A major fault on Ghana’s national power grid has caused widespread power outages, leaving Accra, Kumasi and several parts of northern Ghana without electricity.
According to the state-run Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), several power plants shut down in the early hours of Wednesday following the fault.
“Our engineers and system operators are working continuously to restore power in the shortest time possible without compromising safety,” Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) said in a statement.
The outage affected homes, businesses and essential services across several regions of the country.
Many commuters also faced challenges getting to work because their phones were not charged, making it difficult for some to pay for transport or book ride-hailing services such as Uber.
The blackout also disrupted the operations of many small businesses and affected people who depend on digital services. However, major institutions, including hospitals, continued operating with backup generators.
GRIDCo said it is carrying out a full technical investigation to determine the cause of the outage.
The company has not yet announced when electricity supply will be fully restored.
Ghana has experienced frequent power outages, popularly known as “dumsor,” for several years, although the situation has improved in recent times.
To meet growing electricity demand, the country has increasingly relied on gas-fired power generation alongside its ageing hydropower plants.
While the addition of gas has helped reduce power shortages, Ghana’s power sector remains vulnerable to transmission faults and fuel supply disruptions.
