The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) of Ghana has successfully replaced 10 damaged and overloaded electricity distribution transformers in the Central Region. This intervention, carried out in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), aims to improve electricity supply to approximately 61,004 customers in the affected communities. The replacement was necessary due to persistent complaints about prolonged power outages in the region.
The affected communities include Ajumako-Bisease, Katakyiase, Saltpond-Kurankyekrom, Cape Coast-Social Welfare, Nyankumasi Ahenkro, Saltpond Town, Agona, Anomabo, Ekumfi Edukuma, and Gomoamaim. These areas experienced significant disruptions, with some residents and businesses enduring outages for weeks, and in some cases, nearly two months. The prolonged outages had substantial consequences for households and businesses that rely on electricity for their daily operations.
The estimated cost of replacing the transformers is approximately GH¢550,000. Specific communities faced notable challenges: at Ajumako-Bisease, about 5,835 customers were affected by an outage lasting approximately one month. In Saltpond Township, around 8,000 customers experienced an interruption lasting about one month and two weeks. Meanwhile, approximately 7,500 customers in Anomabo endured outages lasting between three weeks and one month.
Gomoamaim also recorded a prolonged interruption, with about 4,000 customers reportedly without electricity for almost two months. Other affected communities experienced outages ranging from about two weeks to more than one month. The disruptions significantly impacted small businesses, including cold stores, drinking spots, barbershops, hairdressing salons, restaurants, and provision shops, which reportedly lost working hours and customers.
Some business operators faced losses from products that spoiled during the outages. The PURC stated that the intervention followed its monitoring activities and engagements with consumers, which helped identify transformer-related challenges contributing to the prolonged interruptions. The Commission subsequently engaged ECG and called for the affected areas to be prioritized for the necessary technical interventions.
The PURC emphasized that this action forms part of its mandate to protect utility consumers and promote efficient, reliable, and sustainable service delivery. The Commission also highlighted the importance of consumer complaints and feedback in identifying weaknesses in utility services and prompting regulatory action. With the replacement of the transformers, the Commission expects electricity supply in the affected communities to become more stable.
This development is expected to provide relief to households and businesses whose activities have been disrupted by the prolonged outages. The successful replacement of the transformers demonstrates the PURC's commitment to addressing utility challenges and ensuring reliable service delivery to consumers in Ghana. The intervention is a significant step towards resolving the electricity supply issues in the Central Region.
Key points
- The PURC replaced 10 damaged transformers affecting over 60,000 customers in the Central Region of Ghana.
- The replacement was carried out at an estimated cost of GH¢550,000.
- The intervention aims to improve electricity supply and provide relief to households and businesses affected by prolonged outages.
