Some parts of the country have in recent times been complaining about power outages. Unlike the erratic power supply Ghanaians had to deal with in the past due to generation challenges, the recent one is largely due to operational challenges of the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company, NEDCo.
Some parts of Kumasi over the weekend went without electricity supply for hours. In Accra, residents of some communities including Ablekuma Newtown and Joma were without power from Saturday through Sunday as a result of a faulty transformer. According to residents, the problem with the said transformer has been recurring with no permanent solution in sight. Engineers from the Ablekuma ECG office tried as they did could not bring the transformer back to life consequently alerting the regional office about the challenge.
Enquiries made revealed a bigger challenge threatening stable electricity supply not just to the residents of Ablekuma-Joma but the entire country. ECG according to Accra News sources lack even the basic tools for its operations including car batteries, tires, transformer oil. Interestingly some vehicles have been grounded as a result of lack of batteries and tires. Below is the list of operational materials ECG is lacking:
1. Transformer oil
2. Ring Main Unit
3. Transformers
4. 3x185sq.mm underground cables
5. 1x240sq.mm underground cables
6. 3×185 termination kits
7. 1×240 termination kits
8. Engine oils for vehicles
9. vehicles Tyres
10. 11kV cable jointing kits
11. Operational Vehicles
12. Vehicles batteries
13. Safety aperels
14. Meters
15. Various LV fuses
16. Various HT fuses
Given the development analysts are asking questions about the proactiveness of the current management of ECG especially when government has ostensibly dealt with ‘Dumsor’ with the introduction of the 1 cedi levy per liter of fuel popularly known as Dumsor Levy.
