At the beginning of the year, residents in the Ashanti Region were plagued by unstable power supply which led to speculations of the return of “dumsor” in the Region. The Energy Minister even visited the Region to inspect ongoing projects and assured residents of improved power supply soon.
The unstable power supply affected businesses and livelihoods in the Ashanti Region as the general public mounted pressure on the country’s power distributor, ECG, to fix the situation. Eight months into 2025, the situation has turned around positively with residents attesting to stable power supply and commending the ECG.
Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene in a Facebook post said “The lights have been stable in recent times. Thanks to the Energy Minister, ECG and the power sector players. The complaints have reduced.”
Assembly Member for Hemang-Ampatia Electoral area, Bismark Oppong told reporters that “lately power supply has been stable in my electoral area and greater Kumasi but occasionally when there are challenges and we call on the ECG, their response to fault has been professional and timely, so they deserve commendation for the good work they are doing”.
President of the Federation of Kumasi traders, Nana Akwasi Prempeh lauded the ECG for improved power supply and constant communication.
“We are traders and businessmen so stable electricity is crucial to the success of our business and lately we have been enjoying stable power so we are happy. The ECG has also improved its communication as we constantly receive updates from the ECG on the power situation in the Region”, he said.
Mr. Agyei Ofosu, a newspaper seller at Adum Central Business District, affirmed the improved power supply in the Region: “beginning of the year, power was not stable and we blamed the ECG but today power is stable so we must commend the ECG and urge them to continue to do their best for Asanteman and Ghana”.
ECG General Manager for Ashanti West Region, Ing. George Amoah explained that the stable power supply being experienced in the Region is as a result of strategic investment and measures implemented by the company in the Ashanti Region.
Ing. Amoah further indicated that collaborative efforts between the Ashanti West, East and South Regions together with the Ashanti Sub-transmission Division and support from Management of ECG under the leadership of Ing. Kwame Kpekpena accounts for the stable power supply in the Region.
“We must also commend our partners in the power sector, Gridco, IPPs and other key players within the electricity supply chain”, he added.
Ing. Amoah disclosed that one of the challenges that caused outages in the Region at the beginning of the year was a faulty underground cable at the Ridge Bulk Supply Point. He commended the Ashanti sub-transmission team which worked assiduously to repair the faulty cable until it was finally replaced with an upgraded cable.
“Currently, we have replaced that faulty underground cable with a much bigger one”, he said.
In order to improve reliability and ensure customers enjoy stable power supply, the company formed Special Maintenance Teams in the Regional Office and all District Offices to constantly patrol the network, identify defects and submit for immediate correction.
He added that “the mission of the company which is to deliver quality, reliable and safe electricity services to support the economic growth and development of Ghana, motivated the decision to invest heavily in this project to ensure our customers enjoy quality and reliable power supply”.
Ing. Amoah also disclosed that as a result of numerous maintenance activities carried out by the company, distribution lines (feeders) such as Magazine, Anomangye, Nkawie, Adankwame, Kronum, Abusuakruwa, Apire and Yabi which used to go off frequently have seen massive improvements.
According to him, some benefits of the heavy investment in these activities include the following: improved voltage profile of the supply system leading to increased quality of power supply to our cherished customers in the region and reduction of outages leading to increased reliability of power supply to attract investors to the region.
Ing. Amoah further disclosed that the company also undertook reinsulation and reconductoring of the network which saw the company replace old and weak insulators, jumpers and upgraded undersized electricity conductors (cables).
According to him, the company also constructed new feeders from Asekyem and Afari substations to improve power supply in Greater Kumasi at a cost of GH¢ 5,050,782.4 to relieve overloaded feeders.
Ing. Amoah announced that the company was still embarking on numerous projects in the Region with a major project to improve power supply to residents within Barekese and Offinso municipalities.
He added that the company will soon start the construction of a new feeder from Maase to Ahenkro.
“Once these projects are completed, it will enhance the reliability of power supply to Barekese headworks and customers at Barekese, Offinso, Namong, Ahenkro, Tetrem, Kodie, Mowire and other areas”, he said.
Ing. Amoah entreated all customers to use the ECG Power App to pay and view their bills instead of visiting offices .
Source: www.3news.com
