ECG Explains Power Flow, Promises Relief for Western Region Customers

Ing. Emmanuel Ofori, the General Manager of ECG for the Western Region, led a team of journalists on a tour of the Ketan Bulk Supply Point (BSP) at Sekondi. His mission was simple. To show Ghanaians exactly why the power keeps tripping and what is being done to fix it.

“We want you to know what is happening so that you can be advocates for us when your listeners come calling,” Ing. Ofori said directly to the media.

The Real Culprit: Vegetation

After walking journalists through the journey of electricity from GRIDCO to the Bulk Supply Point, then to primary substations, distribution substations, and finally into homes, the General Manager dropped a truth bomb.

“The major challenge we encounter here in the Western Region is the vegetation programme,” he revealed.

The region’s rugged, difficult terrains are crisscrossed with power lines. But those same lines are constantly under attack from fast-growing trees and bamboo. When the rainy season arrives with its fierce winds, the vegetation sways into the live wires.

“Once those vegetation touches the line, for safety purposes, the system has to go off,” Ing. Ofori explained. “That is why at times you will be in your home, and when the rains start, the light goes off.”

ECG already hires contractors every year to weed the corridors beneath the lines. But the growth is relentless, and during windstorms, tripping is almost inevitable.

Bogoso’s Burning Problem

Yet vegetation is only half the story. The Western Region is facing a second, more urgent crisis. An overloaded substation in Bogoso.

That single substation supplies power to Bogoso township, Asankragua, and even parts of Enchi. It is currently stretched far beyond its capacity.

“We are currently having challenges with our customers at Amenfi East, Amenfi West, and those localities,” Ing. Ofori admitted. Communities like Wassa Akropong and Asankragua have suffered the most.

The One-Month Solution

But here comes the good news.

ECG has already begun constructing a new line from the Prestea Bulk Supply Point to link the struggling Bogoso substation. The goal is to offload some of the overloaded Bogoso station onto Prestea, giving entire communities the relief they have been waiting for.

“Our contractors working on the lines have given us a maximum of one month to complete the work and get it commissioned,” the General Manager announced. “So we are hoping that within a month, we’ll get that issue resolved. When that is resolved, our customers in Asankragua and surrounding areas will have relief.”

Safety and Collaboration Matter Too

The tour also featured insights from other key ECG officials.

The Acting Regional Engineer, Kow Ampah, reminded everyone that the safety of ECG workers is just as critical as stabilizing the power systems. He called for effective collaboration with chiefs, landowners, and local communities to ensure smooth operations.

Meanwhile, the Foreman at the Control Room Operations and System Monitoring, Benjamin Owusu Ansah, stressed the need for a centralized control system. He advocated for the full use of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to manage the electrical grid effectively.

A Brighter Future Ahead

For residents of Amenfi East, Amenfi West, Asankragua, Wassa Akropong, and Enchi, the past months have been dark and frustrating. But if Ing. Emmanuel Ofori and his team deliver on their one-month promise, those same communities will soon see a steady, reliable flow of power.

Until then, the ECG is asking for patience and for help keeping the trees and bamboo away from the lines.

Source Nana Esi Brew Monney