Peaceful Demonstration by Salaga Youth Groups Over Power Outages
In the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region, a coalition of youth groups has taken to the streets in a peaceful demonstration to express their frustration over the persistent power outages and low current supply. The group, known as the “Coalition of Salaga Deserves Better,” is demanding immediate action from local and national authorities to address the long-standing electricity crisis.
The demonstration took place in the heart of Salaga township, where members of the coalition carried placards with messages such as “We need our sub-station,” “We are tired of promises,” “We are also citizens,” and “Salaga deserves better.” These slogans reflect the growing impatience among residents who have been suffering from unreliable electricity for years.
According to the youth groups, the erratic power supply has had a significant impact on both social and economic activities. Businesses and households have suffered losses due to damaged appliances like refrigerators, televisions, and fans. The lack of consistent power has also hindered the overall development of the municipality, affecting everything from daily operations to long-term planning.
The coalition has also linked the unstable electricity supply to poor academic performance among students. They argue that the intermittent power supply disrupts evening study sessions, particularly for those preparing for exams such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Without reliable lighting, many students find it difficult to study effectively.
Despite repeated meetings with various stakeholders—including youth leaders, traditional and religious authorities, and officials from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo)—the problem has remained unresolved. The coalition believes that the current efforts by local authorities and agencies are insufficient to tackle the issue.
Mr. Abu Fuseini, the leader of the coalition, highlighted that a recent stakeholder engagement meeting held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, concluded that the power crisis is beyond the capacity of municipal authorities. He emphasized that only central government intervention can provide a lasting solution.
Fuseini revealed that the coalition has already approached the Minister for Energy, requesting several key actions. These include the reconnection of Salaga to the lines that would ensure stable electricity, connecting the town to the Bui power network, reconnecting to the Northern Region transmission line, and the immediate construction of a permanent substation in Salaga.
“The coalition has been persistent and patient, but we demand swift action from the government to end what can be best described as a decades-long power crisis,” he stated.
Alhassan Mahamadu Kamara, the East Gonja Municipal Assembly Coordinator, received the petition on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE). He assured the demonstrators that the petition will be presented to the MCE for further action.