The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has announced a temporary power cut in parts of the Greater Accra Region on Sunday, August 16, 2026, to enable engineers to undertake emergency repairs on a damaged transmission tower.
The planned outage will run from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. as technical teams work to replace the damaged tower on the Tema-Achimota 161-kV transmission line at Ashaiman Middle East.
In a statement issued on Saturday, August 15, GRIDCo said the power cut is necessary to allow its engineers and technical teams to safely carry out the required works and restore the integrity of the transmission line.
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“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 said.
GRIDCo apologised to customers who will be affected by the planned power cut and appealed for their patience and cooperation during the emergency works.
Damaged transmission tower
According to GRIDCo, the transmission tower was damaged on July 10, 2026, after a fuel tanker exploded while welding work was being carried out on its tank within the transmission line’s right-of-way (RoW).
The damage necessitated the emergency repair works scheduled for Sunday.
The planned repairs also prompted a visit to the affected site by Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, who inspected the damaged tower on Thursday.
GRIDCo also has renewed its warning against encroachment on transmission line rights-of-way, stressing that such areas are legally protected and cannot be used for unrestricted commercial or other activities.
The company said the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (L.I. 542), as amended by L.I. 1737 of 2004, prohibit several activities within transmission line corridors.
These include unauthorised construction, excavation, drilling, commercial operations, lorry parks, shops, garages and other activities that could endanger transmission infrastructure.
During his visit, Minister Jinapor reportedly warned individuals, businesses, land users and other entities encroaching on transmission line rights-of-way across the country to vacate the affected areas within one month.
He cautioned that persons who fail to comply could face enforcement action, including forced eviction and confiscation of items left behind.
The directive particularly targets persons who have erected structures, established businesses, parked heavy vehicles, or undertaken welding, excavation, and other industrial activities within GRIDCo said that after the one-month grace period, it would collaborate with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), statutory institutions and security agencies to enforce the law.
The company said unauthorised structures and activities within transmission line rights-of-way would be removed.
“Persons who fail to comply should therefore expect enforcement action in accordance with the applicable laws,” GRIDCo warned.
The company further urged the public, traditional authorities, landowners, businesses and local authorities to cooperate in keeping transmission corridors clear.
GRIDCo stressed that transmission line rights-of-way are not available for unrestricted occupation or commercial use, warning that activities within such corridors can pose serious risks to public safety and the reliability of Ghana’s electricity supply.