The Volta Region’s deepening energy crisis has drawn sharp criticism from its regional leadership, as Minister James Gunu publicly lambasted the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over what he described as a “disappointing” and “neglectful” handling of persistent power outages, widely known in Ghana as dumsor.
The power crisis, which has plagued parts of the Volta Region for several months, has left residents and businesses reeling from erratic electricity supply.
Complaints of damaged appliances, interrupted business operations, and mounting frustrations have increased in recent weeks, prompting the Minister to intervene directly.
“You are disappointing the people of this region. What crime have we committed?” Gunu asked during a visit to the ECG’s Regional Office.
Frustrated by the lack of engagement from the utility provider, the Minister said he had resorted to a personal intervention after what he described as failed attempts to get a formal response.
“We’ve written to you, but I know the usual excuse—that the letter wasn’t received. That’s why I’ve come in person. Today, I am the letter,” he stated, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.
James Gunu did not mince words when addressing the human and economic tolls of the blackouts on residents. Many have reported significant losses due to burnt electrical appliances and disrupted livelihoods.
“People’s fridges and other appliances have been damaged. They will begin to charge you for that. Why should it come to this?” he questioned.
He warned ECG that the affected residents may soon begin to demand compensation if no remedial action is taken.
Beyond the tangible damage, Gunu emphasized the psychological strain the blackouts have had on communities, calling for improved transparency from ECG.
“Whatever the challenges are, let us know. There must be communication—regular communication—with the people,” he stressed.
His comments come in the wake of growing criticism nationwide over ECG’s handling of dumsor in several regions.
The Volta Region, however, has seen particularly unstable supply in recent months, prompting residents to hold vigils and demonstrations in towns like Hohoe and Keta.
Responding to the Minister’s concerns, ECG Volta Regional Manager, Christina Jatoe-Kaleo, acknowledged the ongoing power supply issues and offered some clarity.
She explained that the root cause of the recent disruptions stems largely from technical constraints in the national transmission network operated by GRIDCo, which supplies power to ECG for distribution.
According to Jatoe-Kaleo, ECG is working closely with GRIDCo to identify and resolve the bottlenecks that have led to unreliable supply in the region.
However, she did not provide a timeline for when the challenges would be fully addressed.
Still, Minister James Gunu insisted that transparent and proactive engagement with the public must become a priority.
He warned that failure to communicate openly will only further damage ECG’s reputation and deepen public resentment.
