the community effectively.
