The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced a national emergency programme to replace and install over 2,000 distribution transformers as part of efforts to stabilise Ghana’s electricity supply and reduce power outages.
Speaking to the media after inspecting the replacement of a transformer at the Nungua substation in Lashibi, Tema, the Minister said ageing infrastructure, inadequate past investment, and overloaded transformers have placed significant strain on the country’s power distribution network despite sufficient generation capacity.
He described the initiative as an emergency intervention to be executed in phases over three months, six months, and one year. The immediate phase will focus on the rapid procurement and deployment of transformers to prevent further deterioration of the system.
The nationwide exercise, described as unprecedented, will see the replacement of more than 2,000 transformers across the country. The rollout will move to Kumasi in May before extending to other regions, while a specialised programme for the Volta Region is being finalised to address persistent low-voltage challenges.
As part of the upgrade, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is implementing a system redundancy approach commonly referred to as a “double system” to enable customers to be switched to alternative power sources during faults, thereby minimising outages.
The Minister also emphasised accountability, noting that district managers will be assessed based on newly introduced key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve efficiency and response times. He acknowledged financial constraints but stressed that investments in transformers, conductors, and meters are being prioritised, with close coordination involving the Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Jinapor appealed to the public for patience, explaining that any temporary disruptions caused by the upgrade works are necessary to ensure long-term reliability. He also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Finance for its support and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to keeping the public informed.
The Managing Director of ECG, Ing. Kwame Kpekpena, who is leading the exercise, said the upgrade aims to eliminate low-voltage areas and improve overall supply reliability. He noted that the project includes replacing older, lower-capacity transformers with higher-capacity units nationwide, with plans to install 10 major power transformers in key locations such as Accra, Tema, and Kumasi.
Meanwhile, the Tema Regional Managing Director of ECG, Ing. Ankomah Emmanuel, has raised concerns over the increasing cases of illegal transformer disassembly.
According to him, the practice has become more sophisticated, with perpetrators dismantling not only transformer coils but also steel laminated cores to extract valuable materials such as copper, aluminium, and steel.
“These operations are being carried out by individuals with technical expertise, posing a serious threat to our distribution infrastructure,” he said.
Ing. Ankomah called for stronger collaboration with law enforcement agencies and increased community awareness to help curb the menace. He added that ECG is intensifying public education and encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities to protect critical national infrastructure.
Story by: Osman Issah Abadoo
