The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has announced a planned power interruption in parts of the Greater Accra Region on Sunday, August 16, 2026, to enable emergency restoration works on the Tema-Achimota 161kV transmission line.

The interruption is scheduled to begin at 3:30 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m., during which GRIDCo will replace a damaged transmission tower at Ashaiman.

According to GRIDCo, the tower was damaged after a fuel tanker exploded while welding work was being carried out on its tank within the transmission line’s Right-of-Way (RoW).

In a statement issued on Saturday, August 15, GRIDCo apologised to affected customers for the inconvenience and appealed for their patience and cooperation while the emergency works are undertaken.

The company explained that the restoration is necessary to restore the integrity of the transmission line and ensure the safety of both its personnel and the general public.

GRIDCo also renewed its warning against encroachment on transmission line Rights-of-Way, stressing that such occupation and activities are prohibited by law.

The company cited the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (L.I. 542), as amended by L.I. 1737 of 2004, which prohibit activities such as unauthorised construction, excavation, drilling, commercial operations, lorry parks, shops, garages and other activities that could compromise the safe operation and maintenance of the transmission system.

GRIDCo further referred to a directive issued by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, requiring individuals and businesses encroaching on transmission line corridors across the country to stop unauthorised activities and vacate the affected areas within one month.

The directive affects people who have erected structures, established businesses, parked heavy vehicles, undertaken welding or excavation, or otherwise occupied or obstructed transmission line corridors.

GRIDCo warned that after the one-month deadline, it would collaborate with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, other statutory institutions and security agencies to enforce the law and remove unauthorised structures and activities from the affected corridors.

The company has consequently urged traditional authorities, landowners, businesses, local authorities and the general public to cooperate in keeping transmission line Rights-of-Way clear.

GRIDCo said maintaining clear transmission corridors is essential to ensuring the safe and reliable operation of Ghana’s national electricity transmission system.

National Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and aspirant for the position of General Secretary, Dr Charles Dwamena, popularly known as Dr China, has called for a public debate among all contenders for the party’s General Secretary position.

According to Dr Dwamena, the General Secretary position is critical to the NPP’s efforts to support the presidential ambitions of the party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and ultimately return the party to government.

Speaking on Oman FM, Dr Dwamena said he had consistently advocated for a debate among aspirants and was reiterating the call because of the importance of the upcoming contest.

“I have said it at many places, and I want to say it again: the position of the General Secretary is very important to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s victory,” he stated.

He argued that the party should organise a debate before the election to allow all candidates to present their track records, explain their vision and tell delegates what they intend to bring to the party if given the mandate.

Dr Dwamena said such a debate would allow delegates to properly assess the candidates based on their competence, experience, achievements and proposed programmes rather than on financial strength.

“I think that it is time that even before the election, there should be a debate for those who have come to contest for all the positions. Let us have a debate. Everyone should show what he has done before, and everyone should say what they are bringing on board,” he said.

He explained that the exercise would enable party members and delegates to carefully examine the various candidates and determine who truly deserves to occupy the positions being contested.

“So that we check and assess and say, indeed, this person deserves the position,” Dr Dwamena added.

The NPP National Treasurer stressed that the party’s internal elections should not become a contest dominated by money. He believes that candidates should be judged primarily on their records, ideas, leadership capacity and ability to contribute to rebuilding the party.

He therefore urged the NPP to create a platform where aspirants can openly debate their plans and demonstrate their readiness to serve.

Dr Dwamena has formally declared his intention to contest the NPP General Secretary position. In his campaign, he has pledged to rebuild the party’s structures, strengthen discipline and restore confidence among members under the theme, “Let’s Rebuild to Restore the Love.”

He has also pointed to his experience as National Treasurer and his previous service at the NPP headquarters and Ghana’s diplomatic mission in China as part of the experience he would bring to the General Secretary’s office.

Dr Dwamena was elected NPP National Treasurer at the party’s 2022 National Delegates Conference, where he secured 2,917 votes in the contest for the position.

Dr Dwamena said the debate would allow delegates to compare the aspirants’ records, ideas and plans before deciding who is best suited for the General Secretary position.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the death of a Ghanaian evacuee from South Africa shortly after arriving in Ghana on Friday, August 14, 2026.

According to the Ministry, the deceased died at the Emergency Medical Reception at the Accra International Airport at 6:55 p.m., after arriving as part of the government’s ongoing evacuation exercise.

The deceased was among 50 Ghanaians who arrived in Ghana at 5:50 p.m. on Friday aboard an Air Tanzania flight from South Africa.

The Ministry said reports from other passengers indicated that the health condition of the deceased began to deteriorate approximately 30 minutes before the flight touched down in Accra.

A medical emergency team was already on standby at the airport to receive the returning Ghanaians. The team attended to the passenger immediately upon arrival and made efforts to save his life.

However, despite the medical intervention, the passenger died and was pronounced dead by doctors at 6:55 p.m.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is currently undertaking the necessary formalities to inform the deceased’s family.

It has also arranged for the remains to be deposited at the Police Hospital, where an autopsy will be conducted to assist in establishing the circumstances surrounding the death.

The Ministry expressed deep sadness over the incident and said it will provide further updates after formally engaging with the bereaved family.

The death comes as the government continues its evacuation exercise to bring Ghanaians back home from South Africa.

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Manhyia Palace has announced a ban on the unauthorised use of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles within the palace and its surrounding areas.

The directive, issued in a notice shared on the palace’s Facebook page on Saturday, August 15, 2026, takes immediate effect.

According to the notice, drone flights and other aerial operations will not be allowed within the designated area unless operators have obtained prior and explicit permission from the palace or the appropriate authorities.

The palace warned that drones found operating without authorisation would be confiscated. It further cautioned that individuals who violate the directive could face legal action.

Manhyia Palace has consequently urged drone operators and users of unmanned aerial vehicles to secure the required approval before conducting any aerial activities within the restricted zone.

The directive is intended to ensure that all aerial operations around the palace are properly regulated and carried out with the necessary authorisation.

Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, has strongly rejected the proposal to extend the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four years to five years.

Speaking on 3FM, A-Plus said he completely disagrees with the proposal and would not only vote against it but also campaign against it if Ghanaians are asked to approve the change.

“I completely disagree, and I am totally against it. The suggestion that we should vote for the five-year term, I am going to campaign against it,” A-Plus said on 3FM.

He insisted that he would vote against any attempt to extend both presidential and parliamentary terms to five years.

“I am very sure that extending MPs’ term to five years and the presidential term to five years will fall flat. I am going to vote against extending the parliamentary and presidential terms,” he stated.

According to A-Plus, political leaders should be made to return to the electorate more frequently and seek renewed mandates based on their performance and achievements in office.

He went further, suggesting that the terms could even be reduced to two years, arguing that elected officials should face voters regularly.

“I think it should even be two years. After every two years, you have to come back to the people and the people must vote for you based on your performance, based on your achievement,” he said.

A-Plus also rejected the argument that four years is not enough time for elected leaders to work.

He maintained that voters should assess political officeholders based on what they have been able to accomplish rather than being given additional time in office.

Government backs five-year tenure proposal

A-Plus’ comments come after the government announced its support for the Constitution Review Committee’s (CRC) recommendation to extend the tenure of the President from four years to five years.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, announced the government’s position at a press briefing on Thursday, July 30, as part of the government’s response to the CRC’s recommendations for amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

Dr Ayine said the government had accepted the recommendation to extend the presidential tenure from four years to five years.

The government has also accepted, in principle, a corresponding extension of Parliament’s tenure from four years to five years.

According to the Attorney-General, the government believes the current four-year constitutional term does not give administrations enough time to properly formulate, implement and assess national policies.

The proposed five-year tenure is therefore intended to provide governments and Parliament with additional time to execute their programmes and evaluate their outcomes.

However, A-Plus has made his position clear.  he said he would oppose the proposal and campaign against it, insisting that elected leaders should be regularly judged by voters on their performance and achievements.

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