Ghana Plunges into Three-Week Power Outages as ECG and GRIDCo Announce ‘Dumsor’ Ghanaian citizens brace themselves for an extended period of power outages, known locally as “Dumsor,” after the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) jointly announced a three-week suspension of electricity supply. The outages, scheduled to commence on Monday, March 13, 2023, will affect various parts of the country due to necessary maintenance and upgrades on the national electricity grid. GRIDCo, the national power transmission operator, cited challenges in the provision of adequate power generation to meet the country’s electricity demand. The outages are expected to last for between 24 and 48 hours in different areas. They will commence with the Volta and Oti regions, followed by the Greater Accra and Central regions, and then spread to other parts of the country on a rotational basis. The announcement has sparked widespread concern and anxiety among the populace. Businesses and households alike fear significant disruptions to their operations and daily lives. Industries that heavily rely on electricity, such as manufacturing and mining, could suffer substantial losses. “This is a huge blow to our business,” said Kwame Addo, the owner of a small manufacturing firm in Tema. “We lose a lot of productivity every time there’s Dumsor, and now it’s going to last for three weeks.” The ECG and GRIDCo have urged the public to cooperate during the outages and conserve energy where possible. They have also announced measures to mitigate the impact of the power cuts, including the provision of backup generators for essential services and vulnerable communities. The government has expressed its support for the power companies’ decision but acknowledged the challenges it poses for the country. “We understand the inconvenience this will cause, but it is a necessary step to improve our electricity infrastructure,” said Energy Minister John-Peter Amewu. Ghana has a history of intermittent power outages, but the announcement of a three-week “Dumsor” marks a significant setback in the country’s efforts to stabilize its electricity supply. The outages are expected to have a significant impact on the economy, productivity, and the overall quality of life for Ghanaians during the prolonged period.France’s four main left-wing parties have agreed to form a “New Popular Front” (NPF) to participate in the early elections. The Socialist Party (PS), the Greens, the Communists, and Indomitable France (LFI) will campaign on a joint platform and field a single candidate in each electoral district.France’s four main left-wing parties have agreed to form a “New Popular Front” (NPF) to participate in the early elections. The Socialist Party (PS), the Greens, the Communists, and Indomitable France (LFI) will campaign on a joint platform and field a single candidate in each electoral district. The parties have agreed on policies such as lowering the retirement age, tying wages to inflation, and introducing a wealth tax on the rich. The NPF is unlikely to overtake Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) party in the polls, but it could capture more than 25% of the vote, giving it enough deputies in the National Assembly to prevent Macron’s centrist coalition and the RN from forming a stable majority. The left-wing alliance collapsed in 2022 due to leadership fights and political differences, particularly over the conflict between Israel and Hamas. President Macron called the early vote after his list in the European elections suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the RN. Meanwhile, infighting continues in Les Républicains, the center-right party of former presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, after its president announced a surprise alliance with the RN.Three-Week ‘Dumsor’ Announced by ECG and GRIDCo Ghana’s electricity distributor, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) have announced a three-week power rationing exercise, commonly known as “dumsor.” The outage, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 16, 2023, and run until June 6, 2023, is necessary to enable GRIDCo to undertake critical maintenance works on its transmission lines. According to officials, the maintenance works are essential to improve the reliability and efficiency of the national grid. The areas to be affected by the power rationing will rotate every 12 hours, with specific schedules to be announced by ECG. Businesses, households, and essential services are urged to prepare for the planned power outages. Government institutions, hospitals, and water treatment plants will, however, be exempted from the rationing. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our cherished customers,” said an ECG spokesperson. “These maintenance works are necessary to ensure a more stable and reliable power supply in the future.” The announcement of the power rationing has raised concerns among Ghanaians, who recall the prolonged periods of “dumsor” experienced in the country from 2012 to 2015. Utilities officials have assured that all measures have been put in place to minimize the impact of the planned outages.