ECG’s GH¢200m upgrade spending must translate into reliable power – IES

The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has expressed concern over the Electricity Company of Ghana's (ECG) GH¢200 million investment in system upgrades and maintenance, asserting that this expenditure must ultimately lead to a more reliable power supply. Research & Energy Security Analyst at IES, Smith Boahene, pointed out that the recent nationwide power outages have raised questions about the resilience of Ghana's electricity infrastructure and the effectiveness of ongoing maintenance efforts.

Two major power disruptions recorded within the past few weeks underscore the need for a critical assessment of the entire electricity value chain—generation, transmission, and distribution. These incidents, particularly the latest outage attributed to a fault around the Akosombo transmission line, prompt concern about the sector's challenges.

Boahene identified several factors contributing to these issues, including deferred maintenance, underinvestment, and equipment obsolescence. He emphasized that without a detailed examination of the challenges faced by power sector system operators over the last four to six weeks, it will be difficult to assess the grid's operational development.

The IES is now calling for an investigation into the two recent national outages to identify underlying problems and prevent their recurrence.