By As the lights flicker and plunge Ghana into darkness once again, the dreaded specter of “Dumsor” looms large. For those of us who lived through the relentless power outages of 2012–2016, the recent blackouts feel like a cruel déjà vu. The word Dumsor, born from the Akan “dum” (off) and “sɔ” (on), is more than a term—it’s a symbol of frustration, lost opportunities, and a nation struggling to keep its promise of progress.
Living in Accra, I’ve felt the sting of these outages, and like many Ghanaians, I’m asking: Is Dumsor truly back, or can we fix this before it spirals out of control? Let’s dive into what’s happening, why, and whether there’s hope to keep Ghana’s lights on.
The Blackouts Are Back—But Why?
Over the past year, power cuts have crept back into our lives. From my neighborhood in Accra to towns across the country, the hum of generators has replaced the silence of stable electricity. Posts on X paint a grim picture: in November 2024, a user cried, “Dumsor is killing my business! ECG, do something!” Another, in February 2025, flagged fuel shortages, noting that Ghana had just days’ worth of gas left. These aren’t isolated rants—hospitals are scrambling, small businesses like mine are bleeding cash, and students are studying by candlelight.
The root of this crisis isn’t new, but it’s maddeningly familiar. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) owes over $1 billion to power producers, leaving plants like Sunon Asogli idle when debts go unpaid. Fuel shortages, worsened by maintenance on the West African Gas Pipeline in early 2025, have crippled thermal plants, which supply most of our electricity.
Add to that aging power lines that leak energy like a sieve, and it’s clear why my fridge goes silent too often. Unlike the old Dumsor days, we have enough power plants—over 5,000 MW of capacity—but financial mismanagement and poor planning are choking the system.
Is This Really Dumsor 2.0?
Some say it’s not Dumsor yet—just “temporary disruptions.” After all, Ghana’s power capacity is double what it was a decade ago, and new gas fields have reduced our reliance on Nigeria. But when my shop goes dark for hours, it feels like Dumsor to me. The Institute for Energy Security warned in January 2025 that fuel reserves were critically low, and unpaid debts could trigger worse outages. If that’s not Dumsor, it’s close enough.
The new government, led by President John Mahama since January 2025, insists it’s not the same crisis they faced last time. Mahama, once mocked as “Mr. Dumsor,” knows the political cost of failure—voters ousted his party in 2016 over this. His team claims they’re negotiating with suppliers and securing emergency fuel. But I’m skeptical. Promises don’t power my sewing machine.
Can We Fix This Before It’s Too Late?
I want to believe there’s hope, but it’ll take serious work. First, ECG needs to pay its debts to keep power plants running. That means tough choices—maybe even higher tariffs, though that stings for folks like me already stretched thin. Second, we need to tap into solar power. Ghana’s sunshine is free, yet we barely use it. Projects like the Bui solar plant could light up homes without burning gas we can’t afford. Third, fix the grid! Too much electricity is lost before it reaches my shop, and that’s unacceptable in 2025.
Most of all, I want honesty. If outages are coming, tell us when and for how long. A timetable would let me plan my workday and save my sanity. Mahama’s government has a chance to prove they’ve learned from past mistakes, but they need to act fast. Ghanaians are patient, but we’re not fools—outages cost us money, health, and hope.
A Plea from Accra
Dumsor isn’t just about electricity; it’s about trust. Every blackout chips away at our faith in the system. For me, it’s the fear of losing my business. For others, it’s a hospital machine going quiet or a child missing school. We’ve beaten Dumsor before, and we can do it again—but not with excuses or delays.
So, is Dumsor back? It’s knocking on our door, but it hasn’t moved in yet. There’s still time to fix this, but the clock is ticking. President Mahama, ECG, all of you—hear us in Accra and beyond. Keep the lights on, or Ghana’s dreams will stay in the dark.
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