Government to install 1,500 transformers - John Jinapor

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced plans to install approximately 1,500 new transformers nationwide, by the end of March 2026, to strengthen the country's power distribution network.

This initiative aims to stabilise the electricity supply and address power fluctuations across the nation; thus, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will lead the deployment of these transformers.

Dr Jinapor made this announcement during the launch of ECG’s new corporate strategy in Accra, highlighting this intervention as a critical step towards improving electricity distribution and meeting the increasing demands of consumers.

Dr Jinapor underscored the importance of stable electricity, especially in light of rising tariffs, even as the government has stepped in to finance the acquisition of the transformers after recognising that ECG might struggle financially to carry out the project, the report stated.

“Consumers expect reliable electricity, especially when tariffs are increasing. It should not be the case that, as soon as you connect to the grid, the power goes off,” he stated.

He also mentioned the capital-intensive nature of the energy sector, which requires thorough procurement processes for infrastructure such as transformers.

The deployment of the new transformers is set to begin by the end of March, and plans are also in place to replace some aging equipment to enhance the reliability of the network.

The Acting Managing Director of ECG, Julius Kpekpena, described the new corporate strategy as a roadmap to transform the company's operational efficiency and financial sustainability.

The strategy emphasises operational modernisation, the integration of technology for improved service delivery, and initiatives to increase revenue mobilisation.

ECG will also enhance efforts to combat power theft and illegal connections, and these combined efforts are part of broader reforms aimed at improving power reliability and restoring financial discipline within Ghana’s electricity distribution sector.

NAD/AE