Ghana is bracing for at least another three weeks of power outages due to a shortage of gas supplies from Nigeria, as announced by the state power company.
The shortfall stems from a temporary maintenance shutdown at an unnamed Nigerian gas supplier.
Ghanaians, who have long endured frequent power shortages, refer to the situation as “dumsor,” meaning “on and off” in the Akan language.
The country’s power demand has surged over the past two decades, driven by rapid urbanization and population growth.
To address the current shortfall, the Ghanaian government must invest approximately $400 million (£315 million) to purchase gas and liquid fuel for power plants.
The worsening power shortages, which began earlier this year, are also attributed to a growing debt crisis. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) owes about $1.2 billion to private energy producers, including Nigerian suppliers.
Gas shortages are not only affecting Ghana but also neighboring countries Togo and Benin, as confirmed by the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo). “The current situation is entirely out of WAPCo’s control,” the company stated.
Public frustration is mounting, prompting a joint statement from the ECG and the Ghana Grid Company. They assured the public that they are working with stakeholders to minimize the impact of the gas supply reduction on consumers.
To manage the limited supplies, the companies plan to implement load-shedding and ensure essential services remain uninterrupted.
This crisis follows recent actions by President Nana Akufo-Addo to curb electricity exports to Togo, Burkina Faso, and Benin, due to similar supply challenges. Ghana’s power shortages have intensified amid the country’s worst economic crisis in a decade.
Although a major producer of gold and cocoa, Ghana has increasingly relied on gas for electricity generation, which often suffers from poor maintenance of its hydro and thermal power sources.
