A short power interruption on the Akyawkrom 2 feeder on June 11, 2025, revived discussions regarding one of the most surprising dangers to Ghana’s electricity grid: wild animals.
Who is the offender this time? A serpent. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) reported that the snake had slithered into a substation in Kwaso, located in the Ejisu area, forming a connection between the feeder and the ground, interrupting electricity supply in sections of the Ashanti Region.
The ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission Line Maintenance Team quickly restored power, but officials indicate that this event is part of a consistent trend.
“Wildlife, especially snakes and birds, continue to pose real threats to grid reliability,” ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission Head of PR, Collins Manu, told reporters.
“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.”
“Our preventive measures include trimming vegetation, reinforcing fencing, and improving drainage systems to make substations less attractive to snakes and other animals.
At the same time, we continue to sensitise communities on the importance of reporting unusual activity around our assets,” Manu said.
The call for vigilance was echoed by Ing. Peter K. Fletcher, General Manager of ECG Ashanti Sub-Transmission, who emphasized the role of the public.
“Our customers are our first line of defence,” Ing. Fletcher noted. “When they report early, we’re able to intervene quickly and prevent potential outages.”
credit:mynewsgh
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