ECG strengthens grid defences after snake causes power outage at Ejisu
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 11 June, disrupted power supply on the Akyawkrom 2 feeder after the snake bridged the line to ground at Kwaso in the Ejusu area. Power was restored by 3:39 pm, with both Akyawkrom 1 and 2 interconnectors fully operational and all affected substations picking full load
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says it is stepping up efforts to protect its infrastructure from wildlife interference after a snake caused a brief outage in the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 11 June, disrupted power supply on the Akyawkrom 2 feeder after the snake bridged the line to ground at Kwaso in the Ejusu area. Power was restored by 3:39 pm, with both Akyawkrom 1 and 2 interconnectors fully operational and all affected substations picking full load.
Ing. Peter K. Fletcher, General Manager of ECG Ashanti Sub-Transmission, said such incidents highlight the ongoing threat wildlife poses to grid reliability.
“Wildlife, especially snakes and birds, continue to pose real threats to grid reliability,” he said. “Today’s outage was brief, but it highlights why we are proactively investing in wildlife mitigation infrastructure—including snake guards, tighter sealing of cable entries, and regular habitat clearing around substations.”
The ECG said it is also introducing enhanced monitoring systems, such as motion and thermal sensors, to detect early signs of animal intrusion. These technologies form part of a broader resilience strategy aimed at reducing unplanned outages, particularly in regions where substations border natural habitats.
Collins Manu, Head of Public Relations at ECG Ashanti Sub-Transmission, said the company was not waiting for faults to happen before acting.
“Our preventive measures include trimming vegetation, reinforcing fencing, and improving drainage systems to make substations less attractive to snakes and other animals,” he said. “At the same time, we continue to sensitise communities on the importance of reporting unusual activity around our assets.”
Residents have been urged to stay vigilant and to alert ECG of any sightings of animals near substations and feeders.
“Our customers are our first line of defence,” Mr Manu added. “When they report early, we’re able to intervene quickly and prevent potential outages.”
The ECG says it remains committed to delivering reliable power across the Ashanti Region through a combination of rapid response, proactive maintenance, and targeted environmental risk management.
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