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

The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has expressed concerns that the Electricity Company of Ghana's (ECG) GH¢200 million investment in system upgrades and maintenance must ultimately result in improved reliability of power supply. Research & Energy Security Analyst at IES, Smith Boahene, questioned the resilience of Ghana's electricity infrastructure in light of recent nationwide power outages.

Two major power disruptions have occurred within the past few weeks, with the latest one being attributed to a fault on the Akosombo transmission line by GRIDCo. Mr. Boahen highlighted that recurring incidents across the electricity value chain - generation, transmission, and distribution - necessitate a thorough examination of the system.

Factors such as deferred maintenance, underinvestment, and equipment obsolescence could be contributing to the challenges facing the power sector. ECG has spent approximately GH¢200 million to enhance maintenance, but without a clear understanding of the challenges in the sector over the past four to six weeks, it will be difficult to assess the progress made in grid operations, according to Mr. Boahen.

Consequently, IES is advocating for an investigation into the recent national outages to identify the root causes and prevent their recurrence.