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In an attempt to rig the 2012 polls, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is testing the waters by masterminding nation-wide blackouts in order for the canker to become a �clich� and a non-issue when it is experienced during the 2012 general elections, claims Samuel Awuku, a Deputy Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Sammy Awuku, who made the allegation on Adom FM�s �Dwaso Nsem� programme, also claimed that the governing party intends using the frequent power outages to perhaps disrupt the voting process and manipulate figures submitted to the EC during this year�s polls. He however served notice that the NPP will be vigilant with their �eyes widely opened� to foil any attempt by the NDC to rig the elections or indulge in any form of electoral malpractice. The entire country was plunged into total darkness on Sunday, 26th February, 2012 as a result of a �systems failure� at the Akosombo Switchyard of the Volta River Authority (VRA). The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), an independent body set up to regulate and oversee the provision of the highest quality of electricity and water services to consumers, summoned the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the VRA to an emergency meeting to discuss the erratic power supply in the country. The decision to meet the power producer and distributors follows the increasing spate of nationwide blackouts the country has been experiencing in recent times.