The recent power outages affecting households and small businesses in Ghana are expected to ease with the resumption of gas supply from the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo).
WAPCo announced it had completed its pipeline maintenance work, ensuring the continued safe and efficient transport of natural gas across Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The maintenance project included the offshore pipeline cleaning and inspection, subsea valve replacements, and other essential works across multiple locations in Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
A press release issued by the Company said, the project, which spanned four weeks, involved temporarily shutting down the pipeline laterals into Cotonou, Benin, Lomé, Togo and Tema, Ghana.
The statement said despite the complexities and challenges, the project was completed ahead of schedule and with remarkable efficiency and safety. WAPCo’s Managing Director Michelle Burkett praised the team for their outstanding effort, stating that: “I want to congratulate every member of our team for their dedication and professionalism.”
“This was a complex project, and your hard work, even in the face of challenges, made it a success. While some countries experienced temporary disruptions due to the shutdown of the laterals, our teams worked tirelessly to ensure that maintenance was carried out swiftly and safely. The results speak for themselves, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved” she said.
Question to ask is will the resumption of gas supply ease power outages or they will continue ?
Ghana’s power challenges stem from a combination of gas supply constraints, generation shortfalls, and financial difficulties within the energy sector. Disruptions in gas supply from Nigeria and the West African Gas Pipeline have frequently led to reduced power generation, while periodic maintenance shutdowns of key power plants further strain supply.
Additionally, power producers face mounting debts (owed US$2.3 billion), making it difficult to procure fuel and maintain infrastructure. Aging transmission and distribution networks contribute to frequent outages, while rising electricity demand, particularly in urban areas, often outpaces supply capacity. Hydropower generation has also been affected by low water levels in major dams like Akosombo and Bui, exacerbating the country’s energy crisis.
Government has pledged it will undertake far-reaching reforms that will see the country’s energy sector completely transformed
