Articles
ECG Champions a Connected African Power Market to Deliver Better Service
Movenpick Hotel, Accra – 29th July 2026
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional power integration, stressing that stronger collaboration among African utilities is essential to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to millions of people across the continent.
Speaking at the third day of the African Power Utilities Association (APUA) conference in Accra, the Managing Director of ECG, Ing. Kwame Kpekpena, said the future of Africa’s electricity sector depends not only on strengthening individual utilities but also on building an integrated electricity market that benefits customers, businesses, and national economies.
Reflecting on the previous day’s deliberations, Ing. Kpekpena noted that utility leaders from across Africa had examined the progress made since 2019 in areas such as corporate governance, financial sustainability, investment readiness, and cybersecurity resilience. He said the discussions underscored the need for strong institutions, prudent financial management, and strategic partnerships to meet the continent’s growing energy demand.
“Today’s discussions move us from strengthening individual utilities to strengthening Africa’s electricity future through integration,” he stated.
He explained that initiatives such as the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), the Continental Power Systems Master Plan, and the East African Power Pool-Southern African Power Pool (EAPP-SAPP) Market Coupling Initiative represent significant milestones towards creating a more interconnected, efficient, and resilient electricity market across Africa.
According to him, the vision of “One Grid, One Market, One Vision for Africa” is not merely about building transmission infrastructure or harmonising regulations. Rather, it is about ensuring that the benefits of regional cooperation translate into tangible improvements in the quality, reliability, and affordability of electricity services enjoyed by homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses across the continent.
“As distribution utilities, we must continually ask ourselves one important question: How do we translate continental market integration into better service for our customers?” he challenged participants.
Ing. Kpekpena emphasised that deeper collaboration among African electricity distribution companies—including sharing best practices in governance, financing, operational efficiency, digital transformation, and peer learning—would be instrumental in delivering customer-centred services and building resilient utilities capable of supporting Africa’s economic transformation.
He commended the African Power Utilities Association (APUA), the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, the African Development Bank, regional power institutions, and development partners for their unwavering commitment to advancing Africa’s energy integration agenda.
He expressed confidence that the conference would produce practical recommendations that would accelerate the implementation of regional power market initiatives while strengthening cooperation among utilities across the continent.
The conference brings together utility executives, policymakers, development partners, regulators, financiers, and energy experts from across Africa to discuss practical pathways towards an integrated continental electricity market that supports economic growth, energy security, and universal access to electricity.
For ECG, the discussions reinforce its commitment to innovation, regional collaboration, and customer-focused service delivery. As Ghana’s largest electricity distribution company, ECG continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a more resilient and interconnected African power sector, while working every day to improve the quality of electricity service delivered to the people and businesses it serves.
Ashanti West – 5th September 2026
Traditional authorities of Nhyiaeso, a suburb of Kumasi, have pledged support to the Electricity Company of Ghana to protect lands serving as utility corridors in the area.
Chief of the community, Nana Osei Yaw Frimpong II, assured of ending encroachment of utility corridors and enforcing the right-of-way laws within his jurisdiction.
The Kumasi Nhyiaesohene made the assurances during a courtesy call on the management of the Ashanti West Region on Wednesday, September 2, at the Regional Office in Adum.
“Electricity cannot get to our homes and businesses without poles and transformers, so if you want to install a transformer at designated utility corridors within my jurisdiction and you notice anyone has encroached or if you see anyone selling beside your poles or under your wires, kindly report to my office and we will ensure the right thing is done,” he pledged.
The support from the traditional authority comes at a time when utility companies like the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Grid Company Ltd (GRIDCo) are battling the menace of heavy encroachment on lands earmarked for the construction of electricity infrastructure.
The visit afforded the chief the opportunity to interact with Ashanti West Management and deepen existing relations between ECG and traditional authorities in the Ashanti Region.
Nana Osei Yaw Frimpong II also commended ECG for improved service delivery in areas under his jurisdiction, like Ahodwo, parts of Adum, Darkodwom, Danyame, Ridge, KATH, Ridge Condos, and surrounding areas.
“Electricity has become a necessity for every household, and without electricity, businesses and, to a larger extent, the economy will collapse, so as traditional authorities, we have to support you to do your work diligently. If the light stays on, our people will also benefit tremendously, and I must say that in recent times, the power has been stable, so keep up the good work,” he said.
Ing. George Amoah, General Manager for ECG Ashanti West Region, welcomed the assurance and promised further collaboration with traditional authorities to serve the region.
“As the Kumasi Nhyiaesohene, your territory is critical to our operations, as it is located in the central part of Kumasi, with individuals encroaching on our right of way with their buildings. These individuals end up writing to ECG to relocate our infrastructure at an extra cost to the company, so pledging to support us and ending this menace is a step in the right direction,” he said.
Ing. Amoah noted that the electricity distributor is fully aware of the load growth in areas like Ridge, Danyame, Ahodwo, and the Adum Central Business District, with numerous high-rise buildings replacing smaller buildings, and is assured of an improved power supply for commercial activities in the area.
Ing. Amoah announced that ECG has upgraded some power transformers at the Ridge Bulk Supply Point, and GRIDCo is currently upgrading their power transformer as part of efforts to meet the growing demand of power in the greater Kumasi and Ashanti regions.
“We have also started a project to install two new 500 kVA transformers within the Adum Central Business District to meet the growing demand for electricity in Adum,” he added.
