Ghana is experiencing three weeks of power cuts due to a reduction in gas supply from Nigeria.
According to statements from the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the power outages are a result of maintenance works being undertaken by a gas supplier in Nigeria. The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) also announced a drop in gas volumes available for transportation due to the maintenance works, which has caused a decrease in gas available for WAPCo to transport to customers in Togo, Benin, and Ghana.
Ghanaians have endured years of regular power shortages, with the situation worsening in recent years as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis in a decade. Power demand has steadily increased over the past two decades due to rapid urbanisation and population growth. To end the shortfall, Ghana’s government will have to stump up around $400m (£315m) to buy gas and liquid fuel for power plants. A growing debt may be behind the power shortages that started early this year, with the state power company owing about $1.2bn to private energy producers, including Nigerian suppliers.
Public anger has been growing in recent days as essential services are being affected by the power outages. In response, GRIDCo and ECG have pledged to manage the disruptions effectively to ensure minimal impact on consumers and collaborate with other stakeholders in the power value chain to optimize available resources. It comes barely two months after President Nana Akufo-Addo curbed electricity exports to Togo, Burkina Faso, and Benin following supply challenges.
