Garu and Tempane youth demonstrate against frequent power outages

Some youth in the Garu and Tempane districts in the Upper East Region have taken to the streets to express their displeasure about what they say has been prolonged power outages in their communities.

The residents clad in red, say the demonstration was to petition the two District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the area to find lasting solutions to the problem.

According to group lead, Paul Ayuonga, the power outages, otherwise called ‘dumsor’ has persisted for about four years and has negatively impacted their businesses.

“Because of the frequent and unnecessary power outages, it has affected us so much both economically in the health sector and even businesses have collapsed. As we are speaking now, there is no electricity in both districts that is how it has been for four years.

“Businesses have collapsed. Cold stores; fish, beef, whatever meat that people have kept in their fridges to transact businesses have gotten rotten,” he lamented.

He stressed that the cost of living has gone up as the residents now travel long distances to access services that were initially close to them.

 “Look, we have two hospitals here that can perform surgeries but because of the frequent light outs our patients are usually transferred to Bolgatanga Regional Hospital because we cannot go to Bawku because of the conflict. So people who are very poor in fact, to even pay for the ambulance that will take them to the Bolgatanga Hospital is always a problem,” he said.

The group numbering a little over 50 marched to the office of the Tampane DCE, to submit their petition.

Receiving the petition, Issaka Anabida, the DCE appealed to the youth to exercise patience as they all faced the blackout.

Meanwhile, he assured them of the commitment of his office to solving the problem.

“We are all fighting so that whatever we all do, the information can get to everybody. I want to assure you that we will continue to fight collectively to make sure this problem is solved,” he said.

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