Residents of Obuasi and New Edubiase in Ghana’s Ashanti Region have been left in the dark following a fire outbreak at the Obuasi Substation, prompting widespread concern over the unexpected power outage.
The incident has disrupted electricity supply across the two districts, and emergency efforts are now underway to restore power.
The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) issued a joint assurance to the public, confirming that technical teams are working around the clock to assess and repair the damage.
According to GRIDCo, engineers are conducting a thorough inspection of the facility to verify the integrity of the substation’s critical infrastructure before reconnecting customers to the national grid.
Benjamin Owusu Antwi, the Public Relations Officer for ECG in the Ashanti West Unit, explained the essential role of the bulk supply point and the extent of the disruption caused by the fire.
“The incident occurred last night at about 9:12 pm at the GRIDCo bulk supply point. And the bulk supply point is very significant in our operations because that is where ECG normally meets GRIDCo to take power supply from and then distribute to our customers via our feeders, our distribution lines, and then sometimes the sub-transmission lines as well.”
Benjamin Owusu Antwi
The cause of the fire has not yet been officially disclosed, but officials stress that it significantly compromised operations at the Obuasi Bulk Supply Point (BSP), a key electricity distribution node in the Ashanti Region.
This facility serves as the primary interface where ECG draws power from GRIDCo for distribution to homes and businesses.
Emergency Teams Scramble To Repair Damage
Mr. Owusu Antwi further emphasized that once the operations of the bulk supply point are compromised, ECG loses its ability to deliver electricity to its service areas.
“So what we know now is that the fire supply gathered some equipment at the GRIDCo end of the BSP. And once the GRIDCo end is shut down, there is no way power can flow through the ECG and onward for distribution,” he added.
Benjamin Owusu Antwi
Both GRIDCo and ECG have deployed technical teams to the site. The engineers are currently examining the full scope of the damage to determine how much of the infrastructure can be salvaged and restored.
Mr. Owusu Antwi confirmed the presence of multiple response units working in tandem, including the ECG sub-transmission team and the Asante South maintenance crew, alongside GRIDCo’s engineers.
“As we speak, the GRIDCo engineers are on site assessing the extent of damage before they see what they can salvage to restore the power supply to enable ECG to also distribute power. Our sub-transmission team is also on site together with the Asante South maintenance team.”
Benjamin Owusu Antwi
While no timeline has been given for full power restoration, both agencies are urging patience from residents and affected businesses.
The outage has had an immediate impact on households, shops, and small-scale industries that rely on consistent electricity to operate.
GRIDCo Apologizes For Power Cut
Furthermore, Mr. Owusu Antwi reassured customers that this was not a case of scheduled load-shedding or negligence, but rather an unforeseen emergency.
“We would want to apologise to our cherished customers that it’s as a result of this fire, not a deliberate action. Engineers are working assiduously to ensure the power supply is restored.”
Benjamin Owusu Antwi
The situation has sparked concerns among residents who have expressed fears of prolonged blackouts and potential economic losses. In Obuasi, a mining hub with a dense population and significant energy needs, power outages can quickly disrupt productivity and public safety.
GRIDCo and ECG have pledged to provide timely updates on the progress of the restoration effort and emphasized that every necessary resource is being deployed to bring electricity back to affected communities as swiftly as possible.
As technical assessments continue at the Obuasi Substation, questions remain about the cause of the fire and the resilience of Ghana’s electricity infrastructure, especially in regions where single points of failure can cripple local economies.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether backup systems or rerouting measures are being considered to prevent similar outages in the future.
For now, residents of Obuasi and New Edubiase must await word from GRIDCo and ECG on the return of a service many had taken for granted—one that quite literally powers their daily lives.
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