Ghana Eyes 1,200MW Gas-Fired Plant to Prevent Power Shortfall

President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana is moving to prevent a potential electricity shortfall with plans to develop a 1,200-megawatt gas-fired power plant.

The proposed project would lift the country’s installed generation capacity from about 4,300 megawatts to nearly 6,000 megawatts, as demand continues to rise.

Mahama made the announcement during a town hall meeting in Koforidua as part of his Resetting Ghana tour, noting that recent supply disruptions have exposed the need for fresh investment in the power sector.

He attributed the outages to transformer replacements and a fire incident at the control room of the Ghana Grid Company facility in Akosombo, which temporarily cut about 1,000 megawatts - roughly a quarter of national capacity.

Electricity consumption has risen steadily, according to the president, climbing from about 3,500 megawatts in 2025 to a current peak of 4,300 megawatts.

Mahama said expanding generation capacity would not only meet domestic demand but also create surplus power for export, offering a potential source of foreign exchange.

To support the plan, the government has engaged partners in the Jubilee oil field and Eni, who have indicated willingness to commit about $2 billion and $1.5 billion respectively towards gas infrastructure linked to the project.

He said the investment could secure adequate electricity supply for the next decade or more, even without additional plants.

Mahama also praised engineers at GRIDCo for restoring power following the Akosombo fire, saying local expertise had ensured a swift recovery of all affected units.

During the visit, the president also performed ground-breaking ceremonies for a multipurpose hall and hostel at a Seventh-day Adventist college in Koforidua, and for a 24-hour market project in Asesewa, in the Upper Manya Krobo District.