Random Thoughts – Things we take for granted
July 22nd, 2010 // 9:36 am @ Kwame Kuadey
Growing up in Ghana, electricity blackouts were common. One could go days without power and over time, it became normal. Power was rationed because nearly all of Ghana’s power supply came from hydro electric, and when there was severe drought, the water level at the Akosombo Dam would fall, reducing the amount of electricity generated. You will think the Ghana government, knowing the negative impact on businesses of unreliable power supply would have come up with a solution. But that is not the case. Even in 2010, Ghana is still faced with rolling blackouts. Many Ghanaians have become experts at reading the water level at the dam (pictured below).
I was listening to PRI’s “The World” on NPR yesterday and was surprised to learn that Venezuela, with its oil resources, is facing the same problem of rolling blackouts. Like Ghana, it turns out Venezuela gets 70% of its electricity from Hydro power and a prolonged drought in that country has led to power rationing.
My sister lives in Ghana and owns a Fashion Design business and I have heard her complain several times about how the power ration is affecting her business. I can imagine what other small businesses in Ghana and Venezuela are going through. For a third world country where jobs are scarce and unemployment is high, the least the government can do to promote growth is figure out how to provide dependable power supply. I am sure hotels in places like Accra, Ghana have back-up generators, so tourists are generally shielded from this, but those who venture outside Accra are definitely going to see how frustrating power rationing can be.
It just makes me realize how blessed I am to be doing business in a country where I don’t have to worry about power supply. The things we take for granted 
Category : Random Thoughts