Tuesday,
May 27, 2014
Folks, the persistent electricity
crisis facing the country (now characterized by the unappealing buzz word
"Dum…sor") reflects clearly the major problems that the various
Ghanaian governments have failed to solve over the years because of lack of
planning and good management skills.
In effect, the governments and
senior management personnel have failed to provide measures for producing,
conserving, distributing, and consuming electricity. The price Ghanaians have
to pay is the nuisance of "Dum…sor"!
Electricity is on our lips today
because the crisis facing that sector seems to be detracting from the goodwill
that the public might have for the current Mahama-led administration when it
comes to implementing people-centred policies. In truth, the crisis hasn't been
so acute, long, and intractable as it is under this administration. No other
government is known for this "Dum…sor" irritant!
The government and the agencies
responsible for the electricity sector may be doing their best to solve the
problem; but their best isn't good enough, as the situation continues to worsen
and Ghanaians deepen their resentment as such.
Here is the latest that confirms
fears that the authorities aren't doing enough:
"The Volta River Authority
(VRA) has told Citi Business News Ghanaians may have to endure the current
power crisis for a while longer."
(Source:
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=310685)
Did I hear President Mahama say
sometime late last year or early this year that everything had been done to end
this "Dum…sor" crisis? Yet, the crisis is far from being solved. What
at all is happening?
Whatever the causes of the crisis
may be, Ghanaians aren't happy that their daily lives are disrupted this way
for as long as this "Dums…or" cycle persists. They don't know why the
problems aren't being solved and are all the more angry that their own
government isn't levelling with them.
Clearly, there seems to be a
conspiracy between the Volta River Authority, the Ghana Electricity Company,
GRIDCO, and others in the electricity production and distribution sector. They
are now blaming each other for the mess or for the absence of a schedule on
load shedding. Criminal incompetence at its highest level.
Again, we can tell that the
problem is not lack of resources (especially machinery/equipment or any other
physical input) because none of the companies (VRA, etc.) has made any noise to
that effect.
The talk of gas supply from
Nigeria or Ghana's own reserves being a cause is only what it is---mere empty
talk. The VRA doesn't need gas at its Akosombo, Kpong or Aboadze plants to
serve its consumers. Neither does the Bui dam need gas to generate electricity
for Ghanaians to be rid of this "Dum…sor" nonsense. Private companies
generating electricity haven't complained about lack of gas either.
The occasional bursting into
flames of overloaded transformers can be tackled if those at the ECG do a
little hard thinking to install as many transformers as possible and distribute
electricity to areas in a better manner than what has been the order of the day
all these years. But nobody wants to be innovative.
So, what exactly is the cause of
this "Dum…sor" menace? And why isn't anybody telling Ghanaians the
truth of the matter?
As is usual of a society in
transition, the authorities in charge of affairs aren't telling Ghanaians
anything sensible to assuage doubts, suspicions, and fears. They are merely
contemplating how to raise tariffs while playing hide-and-seek with consumers when
it comes to delivering the item for which the high tariffs are being charged.
And the citizens can't seek
redress because the institutions available to them are either part of the
problem or constitute another whole set of problems themselves. Take the PURC,
for instance, and you will see sense in my claim. Don't talk about the courts
because they can't do anything to help the poor consumers get value for their
money.
So, we run a whole circle of
nothing but frustration, irritation, and anger. Then, the government takes the
full toll. Yet, not much is coming from the government itself to prove to
Ghanaians that it is up to the task of eliminating this "Dum…sor".
Why is it so?
I shall return…
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E-mail:
mjbokor@yahoo.com
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