GRIDCo recently welcomed representatives from the ECOWAS Regional Electricity.

Regulatory Authority (ERERA), the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), and the Authority for the Regulation of Water and Energy (AREEN) in Burundi for a familiarisation tour of its System Control Centre (SCC).

The familiarisation tour provided insight into how GRIDCo manages Ghana’s transmission network, showcasing the technology and expertise, which keeps the national grid stable and reliable.

Director, System Operations, (DSO) Ing. Husseini Adams and the Manager, Dispatch, Ing. Wofa Kwarteng, warmly received by the energy regulators. Ing. Wofa Kwarteng delivered an introductory briefing and explained SCC’s vital role in keeping electricity flowing across the nation. Ing. Adams emphasised that, beyond being Ghana’s sole electricity transmitter, GRIDCo also serves as an independent System Operator and provides billing services to bulk consumers. “So, as we transmit and deliver to a point, at the end of the month we account for that and we settle everybody,” he said.

Mr. Mushimantwari Evelio from AREEN-Burundi, asked about the level of power export to neighbouring countries. DSO, Ing. Adams explained that the volumes depend on the agreements in place with each partner utility. He cited Burkina’s SONABEL, which receives about 150MW daily, while Côte d’Ivoire receives about 90MW as of January. On Ghana’s forward-looking energy strategy, Ing. Adams indicated that Ghana is actively working to expand generation capacity to increase power export needs saying, “Within the next five years, we are looking at about a 2,400MW addition to the already existing capacity.” Additional thermal plants will be constructed, while integrating renewable energy projects will position Ghana as a future net exporter of power.

During the tour of the Control Room, Mrs. Cynthia Di Leonforte (CRE, France) asked “How is electricity transmitted, and how does GRIDCo monitor performance across the network?” Manager, Dispatch, Ing. Kwarteng walked the delegation through the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, showing how they monitor performance, detect faults, and balance supply with demand. Ms. Priscilla Adjoa Badu Donkor, ERERA posed a question posed about “Why the frequency for Anwomaso had been singled out”, Ing. Adams explained that Kumasi is now transforming into a generation hub with a lot of generation going into the area, and so it can be used as a reference point.

The visit ended with thoughtful reflections on the symbolic role of GRIDCo’s System Control Centre. More than just a technical hub, the SCC stands as a powerful reminder of GRIDCo’s reliability and its commitment to national progress. The tour reminds us of the complex process of dispatching power from generation plants to distribution companies, ensuring stability for millions of households and businesses.