Businesses in Accra and Takoradi have begun laying off workers again as the four-year-old  power crisis worsens.

Others are planning to close down completely if the situation persists or deteriorates even further.

Currently more than 400 megawatts of power is being shed which means that most parts of Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi will suffer power outages.

The situation seems to have been worsened by the lack of a timetable to help consumers plan.

Joy News’ Jennifer Akuamoah returned from Accra New Town, a hub from printing, and reports the situation is dire.

According to her, the bubbly busy business area is unusually quiet with few companies operating with generators.

Some of the companies confirmed laying off professional workers at least for the time being and are relying only on casual workers.

Some of the business owners said the power outages are affecting their businesses in no small measure.

"It is creating a lot of problems for us. Those who have generators are moving forward. But those of us who don't have the money to buy generators, [the outages] is weighing our business down," one of the business owners said.

Worse still is the fact that there is no time table to regulate the outages.

"If we know that you will be getting off at this time, then you will schedule your things well. But we don't have any prior notice that the light will go off. But the time you realise it is gone off," a business man said.

The situation is not any different in the Western regional capital Takoradi where businesses are demanding a schedule to enable them plan their operations.

Francis Whajah with Radio MAXX has been interacting with some of the business owners who are demanding a time table.

"Previously we were made aware of a schedule but of late there is no schedule. The light goes off as and when it wants. So we want a schedule because the thing is going on. We want a schedule," one of the business owners said.

"Our cost of running is rising higher and higher. Our biggest challenges has to do with the fact that we don't when the light will go off and when it will come on and that is really affecting planning," another said.

The president of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Stephan Abass also shares the concerns of the business owners.

He would rather the business owners are given a time table to facilitate planning.