After several months of consistent power stability that earned the government widespread praise, residents in some parts of the capital are raising concerns over a series of intermittent outages that bear the hallmarks of a coordinated, albeit unannounced, load-shedding exercise.
Following a festive season characterized by a bright and uninterrupted power supply, the first full week of January 2026 has introduced a pattern for many Accra neighbourhoods. Residents in areas such as Dansoman, Madina, Ablekuma and parts of Spintex have reported “alternating outages” that suggest a systematic rotation.
The Pattern of “Alternating Lights”
The nature of the current outages has sparked a “neighbour-watch” phenomenon. In many localities, one side of a street may be plunged into darkness while the opposite side remains powered. Curiously, the roles are often reversed 24 hours later.
Surging Demand and the “January Heat”
While the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) have yet to release an official statement or a formal load-shedding timetable, sources within the energy sector suggest the system is under “extreme peak pressure.”
Historically, Ghana’s power consumption follows a seasonal spike between January and April. This period coincides with the peak of the dry season when temperatures regularly soar above 34°C (93°F). The intense heat leads to a massive surge in the use of air conditioners, fans, and industrial cooling systems.
Energy analysts estimate that peak demand can increase by as much as 10% to 15% during these months. With the 2026 “Bridge Year” seeing a rebound in industrial activity and a 24-hour economy push, the baseline demand is already higher than in previous years.
| Period | Estimated Peak Demand Growth | Primary Drivers |
| Nov – Dec (Festive) | 5% | Lighting & Events |
| Jan – Apr (Dry Season) | 12% – 15% | ACs & Cooling Systems |
| May – Aug (Rainy) | 2% | Industrial Base Load |
The Economic Ripple Effect
The “subtle” nature of these outages—occurring without a schedule presents a unique challenge for small businesses and households. Fortunately the outages are not for longer hours reducing its adverse impact on businesses and individuals. However some small businesses are being forced back to expensive diesel generators, which may impact their cost of operations.
A Test of Resilience
The government, which had successfully maintained a surplus in generation capacity through 2025, now faces a test of its distribution infrastructure. Industry experts suggest that the issue may not be a lack of fuel or generation, but rather “overloaded transformers” and aging transmission lines struggling to carry the increased load required to keep Accra cool.
