By Alex Ababio
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says it will complete a critical upgrade of key sub-transmission lines in Greater Kumasi by June 5, 2026, as authorities race to stabilize electricity supply in one of Ghana’s fastest-growing commercial and industrial hubs.
The project, which covers the transmission corridor from the KNUST Primary Substation to the Kaase Primary Substation and from Kaase to the Ridge Bulk Supply Point (BSP), is part of a broader effort to modernize overstretched electricity infrastructure in the Ashanti Region.
According to ECG, the upgrade involves replacing existing 265 square millimetre conductors with higher-capacity 400 square millimetre conductors while also changing weak and aging cables that have become vulnerable under rising electricity demand.
In a statement signed by Dr. Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, General Manager for External Communications at ECG, the company said the intervention is expected to improve voltage quality, strengthen supply reliability, and reinforce the sub-transmission link between the Kumasi 1 (K1) and Kumasi 2 (K2) Bulk Supply Points.
“The completion of these key projects will improve power supply reliability and voltage quality, and strengthen electricity supply to Kaase, Kuntenase, Sewua, Bekwai, and surrounding communities,” Dr. Ayiku stated.
The announcement comes at a politically and economically sensitive moment, as businesses and households across parts of Ghana continue to complain about intermittent outages, voltage fluctuations, and recurring disruptions popularly associated with “dumsor” — the country’s long-running electricity crisis.
Why Kumasi’s Power Infrastructure Is Under Pressure
Kumasi’s rapid urban expansion, industrial growth, and increasing commercial activity have placed extraordinary pressure on the Ashanti Region’s electricity infrastructure over the past decade.
Energy experts say the existing sub-transmission network in parts of Kumasi was not designed to handle current consumption levels, especially in industrial enclaves such as Kaase and expanding peri-urban settlements around Kuntenase and Sewua.
In May 2026, ECG disclosed plans to invest more than GH¢1 billion in the Ashanti Region to strengthen electricity distribution, install new transformers, and reduce persistent low-voltage conditions affecting homes and businesses.
Earlier this month, ECG also commissioned 37 new transformers across communities including Abuakwa, Suame, Offinso, Ahinsan, and Bibiani Kokoben as part of what the utility described as a broader capital investment programme backed by the Ministry of Energy.
Mr. George Amoah, ECG’s Ashanti West Regional General Manager, said many transformers in the region had been operating “close to or above capacity” because of increasing electricity demand in rapidly growing communities.
The Kumasi upgrade is therefore being viewed by industry observers as part of a larger emergency stabilization strategy aimed at preventing system overloads and reducing technical losses within Ghana’s electricity distribution network.
Government and ECG Intensify Infrastructure Push
The scale of the challenge became evident when John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, toured ongoing electricity projects in Kumasi earlier this month.
According to the Ghana News Agency, the minister inspected the Boadi-Kaase-Ridge Bulk Supply sub-transmission lines, the Ridge BSP, and other strategic infrastructure projects intended to stabilize electricity supply in the Ashanti Region.
The minister acknowledged that electricity demand in Kumasi continues to surge as the city expands.
ECG Managing Director Kwame Kpekpena also recently admitted that persistent outages in Kumasi have affected households, businesses, and even critical utilities such as water supply systems.
Speaking during an inspection of projects in Kumasi, Mr. Kpekpena described some existing infrastructure as insufficient for current demand and said ECG’s interventions were necessary to improve long-term service delivery.
One major concern has been the capacity limitations at key bulk supply points serving Kumasi.
In February 2025, ECG and Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) announced plans to upgrade an overloaded 66MVA transformer at the Anwomaso Bulk Supply Point to a 145MVA transformer to support rising demand in the Ashanti Region.
Engineer Peter Kofi Fletcher, who has overseen aspects of ECG’s Ashanti sub-transmission operations, said the existing infrastructure had become severely constrained due to rapid urban development.
“We are upgrading a transformer from 66MVA to 145MVA, which essentially increases electricity capacity in Kumasi to accommodate rising demand,” he explained.
Businesses Count the Cost of Unstable Power
Despite ECG’s assurances, many businesses in Kumasi say intermittent outages during the upgrade period have already disrupted operations and increased operational costs.
Manufacturing firms in Kaase Industrial Area, cold-store operators, welding shops, and small-scale enterprises have repeatedly complained about unexpected power cuts that damage equipment and force reliance on expensive generators.
Across social media and online forums, frustration has intensified over what some residents describe as inadequate communication regarding outages and maintenance schedules.
Some consumers argue that ECG’s explanation that outages are linked to “upgrades” has not fully addressed public concerns about the consistency and transparency of power management.
One recurring complaint among users has been the absence of detailed location-specific outage notices, particularly during daytime maintenance works affecting commercial activity.
Energy policy analysts say the public reaction reflects deeper structural anxieties rooted in Ghana’s prolonged history of power instability.
The Bigger National Energy Challenge
Ghana’s electricity sector continues to face a complicated mix of technical, financial, and operational challenges despite years of reforms and infrastructure expansion.
Although generation capacity has improved compared to the peak years of the severe “dumsor” crisis between 2012 and 2016, distribution inefficiencies, aging infrastructure, technical losses, and rising demand remain major concerns.
According to industry analysts, ECG’s distribution network in several urban centers is struggling to keep pace with population growth, industrialization, and increasing dependence on electricity-intensive technologies.
The Ashanti Region, particularly Greater Kumasi, has emerged as one of the most critical stress points in Ghana’s electricity ecosystem because of its expanding industrial and residential footprint.
Analysts also point to the economic implications of unreliable electricity supply.
For businesses operating in sectors such as manufacturing, food preservation, hospitality, healthcare, and digital services, unstable power can translate directly into revenue losses, damaged equipment, and higher operating expenses.
The challenge is especially significant at a time when Ghana is seeking to position itself as a regional technology and industrial hub.
ECG Appeals for Patience
In its latest statement, ECG apologized to customers for the disruptions caused during the ongoing works.
“ECG sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused to customers and residents during the execution of this important project and assures the public that these temporary challenges are necessary for the greater good of strengthening and securing a more reliable electricity supply for the region,” the company stated.
The utility insists the long-term benefits of the Kumasi network reinforcement project will outweigh the short-term inconvenience currently being experienced.
Once completed, the upgraded infrastructure is expected to reduce outages, stabilize voltage quality, and improve supply reliability for residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Greater Kumasi and surrounding communities.
For many residents and businesses in Kumasi, however, the ultimate test will not be the completion date itself, but whether the project finally delivers the stable electricity supply Ghana’s second-largest city has long demanded.