The Ghana Grid Company Ltd. (GRIDCo) will implement an emergency power interruption in parts of the Greater Accra Region on Sunday, August 16, 2026. This planned outage facilitates the replacement of a damaged transmission tower on the Tema–Achimota 161kV transmission line at Ashaiman.
The critical repair work follows an incident where a fuel tanker exploded. The explosion occurred while welding work was being carried out on the tanker's tank. This activity took place directly within the transmission line's Right-of-Way (RoW), a protected corridor. The incident caused significant damage to the vital infrastructure, necessitating immediate action to ensure grid stability.
This event underscores Ghana's ongoing challenges with power infrastructure integrity and safety. Unauthorised activities within utility corridors pose substantial risks to the national grid. Such incidents can lead to widespread power outages and significant economic disruption. The country has previously experienced similar issues, highlighting a persistent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations. Maintaining a reliable power supply is crucial for Ghana's economic growth and industrial development.
GRIDCo stated the emergency restoration works require a power interruption from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This timeframe allows engineers and technical teams to safely replace the damaged tower. The company aims to restore the integrity of the transmission line efficiently. GRIDCo sincerely apologised to all affected customers for the inconvenience caused by the planned outage. It also appreciated the public's patience and cooperation during these critical emergency works.
The incident has also brought renewed focus on the issue of encroachment on transmission line corridors. GRIDCo warned individuals, businesses, and other entities against such activities. It cited the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (L.I. 542), as amended by L.I. 1737 of 2004. These regulations prohibit unauthorised construction, excavation, drilling, and commercial operations within these protected zones. The Right-of-Way is not an area available for unrestricted occupation or commercial use, GRIDCo stressed.
Following a directive from the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, all encroachers must vacate affected corridors. This directive applies to persons, businesses, and land users across the country. They have one month to cease unauthorised activities and clear the protected areas. After this deadline, GRIDCo will collaborate with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. It will also work with relevant statutory institutions and security agencies to enforce the law. This enforcement will include removing unauthorised structures and activities from the protected corridors. This proactive measure aims to prevent future incidents and safeguard Ghana's energy infrastructure. The government's firm stance reflects a commitment to ensuring the long-term reliability and safety of the national power grid.