Power fully restored following Akosombo substation fire — Energy Minister

Ghana’s electricity supply has been fully restored following a major nationwide disruption, according to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor.

In a message shared on Facebook on Friday, May 1, 2026, the Minister confirmed that all power generation units are back in operation after urgent interventions brought stability to the national grid.

Describing the recovery as a collective achievement, he commended the tireless efforts of engineers, technicians, and emergency response teams who worked around the clock to resolve the crisis. He noted that their dedication and professionalism ensured that power was restored despite the scale of the disruption.

Jinapor also expressed appreciation to key institutions such as Ghana Grid CompanyVolta River Authority, and Electricity Company of Ghana, whose coordinated response played a crucial role in stabilising the system.

A major fire broke out on April 23, 2026, at the GRIDCo substation at the Akosombo Dam, destroying the switch yard and primary control room. The incident forced the complete shutdown of the dam, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,200 megawatts of power and causing widespread nationwide outages

The outages, which affected households and businesses across multiple regions, were linked to a fire at the Akosombo Power Control Centre. The facility is a critical hub within Ghana’s power transmission network, and the incident significantly disrupted electricity distribution.

At the height of the crisis, engineers were forced to shut down parts of the system and isolate affected sections of the grid, leading to unstable supply. Estimates indicate that the fire impacted between 720 and 1,000 megawatts of transmission capacity.

In the aftermath, the Minister ordered the Acting CEO of GRIDCo, Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside to allow for an independent probe into the incident. The directive underscores the government’s focus on accountability and transparency in managing the energy sector.

Additional administrative changes have also been announced within ECG’s Ashanti operations, reflecting broader efforts to address longstanding concerns about inconsistent power delivery.

While the incident has highlighted vulnerabilities within the system, authorities say it has also reinforced the urgency of ongoing infrastructure upgrades. The government maintains that strengthening the resilience of the national grid remains a top priority.

With power now fully restored, officials have assured the public of continued efforts to safeguard the energy sector and prevent future disruptions, as Ghana works toward a more stable and dependable electricity supply.

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