Ghana Restores National Grid After Akosombo Fire Cripples Up to 1,000MW of Transmission Capacity

Energy Minister hails engineers as GRIDCo CEO steps aside for independent probe into fire that triggered widespread outages

Ghana’s national electricity grid has been fully restored following a major disruption triggered by a fire at the Akosombo Power Control Centre a critical node in the country’s transmission network that knocked out between 720 and 1,000 megawatts of capacity and plunged households and businesses across several regions into prolonged darkness.

Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor announced the restoration in a Facebook post on Friday, May 1, crediting engineers, technicians and emergency response teams who he said worked through the night under extreme pressure to stabilise the grid.

“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” Mr Jinapor wrote. “In the face of a major system disruption, and against all odds, our engineers, technicians, and emergency teams worked around the clock to restore power and stabilise the grid.”

Fire Forces Emergency Shutdowns

The blaze at the Akosombo Power Control Centre  the nerve centre of Ghana’s electricity transmission infrastructure  forced engineers to execute emergency shutdowns and isolate sections of the grid, cascading into widespread outages and unstable supply across multiple regions over several days.

Officials confirmed that the fire’s impact on transmission capacity was severe, with estimates placing the loss at between 720 and 1,000 megawatts a significant blow to a grid already under pressure from ongoing upgrade works.

The cause of the fire is yet to be officially determined, and an independent investigation has been ordered.

GRIDCo CEO Steps Aside as Probe Begins

In a move signalling the government’s intent to pursue accountability, Mr Jinapor directed the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside pending the outcome of the investigation into the fire and its full extent of damage.

The government has also announced leadership changes at the Electricity Company of Ghana’s Ashanti Region office, following sustained concerns over erratic power supply in the region.

Sector-Wide Coordination Credited for Recovery

The minister singled out the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and supporting agencies for praise, describing their inter-agency coordination as decisive in bringing the system back online.

“This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people,” Mr Jinapor said.

Authorities acknowledge the fire has compounded existing infrastructure challenges but say measures are being put in place to prevent a recurrence, as the government reaffirms its commitment to delivering a stable and reliable electricity supply nationwide.