The Volta River Authority has launched investigations into the protracted incessant power outages that have rocked some communities in the Kassena Nankana West district of the Upper East Region for several months. The situation has brought economic and social activities in the area to its knees.
Residents in communities including Sirigu and Mirigu say they barely get electricity for 4 hours in about five days or a week. The situation they added has brought about increased crime rate in the area and the near collapse of businesses.
A visit by A1 Radio’s News team to Sirigu revealed that few business owners run on generator sets whiles many have folded up. Some chop bar operators and phone charging business owners who spoke to a1radioonline.com said their businesses have almost grinded to a halt. Life in Purmolgo Sirigu has become unbearable for residents whose economic livelihood fully depends on the stability of the lights. Residents, especially women in the chop bar business have had to resort to roasting their meat and other perishable goods in order to preserve them from spoilage. This, they say has gravely affected their businesses because the rate at which they made returns prior to this period has fallen drastically.
But speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Tuesday, Head of public affairs at NEDCO Alhaji Mohammed Siam said he has ordered for an investigation to ascertain the situation and identify the cause of the problem. He admitted that the situation is quite unfortunate and unfortunately was not reported to the regional office of the Volta River Authority.
“Sirigu may not be directly under Bolga. They are served from a station and that is a center before the center reports to the main regional office. It is likely that the center might be trying to find the fault and handle the situation before telling the regional headquarters. But now I have asked the regional headquarters to take over and find the problem and solve it” he said.
According to the angry residents, electricity has become rare to them as they only have it for few hours in several days. The social makeup of the community has also been hit severely by this problem. Residents added that they are not able to get access to potable water because the Ghana Water company lacks the electricity to pump water to their houses.
By: Azongo Albert | A1RADIOONLINE.COM | GHANA
