Salaga Youth protest over power crisis

Frustration boiled over in Salaga, the capital of East Gonja Municipality, as hundreds of young people took to the streets to protest decades of unstable electricity supply that has crippled local businesses and livelihoods.

The protesters, holding placards and chanting for change, called on the government to act immediately to end what they described as unbearable power fluctuations and low voltage.

For years, residents say, the municipality has faced persistent blackouts without a lasting fix from the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), or local authorities.

Small businesses such as cold stores, welding shops, and hospitality centres have been hit hardest. Many have closed down due to the high cost of running generators and frequent equipment damage caused by low voltage.

The youth presented a petition to the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, urging the government to reconnect Salaga to a more stable power line and speed up the construction of a new power substation.

Receiving the petition, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Alhassan Mahamadu Kamara, said the Assembly has engaged NEDCo and other stakeholders and that Salaga has recently been linked to the Bimbilla feeder line.

While there has been some improvement, he acknowledged that voltage remains weak and assured residents that efforts are underway to secure a permanent solution.