Minority in Parliament is calling for health facilities to be spared from the ongoing unannounced and unscheduled electricity load shedding conducted by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Additionally, they are pushing for an audit to assess the capacity and dependability of backup power systems in hospitals.
“The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with relevant agencies, must, without delay, exempt all health facilities nationwide from the current unannounced and unscheduled electricity load shedding and power outages.”
“The Ministry of Health working in tandem with the Ghana Health Service should audit all alternate power supply systems within health facilities to determine their capacity and reliability in handling electricity disruptions and procurement of emergency power supply systems should be done if current systems are inadequate,” the caucus stated in a release issued by Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and MP for Juaboso on Thursday.
The Minority expressed concern over reports that the power outages have led to increased morbidity and mortality among patients, particularly those relying on public health facilities.
“Amid these happenings, the government has refused to heed wise counsel from suffering Ghanaians and businesses to publish a load shedding timetable to enable them to plan their lives. This situation has obviously begun to take a toll on critical healthcare facilities across the country,” it added.
The caucus strongly argued that during a period of purported surplus capacity, the government’s decision to impose a load-shedding program is deeply unjustified. There is simply no acceptable reason for disrupting electricity supply, particularly to vital health facilities.
“We therefore demand swift action from relevant authorities to address these critical issues and safeguard the delivery of vital health services to Ghanaians,” it added.