It is a common practice for citizens and celebrities to express frustration when facing issues such as erratic power supply and frequent unannounced blackouts.
Electricity is an essential part of modern life, and when the government fails to provide a reliable power supply, it can affect various aspects of daily life, such as businesses, education, healthcare, and overall quality of life.
Citizens voice their concerns through various means, such as social media, public protests, or airing their grievances in the media. Their frustration stems from the disruption and inconvenience caused by the power cuts, which can lead to difficulties in carrying out daily activities, financial losses, and even safety hazards in certain situations.
Celebrities often have a larger platform and greater influence, which allows their frustrations to reach a wider audience. They use their fame to speak out against the government’s poor management, advocate for improved infrastructure, or call for accountability and change.
In response to such expressions of frustration, governments may take steps to address the issues and work towards providing a more stable and reliable power supply. This can involve investing in infrastructure, implementing better management practices, diversifying energy sources, or seeking assistance from international organizations.
Actress Yvonne Nelson has called on policy think tank IMANI Africa for a protest against the Akufo-Addo government over the erratic power supply commonly known as “dumsor.”
IMANI Ghana, a policy think tank, played a significant role in the success of the protest against the John Mahama government over the erratic power supply. The 2015 vigil brought together many Ghanaian celebrities and highlighted the impact of power cuts on daily life.
“Imani Ghana, can we organize another vigil? I’ve been waiting for you to reach out like you did years back. ( your team made our demo a success ) I’m reaching out myself. The NPP and its leadership @NAkufoAddo have taken Ghanaians for granted.DUMSORMUSTSTOP.”
Yvonne Nelson
The frustrations expressed by citizens and celebrities reflect the impact the unreliable power supply can have on a society, and it highlights the importance of effective and efficient management of energy resources.
Impacts of ‘Dumsor’ On Businesses
The power crisis is a situation where there is an insufficient supply of electricity to meet the demand. Power outages and energy shortages can have profound effects on businesses, causing various challenges and disruptions.
Businesses heavily rely on a consistent and reliable supply of electricity to run their operations. Power shortages lead to frequent outages, equipment failures, and production delays. This can result in decreased productivity, missed deadlines, and reduced efficiency.
Power outages can lead to significant financial losses for businesses, where production disruptions, idle workforce, and potential damage to equipment can all contribute to increased costs and decreased revenue. Additionally, businesses may incur extra expenses by investing in backup power sources or renting alternative facilities during prolonged outages.
Frequent power fluctuations or surges can damage sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, servers, and machinery. This can require costly repairs or replacement. Power outages can also result in data loss if systems are not properly backed up, potentially leading to the loss of valuable information and negatively impacting business operations.
Businesses that heavily rely on electricity to serve their customers, such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores, may face difficulties in providing their services during power outages, which can lead to customer dissatisfaction, loss of customers, and damage to the overall reputation of the business.
A power crisis affects not only individual businesses but also the economy as a whole. It can hinder economic growth, discourage foreign investments, and lead to job losses. Industries heavily dependent on electricity, such as manufacturing and information technology, are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of power shortages.
Multiple Award-winning media personality, Berla Mundi who is tired of the current power outages in the country has questioned President Nana Addo why his appointed Ministers keep lying to the general public.
Berla Mundi is among the thousands of Ghanaians complaining about the terrible power crises and the effects it’s having on businesses.
Most people who sell frozen foods are forced to either give them away or throw them away after they get spoilt. This runs their business down the drain.
“Good morning Sir, with all due respect, why are your communicators still insisting that the energy crises are a result of faulty transformers when PURC has clearly described that as factually inaccurate?
“These are the current power generation figures as at 7am today, indicating our inability to generate adequate power because we don’t have enough fuel. So why are we not being told the truth when you can clearly see we re suffering?”
Berla Mundi
Ghanaian actor cum politician John Dumelo urged the government and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to release a timetable concerning the recent power outages.
He asserted that publishing a load-shedding timetable will enable individuals and businesses to plan how to do their duties instead of the unannounced power cuts.
The likes of Victoria Lebene, Pastor Oduro, and many more celebrities have also complained about the current power crises and how it’s affecting their lives and businesses.
To mitigate the impacts of power crises, businesses can implement measures such as investing in backup power sources like generators, implementing energy-saving initiatives, adopting alternative energy solutions, and establishing disaster recovery plans.
Additionally, governments and utilities can work towards improving infrastructure, diversifying energy sources, and enhancing energy management practices to ensure a more stable and reliable power supply.
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