Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI) on Tuesday said, the
present energy crisis and the subsequent load shedding arrangements
was having a negative effect on their business.They said unless rapid
and long term solutions were found for the problem, many of them could
be forced out of business.
The members made this known at its monthly meeting in Takoradi.They
noted that many of them could not afford the cost of a generating
system and therefore appealed to the government to come to their
aid.Mr. Dauda al-Amin, ASSI district president of the association said
a radical approach must be taken by the government and the ministry of
energy to salvage small and medium scale businesses.He said the
continual use of 240 volts electrical gadgets and bulbs by domestic as
well as commercial entities must be substituted for 110 volts to
safeguard the high consumption.
Mr. Al-Amin said the increasing population size coupled with the
excessive demand and use of electrical power would be greatly reduced
if the measure is implemented.
He said while industries could continue to use the 240 volts, all
domestic households must be encouraged to adopt 110 volts as an
alternative.Mr. Al-Amin said though the switch from 240 to 110 volts
was likely to have financial repercussions on all domestic users, its
advantages outweighed the cost.He stressed that members of ASSI were
ready to switch from electricity to solar and therefore appealed to
the government and private individuals to make solar electrical power
gadgets available.
Mr. Al-Amin therefore suggested that more local companies should
venture into the manufacture and installation of solar equipments
throughout the country.He said the training of the youths in the
manufacture; installation and maintenance of the solar equipments
would help and at the same time offer employment opportunities.Madam
Philomena Yeboah, administrative officer of Air Furniture, near
Kwesiminstim told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the
frequent power outages had affected her business and is unable to meet
deadlines.
She said though the company had not procured electricity generators,
it still needs one to facilitate its work.Mrs Justina Essandoh of Nana
Soma hair and fashion designer said many of them rely heavily on
electrical power so the outages is affecting their business as well as
electrical gadgets.
3 April 07
