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Grid infrastructureGhanaEIR-0497

Earthing transformer fire at Achimota substation causes Accra power outages

2025Published 7 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Achimota Bulk Supply Point, Accra
Operator
Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)
What
Earthing transformer caught fire
Cause
Not reported
Outcome
Power restored to all areas by early May 2025

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Electricity Company of Ghana

What happened

An earthing transformer at the Achimota Bulk Supply Point, operated by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), unexpectedly caught fire during April 2025. The fire caused widespread power outages across various parts of Accra, including the Abelemkpe area, affecting customers over the course of the month. Images released by ECG showed significant charring and damage to the affected transformer. ECG worked to restore supply to affected customers, and by early May 2025 the utility confirmed that power had been restored to all affected areas.

ECG's Public Relations Officer for the Accra East Region stated the company was working to ensure stability of supply and prevent similar incidents in future, though no further detail on the cause of the fire was provided.

Contributing factors

Not reported beyond the statement that an earthing transformer at the substation unexpectedly caught fire.

Lessons learned

  1. An earthing transformer fire at a bulk supply point caused widespread outages, so operators should apply the same monitoring to auxiliary transformers as to main units.
  2. Supply to affected Accra customers was not fully restored until early May, so utilities need tested plans for rapid isolation and replacement of failed substation earthing transformers.

More lessons on detection and monitoring, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the transformer fire
  • Model and age of the earthing transformer
  • Exact duration of each outage
  • Cost of damage and restoration

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

ghanaweb.com

Other entries that name Achimota

Other entries that name Accra

Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in Ghana, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in Ghana: 9 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one.

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