Ghana’s state-owned electricity company has announced a three-week power interruption due to a reduction in gas supply from Nigeria.
The country has for several years been experiencing power shortages, known locally as “dumsor,” which means on and off in the Akan language. This is due to rising demand from rapid urbanisation and population growth.
The gas reduction, starting Wednesday, is attributed to maintenance work by a Nigerian gas supplier, affecting power generation across Ghana and necessitating load shedding, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) said late on Thursday. “The reduction in gas supply is due to maintenance works being undertaken by a gas supplier in Nigeria and is projected to last three weeks,” it said.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) reported a drop in gas volumes after one of its producers in Nigeria shut down for maintenance, impacting gas transport to Togo, Benin, and Ghana. WAPCo expects normalcy to return post-maintenance. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) assured the public that they are working with other power sector stakeholders to optimise resources and minimise consumer impact.
It said, “The current situation is entirely out of WAPCo’s control. We expect normalcy to return after the maintenance activities.”
This disruption follows President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to curtail electricity exports to Togo, Burkina Faso, and Benin due to local supply challenges. Ghana’s power shortages have worsened amid its worst economic crisis in a decade, with private electricity suppliers owed $1.6 billion by the state power company, according to Elikplim Kwabla Apetogbor, the head of the organisation representing them. These suppliers threatened to shut down operations last July over unpaid arrears.
Ghana relies heavily on gas for electricity, with additional power sourced from hydro and thermal plants, though these are often poorly maintained.
Melissa Enoch
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