Kumasi braces for four-month power cuts as GRIDCo overhauls electricity infrastructure

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced that Kumasi and surrounding communities will experience periodic power outages spanning four months as the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) executes essential upgrades to the electricity distribution network.

According to PURC, the temporary service disruptions are a necessary trade-off to strengthen the quality and dependability of power supply across the Ashanti Region's largest city. The upgrades form part of GRIDCo's broader infrastructure modernisation efforts to reduce losses, minimise outages during peak demand periods, and enhance the overall stability of the transmission system.

What residents should expect

During the four-month period, Kumasi residents and businesses should prepare for intermittent power cuts as maintenance and installation work progresses. The exact timing and duration of outages will likely vary depending on which sections of the grid are being worked on at any given time. Residents are advised to keep backup power solutions on hand—such as rechargeable batteries, power banks, or small generators—to maintain essential services during blackouts.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), hospitals, and other critical facilities operating on tight schedules should consider alternative power arrangements or load-shifting strategies to minimise operational disruption. Those dependent on refrigeration, telecommunications infrastructure, or other continuous-duty systems may need to install uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) or backup generators.

Why it matters for Ghana

Kumasi is Ghana's second-largest city and a major commercial and industrial hub, making reliable electricity essential for economic activity. The Ashanti Region accounts for significant manufacturing, retail, and service sector operations. Power outages, even temporary ones, can hamper productivity, increase business costs, and frustrate households already struggling with erratic supply patterns.

However, the infrastructure upgrades serve a critical long-term objective. GRIDCo's modernisation initiatives aim to reduce technical losses on the distribution network—currently a significant drain on Ghana's electricity system—and improve voltage stability. Better grid infrastructure means fewer unplanned outages down the line, lower electricity costs for consumers as efficiency improves, and improved capacity to handle growing demand from industrial and residential users.

This project reflects Ghana's broader push to upgrade its energy infrastructure under the Ministry of Energy's strategic plans. As the country seeks to stabilise electricity supply and reduce the frequency of power cuts that have plagued users for years, projects like this in major cities set the template for nationwide improvements.

Planning ahead

PURC is expected to provide a detailed schedule of planned outages to help residents and businesses prepare. Residents should monitor official announcements from GRIDCo and local media for updates on the specific dates and times when their areas will be affected. Community leaders and local government authorities in Kumasi should also work to disseminate this information widely to ensure minimal disruption.

While four months of intermittent outages represents a genuine inconvenience, the underlying goal—a more robust and reliable electricity grid—is one that Kumasi and Ghana urgently need. The short-term pain of these upgrades is an investment in the stability and efficiency of power supply for years to come.