A disruption to the electricity supply in the Ashanti Region on June 11, 2025, has once again spotlighted an unusual but persistent challenge to Ghana’s power infrastructure intrusion by wildlife.
This time, the outage on the Akyawkrom 2 feeder line was traced to a snake that had slithered into the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)’s substation at Kwaso in the Ejisu area.
The animal made contact between the feeder and the ground, resulting in an automatic shutdown of the line.
The ECG’s emergency response team promptly restored service, but officials say the incident reflects a broader, recurring issue involving animals interfering with electrical systems.
“Wildlife, especially snakes and birds, continue to pose real threats to grid reliability,”
said Collins Manu, the Public Relations Officer for ECG’s Ashanti Sub-Transmission.
“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.”
Mr. Manu emphasized that the company is not adopting a wait-and-see approach. Instead, it is stepping up protective measures to deter animals from entering sensitive facilities.
“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,”
he added.
His sentiments were echoed by Ing. Peter K. Fletcher, General Manager of the Ashanti Sub-Transmission operations, who highlighted the essential role residents can play in preventing such disruptions.
“Our customers are our first line of defence,”
he said.
“When they report early, we’re able to intervene quickly and prevent potential outages.”
Though the blackout was swiftly resolved, the ECG says it’s a reminder that power systems remain vulnerable to non-technical risks.
As part of a broader strategy to bolster grid resilience, the company is expanding its investment in ecological barriers and urging public cooperation to keep Ghana’s electricity supply stable and uninterrupted.
