Thousands of Ghanaians marched through the streets of Accra in a protest dubbed “Dumsor Must Stop,” voicing their frustration over the persistent power outages that have plagued the nation for years.
The demonstration, led by prominent actress Yvonne Nelson, underscores the growing discontent with President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government’s handling of the energy crisis, which shows no signs of improvement.
“Dumsor,” a term meaning on-and-off in the local dialect, has become synonymous with Ghana’s erratic power supply.
The protest, which saw participants marching from the University of Ghana in Legon to the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, included traders, actors like John Dumelo, and comedian DKB. They carried placards highlighting the negative impact of the power cuts on businesses and the overall economy.
This is not the first time Yvonne Nelson has taken a stand against ‘dumsor’. In 2015, during the administration of former President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), she led a similar protest. Now, seven years later, her decision to lead another march reflects the unresolved nature of the crisis, despite a change in government.
Ahead of the protest, Nelson shared her commitment to the cause on social media, stating, “My Health hasn’t been 100%, but I will still walk from Legon down to Tetteh Quarshie in protest of a better Ghana for my kids and their kids. Even if it’s just me, 5 of us, 20 or a 1000. I will still walk. We don’t deserve bad governance coupled with lies and arrogance.”
Her criticism is particularly pointed because the current Akufo-Addo administration, when in opposition, supported her 2015 protest and promised to resolve the power crisis. The actress and other protesters argue that these promises have gone unfulfilled, accusing the government of mismanaging the country and leading it into both economic and power crises.
Local businesses continue to bear the brunt of the power outages. Traders at the protest shared stories of spoiled goods and lost income due to the unpredictable power supply. They argue that the ongoing ‘dumsor’ is stifling economic growth and making it increasingly difficult for small businesses to survive.
Despite repeated assurances from the Energy Ministry that the situation would improve, Ghanaians have seen little change. The persisting power cuts suggest that the root causes of the energy crisis, whether infrastructure issues, supply shortages, or management problems, have not been effectively addressed.
On his part, DKB criticized his colleagues who failed to participate in the protest as they did in 2015. “Those who showed up seven years ago as neutrals have shown that they aren’t real activists,” he stated, highlighting the inconsistency in some celebrities’ commitment to the cause.
His remarks underscored the disappointment in the reduced celebrity turnout compared to the 2015 protest, suggesting that some public figures might have been more interested in the publicity than the cause itself.
As Ghana approaches elections next year, the ‘dumsor’ issue is likely to be a central campaign topic. The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) faces the challenge of addressing these concerns to maintain public trust, while opposition parties are already capitalizing on the public’s frustration.
The message from Saturday’s protest was clear: Ghanaians are demanding reliable power to support their homes, businesses, and the nation’s development. They expect their leaders to deliver on their promises, and after years of ‘dumsor’, their patience is wearing thin.
