The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has announced a lengthy emergency power outage in parts of the Greater Accra Region today, Sunday, August 16, 2026, running from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The interruption is needed to replace a transmission tower damaged after a fuel tanker exploded during illegal welding work on the Tema–Achimota 161kV line at Ashaiman.
Why Power Is Being Cut Today
According to a statement GRIDCo issued on Saturday, August 15, the steel lattice tower at Ashaiman Middle East was damaged after a fuel tanker caught fire while unauthorised welding work was being carried out on its fuel tank within the transmission line’s Right-of-Way (RoW).
The Tema–Achimota corridor forms a key part of the network supplying electricity to Accra, so the damage forced GRIDCo to schedule emergency restoration works rather than risk leaving the compromised tower in place.
What GRIDCo Says About the Outage
GRIDCo said the nearly 15-hour shutdown is necessary to let its engineers and technical teams safely dismantle and replace the damaged tower and restore the line’s structural integrity. “GRIDCo sincerely apologises to all affected customers for the inconvenience the planned outage will cause and appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as these critical emergency works are undertaken,” the company said in its statement.
GRIDCo Announces 15-Hour Power Outage in Parts of Accra; See Affected Areas – Which Areas Are Affected
GRIDCo’s own notice did not name specific neighbourhoods, stating only that power supply to “some locations in the Greater Accra Region” would be interrupted during the stated hours. A list of specific affected communities, including areas such as Osu, Nima, James Town, Kaneshie, Cantonments, Madina, Adabraka and Ridge, has circulated on social media attributed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), though this list could not be matched to any official notice published by ECG itself.
Residents are advised to check GRIDCo’s and ECG’s official channels directly for confirmation on whether their specific area is affected before making plans around today’s outage.
A Bigger Crackdown on Power Line Encroachment
The Ashaiman incident has renewed attention on a long-standing problem: unauthorised activity taking place too close to Ghana’s electricity transmission infrastructure. Following an inspection of the damaged site, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, directed individuals, businesses and land users illegally occupying transmission line Rights-of-Way to vacate the affected areas within one month or face legal action.
GRIDCo said it would work with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, relevant statutory institutions and security agencies to enforce the directive and remove unauthorised structures once the deadline passes. “The Right-of-Way is not an area available for unrestricted occupation or commercial use,” the company stressed.
GRIDCo Announces 15-Hour Power Outage in Parts of Accra; See Affected Areas – Key Details at a Glance
– GRIDCo has scheduled an emergency power outage in parts of Greater Accra from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026
– The outage allows engineers to replace a transmission tower on the 161kV Tema–Achimota line, damaged at Ashaiman Middle East
– The tower was damaged after a fuel tanker exploded during unauthorised welding work within the transmission line’s Right-of-Way
– GRIDCo has not officially named the specific affected neighbourhoods, saying only “some locations” in Greater Accra will lose power
– A community list attributed to ECG has circulated online but has not been verified against any official ECG notice
– Energy Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor has given encroachers on transmission corridors one month to vacate or face legal action
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a power outage in Accra today?
GRIDCo scheduled the outage to safely replace a transmission tower on the 161kV Tema–Achimota line, which was damaged after a fuel tanker exploded during illegal welding work at Ashaiman.
Which areas in Accra will be affected by the outage?
GRIDCo has only said “some locations” in Greater Accra will be affected, without naming specific neighbourhoods. An unverified community list is circulating online, so residents should confirm with GRIDCo or ECG directly.
How long will the power outage last?
The outage is scheduled to run for close to 15 hours, from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
As GRIDCo’s technical teams work through the day to restore the damaged tower, the incident has added fresh urgency to the company’s broader campaign against encroachment on Ghana’s power transmission corridors, with enforcement action against illegal occupants expected within the coming month.
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- More from GRIDCo’s official site — https://gridco.com.gh
