The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has announced the full restoration of power supply to all areas affected by a system disturbance that occurred on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

In a press statement issued by its Corporate Communications Section on Friday, August 21, GRIDCo said the restoration exercise began immediately after the disturbance, with its engineers and technical teams across the power sector working to return electricity supply to affected communities.

According to the company, power had been fully restored to all affected areas by 12:03 p.m.

GRIDCo said the swift restoration followed the coordinated efforts of its engineers and other technical teams who worked diligently to stabilise the system and reconnect affected areas.

The company expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their cooperation and support throughout the restoration process, as well as to members of the public for their patience and understanding.

“GRIDCo will continue to implement measures to strengthen the reliability, stability, and resilience of the transmission network,” the company said.

The latest update comes after the system disturbance disrupted power supply in parts of the country on Thursday.

GRIDCo, which was incorporated in December 2006, is responsible for the economic dispatch and transmission of electricity from wholesale suppliers, including Independent Power Producers (IPPs), to bulk customers and distribution utilities in Ghana and West Africa.

The company became operational on August 1, 2008, following the transfer of the Transmission System Department and its core staff from the Volta River Authority (VRA) to GRIDCo.

GRIDCo operates Ghana’s National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS) and currently transmits electricity to 33 bulk customers and distribution utilities from 11 wholesale suppliers, including the Volta River Authority.

The company has assured the public that efforts will continue to improve the reliability, stability and resilience of the country’s electricity transmission network.

UPDATE – GRIDCo PRESS RELEASE POWER RESTORATION UPDATE_21Aug26

The Savannah Regional Police Command, working with the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and the Police Intelligence Directorate, has arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the robbery of two Mobile Money vendors at the Buipe Cattle Market, where GH¢430,000 was reportedly stolen.

The robbery occurred on June 29, 2026, at the Buipe Cattle Market in the Savannah Region. Following the incident, the Inspector-General of Police deployed personnel from the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit to support the Savannah Regional Command in investigating the case and tracking down the suspects.

According to preliminary investigations, four men armed with two pump-action guns, a single-barrel gun and an AK-47 assault rifle attacked the two Mobile Money vendors.

The suspects allegedly fired their weapons sporadically during the attack before escaping with GH¢430,000.

After weeks of surveillance and intelligence-led operations, the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit, working with the Police Intelligence Directorate and the Kintampo Divisional Police Command, arrested one of the alleged gang members, identified as Yacouba Oumar, 28, on July 23, 2026.

Oumar was arrested at Soronuase in the Bono East Region.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted taking part in the Buipe robbery and named his alleged accomplices as Yakubu Seidu, alias Baba; Abdulai Aziz Yahaya, alias Addo; and Abduli Buipe, also known as Addo.

He further told investigators that the gang had allegedly been contracted by a cattle trader operating at the Buipe market, identified as Alhaji Yacouba, also known as Masaji, Muimen, or Yakubu, to carry out the robbery.

The police subsequently expanded their operations to several locations, including Atebubu, Soronuase, Agogo and Dawadawa, in an effort to locate other members of the alleged syndicate and recover weapons believed to have been used during the robbery.

During the operation, police officers reportedly engaged some of the suspects in an exchange of gunfire.

The confrontation resulted in the deaths of Yakubu Seidu, Abdulai Aziz Yahaya and Oumaro Amadu.

The bodies of the three suspects have been deposited at a morgue for preservation and autopsy.

Following the operation, the police recovered one pump-action gun together with five live BB cartridges. A single-barrel gun believed to have been used in the Buipe robbery was also retrieved.

The police say suspect Yacouba Oumar remains in custody and is assisting investigators with the ongoing probe.

Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to locate and arrest Alhaji Yacouba, the alleged person who contracted the gang, as well as other individuals suspected to be connected to the robbery.

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The Director of the Africa Sustainable Energy Centre, Justice Ohene-Akoto, has challenged the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) to provide clearer and more detailed explanations for the recurring power outages affecting parts of the country.

His comments follow another major power interruption recorded across several areas of Ghana on Thursday, August 20, 2026, raising renewed concerns about the stability and reliability of the national electricity transmission system.

GRIDCo explained that the latest disruption was caused by a major fault on the Akosombo–Volta transmission line. According to the company, the fault resulted in the automatic shutdown of the Akosombo generating units, as well as some thermal power plants, leading to the widespread outage.

However, Justice Ohene-Akoto believes the explanation does not sufficiently address the broader concerns surrounding repeated disturbances on the national grid.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom, he called for greater transparency from GRIDCo, arguing that the public and key stakeholders deserve to know the technical circumstances behind the repeated failures.

“We think GRIDCo is not telling us something. We think GRIDCo should be more transparent on exactly what some of these things are happening,” he said.

Justice Ohene-Akoto suggested that problems with the frequency of the national grid could be contributing to some of the recent system disturbances.

He explained that he had previously raised similar concerns following an earlier total system collapse. At the time, GRIDCo attributed that particular incident to lightning, a position he said he was not convinced by.

“I came out saying it’s likely an issue of frequency, I mean, of a frequency that was out of range, that we had a total failure. GRIDCo came out and said it’s a result of lightning, which I have my reservations about. I believe GRIDCo was not telling us something,” he stated.

According to him, subsequent comments from the Energy Minister about frequency-related challenges have strengthened his earlier concerns.

“Now, on this issue, the Minister came out and said frequency, which I agree with him,” he added.

The energy expert wants GRIDCo to go beyond announcing the immediate cause of major outages and provide comprehensive investigations into what actually triggered the failures.

He proposed that after every significant system disturbance, GRIDCo should publish a detailed root-cause analysis explaining what happened, what contributed to the incident, the lessons identified and the measures being introduced to prevent similar occurrences.

Justice Ohene-Akoto said such reports would also make it possible for stakeholders to assess whether the company was addressing the fundamental weaknesses in the electricity transmission system.

“If they came out to give us a comprehensive root cause analysis and a comprehensive roadmap, we’d have held them accountable with this one,” he said.

He also raised questions about whether the construction of a new ultra-modern control centre would, on its own, solve the technical challenges confronting Ghana’s power system.

He cited a previous fire incident at a substation as an example of an event that, in his view, should have been prevented through stronger systems and safeguards.

“An example is the fire, I mean, the substation that caught fire. That should have been something that should never have happened,” he said.

He further cautioned that investing in new infrastructure without first addressing existing technical weaknesses could leave the underlying problems unresolved.

“I’ve seen the Minister saying, ‘We are going to build an ultra-modern control centre.’ If the underlying issue were not resolved, we are going to burn the control centre as well,” he added.

Justice Ohene-Akoto is therefore urging GRIDCo to make its troubleshooting reports, lessons learned and corrective action plans available to the public.

Justice Ohene-Akoto is calling for GRIDCo to make detailed reports on major system failures available to the public, including the causes of the disruptions, lessons identified and measures being taken in response.

The government has taken steps to bring the long-delayed Saglemi Housing Project back to life, with Ghanaian business group LMI Holdings selected as the preferred developer to complete the development.

The selection followed an evaluation process conducted by a government-appointed team responsible for assessing potential developers capable of taking over and completing the project.

According to a report published by Graphic Online on October 18, 2024, the evaluation team included representatives from the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and Deloitte, with technical support provided by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Works and Housing on October 18, 2024, it was disclosed that the Quarm-LMI Consortium and Broll Ghana Limited had emerged from an initial group of five bidders and were shortlisted for further negotiations.

Broll Ghana Limited is a joint venture involving the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), SIC Insurance PLC and Broll Property Group (BPG), a South African property services company.

The Quarm-LMI Consortium, on the other hand, brings together LMI Holdings and Quarm. LMI Holdings has extensive interests in industrial park development and real estate, while Quarm contributes expertise in areas including logistics, utilities and finance.

The preferred developer is expected to be formally procured to complete the remaining 1,506 housing units at Saglemi.

Once completed, the houses are expected to be sold to members of the public, with salaried workers and organised labour identified as an important segment of the target market.

LMI Holdings’ Completion Commitment

The latest development came after President John Dramani Mahama inspected the Saglemi Housing Project in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

An update posted on the Jubilee House Facebook page stated that LMI Holdings had made a commitment to complete the project within a defined timeline.

Under the revised plan, the developer is expected to finish the first 700 housing units by March 2027.

The first phase, comprising 1,500 units, is scheduled for completion by December 2027.

The commitment represents a renewed attempt to complete and bring the long-stalled housing development into productive use after years of delays.

Who is LMI Holdings?

LMI Holdings is a diversified Ghanaian business group with investments across several sectors of the economy.

Its interests cover areas such as construction, industrial park development, real estate, warehousing, logistics, utilities and information and communications technology (ICT).

The company was established in 1991 and has since grown into a group of companies operating across different areas of Ghana’s economy.

LMI Holdings is headed by Kojo Aduhene, who serves as the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Aduhene holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds and has built extensive experience in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Following his university education, he worked on major projects in the United Kingdom, including the Channel Tunnel, which links the UK with continental Europe, as well as the Docklands urban redevelopment project.

He returned to Ghana in 1991 and established John Murphy Construction, which later evolved into LMI Holdings. The business subsequently developed into a diversified group with interests in civil engineering, property development and utilities.

LMI Holdings’ Track Record

Over the years, LMI Holdings has expanded its operations beyond construction into infrastructure, industrial development, transportation, utilities and technology.

The company has been involved in several major projects, including the construction of fuel storage facilities, the development of the Aboadze Thermal Plant and the construction of the Asiama Substation.

Its activities later expanded into transportation infrastructure following the acquisition of LIMEX and the reconstruction of the UST-Anloga Junction Road.

LMI Holdings has also contributed to efforts to attract international companies into Ghana’s Free Zones Enclave, including global businesses such as Barry Callebaut and Cargill.

The group’s infrastructure portfolio further includes the establishment of the Enclave Power Company and the completion of a $70 million project for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

The company subsequently moved into the ICT sector through Datacom, while continuing to diversify its investments through ventures such as Atlantic Concrete in Takoradi and land acquisition in the Dawa Industrial Zone.

Today, LMI Holdings maintains interests across a broad range of sectors, including construction, industrial and land development, utilities, logistics and technology.

LMI Holdings and the Saglemi Project

The company’s selection as part of the consortium tasked with reviving the Saglemi Housing Project places LMI Holdings at the centre of the government’s efforts to address one of Ghana’s long-running stalled housing developments.

With a commitment to deliver the first 700 units by March 2027 and 1,500 units by December 2027, attention will now turn to whether the developer can meet the announced deadlines and finally make the completed houses available to the public.

The project is expected to provide additional housing opportunities for Ghanaians, particularly salaried workers and organised labour, while also putting the long-delayed Saglemi development to productive use.

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Ghanaian businessman and lawyer Stephen Boateng, popularly known as Kwabena Kesse or Kessben, has died at the age of 68.

The founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kessben Group of Companies passed away in Kumasi on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following a short period of illness, according to an official statement issued by the management of the group on Thursday, August 20.

The announcement has sent shockwaves across Ghana’s business, media and legal communities, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where Kessben built much of his business empire.

In a press statement dated August 20, 2026, the management of Kessben Group expressed deep sorrow over the death of its founder and described the development as a tragic loss to the group.

The statement said Lawyer Stephen Boateng passed away on August 19 in Kumasi after a short illness.

Management extended its condolences to his family, church, members of the legal fraternity and his wider circle of associates.

Kessben’s death has since attracted tributes from individuals and groups who have described him as an influential entrepreneur whose activities created opportunities across several sectors of Ghana’s economy.

At the time of his death, Boateng was at the helm of a diversified business group with operations and interests spanning media, tourism, hospitality, education, transportation, logistics, healthcare and financial services.

The companies listed in the official statement include:

Kessben Media

Kessben Travel and Tours Limited

Fosuah Hotel Limited

Kessben Driving School Limited

Kessben Shipping and Freight Forwarding Limited

Aseda Clinic Limited

Transit World Limited

Aseda Insurance Brokerage Limited

Kessben University College

Through these ventures, Kessben became one of the most recognisable private-sector entrepreneurs in Kumasi and the Ashanti Region. His media operations, in particular, helped establish the Kessben name as a household brand in Ghana.

As the family and the Kessben Group begin preparations to mourn their founder, a book of condolence has been opened at his residence at Denyame in Kumasi.

According to the statement, members of the public can sign the book from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The family has also appealed for privacy and solemnity as relatives, friends, colleagues and associates come to terms with the loss.

The management of Kessben Group said details concerning the one-week observation and final funeral rites will be announced when they become available.

No official dates for the final funeral had been provided in the statement as of August 20.

The family is also expected to announce dates on which members of the public will have the opportunity to personally offer their condolences.

Stephen Boateng built his reputation through entrepreneurship and gradually expanded his interests into multiple sectors.

He was also a trained lawyer. Reports indicate that he was called to the Ghana Bar in 2022, after pursuing his legal studies later in life. He had earlier studied Economics with Law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and obtained an MBA in Finance.

His business journey ultimately produced a conglomerate with a presence in areas including broadcasting, education, hospitality, transport, logistics and financial services.

His passing therefore marks the end of an era for one of Kumasi’s most prominent business figures.

As tributes continue to pour in, attention is expected to turn to the funeral arrangements and the future leadership of the various businesses established under the Kessben Group.