Artisans at Suame Magazine are threatening to increase charges for their services if the erratic power supply persists.
Suame Magazine and other parts of Kumasi have, over the past one week, experienced worsening power cuts.
Artisans complain they have had to spend huge sums of money to buy generators and fuel to power them.
Load shedding had eased with improved supply in the region for close to a month until in the last few days.
Speaking to LUV NEWS, the artisans said they will be compelled to ask clients to pay more for services to enable them to offset high operational cost.
“It is collapsing our businesses. It is affecting our business”, some of the artisans worriedly said.
Obeng Antwi builds metal trailers for heavy duty trucks. He has ten apprentices under his watch. He explains that he was happy when lights finally came on Friday after one week without electricity.
“Fortunately, a customer brought a job that day and we knew that would make up for the lost days because, looking at the job, we will get between 1,000 Ghana cedis and 1,500 Ghana Cedis,” he revealed.
He was optimistic to pay his bills and apprentices but this could not happen.
Mr. Antwi laments, “the customer came take delivery of the job today but because there is no electricity, we obviously can’t work on it. No money for even fuel to power generator. ”
Consumers are worried utility providers are demanding tariffs increase in the face of inadequate supply and general poor services.
“We want them to fix the lights before asking for tariff increment. We are here at Magazine, if they increase the tariffs with this poor services, we will increase our charges,” one of the worried mechanics threatened.
Parts of Pankrono, Ohwim, Brofoyedu and Tafo are among areas affected by the power curtailment after they had lights briefly on Friday. Residents in these communities shared bitter experiences to Luv News during our visit.
“Friday the light was off and came back again. Today within thirty minutes it came but it is off now. This is not fair,” a resident protested.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana explains underground cable fault at two of its sub-stations – Station E and C at Magazine and Airport roundabout respectively – accounts for the situation at Magazine and other places.
Public Relations Manager for Ashanti Region, Erasmus Kyere-Baidoo, gives assurance efforts are underway to rectify the hitch.
By Prince Appiah
