 |
| Mahama: Power outages part of system upgrade, not ‘dumsor’ crisis |
Instead, he attributes the interruptions to ongoing system upgrades aimed at strengthening the national grid.
Speaking on the issue, Mahama explained that the outages are part of a broader effort to modernise infrastructure managed by institutions such as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company.
According to him, temporary disruptions are unavoidable when critical maintenance and expansion works are underway, particularly in fast-growing urban centres where electricity demand continues to rise.
He emphasised that the current situation differs significantly from the prolonged and unpredictable outages Ghana experienced during the peak of the dumsor crisis between 2012 and 2016.
That period, under his own administration, saw widespread economic and social disruptions, forcing businesses and households to rely heavily on generators.
Mahama noted that lessons from that era have informed current strategies to ensure greater resilience in power generation and distribution.
The former president reassured the public that the ongoing works are planned and targeted, not the result of generation shortfalls or fuel supply issues.
He added that investments in new plants, transmission lines, and grid stabilisation technologies are designed to prevent a recurrence of sustained outages.
Energy analysts broadly agree that while scheduled outages can be inconvenient, they are sometimes necessary for long-term reliability.
However, they also stress the importance of clear communication from utilities to avoid public anxiety, especially in a country where memories of dumsor remain fresh.
Mahama’s comments come amid renewed public debate over the stability of Ghana’s power sector, with citizens calling for transparency and timely updates whenever outages occur.