Since I have been in Ghana the electricity supply has been off more often than it is on. The current ‘power crisis’ has been going on for over a year now and shows now signs of improvement, despite several political promises.
I have read a couple of articles about the reasons which include lack of investment, low water levels in reservoirs powering hydro projects, mismanagement, etc. But whatever the reasons, it is the ordinary working people who are suffering as businesses fail and the economy shrinks. Many businesses have installed generators which burn a lot of fuel. This probably makes the energy crisis worse and eats into any profit made.
The political hopes seem to be pinned on the rainy season that should start around July. But if that fails? Where is plan B?
Internet access has been an important part of my journey through Africa. It has been readily available and cheap. I don’t think I would have been able to cope with the loneliness of what I have been doing without the regular contacts home and without the ability to arrange to meet others. It also had an important part to play in the trip planning. Yet another way that the Internet is shrinking our world.
2 replies on “Musings: Power and the Internet”
Do you see any Solar Panels in use John, or any windup Radios that Trevor B developed some years ago, or perhaps any other techniques for generating power?
Very little of any of that. There are a few solar powered traffic lights but the majority go off with the power and the police manage the traffic flow at junctions. Makes you wonder about the cost of this to the police budget. It seems short term coping is the order of the day rather than long term planning. Solar is more difficult in the South with more frequent cloud cover but the north has lots of wind and sun. They need to invest some money but where does that money come from?