Many online users have taken to social media to express their frustration and demand urgent action from the government regarding the ongoing power outages (dumsor) plaguing the country.
The prolonged and unpredictable power cuts, commonly referred to as ‘dumsor,’ have persisted for several months, prompting widespread concern among citizens.
Despite assurances from the government, communicated through the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), that the issues causing the power cuts have been resolved, many areas continue to experience disruptions in power supply.
The ECG’s statement on March 29, 2024, insisted that any power outages were due to localised faults rather than a widespread return of ‘dumsor.’
However, the situation has not improved for many affected individuals and communities since the issuance of the ECG’s statement.
In recent online discussions, numerous users have shared their experiences of the adverse effects of the power cuts, particularly concerning the discomfort and challenges faced, especially by young children, during hot nights without electricity.
Umaru Sanda Amadu, a multimedia journalist at Citi FM and Citi TV, for instance, tweeted, “I can hear people’s children crying from nearby homes. Mine are sweating but not crying yet. They’re sweating because the power is off again, and the government officials we pay to fix it can’t be bothered! Sad State. #Dumsor is here, but they don’t care.”
Another user, @niilexis, described how some of his neighbours had to eventually turn on their cars to allow their newborns to enjoy some air-conditioning.
“Two neighbours had to put their cars on so their newly-born babies could escape the heat and have some relief to sleep. It’s 2024; this shouldn’t be how we live our lives,” he tweeted.
A young lady who said she nearly lost her job because of this situation wrote, “I nearly cried yesterday. Light off from 7am to 6pm, came back for only 15mins. Yes 15mins, and off again till this morning. All gadgets went off, missed meetings, no calls. Nearly lost my job.”
Gary Al-Smith of the Multimedia Group had this to say:
“Heartbreaking to see dumsor back with this kind of vengeance. For those of us with little kids, it’s a chastening experience that should not be suffered.”
A mother, @OyooQuartey, shared a photo of how she cared for her daughter in the heat, with the caption:
“This was us two nights ago in this dumsor. I made a cold compress to cool her down in the intolerable heat. 1am to 2am before I slept in the couch by the open window. I almost wept with exhaustion. Isn’t there any protest coming up?”