Emmanuel Nii Sackey
The Acting Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Engineer Kwame Kpekpena, has tendered a heartfelt apology to the Ghanaian public for the recent erratic power supply that has impacted businesses and households adversely.
This announcement follows persistent power fluctuations in various parts of the country, which have caused inconvenience and damage to homes and commercial activities in some instances.
During a press conference held in Accra on April 20, Engineer Kpekpena assured the public that measures are being implemented to rectify the reliability challenges facing the power distribution system.
“To every Ghanaian customer who has endured inconvenient and prolonged power outages, we extend our sincerest apologies. We acknowledge your concerns and wish to assure you that resolving the reliability challenges is our paramount operational priority,” he emphasized.
Acknowledging shortcomings in ECG’s communication and
response times, he described the situation as unacceptable. ‘We also recognize that our communication and response times have fallen short of expectations in some cases.
This is not acceptable, and we have taken deliberate steps to address these shortcomings, including implementing measures to enhance operational performance, improve response times, and strengthen customer engagement,’ he stated.
Engineer Kpekpena further assured that the company is committing the necessary resources to execute its plans according to schedule and will keep the public informed of progress. ‘The challenges we face are real and complex, often stemming from years of underinvestment, resulting in outages and low voltage.
Nevertheless, we are taking proactive steps. We have a plan, a schedule, and we are dedicating all our resources to its execution,’ he said. Reiterating ECG’s commitment to transparency, he welcomed the media’s role in holding the company accountable as it works to improve power supply reliability.
Additionally, he unveiled a GHS 3.46 billion investment program aimed at restoring reliability in power supply, prioritizing the distribution segment of the power chain, which he described as the most neglected link in Ghana’s electricity system.
“Electricity’s true value is realized only when it is reliably delivered to homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals,’ he emphasized.The investment program includes the immediate deployment of 2,500 distribution transformers into the grid to alleviate pressure on overloaded systems, alongside the replacement of damaged equipment and reinforcement of critical infrastructure under ‘Operation Keep the Lights On.”
The company attributes the current challenges to years of underinvestment, ageing infrastructure, and rapid urbanization, which have placed increasing strain on the distribution network. ‘This moment we are facing did not arise overnight. It is the result of years, indeed decades, of underinvestment and poor planning in one of the most critical segments of our electricity supply chain,’ Engineer Kpekpena noted.
According to ECG data, transformer failures have been rising, with 834 units lost in 2023 and 1,064 in 2024, while only about 300 had been replaced by 2025, exacerbating pressure on the network and contributing to outages. Beyond transformer upgrades, the program will also address rotten poles, upgrade substations, expand feeder capacity, and deploy modern technologies, including drones for network inspection.
The company has commenced work on key projects, including transformer upgrades at the Nmai Dzorn and Lashibi substations, which have already enhanced supply capacity to several communities. Engineer Kpekpena acknowledged the impact of the outages on households and businesses, offering an apology to affected customers. “To every Ghanaian customer who has endured inconvenient and prolonged power outages, we offer our sincerest apologies. We want you to know that we have heard your concerns,” he reiterated.