The Government of Ghana has announced plans to procure 1500 transformers as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s electricity distribution system and improve power reliability.
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, disclosed the initiative during a media briefing, explaining that aging and overloaded transformers have become a major challenge within Ghana’s electricity network.
The planned procurement will primarily support the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), the two main electricity distribution companies responsible for delivering power to homes and businesses across the country.
Dr. Jinapor explained that technical assessments conducted by the two utilities indicated that a significant number of transformers require immediate replacement to stabilise the network. “So, I asked them how many transformers we need,” he said.
“They said we need a minimum between NEDCo and ECG. At least we must immediately replace 1500 transformers.”
John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
These replacements are expected to reduce system overloads, improve voltage stability, and minimise the risk of transformer failures that often lead to power outages in communities.
According to the minister, years of inadequate investment in power distribution infrastructure have left many transformers outdated and unable to handle growing electricity demand.
“Because of years of under-investment, a lot of the transformers are obsolete, they are overloaded, and they are unable to withstand pressure.
“And that’s the truth. You can talk to experts. That’s what the current situation is.”
John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
The government’s decision to procure the transformers is therefore aimed at addressing these structural weaknesses in the distribution system.
Finance Ministry Backs Procurement Plan
While the need for transformer replacements was clear, the energy minister acknowledged that financing the procurement posed a major challenge.
He noted that the cost of acquiring such a large number of transformers at once would place significant pressure on the sector’s budget. “So, I’ve gone to lobby the Minister of Finance, and he’s agreed that he will support us,” he said.
The financing arrangement will allow ECG and NEDCo to proceed with the procurement and deployment of the 1,500 transformers across the country.
The minister emphasised that improving electricity reliability remains a top priority for the government, especially at a time when consumers are increasingly concerned about power stability.
According to him, households and businesses expect consistent electricity supply, particularly as electricity tariffs continue to rise.
“I pleaded with him that it should not be a loan,” Dr. Jinapor said, referring to discussions with the finance minister. “Because we can’t continue to have these outages.”
He added that the public expects better service delivery from the power sector. “Especially when tariffs are going up, people want to see a reliable supply of power — uninterrupted, reliable supply of power,” he stressed.
Deployment Expected to Begin End of March
The government has indicated that the new transformers will begin arriving and being installed across the country starting at the end of March.
“I want to appeal to Ghanaians that from the end of March, you’re going to see a lot of injection of transformers.”
John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
The installations will target areas where transformers have become overloaded due to rapid urban growth and increased electricity consumption.
Energy sector experts believe that replacing outdated transformers could significantly reduce localised outages and improve the efficiency of electricity distribution.
Despite the expected long-term benefits, the energy minister cautioned that the installation process may cause temporary power disruptions in some areas.
Replacing transformers typically requires power to be switched off temporarily to allow engineers to safely disconnect old equipment and install new units. “That would cause a little bit of disruption,” Dr. Jinapor acknowledged.
However, he assured the public that electricity distribution companies will provide advance notice before carrying out the work.
The government is therefore urging the public to cooperate during the installation process, as the temporary inconveniences will ultimately lead to a stronger and more reliable electricity network.
Strengthening Ghana’s Power Distribution System
The procurement of the 1,500 transformers forms part of broader efforts to modernise Ghana’s energy infrastructure and address long-standing challenges in the electricity distribution system.
Industry analysts have often pointed to aging transformers and overloaded substations as major contributors to power instability in several parts of the country.
By replacing obsolete equipment and expanding capacity, authorities hope to reduce equipment failures, improve system resilience, and ensure that electricity supply keeps pace with rising demand.
As the rollout begins, the government says the initiative will mark a significant step toward improving power reliability and delivering more stable electricity to households, businesses, and industries nationwide.
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