Reconstruction works on GRIDCo’s 161kV Akwatia – New Obuasi Transmission Line (Q1NB) have been completed. The project was undertaken to replace a damaged tower near Obuasi, caused by the activities of unidentified illegal chainsaw operators.
On March 17, 2025, the Q1NB Line became faulty, when a tree outside the Right of Way (RoW) fell on it, substantially damaging Tower No. 38, conductors, and associated hardware.
In response to this unfortunate incident, Management directed the formation of a multidisciplinary team to restore the Line to service as quickly as possible. Line maintenance experts from the Northern and Southern Network Departments, with support from the Technical Services and Land Management Departments, executed the repair and reconstruction works under the leadership of Mr. Johnson Ilupeju, Chief Technician Engineer (CTE), Lines.
While works were ongoing, some Management staff, led by the Acting Chief Executive, Ing. Mark Baah visited the site on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to assess work progress. The team witnessed the installation of components on Tower No. 38 and inspected the bush clearing works extending to Tower No. 40.
Though the work was successfully completed, Mr. Johnson Ilupeju shared with the Management Team, challenges encountered, stating, “We would have completed the works much earlier, but we encountered many challenges. Transporting the conductors was particularly difficult, due to the terrain. Since our trucks could not navigate the area, we had to hire army trucks, used by timber contractors, to accomplish the task. Tower components also had to be transported in batches.”
Mr. Tanko, Supervising Technician Engineer, Land Management Department, added, “When we started the clearing, we realised there wasn’t enough time to create the access route manually. We, therefore, moved the machines quickly to reach the top so the team could begin work.” He noted that the bush clearing effort was largely successful and will help prevent future vegetation-related disruptions on the Q1NB line.
Following a two-and-a-half-hour inspection tour, the Acting Chief Executive, Ing. Mark Baah, addressed the project team: “For Management, it is important to visit the site, understand the challenges, and identify areas for improvement. One benefit of such visits is seeing what support is needed in similar future scenarios. He also commended the contractors for playing their part well. On behalf of the Management Team, I thank all of you for such and outstanding output.
“It boosts morale when the Management Team visits us in such a challenging terrain,” remarked Mr. Ilupeju, before the team departed.
The team completed the erection of the new Tower No. 38 on Wednesday, April 16. Conductors were raised on Thursday, April 17, and the lines were restrung on Friday, April 18. The Q1NB Line was officially restored to service on Saturday, April 18, 2025.
We take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in the successful completion of this critical project. Well done!
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Facts About the Akwatia – New Obuasi Transmission Line (Q1NB)
The 110 km line (also known as Q1NB) was constructed in 1991, with a total number of Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven (287) towers and an insulation voltage of 161kV.