The government is directing a wave of power infrastructure investments specifically at Kumasi, deploying 140 transformers to the city this week.
GRIDCo is also set to commence critical transmission reinforcement works there in June and a key component being airlifted into Ghana to further strengthen the city’s generation network.
Energy Minister John Jinapor gave details of the Kumasi-focused interventions on Monday during a media briefing at the Government Accountability Series, as he addressed both the immediate fallout from the Akosombo fire and the broader structural challenges affecting power supply across the country.
The minister said Cenit Energy Limited was airlifting a critical component expected to arrive in Ghana imminently, which would be transported directly to Kumasi to strengthen the generation network in partnership with GRIDCo. Advance teams were also moving to the city this week to commence work on distribution lines ahead of the broader transmission reinforcement programme.
GRIDCo’s critical transmission works in Kumasi are scheduled to begin in June, with the minister saying the decision had been taken to allow the ongoing World Cup to pass before the more disruptive transmission works got underway.
The Kumasi interventions form part of a nationwide transformer upgrade and replacement programme that is already showing results in the capital.
The minister said nearly 200 transformers had been installed across the country this month alone, with high-capacity units already deployed at Adenta, Lashibi and Teshie-Nungua.
The Ridge primary substation in Kumasi is next in line, with works expected to be completed by the end of the week.
“By close of week, we will move to Kumasi to tackle the Ridge primary substation. These are big transformers, and we are moving away from the 20 kVs to about 30 kVs and above,” Mr Jinapor said, explaining that the upgrade was as step up in capacity and reliability.
In total, the government is targeting the deployment of 2,500 transformers nationwide to improve supply reliability and address the chronic low voltage and recurring outage problems that have affected communities across the country. The minister attributed the transformer crisis in part to over a decade of underinvestment in the sector, saying demand had more than doubled in ten years while investment had not kept pace.
The Kumasi push comes as the sector is also dealing with the aftermath of the Akosombo substation fire, which damaged the control room responsible for power evacuation and left over 1,000 megawatts stranded, causing widespread disruptions across parts of the country. Two generation units at Akosombo have since been restored, with engineers working to bring a third back online.
The minister said the government remained fully committed to delivering reliable electricity supply to every Ghanaian, describing the current difficulties as temporary.
“We are restoring what has been disrupted, we are replacing what is not fit for purpose, and we are determined to build a stronger, more resilient power system for the future,” he said
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
