Mahama: Power Outages Part of System Upgrade, Not Dumsor Crisis | Discuss Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama visited the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) today, Sunday, April 19, 2026, as part of his "Resetting Ghana" tour. During the visit, the President inspected a new batch of high-capacity transformers set to be deployed to stabilize power supply across the northern sector.

Addressing concerns over recent power interruptions, the President clarified that the current outages are localized "maintenance interruptions" necessary for a massive infrastructure overhaul, rather than a return to the dreaded era of "dumsor" (prolonged load shedding).

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The NEDCo Upgrade Highlights

2,500 Transformers: President Mahama revealed that the government has procured 2,500 transformers for a nationwide upgrade. The first phase focuses on replacing overloaded and faulty units in the Tamale, Wa, and Techiman areas.

Capacity Boost: At the Berekum Primary Substation, a new 20/26 MVA transformer is being installed to replace an old 10 MVA unit that was frequently tripping due to overload.

Vegetation Control: As part of the technical visit, it was disclosed that NEDCo is currently clearing vegetation along 78 feeders to prevent tree branches from causing "nuisance" trips during the upcoming rainy season.

GRIDCo Collaboration: The President also inspected work at the Techiman Bulk Supply Point, where a 66 MVA transformer is being installed by GRIDCo to support NEDCo’s distribution network.

"Resetting Ghana" Tour: Day 2 Update

The inspection at NEDCo served as a precursor to a major Town Hall Meeting at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale this afternoon.

Direct Accountability: Accompanied by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, the President is using the tour to provide feedback on the 24-Hour Economy incentives and the Free Primary Healthcare rollout.

Infrastructure Progress: Aside from power, the President has been inspecting road projects and cutting sod for 24-hour model markets (like the one in Bimbilla) to ensure the region is ready for increased industrial activity.

Community Engagement: Over the weekend, the President held private meetings with the Northern Regional House of Chiefs to discuss security and land tenure reforms for commercial farming.

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Summary of Ongoing Power Interventions (April 2026)

Project Site	Intervention	Status
Berekum Substation	Replacing 10MVA with 26MVA Transformer	In Progress
Tamale Metro	500 New Distribution Transformers	Rolling Out
Techiman BSP	Installation of 66 MVA Transformer	Near Completion
Wa Substation	Full System Enhancement	Ongoing