Ghana's electricity transmission system is outdated and increasingly inefficient. This exposes the country to voltage losses and reliability risks, according to Ing Peter Antwi Boasiako. He is the former deputy director of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service.
The country's grid relies on a 161 kilovolt (kV) transmission system for long-distance power delivery. This system is no longer adequate for Ghana's growing energy demands. Transmitting power over long distances at 161 kV causes significant voltage drops. This particularly affects regions farther from electricity generation sources.
For example, by the time power reaches areas like the Ashanti Region, the voltage has dropped considerably. This issue frequently necessitates load shedding, which is planned power cuts. The outdated system leads to financial losses for businesses and inconvenience for households. Ghana’s energy sector has faced persistent challenges, including 'dumsor' (power outages), impacting economic growth and industrial productivity. According to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), technical and commercial losses cost the utility over GHS 4 billion between 2014 and 2020.
Ing Peter Antwi Boasiako spoke on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday, June 12. He highlighted that voltage drops force operators to cut off parts of the grid during peak demand. This prevents a complete system failure. He urged Ghana to switch to higher-voltage transmission systems. He noted that countries like Kenya and South Africa operate above 400 kV. Egypt, for example, exceeds 500 kV. He added that Ghana must move beyond 161 kV to remain competitive and ensure stable power supply. This upgrade is crucial for economic stability.
Ghana already has the 330 kV West African Power Pool infrastructure. This provides a foundation for upgrading the national system. Antwi believes Ghana must synchronise and expand this infrastructure. This will reduce losses and improve efficiency across the grid. He also raised concerns about Ghana's heavy reliance on independent power producers (IPPs). These IPPs provide more than 70% of the country's electricity supply. He called this a 'national security risk'. This is because IPPs can exert pressure on the government through supply disruptions. He suggested the state should control at least 70% of generation capacity. This would strengthen bargaining power and ensure energy stability.
To address these issues, Antwi outlined two key reforms. First, governments should aim to add at least 2,000 megawatts of generation capacity over time. Second, transmission systems should be redesigned into a ring structure. A ring structure improves resilience and fault isolation. This system would allow operators to isolate faults without triggering nationwide outages. Previous nationwide blackouts, such as one triggered by faults in the Takoradi enclave, illustrate the risks of the current system. Antwi concluded that Ghana must prioritise system redesign and modernisation. He stressed that relying on incremental fixes is not enough for a robust energy future.