Ghana's ECG Schedules Widespread Power Outages for Maintenance

Key facts

• ECG announces planned and emergency maintenance across Ashanti, Central, and Western Regions on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
• A transformer upgrade at Kumasi Ridge Substation is scheduled from Wednesday, May 6 to Saturday, May 9, 2026.
• The Kumasi upgrade will replace a 20/26MVA transformer with a 30/39MVA unit.
• A new 315kVA transformer was installed in Chorkor 31st community, Accra, costing GH¢290,000.
• Outages will commence at 9:00 am in affected areas, with durations varying.
• ECG apologizes for inconvenience and stresses the necessity of works for grid robustness.
• The Chorkor project aims to address persistent outages and phase-out challenges.
• Similar transformer upgrades have been completed in Adenta, Nmai Dzorm, Lashibi, and Teshie-Nungua.

Grid Stability Undergoing Major Overhaul

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is set to implement a series of widespread power interruptions across key regions, commencing Thursday, May 7, 2026. These planned and emergency maintenance exercises are designed to enhance the reliability and stability of the national electricity grid. The company has issued advisories detailing affected areas and schedules, acknowledging the inevitable disruption to daily life and commerce. The interventions underscore a broader commitment to modernizing Ghana's power infrastructure. While customers face temporary blackouts, the long-term objective is to ensure a more robust and dependable electricity supply across the country. ECG has extended apologies to all customers who will be impacted, emphasizing that these technical operations are crucial for the network's overall health and future service delivery.

Extensive Works Scheduled for Ashanti, Central, and Western Regions

In the Ashanti Region, a significant planned operation will run from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, impacting areas such as Abore, Atuntuma, and Kyenkyenase. This is complemented by five emergency maintenance exercises scheduled throughout the day. One such emergency operation, running from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, will affect a wide swathe of communities including Asokwa, New Edubiase, and Adansi Praso. Similar time-bound emergency works are slated for other parts of the region, affecting locations from Kona Mountain High to Lowcost and Pepedan. The Central and Western Regions are also on the maintenance schedule. In the Western Region, an emergency operation from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm is set to impact Market Circle and surrounding areas, underscoring the coordinated nature of the grid reinforcement efforts.

Kumasi Ridge Substation Undergoing Critical Upgrade

A major transformer upgrade is underway at the Kumasi Ridge Substation, a project forming part of the government's Transformer Replacement and Upgrade Programme. This initiative aims to bolster electricity supply and significantly reduce outages in the Ashanti Region. The works, scheduled from Wednesday, May 6, to Saturday, May 9, 2026, involve replacing an existing 20/26MVA transformer with a more powerful 30/39MVA unit. This upgrade is a direct response to the increasing electricity demand in Kumasi and its environs, which has placed persistent pressure on the existing network. ECG anticipates phased power interruptions within the Kumasi Ridge enclave, with each affected area expected to experience outages lasting approximately six hours. The company asserts that this intervention will increase power supply capacity, reduce system overloads, and improve voltage stability.

Chorkor Community Benefits from New Transformer

In Accra, the Chorkor 31st community near Korle Bu has seen its power supply significantly enhanced with the installation of a new 315kVA transformer. This project, fully funded by ECG, cost approximately GH¢290,000. The installation included essential components such as a non-extensible ring main unit switch and a six-way distribution panel. The primary goal is to address persistent outages and overcome challenges that have particularly affected the area during peak electricity consumption periods. Sariel Etwire, General Manager for ECG Accra West, expressed satisfaction with the project's completion and thanked community leaders and local Member of Parliament Alfred Oko Vanderpuije for their cooperation. She highlighted the project's role in supporting domestic life and economic activities, while urging residents to help protect the newly installed infrastructure.

Broader Infrastructure Modernization Underway

The transformer upgrade at Kumasi Ridge is not an isolated event but part of a wider national effort to modernize Ghana's electricity infrastructure. Similar upgrades have already been successfully completed at substations in Adenta, Nmai Dzorm, Lashibi, and Teshie-Nungua. These ongoing efforts are critical for meeting the growing energy demands of a developing economy. By enhancing capacity and reliability at key substations, ECG aims to minimize equipment failures and reduce the frequency and duration of power interruptions. The company's strategy involves not only replacing aging equipment but also investing in new technologies and infrastructure to ensure a stable power supply, which is fundamental for both residential comfort and commercial viability.

The bottom line

• ECG is undertaking extensive maintenance and upgrades across Ghana to improve power grid reliability.
• Planned outages will affect the Ashanti, Central, and Western Regions on May 7, 2026.
• A significant transformer upgrade at Kumasi Ridge Substation is scheduled from May 6-9, 2026.
• The Chorkor community in Accra has received a new 315kVA transformer to resolve persistent power issues.
• These works are part of a larger government program to modernize the nation's electricity infrastructure.
• ECG acknowledges the inconvenience caused by these necessary interventions.