John Abdulai Jinapor
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside pending investigations into a fire outbreak at the Akosombo Power Control Centre.
The Akosombo Dam was completely shut down after the fire, which occurred at about 2:01 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at a GRIDCo substation, causing extensive damage to critical infrastructure.
The directive, announced by the Minister for Government Communications on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, follows the significant disruption to power transmission and the resulting outages experienced in several parts of the country.
Reports indicate that the fire affected key control systems at the Akosombo installation, contributing to ongoing instability in electricity supply and prolonged power cuts nationwide.
According to GRIDCo, investigations are underway to determine the cause of the incident and assess the full extent of damage. The company noted that the Minister’s decision to ask the CEO to step aside is intended to ensure an independent and transparent probe.
Meanwhile, there has also been a major shake-up in the leadership of the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Ashanti Region. The changes are understood to form part of broader efforts to strengthen operational efficiency and improve power distribution amid current challenges in the energy sector.
Speaking at a government accountability forum in Accra, the Energy Minister disclosed that GRIDCo would soon commence critical transmission reinforcement works in Kumasi as part of measures to stabilise electricity supply across the country.
He explained that while the impact of the upgrades may not be immediate, they are expected to deliver long-term improvements in power reliability as the projects take full effect.
According to Mr. Jinapor, major transmission works will be scheduled after the upcoming World Cup to minimise disruptions during the tournament.
“And what we’ve decided is that we should allow the World Cup to pass. After that, we’ll zoom in to do the transmission works,” he said.
Mr. Jinapor added that teams will begin immediate work on distribution lines in Kumasi this week to improve electricity reliability in the area, while government continues to address both immediate operational concerns and longstanding structural challenges within ECG.
“We inherited a challenge, but we are determined to address it just as we did with fuel issues, generation challenges, IPPs, and other complex problems. We are restoring what has been destroyed, replacing what is not fit for purpose, and building a stronger, more resilient power system for the future,” the Minister stated.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah