Ghana power supply improves after blackouts cut water flow

Ghana’s Volta River Authority, the nation’s largest power producer, is restoring electricity after blackouts crippled the capital’s two water processing plants and led to a shortage of the liquid.

The deficit narrowed to 60 megawatts from 440 megawatts on October 17, Samuel Fletcher, the VRA’s spokesman, said by phone. Peak demand is about 2,000 megawatts versus supply of 1,940 megawatts.

The state Electricity Co. of Ghana widened planned power cuts this week because of a shortage of natural gas from Nigeria, the low water level at the largest hydroelectric dam and maintenance at plants.

The two water processing plants for the capital, Accra, were without power Octoberk 16, Stanley Martey, a spokesman for Urban Water Ltd., said by phone yesterday. Steady production of the potable liquid can’t resume until the power supply is restored, he said.

The cuts forced the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to switch to generators. The facility has been designated as an Ebola treatment centre in case the disease spreads to Ghana. No cases have been confirmed in Ghana.

President John Dramani Mahama’s spokesman, Ben Dotse Malor, referred questions to cabinet ministers, but minister for water resources Collins Dauda didn’t return a text to his mobile phone after business hours or answer multiple calls during and after business hours.