Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are set to begin construction of a €154.4 million cross-border electricity transmission line, marking a major milestone in the drive to strengthen regional power integration under the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) framework.
The 330-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line will span approximately 243 kilometres, about 122 kilometres in each country, and aims to enhance electricity exchange, improve grid reliability, and support long-term energy security across the West African subregion.
Speaking at a WAPP ministerial committee meeting on June 25, 2025, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Engineer Mark Baah, highlighted the project’s strategic importance for regional energy connectivity.
“The project connects Côte d’Ivoire’s existing Biahoué (Bijave) substation to Ghana’s upcoming Dunkwa 2 substation, which will operate at 330kV, significantly higher than the current Dunkwa 1 station at 161kV,” Engr. Baah said.
The project’s feasibility studies have confirmed both its technical soundness and financial viability.
The estimated €154.4 million cost includes provisions for environmental and social impact mitigation, construction, supervision, and project management services.
Once completed, the transmission line is expected to facilitate bilateral electricity trade between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, reinforce grid stability and reduce transmission losses in the West African network, and strengthen ECOWAS-wide power integration and energy market efficiency
According to GRIDCo, the Dunkwa 2 substation will serve as a vital new node in Ghana’s national grid, enabling it to better handle high-voltage power flows and serve as a stable transmission point for regional power exchange.
The initiative is part of a broader effort by ECOWAS to create a fully integrated regional electricity market through the WAPP programme, which envisions shared infrastructure, harmonized standards, and improved energy access across West Africa.
The project is expected to begin construction later this year, with phased commissioning anticipated over the next 24 to 36 months.
