Over 24-hour ‘unjustified’ blackout in parts of Tema angers residents, business owners

Hundreds of homes and businesses in parts of Tema have for the past 24 hours been hit with power cut without explanation from the electricity distributor, a situation that has angered residents in the area.

According to residents, the Electricity Company of Ghana which distributes power to the area, has failed to give them any explanation for the blackout which occurred Thursday evening at about 4:30 just before the rains started.

Areas affected included Shanghai, parts of Saki and Golf City in Kpone-Katamanso District of the Greater Accra Region.

Most businesses in the affected area could not operate Friday due to the blackout.

Residents and business owners are worried about the situation as they say it is affecting their lives and operations.

A businessman at Kokompe, Asamoah Boateng, told Accra-based Onua FM Friday that the ECG has failed to give any reason for the blackout.

Though some residents suspected the Thursday night heavy downpour could be the reason, Mr. Boateng holds otherwise, indicating that the rains have stopped since Friday morning yet the power is yet to be restored to the area.

“We have not been able to work, how does the government expect us to get money to pay taxes and look after our families?” he asked, adding “No one from ECG has given us reasons for the blackout or even come to the ground to tell us anything.

“If they don’t give us light by tomorrow [Saturday], I will lead my people to protest against ECG and government. If government says dumsor has ended, then blackout shouldn’t last more than two hours,” he threatened.

In his estimation, any blackout lasting beyond two hours ought to come with explanation from the power distributor.

“If they don’t come with better explanation, then we need to go out to demonstrate against the government that dumsor is persisting,” he told Onua FM.