Some parts of the Greater Accra Region will experience a 15-hour power outage on Sunday, August 16, 2026, as the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) undertakes emergency works to replace a damaged transmission tower at Ashaiman.
The planned outage would run from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in what GRIDCo says is a necessary exercise to facilitate the safe replacement of the damaged tower on the 161kV Tema–Achimota transmission line.
In a statement issued on Saturday, August 15, GRIDCo said the transmission tower at Ashaiman Middle East was damaged after a fuel tanker exploded while welding work was being undertaken on its tank within the Right-of-Way (RoW) of the transmission line.
GRIDCo said its engineers and technical teams would use the outage period to replace the damaged tower and restore the integrity and reliability of the transmission line.
The company apologised to customers who would be affected by the interruption and appealed for their patience and cooperation as the emergency restoration works were carried out.
Warning
The incident has also prompted GRIDCo to renew its warning against encroachment on transmission line corridors, stressing that unauthorised activities within the RoW pose risks to public safety and the reliability of the national power transmission system.
The company cited the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (L.I. 542), as amended by L.I. 1737 of 2004, which prohibited several activities within transmission line corridors.
These include unauthorised construction, excavation, drilling, commercial operations, lorry parks, shops, garages and other activities that could interfere with the safe operation and maintenance of transmission infrastructure.
GRIDCo also referred to a directive by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, requiring persons, businesses, land users and other entities encroaching on transmission line Rights-of-Way across the country to cease unauthorised activities and vacate the affected corridors within one month.
The directive covers structures, businesses, heavy vehicle parking, welding, excavation and other industrial activities undertaken within protected transmission corridors.
GRIDCo said after the one-month deadline, it would collaborate with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, statutory institutions and security agencies to enforce the law and remove unauthorised structures and activities.
The company warned that persons who fail to comply would face enforcement action in accordance with the law.
It urged the public, traditional authorities, landowners, businesses and local authorities to cooperate in keeping transmission line Rights-of-Way clear and free from encroachment.
GRIDCo stressed that the corridors were protected infrastructure zones and are not intended for unrestricted occupation or commercial use.
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