Minister calls for collective efforts to end energy crisis

Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, on Friday said solving the energy problem which has bedeviled the nation requires a collective and nationalistic approach devoid of partisanship.

It is, therefore, paramount that Ghanaians bring their collective efforts and contributions to bear to find lasting solution to the crisis, he said.

Mr Aidoo was speaking at the regional 2015 May Day celebration, on the theme: “Addressing the Energy Crisis, the role of organised labour” in Takoradi.

The organisations that participated in the May Day parade included the Ghana Water Company, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, National Vocational Training Institute, Ghana Railway Company Limited, Prime Stone Quarries, State Housing Company, Busua Beach Resort and the Teachers and Education Workers Union.

Some of the placards carried by the workers read: “Stop illegal connections”, “Dumsor is politically motivated”, “We need stable light to work, President Mahama”, “Please be serious about containing the Dumsor menace” and “A nation in deep darkness is a dying nation”.

Workers of the various unions of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) were presented with awards which included refrigerators, mobile phones and laptop computers.

Mr Aidoo said organised labour, as a major partner of government has a role to play in addressing the crisis.

He said it is their responsibility to ensure the implementation of all what government intends to do to address the challenge.

He said illegal power connections has contributed to the crisis and urged the public to report such miscreants to the appropriate authorities.

This, he said, would deal with the problem of power losses and high incidence of electricity related fire outbreaks particularly in homes and market places leading to loss of lives and valuable properties.

Mr Aidoo asked organised labour to develop the culture of energy conservation by switching off electrical appliances and gadgets like fans, air conditioners, radio and television sets when not in use.

“It is equally important to consider buying energy efficient bulbs and discourage the use of second hand electrical appliances in our homes and work places as they obviously consume more energy,” he said.

Mr Aidoo said proceeds to government from the forest and forest resources are dwindling and industries that depend in forest products such as timber are folding up because of lack of raw materials.

He said crop production is falling because of inadequate rainfall due to the depletion of the forest, and this, has a chain of negative consequences on the general performance of the economy.

Mr Ellis Ankomah, Regional Secretary of the TUC, who read the speech of the Secretary-General of the union appealed to the government to tackle the energy problem to prevent further loss of jobs.

He said the crisis is a threat to the political, social and economic stability of the nation and must end soon.

Mr Ankomah said the crisis is taking too long to be solved and government must do everything within its power to bring the situation under control.