ECG restores power in Kumasi after python causes obstruction at Ahodwo substation

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has restored power to parts of Kumasi following an unusual disruption involving pythons at one of its substations in Ahodwo.

In a statement issued on Monday, April 27, ECG said the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 22, when residents along the Ahodwo–Daban–Dr. Asafo Adjei Road experienced a sudden outage caused by a fault on a distribution feeder serving the area.

According to the company, a fault team from its Ahinsan District was swiftly deployed and succeeded in restoring electricity to some affected customers. However, power remained off in sections around Cocoa Depot and the Star Sawmill enclave due to a lingering fault.

ECG explained that while engineers were working to replace a faulty fuse at a nearby transformer, they encountered a python inside the substation, making access to the facility difficult.

Ahinsan District Engineer, Kwaku Appiah, confirmed that the reptile had taken refuge within the installation, complicating repair efforts.

Initial attempts by residents to remove the python proved unsuccessful after it moved beneath the substation structure. Despite the risk, engineers managed to complete the repairs and restore supply to the remaining affected areas.

“After attempts by residents to capture the python proved futile, the python crawled beneath the substation, and the faults team risked their lives by taking advantage of the short window to renew the fuse and restore power supply to affected customers,” he said.

The situation was later reported to the Kumasi Zoo. Officials who responded discovered two pythons at the site, along with eggs believed to have been laid there. The reptiles were eventually captured later that evening, bringing the situation under control.

ECG’s Ashanti West Regional General Manager, George Amoah, urged customers to report outages through official ECG channels, including its contact centre and verified digital platforms, to ensure prompt and safe response to faults.