Planned outages announced as ECG installs new transformers in Kumasi
Planned outages will affect parts of Kumasi from 6 to 7 May as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) installs new high-capacity transformers at the Ridge Bulk Supply Point to strengthen power supply across the Ashanti regional capital.
The utility said the controlled interruptions, scheduled between 0900 and 1500 GMT on both days, are necessary to allow engineers safely replace existing equipment as part of a major upgrade programme.
There will be temporary shutdowns of sections of the 33kV network, with managed load distribution on selected 11kV feeders during the installation period.
ECG said it is replacing two existing 20/26MVA transformers with upgraded 30/39MVA units to boost capacity and ease pressure on the system.
The company said the upgrade is aimed at addressing recent intermittent outages and voltage fluctuations in Kumasi, which it attributed to rising electricity demand rather than generation shortfalls.
“Kumasi is expanding, and electricity demand is rising with it. This upgrade ensures our infrastructure keeps pace so customers can enjoy more stable and reliable power,” ECG’s Acting Managing Director Ing. Julius Kpekpena said.
On site, a senior maintenance official described the work as both urgent and technical.
“The existing transformers are under pressure. These new units give the system breathing room and improve overall stability,” said the Manager for Substation & Switchgear Maintenance in the Ashanti Sub-Transmission Division.
ECG said teams from Accra and the Ashanti Sub-Transmission Division are jointly executing the installation, which is scheduled for completion on 6 and 7 May, with energisation expected shortly afterwards.
A communications officer for the Ashanti Sub-Transmission Division Collins Manu said the disruptions were unavoidable but carefully managed.
“We understand the inconvenience, but these are necessary steps to deliver a more reliable system,” Manu stated.
ECG said the project forms part of broader efforts to modernise transmission infrastructure and improve reliability in major urban centres amid rising demand.
