By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The government says it is making substantial investments in energy infrastructure to ensure a stable and resilient electricity supply in the Ashanti Region in response to growing industrial and commercial demand.
According to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, the interventions are expected to be completed by the end of September 2026.
Dr Jinapor gave the assurance during a working visit to the Ashanti Region, where he toured key energy installations with officials from Ghana Grid Company Limited, the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Energy Commission, as well as the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene.
The minister visited the GRIDCo Bulk Supply Point at Anwomaso and the Cenit Energy Limited thermal plant, which is under construction and expected to add 100 megawatts to the national grid by the end of May.
He also inspected the Aksa Energy plant, which is already connected to the national grid, and visited Boadi, where ECG is upgrading transmission lines from three to six circuits to improve electricity distribution across the region.
Dr Jinapor said the government is undertaking about seven projects simultaneously in the Ashanti Region, including the installation of up to 700 higher-capacity transformers.
“Kumasi is the heartbeat of economic activity, and demand for electricity continues to grow,” he said. “We have identified the challenges and are implementing several interventions to strengthen the power system.”
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Amoakohene, attributed recent power supply challenges partly to rapid business expansion and the extension of electricity to more communities under the Rural Electrification Programme.
He called for intensified public education on the ongoing projects to build understanding and support.
“We need to sensitise the public so they understand the temporary inconveniences and the long-term benefits of these upgrades,” he said.
Dr Amoakohene also assured that the Regional Security Council would provide protection for critical energy infrastructure.
The Ashanti Region has experienced intermittent power outages in recent weeks, with the situation worsened by a fire at the GRIDCo substation in Akosombo.
The disruptions have sparked public concern because of their impact on businesses and households.
