The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has firmly dismissed claims that Ghana is experiencing a gas shortage, insisting that power generation remains stable and there is no threat of imminent “dumsor.”
The Ministry’s response follows reports alleging that gas supply challenges were forcing power producers to shed nearly 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity daily, raising fears of a return to nationwide load shedding.
However, the Ministry says those claims are inaccurate and do not reflect the current realities of the energy sector.
Spokesperson and Head of Communication at the Ministry, Richmond Rockson, stated that there is no fuel supply shortfall affecting electricity generation.
“There is no gas supply shortfall affecting power generation, and that available fuel resources are adequate to meet the country’s electricity demand,” he said.
According to the Ministry, recent power interruptions in parts of the country are instead linked to challenges within the electricity distribution network operated by Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
A technical assessment, the Ministry noted, revealed that several transformers across the network are either damaged or operating beyond capacity—largely due to years of underinvestment in maintenance and weak procurement planning.
“A comprehensive assessment of ECG’s operations revealed that several transformers across the network are either damaged or overloaded,” Mr. Rockson explained.
Nationwide Upgrade Underway
To address these challenges, the Energy Minister, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has approved a nationwide transformer upgrade programme aimed at strengthening the distribution system and improving reliability.
As part of the intervention, ECG has begun a major upgrade exercise across parts of Accra, targeting six key substations:
- Adenta
- La
- Teshie-Nungua
- Nmai-Dzor
- Baatsonaa
- Lashibi
The project involves replacing 12 transformers and increasing their capacity from 20/26 MVA to 30/39 MVA.
The Ministry emphasized that the outages being experienced in some areas are localized and infrastructure-related, not indicative of a broader generation or fuel supply problem.
It reassured the public that there is no looming nationwide power crisis, stressing that current interventions are designed to stabilize supply and prevent any recurrence of widespread disruptions.
Government further reiterated its commitment to ensuring a reliable, stable and consistent electricity supply, noting that ongoing upgrades are critical to strengthening the resilience of the power distribution network.
