The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced plans to complete infrastructure upgrades in Bekwai, Offinso, and Barekese by December, addressing months of erratic electricity supply that have disrupted businesses and daily life. The upgrades aim to resolve low voltage issues on the network, which have caused recurring power cuts in the affected areas. Residents of Bekwai had threatened to protest over the unannounced blackouts, prompting a response from ECG.
According to ECG's Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services, Ing. David Asamoah, the power cuts in Bekwai, Offinso, and Barekese stem largely from low voltage on the network. To address this, ECG is constructing a double-circuit distribution line using the Kaase line, routed through Sewua before reaching Kuntenase, to resolve the voltage problem in Bekwai. The project, valued at GH¢2.4 million, is expected to be completed by December.
In Offinso, ECG has upgraded the existing transformer from 10MVA to 20MVA to boost supply capacity and reliability. The decommissioned 10MVA transformer has been relocated to Barekese to improve power supply in the area. The upgrades are part of ECG's efforts to strengthen electricity distribution infrastructure and improve power reliability across the Ashanti Region.
In Barekese, ECG is stringing a new distribution line to address power outages that have affected a Ghana Water Limited treatment facility, which has warned of possible shutdowns due to the outages. The new line will move customers onto it while maintaining the express line for the water facility. The Barekese project, estimated to cost GH¢28 million, is also expected to be completed by December.
Ing. Asamoah explained that Barekese once had two dedicated lines, but rapid development in the area led to some factories being connected to the express line meant for the water facility, causing faults on those connections to trip the main supply. The new line will ensure a stable power supply to the water facility and other customers in the area.
ECG management plans to engage residents of the affected communities directly to explain the technical challenges behind the outages and the steps being taken to fix the low-voltage problem. This move aims to address concerns and provide clarity on the efforts being made to resolve the power outages.
Additionally, ECG is working to connect transmission lines between Airport and Anwomaso to ensure a more stable power supply to the new airport project in the region. The company remains committed to strengthening electricity distribution infrastructure and improving power reliability across the Ashanti Region.
Key points
- ECG aims to complete infrastructure upgrades in Bekwai, Offinso, and Barekese by December.
- The upgrades aim to resolve low voltage issues on the network, which have caused recurring power cuts in the affected areas.
- The projects in Bekwai, Offinso, and Barekese are valued at GH¢2.4 million and GH¢28 million, respectively.
