ECG Invests Over GH¢200 Million To Upgrade Power Transformers Across Six Accra Substations

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has launched a large-scale infrastructure upgrade in parts of Accra, replacing and upgrading twelve power transformers across six primary substations to meet growing electricity demand in the capital. The project, funded entirely by ECG, has attracted an investment of more than 200 million Ghana Cedis.

The six substations covered by the exercise are located at Adenta, La, Teshie-Nungua, Nmai-Dzor, Baatsonaa, and Lashibi, areas that have experienced significant population expansion and increased commercial activity in recent years. ECG officials and engineers conducted a working visit to the Nmai-Dzor substation ahead of the replacement works, with the visit also serving to brief media on the scope and technical preparations underway.

Capacity jump from 20/26 MVA to 30/39 MVA

At the core of the upgrade is a substantial increase in transformer capacity. Each unit is being upgraded from 20/26 MVA to 30/39 MVA, a change that ECG says will meaningfully strengthen the ability of the grid to handle heavier loads without triggering system overloads.

Francis Kofi Atsyatsya, ECG's General Manager of Sub-Transmission, Accra, described the intervention as a direct response to the realities of infrastructure under pressure. "This intervention will significantly improve load-handling capability and reduce system overloads in these fast-growing communities," he said.

Rising national demand underpins the investment

The upgrade comes against a backdrop of consistent growth in electricity consumption across Ghana. According to the Energy Commission's 2025 Energy Outlook, projected national electricity consumption for 2025 stands at 25,836 Gigawatt hours (GWh), representing a 4.7 percent increase over the 2024 projected figure of 24,688 GWh. That figure itself marked a 4.8 percent rise over the 23,551 GWh consumed in 2023, pointing to a steady upward trend that utility providers must plan for.

Planned outages expected during execution

The upgrade exercise will require brief, scheduled power interruptions in the affected communities. Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, ECG's Acting Director of Communications, confirmed this but emphasised that the company intends to keep disruptions to a minimum.

"ECG assures customers that every effort will be made to minimise the duration and impact of these outages," he said, adding that residents and businesses in the affected areas should take note of published schedules and make necessary arrangements in advance.

The project represents one of the more significant grid reinforcement efforts in the Accra metropolitan area in recent years, targeting communities where demand has outpaced the capacity of existing infrastructure.