It appears the attempts by the John Dramani Mahama-led governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to convince Ghanaians that there is no ongoing ‘dumsor,’ is not working as people across the country continue to experience persistent power outages due to fuel supply constraints.
This new approach by government is generating wagging tongues as NDC heavily campaigned against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the lead up to the 2024 general election when the previous government faced some challenges of power cuts a few months to the polls.
This was even after the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government kept the power on for almost eight years uninterrupted.
Even though dumsor seems to be returning in full force, the government is insisting the power cuts are not a reality, contradicting the daily experiences of Ghanaians.
This stance of denial is gradually eroding public trust the two-month-old Mahama administration as the people and businesses continue to face the devastating challenges of load-shedding.
Energy minister’s contradictions
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr. John Jinapor, has been at the forefront of dismissing claims that load shedding is taking place.
Addressing Parliament, Mr. Jinapor who is also the MP for Yapei/Kusawgu in the Savanna Region, rejected calls by the Minority Caucus for a load-shedding timetable.
He argued that power supply remains stable under the Mahama-led administration.
However, while denying the existence of dumsor, Mr. Jinapor simultaneously admitted that the energy system is fragile due to fuel supply constraints.
He assured Ghanaians that the government was making efforts to procure additional fuel and settle outstanding debts owed to power producers.
“The system is very fragile and weak, but we’ve been working around the clock to procure enough fuel and to make some payments to power suppliers to hold the system,” he said.
No load-shedding timetable
Despite widespread complaints of frequent outages, the Energy Minister insisted that there was no need for a load-shedding timetable.
“Today, let me put on record that we are not shedding load, and so the demand by the Minority and some people that we publish a load-shedding timetable is mute,” Mr. Jinapor stated in Parliament.
This position has further deepened the controversy, as many Ghanaians continue to report irregular power supply.
Power exports under trying times
Surprisingly, Mr. Jinapor highlighted Ghana’s continued export of electricity to neighbouring countries.
“We are exporting about 300 megawatts of power outside, including Burkina Faso, Benin, and other neighbouring countries. And so obviously, when you have enough, you can export,” he said.
This statement, however, raises concerns about the government’s priorities, as citizens struggle with inconsistent power supply while electricity is being sold to foreign countries.
Public distrust grows
The ongoing power crisis and the government’s mixed messaging have fueled skepticism among the public.
While officials insist that dumsor is a thing of the past, the frequent blackouts tell a different story.
Many citizens are now questioning whether the government is truly addressing the problem or simply engaging in political rhetoric.
As the Mahama administration continues to grapple with the issue, Ghanaians remain watchful, demanding transparency and concrete solutions rather than conflicting narratives.
