Hundreds of Ghanaians gathered on Saturday night for the #DumsorMustStop vigil, a powerful protest at the ongoing power outages that are plaguing the nation. The event, took place in Accra, was marked by the symbolic attire and solemn demeanour of its participants, who aim to draw attention to the severe impact of “dumsor” on their daily lives.
Many Participants gathered at the frontage of the University of Ghana, Legon, in black clothing, a traditional symbol of mourning and protest in Ghana. This choice of attire is a pointer to the gravity of their message: the incessant power outages are not just an inconvenience but a significant hindrance to everyday life and economic activities.
Adding to the poignant atmosphere, many attendees carryied candles and lanterns. These flickering lights are not only practical but also symbolic, representing the very issue at hand. The sight of thousands of candles illuminating the night was a stark reminder of the lengths to which citizens must go to cope with the frequent blackouts.
Addressing the media, Yvonne Nelson, leading member of the Vigil, said they were ready to hold the protest despite challenges they had to deal with.
She was not worried about the refusal on the part of colleague celebrities to join the vigil as compared to the last one held in 2015.
“I don’t know what they are going through, and I can’t speak for them, but I am not in any way disappointed in their actions. I have already told myself that if nobody joins this protest, I will walk alone,” she said.
The Ghana Police Service has attempted to halt the vigil by filing an injunction application, citing concerns about the protest’s proximity to a security installation.
