ECG inspects four major system upgrade projects in Kumasi

Kwame Kpekpena, the Acting Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), visited four major system upgrade projects in Kumasi to inspect progress. The projects, initiated by the ECG to improve the quality supply of power to the Ashanti Region, included three sub-transmission lines. These comprise upgrading sub-transmission lines from Boadi to Kaase to Ridge Substation, and constructing a new sub-transmission line from Airport roundabout to Anwomaso Substation. Also, an upgrade of a sub-transmission line from Neoplan to Barekese and the rehabilitation of the existing Bulk Supply Point (BSP) at the Ridge Substation in Kumasi.

Mr. Kpekpena said one of the reasons for implementing the project was to reduce constraints on transformer capacity and some links. He explained, "We have constraints in transformer capacity and some of the links. So, we are not able to push the power we take from the transmission grid into the distribution network and our communities." The existing sub-transmission line from Boadi to Kaase to the Ridge Substation was being upgraded from 265 square millimetres (sq.mm) to 400 sqmm All Aluminium Conductor (AAC) at a cost of about USD 6.8 million. About USD10.5 million was being invested in the construction of a new sub-transmission line from the Airport roundabout to the Anwomaso Substation. About USD400,000 per kilometre was being invested into the construction of about 16km sub-transmission line from Neoplan to Barekese.

Mr. Kpekpena stated that the costs of constructing the sub-transmission lines could change due to unexpected activities, such as theft. He noted that the sub-transmission line being constructed from Neoplan to Barekese was primarily to ensure a constant, safe, and reliable power supply to