Prayer: May You Not Fail Like NAWEC

Many people express concern why KISSY-KISSY MANSA hasn’t been featuring for a while. There are fears I was cowed, but no! Those that send me email, sms, or others, I thank you all.  I was away to the land of gold - Gold Coast - present day Ghana to broaden my knowledge.  Synonymous to its name today  is, champion of Africa’s democracy. Here we go again with a special prayer I offer to all those who wish to say Ameen! May you not fail like NAWEC.  

Frowned beyond recognition, Alpha Omar Bah, 23, sits at right at the entrance to his internet café, as if to bar customers from entering. On the contrary, he wants them in, but none was coming in.

For the past few months he is getting used to sitting whole day without a customer, no money thanks to erratic power supply or lack of it sometimes by the country’s energy giant NAWEC.

 “NAWEC is really killing me,” he says, without changing his mood. “I am not making any returns. All my investment is going down the drains”.

It has been two years since this industrious young boy finished his secondary education. Unlike most of his colleagues who fail to further their education because of lack of either financial or other support, Alpha’s family assisted him to study computer science.

Again, a privilege most of his colleagues lack and are left frustrated with business propositions but without a kick starter, Alpha got financial support from his sister in abroad to set-up an internet café.

He partnered with a friend Abdoulie Sillah, 23, who as well got some money from his sister in abroad.

Having attained some level of computer literacy, both Alpha and Abdoulie hope Internet business will help them at least make ends meet in the face of growing demand for them lend a hand in running the affairs of their families.

However, little did they know that in a country where providing a basic need as energy has become so laissez-faire that, as a Senegal comedian says (about our power supply), everybody has his or her own NAWEC (generator) at home, technical know-how and (good) location are not enough for such a business venture, which relies solely on energy, to thrive.

“From day one, it has not been easy,” Alpha says. “We encounter numerous challenges here. At times we loose [internet] connection for some hours or in some instances a day or two.

On the heels of these challenging moments, comes a more devastating one; that is the unprecedented load shedding by National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).

“How are we going to pay our bills” he quizzes rhetorically knowing very well that whether he makes money or not his landlord will make a request end of month.

But Alpha and Abdoulie aren’t alone in this dilemma. It is a national problem. And the president, who would have ordinarily dismissed his energy minister, is himself doubling as the nation’s energy minister.

Families abandon their beautifully decorated air-conditioned houses seeking for fresh air as house turn hell.  

According to a veteran journalist Bijou Peters, “the sudden disruption of electricity supply can be dangerous for families, most of whom have to resort to the use of candles during a black out.

“It creates a hazard also for the elderly members of the family who are unable to find their way safely in a darkened house during power failures. Reports of accidents in the home have been recorded, some of which have resulted in fatalities.”

Members of the community who require a regular supply of energy such as welders, bakers, tailors, fishermen, fish processers and dryers are particularly hampered by these frequent power failures which affect their works and earnings daily.

“I have many contracts to work on but due to the constant power interruption I cannot execute it,” says, a welder, who was speaking to Daily News recently.

Bakers are now buying bag of ice to mix flour to bake breads, newspapers go off the newsstand, ice sellers have their ice boiled in the fridge, fishers no longer keep the fish fresh and many others have their appliances spoiled, all but thanks to NAWEC.  

Dram at parliament

Recalling what could be described as a drama at the National Assembly recently when Hon. Sedia Jatta lamented about NAWEC’s poor performance. Vice president responding to him tried to defend but before she finishes there was a power failure.

“I am vindicated” Sedia said, amid laughter. Even the journalists burst into laughter.  

Power resumed almost a minute after vice president took her seat and the Speaker was saying it was not a power failure, but rather they are switching from generator to NAWEC when there was power cut again.

“What is it this time” Sedia teases and there was even more laughter.

No pleasing news

NAWEC rarely gives pleasing news. Public notices from NAWEC always read: NAWEC regrets to inform general public that….”

Remembering few years ago, while still going to school we were three in a room having a small radio set giving us some entertainment. But nothing entertains us more than news releases from NAWEC. Anytime the announcer announces: “This is a public announcement from NAWEC, we would burst into laughter. Without listening to what would come next, we would turn-off the radio and then turn it on seconds later, predicting that the final part of the release would read: “NAWEC apologizes for any inconvenience.”

Promises again

Meanwhile after remaining unreasonably mute over this issue, NAWEC has finally broken the silence.

According to news reports, the problem was due to an inferno which damaged its machinery, but it is poised to do better.

Praying for people’s goodness or otherwise is not only religious, but a culture. One of the reasons I used to greet my grandma every morning is because of the prayers she offers to me, which I found not only a blessing, but interesting. “May you shine like sun,” she would say even after I left.

However, nowadays, these metaphoric prayers are no longer likened to nature, but rather the prevailing man-made circumstances.

Among them are: “May you not fail like NAWEC, May you rise like the price of commodities.”