Nationwide blackout as several power plants fail
A major fault on Ghana's national power grid has caused widespread blackouts, affecting major cities and essential services. The state-run utility company is investigating the cause while working to restore power.
Why it matters
Reliable electricity is critical for economic stability and public services; frequent outages highlight infrastructure vulnerabilities in developing economies.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Thomas Naadi , BBC Africa, Accra and Wycliffe Muia Getty Images The power utility firm did not say how long it would take for normal supplies to resume A major fault on Ghana's national power grid has triggered widespread outages, leaving the capital, Accra, the commercial hub of Kumasi and much of north without electricity.
Several power plants across the West African nation were forced to shut down in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the state-run power distribution company said.
"Our engineers and system operators are working continuously to restore power in the shortest time possible without compromising safety," Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has said in its statement.
Ghana has had regular power shortages for years - popularly known as "dumsor", meaning "on and off" in the Akan language - but the situation has been improving.
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