Small businesses reeling under pressure of erratic load shedding

Ghanaians are gradually getting used to the phenomenon of load shedding popularly known as ‘dumsor’.

These times are usually marked with a timetable that informs individuals and businesses as to when they would have light and when they would not.

In recent times however, this has not been the case. With no schedule available, businesses that rely heavily on electricity for their work are at the mercy of the Electricity Company of Ghana.

Francisca Sasu, owner of the Hairmasters Salon in Kokomlemle says, “it’s when you do not have light that the client wants to do her hair. Before when I knew I’d be off, I’d tell my client to come the next day…now, there is no timetable. So I’ve been sitting here all day without work”.

Ms Sasu complains it is difficult to work well without a proper timetable for load shedding as virtually everything in the salon needs electricity to work. An erratic supply of electricity hence affects her work in a major way.

“Everything about the hairdressing salon is electricity. The curlers, the dryers, the sanitisers, the foot spa for pedicure; everything is about electricity. Our business is collapsing’.
The situation is no different at the Thank You Jesus Cold Store located around the Kaneshie station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

The shop attendant, Nana Aba says the unscheduled power cuts are making work more difficult and unproductive.

“Things were better when we had a timetable, the situation was better. We could tell exactly how much meat to bring in on a particular day. But that’s not the case now. Your goods keep going bad. We are losing all our customers.” She tells Joy Business’ Chantelle Asante.

So until something is done about the situation, it appears businesses would continue to suffer. These business owners are calling for help and all they are saying is, “At least, give us a schedule”.

Source: Ghana | Joy Business | Chantelle Asante