The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) is mounting intense pressure on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to publish a load-shedding timetable to allow its members to better plan their business activities.
Several businesses have been negatively affected by intermittent power cuts in the last two months, and the operators are calling for measures to mitigate the impact.
In a statement signed by its Director of Communication, Joseph Paddy, GUTA highlighted the significant impact of the power outages on various sectors, including agriculture, trade, and industry.
Various quarters, including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC), have called for ECG to release a load-management schedule, but there has been no positive response.
GUTA also decried the high operational costs incurred by businesses due to the irregular power supply, necessitating the heavy use of fuel to run generators.
“Moreover, the unpredictable power outages force many shop owners to rely on generators, leading to additional expenses for fuel procurement and storage in anticipation of power disruptions.
“Manufacturers, in particular, are grappling with maintaining production schedules and workforce planning due to the inconsistent power supply, which not only escalates production costs but also exacerbates the living conditions of citizens,” GUTA emphasised.
The business association underscored the widespread impact of the development on various sectors, including traders, shop owners, wholesalers, tailors, electricians, artisans, and other businesses reliant on electricity, characterising the situation as untenable for the nation’s business community.
Read the GUTA statement below: