News Guide Africa

Tag: GRIDCo

  • GRIDCo Staff Protest CEO’s Overstayed Retirement

     

     

    The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) is witnessing growing unrest due allegations that its Chief Executive Officer, Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, has remained in office despite reaching the statutory retirement age.

     

    A letter sighted by this paper, dated January 15, 2025, clearly directed Ing. Baah to proceed on compulsory retirement by June 15, 2025, in accordance with Article 12 of GRIDCo’s Conditions of Service.

     

    The directive instructed him to vacate his post, settle all outstanding obligations, and relinquish the company’s accommodation.

     

    However, three months after the deadline, the position remains unoccupied.

     

    The development has sparked agitation among staff, who argue that his continued stay contravenes both GRIDCo’s internal policy and presidential directives on retirement.

     

    “How can a man who has officially retired still be running this critical state institution? Who is protecting him, and why?” an irate worker queried.

     

    According to insiders, Ing. Baah’s extended tenure has deepened suspicions that elements of the previous administration remain entrenched in the company’s structures. Some employees allege that backdoor recruitments and contract renewals continue to favour individuals with links to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), further undermining President John Dramani Mahama’s Resetting Agenda.

     

    Party grassroots have also raised concerns, questioning why a retired CEO, with perceived political ties to the NPP, is still steering a key state utility at the expense of loyal National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters. “Our youth fought for this government, yet those who should have retired are still signing contracts and making appointments,” one NDC insider lamented.

     

    GRIDCo’s board has been accused of shielding Ing. Baah from the retirement directive, fueling growing discontent among staff and sections of the ruling party. While open protests remain muted, sources warn that frustrations are boiling beneath the surface.

     

    With pressure mounting, lingering questions persist: Why has Ing. Baah’s retirement not been enforced, and who is enabling his continued stay in office?

  • Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire to begin joint 330KV power line project

    Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are set to commence the construction of a 330-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line as part of the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) initiative.

    The 243-kilometre cross-border project is designed to boost electricity exchange between the two countries and enhance grid stability across the wider West African region.

    Feasibility studies have confirmed the project’s technical and financial viability within Ghana. The total estimated cost of the project is €154.4 million, covering environmental and social impact mitigation, construction supervision, and project management.

    Speaking at a ministerial committee meeting on Wednesday June 25, 2025, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Engineer Mark Baah, stressed the project’s role in deepening regional energy integration.

    “The project involves the construction of a 330kV double-circuit transmission line, stretching approximately 243 kilometres—about 122 kilometres on each side of the border,” he explained.

    “It will connect the existing Biahoué (Bijave) substation in Côte d’Ivoire to the upcoming Dunkwa 2 substation in Ghana. While there is currently a Dunkwa 1 substation, it operates at 161kV. This new facility in Dunkwa will operate at 330kV.”

    “Beyond enhancing bilateral energy trade, this project is expected to contribute to grid reliability across West Africa. It has been deemed both technically sound and environmentally manageable.”

    The initiative is a key step in the broader effort to integrate energy systems across the ECOWAS sub-region under the WAPP framework.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Postponed WAPCO maintainance to cause load shedding… as US$89mn needed to purchase liquid fuel to run thermal plants

    ECG and GRIDCo logo

     

     

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCO) has indicated it will soon undertake planned maintenance termed as ‘pigging’ (cleaning) exercise offshore from January 20 to February Febr 16, 2025.

    WAPCO logo

    Ghana GRID Company Limited in a document titled, “Power Supply Outlook For The WAGP Offshore Pigging From

    January 20 – February 16, 2025 And Projections For 2025 revealed that, the planned maintenance which was initially scheduled to take place in October 2024, but the immediate past NPP government coerced the company to postpone the exercise to this year.

     

    This is expected to affect gas supply to power generation plants, basically in Tema enclaves. It is expected that, there will be deficit in generation capacity during the period of the WAPCO pigging exercise. There is therefore the need to procure liquid fuel to run thermal plants in Tema to meet demand.

     

    “A total of US$ 89.90 million is required to purchase liquid fuel to run thermal plants in order to meet demand for the period”, the GRIDCo document stated. “System demand is projected to grow steadily to an annual peak of 4,415.42MW by the last quarter of 2025.”

     

    It further indicated that, “There will accordingly be the need to secure additional generation resources with dependable capacity of at least 244.66 MW by the last quarter of the year to ensure sustained supply adequacy by the end of the year.”

     

    This is likely to resort in load shedding in days to come.