Ensure stable power for WASSCE and BECE candidates — Sammi Awuku urges Mahama
Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has called on President John Dramani Mahama and the Energy Ministry to ensure stable power supply for candidates preparing for the 2026 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
His appeal comes amid recurring power outages across the country, popularly referred to as dumsor, which have persisted for about two weeks.
The situation has raised concerns among households, businesses, and students, particularly as examination season approaches.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) initially attributed the disruptions to ongoing replacement and upgrade works on transformers.
However, the situation has been compounded by a fire outbreak at a GRIDCo power control centre in Akosombo, which reportedly led to a loss of about 1,000MW of power supply.
In a social media post on Monday, April 27, the MP expressed concern about the impact of the outages on students.
"Our young students taking the WASSCE exams started their practical examinations on 21st April 2026 and our BECE candidates began their exams exactly a week from today, 4th May 2026.”
He cautioned that “when lights go off in the middle of studying, it breaks concentration, slows learning and in some cases creates unnecessary anxiety.”
"For our students, this is a once-in-a-year moment for them, and they deserve stability as they prepare and sit for their exams without this added stress," he added.
The lawmaker further noted that the situation is affecting businesses and young entrepreneurs who depend on stable electricity for daily operations.
Meanwhile, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor has directed the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo to step aside as investigations continue into the Akosombo incident.
The Minister is expected to brief the public later today, April 27, at a press conference scheduled for 2pm.