‘We need a generator’-Volta school for the deaf appeals

Imagine not being able to communicate with other persons, whenever power goes off…? This is the situation, in which students of the Volta school for the deaf in Hohoe found themselves, due to their hearing and speech impairment.

Because of the current power crisis, the students who communicate through sign language, can no longer interact in the evenings during power outages, as they unable to see and interpret their own ‘signings’ [gestures] in darkness.

The situation has therefore left with no option than to retire to early bed, since the school also lack a standby generator to remedy the situation.

Headmistress of the school, Madam Diddy Ntim told Volta Online in an interview that, the erratic power situation is adversely affecting school activities in the evenings and appealed to benevolent individuals and organizations to come to their aid.

“We use our eyes to see what we sign, so when the lights are off, everything goes mute, because we cannot communicate in darkness. So we need a standby generator to use in times of light off.. We’ will be grateful if people will support us.”

The school founded in 1971 and solely funded by the government of Ghana, currently has a population of about 400 students.

 Madam Ntim, has therefore asked for public support in terms of food items and sponsorships to complement government’s efforts in educating these children with special needs.

No Power supply to buildings not wire by ‘certified’ Electricians

Victor Owusu, P.R Manager

The Energy Commission has disclosed that effective February next year, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will not extend power supply to any building which has not been wired by the commission’s certified electricians.

The move, according to a Senior Programme Officer in-charge of Technical Regulations at the Commission, Mr Solomon Sarpong, is to ensure that standard electrical fittings such as cables and switches are used to properly wire the facilities, in order to curb power leakages as well as to avert firebreaks.

He said ‘poor electrical wiring contributes to energy losses at home and a major cause of the numerous fire outbreaks in recent times’ hence the commission’s decision to begin certifying professional electricians to avert the situation.

Mr Sarpong who was speaking in Ho during the Commission’s “SAVE A WATT”, campaign, urged persons who would require the services of such certified electricians to contact the commission or any ECG offices across the country.

The nationwide campaign which was launched in June this year is geared towards sensitizing consumers on the need to conserve energy as a means of reducing the annual electricity demand of 10-15 percent, which has resulted in the current energy crisis facing the country.