Ghanaians to hold demo on Independence Day over worsening energy crisis

A group of Ghanaians have planned a massive protest against the government for failing to handle the current energy situation in the country. Ghana has been in energy crisis for the past two years but the current situation is serious as households and industries are deprived of electricity for 24 hours. The group said it will hit the streets of the capital, Accra on the country’s Independence Day celebration on 6^th March to register their displeasure about the worsening power supply which is crippling the country’s economy gradually. Ghana gained independence from British colonial rule on 6^th March 1957. Spokesperson for the group, Atik Yakubu said in a news conference that the protest on Independence Day is symbolic because they want to send a message to the government that there is nothing to celebrate after 58 years of independence. "Businesses are collapsing as well as industries and so if we should sit aloof without doing anything, then we are doing more harm to Ghanaians, hence our decision to demonstrate on 6th March, the erratic power supply is more of a security threat than armed robbery, so government should be swift in solving this power problem" he said.

Residents in the capital have only 12 hours and 24 hours without electricity for the past two weeks. The situation is far worse in the second biggest city of Kumasi. Businesses and industries are folding up and political commentators say it could lead to the collapse of the Ghanaian economy. The Ghanaian government has been struggling to meet the energy needs in the country despite various interventions including importing gas from Nigeria to power its thermal plants to augment the hydro energy from the Akosombo Dam. Majority of Ghana’s energy comes from hydro. But the Akosombo hydro dam which was built by Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah in 1964 has not been managed properly by successive Ghanaian governments, culminating in the current energy crisis in the country.

Last week, the Ghanaian government reached an agreement with the United States energy giants, General Electricals worth $1 billion for the supply of energy to the country. But that agreement is not meant solve the short term crisis the country is experiencing. Energy experts have criticized the government for failing to deal with the energy situation and many political commentators say the energy crisis would be a crucial determinant if Ghanaians will or not retain the government in next year’s elections. Ghana will vote in general elections in December 2016.