Electricity Blackout Problems in Ghana...

...Read below how it can affect your lifestyle and how to plan when building a home in Ghana.

The rapid growth in Ghana has caused a problem with the demand of electricity. Rolling blackouts have been occurring on a regular basis from load shedding, the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company cannot supply enough gas to meet the demand, and system failures have also plagued the country. While going without power for a few hours once in a while is tolerable, it becomes very aggravating when it happens day after day, month after month.

The Problem

In 2012, the population of Ghana increased by 1.79 percent. Over the past 6 years the growth rate has hovered around 1.9 percent. This combined with increasing personal income levels has led to a construction boom in Ghana. This is putting a strain on the existing infrastructure and causing blackouts.
Power outages can disrupt everyday life in a number of ways ranging from minor annoyances to major problems. If your home lacks sources of natural light, you might not be able to see without a candle or flashlight even in the middle of the day. You might not be able to cook dinner or complete your work assignments as needed. Or worse yet, If you rely on electricity to power medical equipment the consequences can be life threatening.

The Solution

The government is working with the Electric Company of Ghana as well as other entities in an effort improve the infrastructure and add approximately 3,000 additional Mega Watts to the country’s power grid by 2015. Kweku Awotwi, CEO of Volta River Authority said that the electricity supply has increased between 10 and 11 percent over the past two years and oil production is expected to increase even more.
The solution doesn’t lie entirely with the government, however. Residents of Ghana need to do their part as well by conserving energy whenever possible. If you are building a home in Ghana, you should incorporate energy saving features into your home. These may include:

• Skylights
• Solar panels
• Energy efficient appliances
• Solar water heaters
• Emergency backup generators

If you are unsure of the best way to include features such as these into your new or existing home, Ghana Homes Group can help. They employ the best engineers and architects and can help you find solutions to conserve energy and help minimize the impact of blackouts on your lifestyle.