New power cuts announced.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have announced a new load-shedding programme in a bid to tackle the growing energy crisis in the country. Under the new regime, which came into effect on 28 March, customers will experience one 12-hour daytime power cut and one 12-hour night time power cut every four days rather than one 12-hour power cut every five days as was previously the case. The measures are the result of falling water levels in Volta Lake in eastern Ghana, which supplies electricity to much of the country.

In an attempt to offset the energy shortfall the government has also funded the installation of a number of diesel-powered emergency power plants in Tema, which should go into operation shortly. In this way it is hoped the reserves in the Volta reservoir can be drawn out until the end of June, when the seasonal rains in its catchment area are due to arrive. Ghanaians are also being urged to save electricity wherever possible.