Ghana News Digest: Power Disruptions Hit Multiple Regions Amid Infrastructure Upgrades and Tragic Local Fatalities

Ghana is currently grappling with widespread power supply challenges following a major fire outbreak at GRIDCo’s Akosombo substation on April 29, 2026. This incident has forced the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to implement a nationwide load-shedding program, affecting regions including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Volta, Oti, and parts of the Central Region. The power curtailments, which include scheduled rotational outages in areas such as Kumawu, Adenta, and Sogakope, were further compounded by emergency maintenance at the Asawinso Bulk Supply Point. ECG officials have expressed regret over the disruptions and are working to restore the grid to full capacity as quickly as possible.

In tandem with these emergency repairs, the ECG has announced a long-term plan to stabilize the power grid in the Ashanti Region by installing 300 new distribution transformers. Julius Kwame Kpekpena, ECG’s acting Managing Director, noted that the project aims to resolve persistent issues with low voltage and intermittent outages, particularly in the Kumasi metropolis. The initiative, which involves replacing damaged infrastructure and upgrading existing lines, is expected to take between three months and a year to complete. Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene has lauded these efforts as a critical step toward improving reliable electricity access for both residents and businesses.

While infrastructure challenges dominate the national discourse, two tragic incidents have resulted in the loss of life in the Ashanti and Central Regions. In the Afigya Kwabre South District, the body of 20-year-old water tanker attendant Kwame Owusu was retrieved from a water-filled quarry pit in Mpobi after a 24-hour search. Owusu reportedly drowned after entering the pit to swim while his tanker was being filled. On the Accra–Cape Coast Highway, a separate tragedy occurred at the Third Ridge Junction when a collision between a Toyota Corolla and a HOWO Tipper truck left two people dead and five others injured. Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service responded to the scene, and the injured were rushed to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

These events have prompted urgent warnings from authorities regarding public safety and caution. ACFO Merinder Mary Attigah-Mensah, the Central Regional Commander of the GNFS, has urged motorists to exercise greater patience on the highways to prevent further loss of life. Simultaneously, the drowning in Mpobi has reignited concerns regarding the safety of abandoned or active quarry sites near residential areas. As the nation monitors the restoration of power and the progress of infrastructure projects, officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding these recent fatalities to prevent future occurrences.