Unplanned power outages are becoming a common occurrence in Ghana, and according to Political and social analyst and lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Jonathan Asante Otchere, this could spell trouble for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming December 7, 2024, general elections.
Dr. Otchere highlighted the impact of energy-related issues on voters’ decisions, citing the 2016 elections where the NPP capitalized on the ‘dumsor’ crisis to win power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He emphasized the importance of history repeating itself, using the Akan Proverb “Abaa yedi bo Takyi no, ye di bo Baah”, meaning the cane used on Takyi is also used on Baah.
The ongoing energy crisis is expected to influence voters’ choices, with Dr. Otchere mentioning a situation on the UCC campus where students had to endure uncomfortable heat during exams due to a power outage. He himself had to sleep in his car recently because of the unbearable heat caused by dumsor.
The analyst pointed out that voters prioritize issues like the economy, infrastructure, inflation rate, and corruption when casting their ballots, and the current energy situation will definitely be a deciding factor in the upcoming elections.
