Power Minister Calling For A Load Shedding Timetable?

Ghana is in a serious power crisis that requires the ruling Government to sit up and get the problem solved. Even though it may be argued that where we are today is the result of poor planning and investments over the years, the Government in power should take responsibility and get the problem fixed. The sad thing is that we continue to hear promises with little action.

Recently, the head of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) was replaced and a new power ministry created. While some of these changes may be cosmetic, many well-meaning Ghanaians are supporting the Government to put an end to the problem. The President ended it all with a prophetic declaration during a 31st Night service in 2014 that ‘dumsor’ will be banished forever in Ghana.

Though we earnestly await the fulfilment of the prophecy, we continue to grapple with ECG’s unpredictable load shedding timetable. It is high time we found another word to describe the load shedding timetable as schedules have never been followed. At this stage, we expect the power minister to concern himself with more serious issues that will produce power. However, it was sad to hear him give an ultimatum to the ECG to publish a load shedding timetable and keep to it. Though the Minister claims to share the pain Ghanaians are going through, it is clear that the managers of the country either do not actually feel what the populace feel or are not aware of the true state of the power crisis.

Last year, I was surprised to read in the Daily Graphic that ECG was intensifying the load shedding to 24 hours with light and 12 hours without light when many areas were already experiencing worse than that. If the minister is not aware, the power situation at the moment is so bad that it is difficult to get 12 straight hours of power. While there is no sense of fairness in the so called load shedding timetable, the situation is so bad that in certain areas 12 hours of light is further interrupted by erratic light outs. So what kind of load shedding timetable is the Minister talking about? And why should the Minister be directing his efforts at a load shedding timetable that has never worked?

The power minister has, however, hinted of his resignation if the problem persists beyond 2015. Are we expected to live in this deplorable power situation the entire year? Additionally, will the Minister’s resignation by the said date be enough? It will be unfortunate to live in this power crisis to the end of 2015. However, if this is what we should expect then the President and his entire team should be prepared to resign as well. The Government should therefore stop talking and hit the ground running. They should be concerned with serious investments in the power section under the supervision of able leadership that will ensure that funds are used for intended projects. Long live Ghana.

Emmanuel Kwasi Mawuena

kmawuenah@gmail.com