Ghana’s Infrastructure Crisis: ACEP Warns of Energy Sector Fragility as Road Connectivity Challenges Mount

Ghana’s energy sector is facing a critical period of instability, with experts warning that intermittent power outages have become inevitable due to structural weaknesses and a lack of system robustness. Ben Boakye, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), has raised alarms over the current state of the national grid, asserting that generation and distribution deficits are rooted in systemic failures rather than simple technical faults. Boakye recently criticized the government and energy authorities for a lack of transparency regarding load-shedding schedules and transformer maintenance, urging the public to prepare for ongoing disruptions as the current infrastructure struggles to meet demand.

A focal point of recent concern is the fire at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) Akosombo substation, which Boakye labeled as a preventable disaster caused by institutional negligence. While newer substations like those in Pokuase and Kasoa are equipped with modern, automated safety systems, the Akosombo facility—which dates back to the 1960s—still relies on outdated manual responses. The ACEP chief argued that the failure to upgrade this aging infrastructure, despite repeated warnings, reflects a broader lack of accountability and planning within the energy sector. These inefficiencies not only lead to widespread blackouts, particularly in regions like Kumasi, but also result in significant financial losses that burden the national economy.

Beyond the power sector, Ghana's broader infrastructure is also under pressure, notably within the transport network. The Accra-Kumasi highway, a vital economic artery, continues to suffer from severe congestion, specifically along the Nkawkaw-Jejeti stretch. This has forced commuters to adopt long, inefficient detours through secondary routes like Kade to avoid gridlock. However, analysts note that the normalization of such detours is a sign of a failing transport strategy. High internal travel costs, including rising flight prices and deteriorating road conditions, are increasingly hampering the movement of goods and people, further complicating the country’s economic recovery efforts.

The synthesis of these challenges suggests a pressing need for comprehensive reform and urgent investment in Ghana’s core infrastructure. For the energy sector, Boakye emphasizes that without a shift toward better governance, modernized safety standards, and rigorous accountability, the cycle of blackouts and preventable accidents will continue. Similarly, addressing the bottlenecks in the national road network is essential for sustaining economic growth. As authorities attribute current power struggles to ongoing system upgrades, the public and energy experts alike remain watchful, calling for a more resilient and better-managed infrastructure framework to support the nation's development.