President delivers good news at May Day rally in Koforidua as he pivots from grid crisis to economic reset agenda

President John Dramani Mahama has publicly commended engineers of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) for restoring the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam to full capacity, announcing that all six turbines at the generating station were back online as of Thursday night following a devastating fire in the facility’s Switchyard Control Room.

The President made the announcement at the 2026 May Day celebration held at Jackson Park in Koforidua, Eastern Region, on Friday a day after personally inspecting damage at the Akosombo station.

“I know many of you are concerned about the disruptions to the electricity supply caused by the Akosombo fire, but I want to share the good news that the GRIDCo and VRA engineers working together have been able to bypass the burnt-out control room and have restarted all the six turbines at the Akosombo Generating Station,” President Mahama told the gathering.

“And so as of last night, the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam is fully operational.”

Engineers Bypass Burnt Control Room in Technical Feat

The restoration is being hailed as a significant engineering achievement. Rather than waiting for the fire-damaged Switchyard Control Room to be repaired or replaced  a process that could have taken weeks VRA and GRIDCo engineers devised a workaround that allowed them to bring all six turbines back into service within days of the incident.

President Mahama described the workforce behind the feat as a living testament to the value of Ghanaian workers, saying they represented the nation’s most important asset.

The fire at the Akosombo Power Control Centre had triggered a nationwide grid crisis, forcing emergency shutdowns and knocking out an estimated 720 to 1,000 megawatts of transmission capacity — crippling power supply to homes and businesses across multiple regions.

May Day Platform Becomes Forum for Economic Reset Message

Beyond the grid restoration, President Mahama used the May Day platform to take stock of his administration’s economic performance and outline the next phase of Ghana’s recovery.

Reflecting on this year’s celebration theme “Pivoting to Growth, Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods: Resetting Ghana Beyond Macroeconomic Stability” the President said it accurately captured his administration’s governing roadmap.

He told workers that his government had made measurable progress on the economic stabilisation front since taking office, pointing to reduced inflation, a stabilised cedi, lower interest rates, restored fiscal discipline and renewed investor confidence.

“Today, I am pleased to report that we have made significant progress,” he said, adding that while the gains were modest, they marked a decisive turning point — shifting Ghana from recovery to transformation and from economic fragility to resilience.

He was careful, however, to frame macroeconomic stability as a means to an end rather than the destination itself.

“Stability is the foundation, but it is not the house. The reset we speak of is about building that house on a stable foundation. It is about moving from surviving to thriving, and from debt distress to economic surplus,” the President said.

Resetting Ghana Tour Continues

President Mahama is in the Eastern Region on a two-day Resetting Ghana Tour, which is expected to culminate on Saturday, May 2, with a town hall meeting in Koforidua. The session will bring together students, artisans, teachers, nurses, traders, and traditional and religious leaders from across the region  reflecting the administration’s effort to take its policy messaging directly to communities.

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.

The Cassiel Ato Forson, together with his Deputy Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has publicly filed his annual tax returns in a move aimed at promoting voluntary compliance and reinforcing public confidence in the country’s tax system.

Addressing the media after the exercise, Dr. Forson indicated that the decision to file publicly was intentional, underscoring the importance of leading by example. He stated that leadership must be demonstrated through action rather than mere pronouncements.

The Minister commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contributions to national development, noting that their role remains vital in sustaining the country’s economic framework.

He emphasized that tax payment is a collective civic duty, describing it as fundamental to good governance and a key driver of national progress. According to him, all individuals and institutions are equal under the law and must fulfill their tax obligations accordingly.

Dr. Forson further highlighted that tax compliance extends beyond legal requirements, framing it as a moral responsibility that ensures a fair distribution of the national burden and accelerates development.

He pointed out that tax revenues remain the backbone of public financing, supporting critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.

The Minister also lauded the Ghana Revenue Authority for its efforts, particularly during the Tax and Good Governance Month observed in April. He urged the Authority to intensify public education campaigns and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and enhancing transparency.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Dr. Forson assured that the Ministry of Finance would continue to support the GRA in executing its mandate effectively.

He concluded by encouraging individuals and businesses yet to file their tax returns to do so promptly, leveraging digital platforms and available support systems.

According to the Minister, strengthening the country’s tax culture is essential for economic stability, improved accountability, and the creation of a more equitable society.