Dumsor refers to the frequent power outages that have plagued Ghana's energy sector since 2001 due to shortfalls in generation capacity as a result of drought from climate change. This led to a deficit of 800MW at peak times in 2015, causing many Ghanaian companies to collapse. In response, the Energy Commission has embarked on a Rooftop Solar Installation Scheme to increase renewable energy usage. The document discusses how the writer took advantage of this scheme to power their business and home with solar during outages. It calls on policymakers to adopt new policies to support shifting to over 40% renewable sources by 2027, and urges the public to act together on climate initiatives now.

1. Week4 Assignment
Identifyanddescribe one climate-relatedchallengearoundyouthatdirectlyorindirectlyaffectsyou.
Why doyou needtoact now?
The beginning of the endof “Dumsor”
Dumsoris a term usedinGhana to describe the frequentbut irregularandunpredictableelectricpower
outages,whichhasplaguedthe energysectorsince the 2001 butthe worddumsoronlygain
prominence 2012. The shortfall inpowergeneration capacity wasdue toa significantdropinwater the
level atthe AkosomboDam,Ghana'smain hydro-electricdamasa resultof persistdroughtfromthe
effectof climate change.
Ghana’stotal powerdemandcontinuestogrow andconsistently farexceedsavailable powergeneration
capacity. In 2015 the suppressedpeakdemand wasabout2,400MW, howeveronly1,600MW of
capacitywas available atpeakand1,400 MW at off-peakleavingadeficitof about800MW at peak.
Many Ghanaiancompaniescollapseddue tothe irregularityof the powersupply.The Institute of
Statistical,Social andEconomicResearch(ISSER),statedthatGhanalostabout 1 billiondollarsin2014
alone because of dumsor.
(i) demonstrates how the person or their surroundings are directly affected
(ii) provides visual context for the specific climate-challenge
(iii) presents an overall engaging video of 3 minutes or less
One of the policymakers,the EnergyCommissionhasembarkedonaRooftopSolarInstallationScheme
to increase the percentage of renewablecleanenergy thatthe countryuses. Asa policymaker,Iwill
alsocollaborate withkeystakeholderstodraftand gazette new energy policiestosupportthisshift for
more renewable powersources fromcurrentunder40% to 60% by 2027.
These newpolicies shouldworktoovercome following expectedchallenges:
 Lack of engagementwithstakeholders
 Lack of publicawarenesscreation
 Lack of a Carbon Tax
 Lack of creationof feasible cleanerenergy options
 Lack of implementationof feasiblecleanerenergy options
 Lack of buy-infromthe publicforthe successof the project
The poweroutages resultedinloss of manhoursfor my businessandtoremedythe loss,Itook
advantage of the ongoingEnergyCommissionRooftopSolar InstallationScheme.Mybusinessandhome
isnow poweredbysolarwhen dumsoroccurs. My investmentinvolvedthe purchase of abattery,
inverter,controllerandLED bulbstopowerkeyappliances(Computer,Televisionandwashingmachine)
(iii) ActTogether:Whoneedstoact on climate?

2. I wishto appeal tothe policymakers toadoptthe new policyof usingmore renewable andclean sources
of energybythe year2027. I alsowishto appeal to the general public, myfamily,andcommunity
members toact together,act differently,andact on the new initiativestocurbthe effect of Climate
Change.
We all have contributedtothe Climate change issue andwe all needtobe part of the solution.The way
forwardisto have the policymakerstake the leadinformulatingpractical andinnovative wayswhich
can easilybe adoptedbythe public. Iwill therefore encouragethe general publictobe part of the
ongoingRooftopSolarInstallationpolicyscheme of the EnergyCommissionof Ghana. The impactof
climate change needsacollective effortfromall stakeholders andyou are one of them.
I needtoact now
You needtoact now
We needtoact now