Ghana will buy 80 megawatts of power from neighbouring Ivory Coast to ensure Ghanaians can watch the national soccer team’s match against Equatorial Guinea on Thursday, according to the country’s main power supplier.

Ghana and Ivory Coast have arrangements to buy each other’s excess supply, Kofi Ellis, director, business development and sales at the Volta River Authority, said by phone in the capital, Accra.

Ghana faces hosts Equatorial Guinea in the second semi-final of the African Cup of Nations.

The winner will play Ivory Coast in the final on February 8.

Ghanaians have been enduring a debilitating power crisis which has seen thousands of homes plunged into darkness for days.

The situation has persisted since 2011 and only got worse this year despite repeated promises by the government that the power problems will be solved.

Currently, large parts of the country have power for 12 hours and the next 24 hours are left without electricity.

The demand for power far outstrips supply and electricity generators like the Volta River Authority are blaming their inability to generate more on the perennial problem of low water level and cuts in gas supplies from Nigeria.

Government is in the process of procuring emergency power badges to help manage the situation.

Until then, many frustrated Ghanaians will be forced to continue to endure the power rationing.