GRIDCo commissions new siemens transformer at Afienya

April 13, 2026

Ghana’s power transmission backbone just got significantly stronger in the Greater Accra corridor, as the Ghana Grid Company has commissioned a new high-capacity transformer at its Afienya Substation, more than doubling the station’s ability to meet surging electricity demand in the area.

Four technicians inspecting a control panel of a transformer in an outdoor setting, wearing safety helmets and vests.

The newly installed 120/145MVA Siemens Energy transformer replaces a 50/66MVA unit that had been straining under the weight of growing demand from expanding distribution lines serving Accra, Dawhenya, and surrounding communities. The upgrade represents not just a capacity boost but a critical intervention to prevent the kind of chronic overloading that threatens grid stability.

Two workers, one male and one female, are performing maintenance or repairs on machinery. The male worker, wearing a blue shirt and helmet, is using a wrench, while the female worker, wearing a striped shirt and gloves, assists him.

Dr Benefit E.A.K Patu, Supervisor for Electrical Maintenance, explained the urgency behind the project. “The capacity of the original transformer was nearing its limit due to increasing demand from ECG’s extended distribution lines. With the new 120/145MVA transformer, we now have the capacity to accommodate more load and extend a reliable power supply to more communities,” he said.

Two workers in blue helmets and gloves are performing electrical maintenance on a container, one using a ladder to access the equipment while the other assists from below.

The installation was a technically intensive undertaking carried out entirely by GRIDCo’s own engineers. The process involved positioning the transformer on its foundation, assembling all components and accessories, performing oil filtration to ensure proper filling of the transformer core and conservator, and treating the oil to reduce moisture content to acceptable levels, with continuous monitoring producing single-digit PPM results before technical validation and approval were granted.

Four workers in blue safety jackets and helmets engage in a discussion, reviewing documents and a mobile phone on a power station site.

Ensuring the system would respond correctly to any future fault conditions was equally critical. The Protection and Control team, led by Francis Koomson, decommissioned old cables, installed new wiring, and ran comprehensive protection and trip tests. “Our responsibility was to ensure the transformer operates safely. We verified that in the event of a fault, the system will trip as expected,” Koomson said.

A worker in a hard hat and safety gear is standing on top of a transformer, securing ropes while inspecting electrical equipment under a clear blue sky.

The project was led by Dr Patu alongside Koomson and Albert Baiden-Amissah, Supervisor for Line Maintenance. This fully in-house execution GRIDCo says, reflects its growing technical capacity and commitment to operational excellence.

A worker in blue overalls and a blue hard hat is climbing a metal structure to inspect a large yellow tank under a clear sky.

With the new transformer now live, the Afienya Substation is better positioned to serve not just the community’s current electricity needs but also the demand growth that lies ahead as Accra’s peri-urban belt continues to expand.