[ 2016-07-13 ]

'Dumsor' crippling businesses again
Businesses in Accra and Takoradi have begun laying
off workers again as the four-year-old power
crisis worsens.

Others are planning to close down completely if
the situation persists or deteriorates even
further.

Currently more than 400 megawatts of power is
being shed which means that most parts of Accra,
Kumasi and Takoradi will suffer power outages.
The situation seems to have been worsened by the
lack of a timetable to help consumers plan.

Joy News’ Jennifer Akuamoah returned from Accra
New Town, a hub from printing, and reports the
situation is dire.

According to her, the bubbly busy business area
is unusually quiet with few companies operating
with generators.

Some of the companies confirmed laying off
professional workers at least for the time being
and are relying only on casual workers.
Some of the business owners said the power
outages are affecting their businesses in no small
measure.

"It is creating a lot of problems for us. Those
who have generators are moving forward. But those
of us who don't have the money to buy generators,
[the outages] is weighing our business down," one
of the business owners said.

Worse still is the fact that there is no time
table to regulate the outages.
"If we know that you will be getting off at this
time, then you will schedule your things well. But
we don't have any prior notice that the light will
go off. But the time you realize it is gone off,"
a business man said.

The situation is not any different in the Western
regional capital Takoradi where businesses are
demanding a schedule to enable them plan their
operations.

Francis Whajah with Radio MAXX has been
interacting with some of the business owners who
are demanding a time table.

"Previously we were made aware of a schedule but
of late there is no schedule. The light goes off
as and when it wants. So we want a schedule
because the thing is going on. We want a
schedule," one of the business owners said.

"Our cost of running is rising higher and higher.
Our biggest challenges has to do with the fact
that we don't when the light will go off and when
it will come on and that is really affecting
planning," another said.

The president of the Ghana National Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Stephan Abass also shares
the concerns of the business owners.

He would rather the business owners are given a
time table to facilitate planning.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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