A power outage hit Walewale in Ghana's North East Region on November 14, 2026, minutes after Abubakari Abdallah was declared the National Democratic Congress (NDC) North East Regional Secretary. Supporters of Mr Abdallah claim the blackout was deliberate, aimed at stopping celebrations of his victory. The power stayed off through the night and was restored at about 11:00am on Sunday, November 15.
The outage was limited to Walewale, with electricity supply elsewhere in the North East Region running uninterrupted. Several attempts by local media to reach officials of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) in Walewale for comment were unsuccessful. Supporters of Mr Abdallah have taken to social media to express their anger and accuse NEDCo staff of allowing the power network to be used for political vendetta.
Some supporters have directly accused the North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, of being behind the blackout, though no evidence was offered to back the claim. This development comes against a backdrop of friction between Mr Abdallah's camp and Mr Tia, which dates back to November 2025. At the time, Mr Abdallah's supporters accused the Regional Minister and other executives of blocking his bid for a government appointment.
The allegations also relate to complaints from Mr Abdallah's supporters that grassroots activists who worked for the party in the 2024 elections had been passed over for appointments, while less active members were rewarded. Mr Tia rejected the accusations in November 2025, stating that "he is not the only one who contested and hasn't been appointed."
While there is no independent evidence establishing that the outage was politically motivated or that any official deliberately cut the supply, the incident has sparked widespread debate. The NDC's internal dynamics and the relationship between its members have come under scrutiny, particularly in the North East Region.
The blackout has raised questions about the role of NEDCo and the potential for politically motivated actions by officials. The company's failure to comment on the incident has added to the speculation. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether any investigation will be conducted into the cause of the power outage.
The incident highlights the tensions within Ghana's political landscape, particularly within the NDC. The outcome of the regional secretary election and the subsequent power outage have exposed deep-seated divisions within the party. Key points:
Key points
- The power outage in Walewale was reported on November 14, 2026, minutes after Abubakari Abdallah's victory was announced.
- Supporters of Mr Abdallah claim the blackout was deliberate, aimed at stopping celebrations of his victory.
- The incident has sparked allegations of sabotage and raised questions about the role of NEDCo and potential politically motivated actions by officials.
