After months of persistent power challenges, the people of Obuasi can finally look forward to a reliable electricity supply following the commissioning of a new 33kV sub-transmission feeder by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The feeder, designed to receive increased capacity from an upgraded 50/66 MVA transformer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), was energised this week to serve Obuasi and its surrounding communities.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission, commended the collective effort that brought the project to completion.
“What we have achieved in Obuasi is proof of the power of collaboration and sacrifice.
“Our engineers, GRIDCo, contractors, and even AngloGold Ashanti who supported some communities with power from their dedicated transformer during the crisis all played a part.”
Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission
The project marks a significant milestone in the restoration of power to an area that has endured prolonged supply difficulties since a fire outbreak severely damaged GRIDCo’s transformer at the Obuasi Bulk Supply Point (BSP) earlier this year.
The incident left thousands of homes and businesses grappling with unstable electricity, forcing ECG and GRIDCo to initiate emergency interventions.
During the crisis, ECG deployed a dedicated standby engineering team that commuted weekly between Kumasi and Obuasi to sustain operations.
Their role was critical in swiftly addressing technical faults, ensuring that essential services and businesses could function while permanent solutions were being worked on.
“The dedication of our team to travel back and forth every week, troubleshooting and responding to emergencies, is testament to ECG’s commitment to keeping the lights on for Obuasi.”
Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission
Upgrading the Network for Long-Term Reliability
The project involved the retirement of ECG’s existing 11kV cables, which were replaced with modern 33kV cables.
These were connected to GRIDCo’s gantry and ECG’s Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) panels at the Obuasi Substation.
The switch to 33kV not only increases capacity but also enhances the resilience of the network to withstand future shocks. “This transition marks a significant improvement in our ability to serve the Obuasi enclave,” said Ing. Fletcher.
“We can confidently assure Obuasi and its surrounding areas of a stable and reliable electricity supply.
“This project is not just about power lines and transformers; it is about keeping homes lit, businesses thriving, and industries running.”
Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission
The enhanced system means that the frequent outages which crippled economic activity in the area will now be significantly reduced.
Residents and business owners are optimistic that the improved supply will support commerce, education, and industrial growth, particularly in mining and related sectors that dominate the local economy.
Collaboration Across Institutions
The restoration effort was made possible through strong collaboration between ECG, GRIDCo, AngloGold Ashanti, and contractors working on the ground.
AngloGold Ashanti, one of the largest employers in the region, stepped in to temporarily supply some communities with power from its dedicated transformer during the outage period.
“AngloGold’s intervention played a vital role in keeping critical services alive while we worked to stabilise the grid.
“It demonstrates the importance of public-private partnerships in safeguarding the wellbeing of communities.”
Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission
He also extended appreciation to teams from Ashanti Sub-Transmission, Ashanti South, GRIDCo engineers, and contractors, who worked tirelessly under challenging conditions to complete the project in record time.
The successful commissioning of the new feeder has been hailed as a turning point for Obuasi, a town that had grown increasingly frustrated with the impact of unreliable electricity on daily life and business productivity.
Residents and businesses are now looking forward to uninterrupted supply that will enable the town to fully harness its potential as a mining and commercial hub in the Ashanti Region.
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