The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has convened an emergency meeting between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and Ghana Water Limited (GWL) to address persistent low-voltage challenges affecting water production in the Ashanti Region.
The meeting, held virtually on Wednesday, August 27, followed recent voltage fluctuations at the Barekese Water Treatment Station, which disrupted water production and distribution to parts of Greater Kumasi.
Following discussions, the three utilities agreed on a number of immediate and long-term measures to improve power supply to critical water production facilities and strengthen electricity reliability in the region.
GRIDCo committed to accelerating work on the Anwomaso–Ridge transmission upgrade, which is expected to increase transmission capacity from 360MVA to 1,000MVA and improve power supply to major load centres in Kumasi.
The company also announced plans to upgrade the Nyiaeso Bulk Supply Point (BSP) transformer and develop a third BSP for the Ashanti Region to provide additional capacity and enhance long-term power system stability.
ECG, meanwhile, agreed to fast-track the upgrade of the Adoato–Barekese transmission line by replacing the existing 150mm² conductors with 265mm² conductors.
The upgrade is expected to improve voltage quality to Barekese and surrounding communities, including facilities operated by GWL. The Nsuta–Kumawu transmission project was also identified as another important intervention.
For its part, GWL assured the Commission that it would expedite the reconfiguration of transformers at its facilities to help improve voltage quality and sustain water production.
The Ashanti Regional Manager of PURC, Mr Edward Boduah Kingston, said the Commission would immediately constitute an investigation team to assess the situation on the ground and monitor progress on the agreed interventions.
He said the outcomes of the meeting would also be escalated to the national level for the necessary support to ensure timely implementation of the measures.
Mr Kingston further urged ECG and GRIDCo to strengthen communication with GWL regarding project timelines and planned maintenance activities.
He said timely information would enable GWL to plan its production and distribution operations more effectively and provide accurate information to the public when disruptions were anticipated.
The interventions are expected to improve electricity reliability and safeguard critical public services, particularly water production and distribution in Greater Kumasi.
The meeting was attended by Ing. Peter Aquah, Area Manager of GRIDCo Kumasi; Ing. Maxwell Akosah-Kusi, Regional Distribution Manager of GWL Ashanti South; Dr Hanson Akutteh, Chief Manager in charge of Production at GWL Ashanti; Mrs Yvonne Coleman, Chief Manager, Ashanti South, GWL; Ing. Christopher Anafo and his team; as well as officials of the PURC Ashanti Regional Office.
