Majority of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentarians boycotted Wednesday’s sitting and joined the ‘wɔn gbo’ demonstration.
The NPP ‘dumsor’ demonstration saw thousands of supporters clad in black and red with placards singing and drumming as they marched through some principal streets of Accra.
The party’s 2016 Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo led the demonstration with support from other NPP stalwarts;Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Kwabena Agyepong, Alan Kyeremanten, Fred Osare, among others.
Pressure group Occupy Ghana has also thrown its weight behind the NPP demonstration describing it as a step in the right direction.
Ghana has been battling with inconsistent power supply for sometime now.
The country’s sheds between 440 and 650 megawatts of power during off peak and peak periods due to challenges with power production.
Two emergency power barges are being constructed by the government to generate 450 megawatts (MW) of power to stabilise energy supply in the country.
President Mahama recently directed the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation(GNPC) to provide funding for the project.
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy(ACEP) is however skeptical government can meet its objective of importing emergency power barges into the country.
Reasons for the intensified load shedding:
1. Asogli plant is down to half capacity which is equivalent to about 90 megawatts.
2. Cenite; which is another thermal plant in Tema is also down meaning, the nation has lost 100 megawatts of power.
3. TICO, was also down with one machine but came on last week and that was also another 100 megawatts.
4. Low water levels in Akosombo
5. Low water levels in Bui
6. Low water levels in Kpone
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah