Electricity consumers in parts of the Greater Accra Region will experience a planned power interruption on Sunday, August 16, 2026, following a fuel tanker explosion that damaged a key high-voltage transmission tower in Ashaiman.
The Ghana Grid Company LTD. (GRIDCo) announced that the incident occurred within the transmission line Right-of-Way (RoW) along the 161kV Tema–Achimota corridor, where unauthorized welding work on a tanker’s fuel tank triggered the blast.
The emergency power shutdown, scheduled from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., will allow technical crews and engineers to safely undertake critical structural repairs and restore the integrity of the bulk supply line.
In a press statement issued from Tema, GRIDCo explained that the temporary shutdown is necessary to enable engineers to carry out essential replacement works without endangering personnel or the public.
“To facilitate the emergency replacement works and ensure the safety of personnel and the public, power supply to some locations in the Greater Accra Region will be interrupted on Sunday, 16th August 2026, from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. GRIDCo engineers and technical teams will use this period to safely undertake the required works and restore the integrity of the transmission line,” the company stated.
Expressing regret over the disturbance to residential and commercial activities across the affected areas, the power utility provider appealed to consumers for patience during the repair period.
“GRIDCo sincerely apologises to all affected customers for the inconvenience the planned outage will cause and appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as these critical emergency works are undertaken,” the release noted.
The incident has also prompted renewed warnings regarding illegal human activity and encroachment within utility corridors across the country. Following an inspection of the site, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, directed all individuals and commercial enterprises occupying power line buffer zones to clear the areas immediately.
Reinforcing the government’s stance, GRIDCo reminded the public that severe statutory penalties apply under the Transmission Line Protection Regulations to anyone operating unlawfully beneath high-tension cables.
“As indicated by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition Hon. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor during his inspection of ongoing work, all persons, businesses, land users and other entities currently encroaching on its transmission line Rights-of-Way across the country must cease all unauthorised activities and vacate the affected corridors within the one-month period,” GRIDCo cautioned.
The power transmitter stressed that upon the expiration of the one-month grace period, it will partner with local assemblies, statutory authorities, and security agencies to clear all unauthorized structures and enforce full compliance with environmental protection laws.
