Ghana’s power transmission and distribution system is under serious strain and risks a catastrophic collapse if urgent action is not taken, according to Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, an energy energy sector expert.
In a strong warning, Dr. Apetorgbor said the recent surge in scheduled and emergency maintenance operations by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) signals more than routine system upkeep. Rather, he described the frequency of these interventions as evidence of a deeper structural crisis that is pushing Ghana’s aging power infrastructure to the brink.
“Ghana’s electricity sector is flashing red, and we must not ignore the alarm,” he said. “These maintenance exercises, occurring with increasing frequency, are no longer just routine interventions. They reflect a dangerously overstretched transmission and distribution infrastructure that risks a catastrophic system collapse if left unaddressed.”
He added that what should be routine, predictive maintenance has now become reactive and disruptive, pointing to system fragility and chronic underinvestment. “This is not business as usual,” he said.
ECG and GRIDCo are managing equipment far beyond their intended capacity, Dr. Apetorgbor warned. The result is not only technical vulnerability but economic damage as well. “Every hour of unplanned outage due to maintenance translates into significant revenue loss for ECG, already battling with over 27% unaccountable losses and inefficiencies,” he noted.
Industries are forced to halt production, households are affected, and trust in the power system is deteriorating, he added.
Dr. Apetorgbor called for the government to treat electricity infrastructure with the same urgency as roads and water systems, describing power transmission and distribution as foundational to national development. He urged policymakers to go beyond short-term crisis management and launch an emergency intervention to recapitalize ECG and GRIDCo.
“Concessionary loans, infrastructure bonds, or targeted budgetary allocations should be considered immediately,” he proposed.
He stressed that continued power outages under the guise of maintenance should not be normalized. “These are warnings. Without immediate attention, Ghana could face a widespread, injurious system collapse. Let us act before that becomes our reality,” he said.
