The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has restored power to parts of Kumasi after an unusual incident involving pythons disrupted operations at one of its substations in Ahodwo.
In a statement issued on Monday, April 27, ECG explained that the disruption occurred on Wednesday, April 22, when residents along the Ahodwo–Daban–Dr. Asafo Adjei Road experienced a sudden power outage caused by a fault on a distribution feeder serving the area.
According to the company, a fault team from the Ahinsan District was quickly deployed and was able to restore electricity to some affected customers. However, supply remained off in sections around Cocoa Depot and the Star Sawmill area due to a persistent fault.
ECG said the situation took an unusual turn when engineers, while working to replace a faulty fuse at a nearby transformer, discovered a python inside the substation, which made access to the facility more difficult.
The Ahinsan District Engineer, Kwaku Appiah, confirmed that the reptile had taken shelter within the installation, complicating repair efforts.
Initial attempts by residents to remove the python were unsuccessful after it retreated beneath the substation structure. Despite the challenge and risks involved, engineers managed to take advantage of a brief window to complete the repairs and restore power to the remaining affected areas.
“After attempts by residents to capture the python proved futile, it moved beneath the substation, and the fault team risked their lives by renewing the fuse and restoring power supply,” Mr. Appiah explained.
The matter was later reported to the Kumasi Zoo. Officials who responded to the scene 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.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti West Regional General Manager of ECG, George Amoah, has urged customers to report outages through official ECG channels, including its contact centre and verified digital platforms, to ensure quicker and safer response to faults.