Actress and movie producer, Yvonne Nelson and the #DumsorMustStop campaigners put paid to their quest to demonstrate against the prevailing erratic power supply in parts of the country.
Earlier, Actress Yvonne Nelson posted on social media her resolve to embark on the protest even if the turnout is low.
The actress insists her resolve to proceed with the vigil is a result of the ongoing power cuts that she said the government continues to deny and take responsibility for.
“The light is not stable even in my house. Two days ago, I was going for an interview and the light went off when I was dressing up. And I have a friend at Kasoa and her light is off five times a week, so if they want us to keep silent, then it is a sad day for Ghana.”
Yvonne Nelson added that she was triggered by a video from the Tema General Hospital about an alleged power outage that caused the death of a baby.
“I saw a video of Tema General Hospital’s blackout and I felt it could happen to me, so I was triggered by the video and I went on social media and started tweeting about dumsor and I have always tweeted about dumsor but this is the time I am going off social media to get on the streets and organise a vigil.”
About thirty police personnel have been deployed to take charge of the protest despite earlier attempts to thwart it over disagreements on the location. The demonstrators included Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu, Yvonne Nelson, John Dumelo and comedian DKB.
The vigil begun from the University of Ghana main entrance to the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout, where the organisers addressed the press. They paraded through some principal streets of Accra highlighting the inconvenience, health and financial implications of the ‘dumsor’ menace.
Below is a copy of the petition meant to be presented to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on June 8, 2024.
1. Healthcare: Our hospitals are struggling to provide adequate care, especially during critical moments such as childbirth. The lack of reliable power supply puts both mothers and newborns at risk, undermining our healthcare system and endangering lives.
2. Businesses; Entrepreneurs and businesses, from small vendors to large enterprises, are experiencing significant operational challenges due to the inconsistent power supply. This is leading to financial losses, layoffs, and, in some cases, the closure of businesses. Our economy cannot thrive under such conditions.
Your Excellency, Mr. President, and Dr. Prempeh, we urge you to prioritize this issue with the urgency it demands. We need transparent and effective solutions to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for all Ghanaians. We implore you to take the following actions:
1. Immediate Measures; Implement short-term strategies to mitigate the current power shortages and provide relief to affected areas.
2. Long-term Solutions: Develop and communicate a comprehensive plan to upgrade and expand our power infrastructure, incorporating sustainable energy sources to prevent future occurrences of Dumsor.
3. Accountability: Ensure transparency in the management of our energy resources and hold those responsible for inefficiencies accountable.
Ghana has the potential to be a beacon of progress and development in Africa, but we cannot achieve this if we are constantly hindered by power crises. We are confident that with decisive action and commitment, we can overcome this challenge and build a brighter future for our nation. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response and to seeing tangible improvements in our power supply situation.
Yours sincerely,
Yvonne Nelson
Henry Akoto Osei
Selorm Dramani Dzramado
