Ghana's energy sector is currently undergoing extensive upgrades and reforms aimed at addressing longstanding challenges in its electricity distribution infrastructure. Recent interruptions in electricity supply, particularly in major urban centers like Accra and Kumasi, have been attributed by Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, to years of systemic underinvestment, poor planning, inadequate procurement, and weak maintenance practices. Acknowledging the significant inconvenience caused to households, businesses, and institutions, the government has launched a comprehensive program to mitigate these issues and build a more resilient and efficient power system.

Dr. Jinapor has appealed to the public to exercise patience with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) during this period of intensive interventions, emphasizing that these temporary disruptions are a necessary part of a strategic effort to deliver a reliable and efficient power system and strengthen long-term energy security. The government's structured programme is designed to significantly reduce outages, enhance voltage stability, and improve fault response times across the national grid, while also supporting the integration of additional generation capacity to meet rising demand.

A key component of this overhaul is the emergency procurement of transformers. Dr. Jinapor announced the acquisition of 2,500 transformers to immediately inject capacity into the network, complemented by a further 500 transformers procured by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition for deployment in areas serviced by the Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo). This initiative is part of a broader effort to expand capacity, upgrade substations, and reduce technical losses across the entire distribution system.

Major upgrade works are already underway across the country. In Accra, substations in areas such as Adenta, La, Teshie-Nungua, Nmai-Dzor, Baatsonaa, and Lashibi are being expanded to address increasing demand and minimize local outages. Similarly, in Kumasi and its surrounding regions, distribution lines are being reinforced to support industrial and commercial growth. These investments, the Minister underscored, are not mere short-term fixes but represent a sustained, strategic commitment to building a modern and future-ready electricity distribution system.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has, for its part, commenced Phase Two of its transformer replacement and upgrade programme at the Lashibi Primary Substation. This exercise, following the successful completion of Phase One at the Nmai Dzorn Primary Substation, is projected to conclude by April 16, 2026. It involves upgrading existing transformer capacity and will necessitate brief, planned power outages in affected communities, including parts of Community 18, Spintex, Sakumono, Regimanuel Estates, and Baatsonaa, with detailed schedules communicated in advance to minimize impact.

Concurrently, the Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo) has initiated a comprehensive maintenance and system enhancement program across its operational areas, notably in Tamale and its environs. This program includes transformer replacements, vegetation control along 78 feeders, and upgrades to overloaded substations to address low voltage issues and improve stability. Significant upgrades include the installation of a new 20/26 MVA transformer at the Berekum Primary Substation to replace an overloaded 10 MVA unit, with similar plans for the Wa Primary Substation. Furthermore, the Ghana Grid Company is installing a 66 MVA transformer at the Techiman Bulk Supply Point to boost capacity in the region.

Beyond infrastructure, the Ministry is also intensifying efforts to improve operational efficiency and accountability within ECG. Dr. Jinapor expressed concern over delays in responding to power outages in some districts and has directed the Managing Director of ECG to conduct an internal assessment. He cautioned that district-level management must improve performance, with potential restructuring if standards are not met. The Minister emphasized the critical need for better customer engagement and the provision of timely, transparent, and accurate information to citizens regarding outages, maintenance schedules, and the progress of ongoing works, reaffirming the government's unwavering commitment to ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for all Ghanaians.