Implementing a Dumsor timetable could have prevented the incident at Tema General Hospital – Nana Yaa Jantuah

Former Director of Public Relations and External Affairs at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Nana Yaa Jantuah, emphasized the necessity for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to promptly release a timetable addressing the inconsistent power supply (Dumsor) plaguing various regions of the country.

According to her, the implementation of a timetable would provide ECG with the crucial information needed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to essential facilities such as hospitals and residences of elderly individuals reliant on electricity for medication storage, as mandated by law.

Highlighting a tragic incident at Tema General Hospital on March 26, 2024, where a nursing mother lost her newborn due to a power outage affecting medical equipment, Nana Yaa Jantuah stressed the importance of a structured timetable to prevent such occurrences. She explained that with a clear timetable in place, ECG could strategically manage power distribution, prioritizing critical areas and avoiding disruptions to vital services.

Rashida Abubakar Tetteh, the grieving mother, recounted her heartbreaking experience, citing the failure of medical equipment during the blackout as the cause of her child’s demise.

In an interview with TV3 on March 28, Nana Yaa Jantuah reiterated the significance of a timetable, underscoring the responsibility of ECG to identify and safeguard essential facilities from power cuts. She emphasized that while the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) manages bulk supply, ECG’s direct interaction with customers positions them to effectively prioritize critical areas.

Contrary to reports, Tema General Hospital denied any fatalities resulting from the outage, asserting their commitment to patient safety and well-being in a press release issued on March 27. The hospital urged the public to disregard baseless claims and reassured their dedication to upholding healthcare standards amid challenges.