In recent months, Ghana’s electricity supply has been riddled with persistent disruptions. The power crisis—and at times complete blackouts—have had a widespread impact, with growing concerns over the implications for daily life and the broader economy.
Calls are intensifying for Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abu Jinapor, to implement a long-term fix, as experts continue to warn of the looming economic fallout.
Among the most affected are Ghanaian remote workers, who have added their voices to the national outcry. Many are expressing frustration over the erratic power supply, which has left parts of the country in darkness repeatedly.
In an exclusive with Vaultz News, several remote workers shared their fears about the potential consequences if the situation remains unresolved.
Some worry about losing their freelance jobs or international gigs, which could lead to economic hardship—the very conditions they sought to escape by pursuing remote work. Others are struggling to meet project deadlines, straining relations with employers and clients.
One such worker, Princess Bessiwah Forson, a full-stack web developer, explained the toll the power crisis is taking on her career.
With experience delivering web solutions for both remote and hybrid clients, she emphasized that her job relies heavily on consistent internet access, which in turn depends on a stable electricity supply.
However, in recent months, this has been increasingly unreliable—posing serious challenges to her daily operations.
“For tech people, we rely heavily on our gadgets. Now that we don’t have a schedule, we don’t know when the lights will go off; they just go off randomly. At certain times, maybe your battery is low, or even if it is full, it will definitely run down. So, when it runs down, it affects the time that you can actually finish the project that you are working on, because sometimes they give you timeframes.
“It affects your productivity, and it will be difficult for your boss to understand you because, as for them, they expect the work done at all costs, but you, the individual who is experiencing the Dumsor, when you explain to them, they will still not understand you”.
Princess Bessiwah Forson
Ms. Bessiwah is of the view that clients are often indifferent to local challenges such as power outages. In her experience, if clients can access similar services elsewhere without delays, they will not hesitate to switch providers.
She stressed that ensuring a stable power supply would greatly benefit the tech and gig economy.
However, in the absence of consistent electricity, she suggested that at the very least, a publicly released power outage schedule would help workers prepare and minimize unexpected disruptions.
While the situation has not yet pushed everyone out of work, she warned that the risk is real. This, she said, underscores the urgency for the government to implement a long-term solution to the persistent power crisis.
Remote Workers Sound Alarm Over Power Crisis
Additionally, Alice Dawson, a fellow remote web developer, has also been affected by the unstable power supply.
She expressed frustration over the inconvenience of constantly searching for alternative locations with electricity just to stay on track with project deadlines and deliver tech services.
She noted that the extra cost of transportation to these locations adds an unexpected financial burden. Given these challenges, she emphasized the urgent need for the government to address the underlying issues in the power sector.
“The impact is obviously a negative one, having to meet a deadline, then in the course of work, the lights go out, your options may have to be to find yourself a location, probably you transporting yourself to a restaurant or a nearby café to you know complete your project. And that might also incur some cost. The inconvenience of having to move yourself from one place to another is also another cost.”
Alice Dawson
Consequently, Alice questions what steps the government is taking to address the persistent power outages that have disrupted her work as a remote web developer—a role that depends heavily on consistent electricity.
She has found herself constantly relocating in search of stable power to fulfill her professional responsibilities.
Looking at the broader implications, if the electricity crisis is not resolved promptly, both Princess and Alice, along with many other remote workers—largely youth engaged in various tech-driven roles—risk losing their livelihoods.
Should this happen, it could increase the national unemployment rate and deepen societal frustrations.
Many of these young professionals, once seen by their families as self-sufficient and successful, may be forced to rely on support again, becoming unintended burdens in their communities.
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