DumsorMustStop protesters submit petition to Prez Akufo-Addo

The #DumsorMustStop protest, spearheaded by actress and movie producer Yvonne Nelson, culminated in a successful demonstration against the persistent erratic power supply affecting various parts of the country.

The protest, which aimed to draw attention to the severe impacts of the ongoing ‘dumsor’ crisis, saw participants dressed in black, marching with placards and carrying lanterns.

The protest march began at the University of Ghana’s main entrance and proceeded to the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout, where organizers addressed the press.

Notable participants included Member of Parliament for the Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu, actor John Dumelo, and comedian DKB.

The placards they carried bore inscriptions such as “Napo, Dumsor is killing our dreams,” “Dumsor Kills Businesses,” “Electricity is a right,” and “Dumsor no more, we deserve better.”

Marching through key streets of Accra, the protesters highlighted the inconveniences, health risks, and financial burdens caused by the intermittent power supply.

This demonstration is the second edition of the protest against indiscriminate power outages in Ghana, following an initial protest in 2015.

Addressing the protestors, Yvonne Nelson recounted a tragic incident at Tema General Hospital where a baby died due to power outages.

This incident underscored the deadly consequences of ‘dumsor,’ prompting the demonstration.

Nelson shared her fears of losing a loved one to the power crisis and emphasized the urgent need to address its devastating consequences.

The #DumsorMustStop campaigners urged President Akufo-Addo to prioritize resolving the erratic power supply situation, which is adversely affecting various sectors of the economy.

They called for both immediate and long-term solutions to the challenge.

In a formal move, the organizers submitted a petition to President Akufo-Addo on June 8, 2024, detailing their grievances and demanding immediate action to resolve the power supply issues.

The protest highlights the ongoing frustration among Ghanaians and the urgent need for the government to address the power crisis.

Below is a copy of the petition meant to be presented to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on June 8, 2024.

Healthcare: Our hospitals are struggling to provide adequate care, especially during critical moments such as childbirth. The lack of reliable power supply puts both mothers and newborns at risk, undermining our healthcare system and endangering lives.

Businesses; Entrepreneurs and businesses, from small vendors to large enterprises, are experiencing significant operational challenges due to the inconsistent power supply. This is leading to financial losses, layoffs, and, in some cases, the closure of businesses. Our economy cannot thrive under such conditions.

Your Excellency, Mr. President, and Dr. Prempeh, we urge you to prioritize this issue with the urgency it demands. We need transparent and effective solutions to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for all Ghanaians. We implore you to take the following actions:

Immediate Measures; Implement short-term strategies to mitigate the current power shortages and provide relief to affected areas.

Long-term Solutions: Develop and communicate a comprehensive plan to upgrade and expand our power infrastructure, incorporating sustainable energy sources to prevent future occurrences of Dumsor.

Accountability: Ensure transparency in the management of our energy resources and hold those responsible for inefficiencies accountable.

Ghana has the potential to be a beacon of progress and development in Africa, but we cannot achieve this if we are constantly hindered by power crises.

We are confident that with decisive action and commitment, we can overcome this challenge and build a brighter future for our nation.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response and to seeing tangible improvements in our power supply situation.