The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has rolled out a structured six-hour power rationing timetable affecting parts of the Greater Accra, Volta, Ashanti Regions, and the Tema enclave, as the country grapples with persistent instability in electricity supply following a disruption linked to a fire outbreak at a substation near the Akosombo Dam.
3-group system introduced to manage outages
The timetable, which took effect over the weekend and runs into the new week, divides affected communities into three operational groups—A, B, and C—with each group scheduled to experience at least six hours of electricity interruption within every 24-hour cycle.
The arrangement is designed as a rotating load-shedding schedule intended to balance supply across the national grid while repairs and system stabilisation efforts continue.
12 hours or more outages experienced
Under the schedule, Saturday, April 25, 2026, saw Group A go without electricity from 6:00am to 12:00 noon, followed by Group B from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm. Group C was subsequently affected from 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight, while Group A again entered another outage window from 12:00 midnight to 6:00am. The cycle effectively meant that some communities experienced near-continuous interruptions depending on their grouping and local grid dynamics.
Rotational schedule continues into new week
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the rotation shifted, with Group B affected from 6:00am to 12:00 noon, Group C from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm, Group A from 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight, and Group B from 12:00 midnight to 6:00am.
Monday, April 27 followed a similar rotational pattern, with Group C beginning the cycle from 6:00am to 12:00 noon, Group A from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm, Group B from 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight, and Group C again from 12:00 midnight to 6:00am.
Tuesday, April 28, saw Group A affected from 6:00am to 12:00 noon, Group B from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm, Group C from 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight, and Group A once again from 12:00 midnight to 6:00am.
On Wednesday, April 29, Group B experienced outages from 6:00am to 12:00 noon, Group C from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm, Group A from 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight, and Group B from 12:00 midnight to 6:00am.
Thursday, April 30, saw Group C first in line from 6:00am to 12:00 noon, followed by Group A from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm, Group B from 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight, and Group C again from 12:00 midnight to 6:00am.
The schedule is expected to continue into Friday, May 1, 2026, maintaining the rotational structure.
Extended outages spark public frustration
Despite the structured timetable, several communities across the affected regions have reportedly experienced far longer outages than scheduled, with some areas recording between 12 and 24 hours without power over the weekend.
This has fuelled public frustration and raised concerns about the reliability of the load-shedding arrangement.
Akosombo substation fire knocks out 1,000MW from grid
The ECG timetable comes against the backdrop of a broader electricity supply challenge triggered by a fire outbreak at a substation linked to the Akosombo Dam, one of Ghana’s most critical power generation assets.
The incident has knocked out nearly 1,000 megawatts of power from the national grid, significantly constraining supply in a system where peak national demand stands at about 4,400 megawatts.
Govt suspends electricity exports to stabilise supply
Officials have also confirmed that Ghana has temporarily halted electricity exports in order to prioritise domestic supply stability. The Akosombo Dam complex plays a central role in the country’s hydroelectric generation mix, and the loss of capacity has placed additional pressureh on thermal plants and other supporting infrastructure.
Pre-existing challenges compound current outages
Prior to the fire incident, sections of the public were already experiencing intermittent outages, suggesting that the grid was under strain even before the latest disruption.
Authorities have since attributed earlier power interruptions to ongoing maintenance interventions, including the replacement of non-performing transformers and upgrades in areas where overload conditions had been identified.
Businesses count losses as power cuts bite
Despite official explanations, the implementation of the rationing timetable has had a visible impact on daily life and economic activity.
Small businesses, particularly those in retail, hospitality, cold storage, and services, have been among the hardest hit.
Many traders havey reported losses due to spoilage of perishable goods, especially in markets and food vending operations that rely heavily on refrigeration.
Households and electronics affected by unstable supply
Households have equally felt the strain, with residents reporting disruptions to water supply systems, cooking routines, and basic domestic activities.
In many homes, the repeated switching of power has also led to concerns about damage to electrical appliances. Refrigerators, televisions, charging devices, and other electronics are among the most frequently cited items affected by sudden outages and surges.
Public anger grows over inconsistent outages
Many Ghanaians have taken to social media to express frustration over what they describe as unpredictable and prolonged outages. While the timetable suggests a six-hour rotational schedule, several communities say they have experienced extended blackouts beyond the allocated periods, raising questions about enforcement and communication of the load-shedding plan.
Energy analysts warn of system stress
Energy sector analysts note that the situation highlights the fragility of Ghana’s power distribution network under stress conditions.
With nearly a quarter of generation capacity temporarily affected by the Akosombo incident, the system has had to rely on tighter load management strategies, exposing weaknesses in distribution coordination.
Restoration efforts and uncertainty ahead
As the situation continues to evolve, attention remains focused on restoration efforts at the affected substation and broader grid stabilisation measures.
Until then, ECG’s rationing timetable is expected to remain in force, even as public pressure mounts for a more predictable and transparent electricity supply regime.
