ECG’s load shedding programme thrown out of schedule

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) can no longer work with a time table on power rationing in the Ashanti region.

This is because power generation by the Volta River Authority (VRA) has remained erratic.

Shortage of gas from West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCo) has disrupted the VRA's ability to produce and supply power.

Ghana currently needs a daily supply of 1,600 megawatts power for both domestic and industrial use.

The Ashanti region has had to share between 20 and 40 megawatts of power, out of the over 170 megawatts required.

Most parts of the Kumasi metropolis have been experiencing intermittent unannounced blackout in recent days as a result of the shortfall in supplies.

Businesses are hardest hit. Whilst manufacturers' cost of production increases as they resort alternative power plants, small businesses like tailors, hairdressers and dealers in frozen products are recording drop in sales volume.

Public Relations Officer at the ECG, Erasmus Kyere-Baidoo says the company is at the mercy of the VRA to resume normal distribution of electricity.

“We are expecting the producers of the power to give us enough so that we can restore supply to all our customers”, he said. “We don't have the full complement of our requirement for the region, so we are still having to make do with the little that we have”.

Mr. Kyere-Baidoo added that the ECG can no longer adhere to its power rationing programme because supplies from the VRA keep changing from time to time.

“The situation is difficult to manage and so what we're doing is that we have a certain schedule there, as it comes to 25 [megawatts] we apply or if it comes to 40, we also try to manage…but it's difficult to announce that this area will be going off because there is a constancy, it is difficult,” he stated.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana