Kumasi Businesses Resort to Generators as Power Outages Persist

The Ashanti Region, particularly Kumasi, is grappling with intermittent power outages, forcing numerous businesses and residents to rely on generators for alternative power sources. The situation has become increasingly dire, with many businesses, including banks, restaurants, and shops, being severely impacted.

The Central Business District of Kumasi is now characterized by the constant noise of generators, a stark reminder of the region’s ongoing power woes. Frequent power cuts have disrupted production, resulting in losses for businesses and affecting the livelihoods of thousands of people. Residents are also bearing the brunt of the outages, enduring intense heat without access to reliable electricity.

“I’ve bought one generator, and now I need to get one for my workplace. Times are hard,” said one trader, highlighting the difficulties faced by businesses and individuals alike. The rising cost of fuel has further exacerbated the situation, making it challenging for people to afford the cost of running generators.

“I believe this is the return of dumsor because the use of generators is on the rise, and the cost of fuelling them isn’t easy. They should provide us with a timetable, that would be better,” another trader expressed, echoing the frustrations of many.

Benjamin Antwi, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for ECG Ashanti West, apologized for the inconvenience caused by the power outages and assured that measures are in place to address the situation. “We want to assure them that measures are in place to address the situation,” he said.

However, Antwi also highlighted the consistent theft of ECG’s electrical installations, which is contributing to the ongoing outages. The Ashanti Region’s high demand for power has made the situation particularly severe, with the region being one of the hardest hit by power outages in the country.