The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has unveiled a GHS 3.46 billion investment programme aimed at stabilising power supply across the country, following months of persistent outages and low voltage in several communities.
Acting Managing Director Kwame Kpekpena said the intervention will focus heavily on the distribution segment of the power value chain, which he described as the most overlooked yet critical part of Ghana’s electricity system.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, he stressed that electricity supply is only truly valuable when it reaches end users reliably. According to him, improving distribution is key to resolving the challenges consumers currently face.
As part of the programme, ECG plans to deploy 2,500 new distribution transformers to reduce pressure on overloaded systems. The initiative will also include the replacement of faulty equipment and the strengthening of infrastructure under an operational campaign dubbed “Operation Keep the Lights On.”
The company linked the current power challenges to years of underinvestment, ageing infrastructure, and rapid urban growth, all of which have placed significant strain on the distribution network.
ECG’s data shows a worrying rise in transformer failures from 834 in 2023 to 1,064 in 2024. Despite this increase, only about 300 transformers had been replaced by 2025, worsening the strain on the system and contributing to recurring outages.
Beyond transformer upgrades, the investment programme will cover the replacement of deteriorated poles, substation upgrades, expansion of feeder capacity, and the introduction of modern technologies such as drone-based network inspections.
Some improvement efforts are already underway. ECG reports that transformer upgrades at the Nmai Dzorn and Lashibi substations have begun to enhance supply capacity in those areas.
Mr Kpekpena acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the outages and offered an apology to customers, assuring Ghanaians that the company is committed to addressing the situation.
He also revealed that ECG now has a clear implementation schedule backed by government reforms, including changes to the Cash Waterfall Mechanism, which will allow the company to retain part of its revenue for infrastructure investment.
With public concern over power reliability growing, ECG says the programme is a critical step toward stabilising electricity supply and improving service delivery in the near term.
