The Eastern Regional office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has reported a strong operational performance for 2025, marked by improved power stability, significant infrastructure investments, and intensified efforts to curb illegal electricity use.
Speaking at a media engagement held at the ECG Durbar Hall in Koforidua on March 25, 2026, the Eastern Regional General Manager, Ing. Emmanuel Appoe, emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency and collaboration with the media in delivering reliable information to customers.
He described 2025 as “eventful and successful,” highlighting the region’s achievement in maintaining a relatively stable power supply despite isolated challenges. According to him, the introduction of the “Operation Zero Tripping” initiative played a key role in reducing outages. The programme tasked engineering and operational teams to routinely inspect power lines, remove faults, and carry out spot improvements.
This initiative was further strengthened by ECG’s nationwide “Operation Keep the Lights On” campaign, which together helped the Eastern Region emerge as one of the top-performing operational zones in terms of power stability indicators.
Ing. Appoe noted that the region’s network structure, particularly its ring system, has provided a strategic advantage. This system allows certain areas to continue receiving power through alternative sources during maintenance works, minimizing disruptions for customers.
To further enhance system reliability, the region invested over GH¢7.4 million in 2025. The funds were used to install eight new transformers in high-demand areas, upgrade five existing ones, and complete 40 network improvement and extension projects. These interventions, he said, significantly improved service delivery across the region.
Additionally, all 14 districts in the region are benefiting from the ongoing VIT Project, a flagship ECG initiative designed to quickly detect and isolate faults. When completed, the project is expected to reduce the scale and duration of power outages.
Despite these gains, the region faced several challenges, including vandalism, bushfires, and accidents involving vehicles crashing into power installations. In 2025 alone, 54 utility poles were destroyed by bushfires, while 13 transformers were damaged by vehicular accidents. Activities of illegal chainsaw operators also contributed to disruptions.
Ing. Appoe expressed concern that many perpetrators flee the scene, leaving ECG to bear the cost of repairs. He appealed to the public to protect power infrastructure and support efforts to maintain a reliable electricity network.
On the metering front, the region currently serves over 466,000 active customers, comprising both prepaid and postpaid users. The ongoing Loss Reduction Project has led to the installation of more than 69,000 prepaid meters across seven districts, with an eighth district piloting the initiative.
The ECG also intensified its fight against power theft and illegal connections. Through monitoring and enforcement, the company recovered over GH¢1.5 million from offenses such as meter bypassing, tampering, and unauthorized connections.
Looking ahead to 2026, Ing. Appoe assured customers of continued improvements in service delivery. He urged consumers to pay their bills promptly and avoid illegal practices, emphasizing that public cooperation is essential for sustained progress.
He further noted that many widespread power outages are often linked to challenges from the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), which supplies bulk electricity to ECG for distribution.
The media engagement concluded with a question-and-answer session, where journalists sought clarification on operational issues and future plans of the company.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Nhyiraba Solomon Nartey
