Accra: Some residents of Ashaiman New York have expressed concern over the persistent low voltage and selective power outages that have disrupted domestic and commercial activities for several weeks. The situation, characterised by dim electricity supply, has reportedly rendered household appliances ineffective and raised fears of permanent damage to expensive electronic equipment.
According to Ghana News Agency, the residents are calling on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to conduct a technical assessment of the transformer serving Ashaiman New York to address the imbalance and restore stable electricity supply. Sharing their experiences, several affected residents described how the unstable power supply had forced them into difficult daily routines to keep their businesses and homes running.
Mr Kofi Mensah, a landlord in the area, expressed worry about the long-term impact on his property, noting that even the pumping machine used to supply water to his tenants was struggling to function. He mentioned that the water pump could not effectively pull water due to the low voltage, compelling them to wait for stronger current levels late at night or early morning.
He added that at times, the current became so low that power went off completely, only returning later in the evening or the following day. In response to the situation, he advised his tenants to store enough water in case the situation worsens.
For small business owners, the crisis has become a battle for survival. A cold store operator, Madam Araba Tagoe, explained that she had been forced to monitor electricity supply patterns carefully to protect her deep freezers. She noted that because the voltage slightly improved during the daytime, she powered her freezers in the morning but switched them off by 17:30 hours to prevent potential damage from the low evening current.
Similarly, Mr Andrews Okine stated that his wife, who sells mashed kenkey, now spends her mornings freezing sachets of water to use as makeshift ice packs later in the day when the low voltage affects their cooling systems.
The crisis has also revealed growing community support among residents. Ms Comfort Adu, an ice cream seller, disclosed that she relied on a neighbour connected to a different and more stable power line. She expressed gratitude towards her friend in the compound, who allowed her to use her freezer, offering to contribute towards the electricity bill to avoid overburdening her.
Providing another perspective, Mr Desmond Baah, another resident, suggested that the challenge could be due to an overloaded power line. He noted that the affected line used to be the most stable in the area, causing many residents to transfer their connections to it over time, which might have contributed to the current issues.