Accra: The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is upgrading its infrastructure in some parts of Accra, Ghana's capital, as the demand for electricity increases due to rapid population growth and socio-economic activities. The exercise involves the replacement and upgrading of twelve power transformers across six primary substations at Adenta, La, Teshie-Nungua, Nmai-Dzor, Baatsonaa, and Lashibi to enhance the reliability, stability, and capacity of electricity supply.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. (Ing) Francis Kofi Atsyatsya, General Manager of ECG Sub-Transmission, Accra, stated that this intervention will significantly improve load-handling capability and reduce system overloads in these fast-growing communities. This announcement came after officials and a team of engineers from the Company conducted a working visit to the Nmai-Dzor Substation to familiarize themselves with preparations being made ahead of the transformer replacement and upgrade exercise.
The visit also aimed to provide the media with an insight into the technical preparations currently underway, highlighting the scale and importance of the upgrade exercise and understanding the expected benefits to customers. More than 200 million Ghana Cedis have been invested in the ongoing ECG-funded transformer replacement and upgrade exercise, according to the officials.
Mr. (Ing) Atsyatsya mentioned that as part of the project, the transformers would be upgraded from 20/26 MVA to 30/39 MVA, with the goal of enhancing load-handling capability while reducing system overloads. The Energy Commission's 2025 Energy Outlook for Ghana projects electricity consumption for the year at 25,836 Gigawatt hour (GWh), marking a 4.7 percent increase from the expected consumption in 2024.
The projected total electricity consumption for 2024 is expected to be 24,688 GWh, representing a 4.8 percent increase over the 2023 consumption of 23,551 GWh, indicating growing demand for electricity, as emphasized by the Commission.
Dr. Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, Acting Director of Communications, ECG, noted that to ensure the safety of ECG personnel and successful execution of the works, the ongoing upgrading exercise would involve brief planned power outages in the affected areas. He assured customers that every effort will be made to minimize the duration and impact of these outages, advising residents and businesses in the affected areas to take note of the published schedules and make the necessary arrangements.