Ghana’s Energy Minister Orders GRIDCo CEO to Step Aside After Akosombo Substation Fire
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced that Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition, has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Engr. Mark Awuah Baah, to resign pending the outcome of an investigation into a fire that damaged the switchgear at the Akosombo substation.
Incident Overview
The blaze erupted on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the switchgear room of the Akosombo Energy Control Center, a critical node that links the Akosombo Hydroelectric Power Plant to the national transmission network. According to the Ghana Energy Ministry’s preliminary briefing, the fire caused extensive damage to protective relays and circuit breakers, forcing an immediate shutdown of power generation at the plant.
As a result, electricity flow into the grid was halted, leading to widespread outages across multiple regions, including Greater Accra, Ashanti, and the Northern territories. The Ministry noted that the disruption affected both residential consumers and industrial users, prompting complaints from businesses reliant on uninterrupted power.
Government Response
Minister Jinapor visited the site on April 25, 2026, together with his deputy, to assess the scale of the damage. During the visit he described the situation as “significant” and stressed the need to uncover the root cause before any further decisions are made.
In a Facebook post on April 26, Kwakye Ofosu quoted the Minister’s directive:
“The Minister of Energy and Green Transition has asked the CEO of GRIDCo to resign pending the completion of investigations into the fire incident at the Akosombo Energy Control Center.”
The announcement also highlighted a leadership shake‑up at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti Region, signalling a broader review of personnel following the outage.
Investigation Committee
To ensure a transparent inquiry, Minister Jinapor has appointed a seven‑member investigative committee chaired by Engr. William Amuna, the current CEO of ECG. The committee’s mandate includes:
- Determining the origin and cause of the fire.
- Evaluating adherence to safety and maintenance protocols at the substation.
- Identifying any systemic gaps in grid operation that may have contributed to the incident.
- Recommending corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
The Minister indicated that the committee is expected to submit its findings within two to three weeks, after which the government will decide on any further administrative or legal steps.
Impact on Power Supply
The Akosombo Hydroelectric Plant supplies roughly 30 % of Ghana’s base‑load electricity. The sudden loss of generation forced the grid operator to implement load‑shedding measures, affecting:
- Approximately 4.2 million households, according to the Ghana Statistical Service’s 2025 electricity consumption estimate.
- Key industrial zones in Tema and Takoradi, where production lines reported downtime averaging 6 hours per day during the outage period.
- Public services such as hospitals and water treatment plants, which relied on backup generators to maintain essential operations.
Energy analysts from the Institute of Energy Security (IES) warned that prolonged outages could shave up to 0.4 % off Ghana’s quarterly GDP growth if not resolved swiftly.
Public Reaction and Next Steps
Social media platforms have been flooded with messages demanding accountability and swift restoration of power. Consumer advocacy groups, including the Ghana Consumers’ Association, have called for transparent communication from the Ministry and regular updates on the investigation’s progress.
Minister Jinapor has pledged to hold a press conference on Monday, April 28, 2026, at 2 pm to address the latest developments, provide an update on the investigative work, and outline measures to stabilise the national grid.
Until the committee’s report is released, GRIDCo’s operations will be overseen by an acting CEO appointed by the Ministry, ensuring continuity of service while the leadership transition unfolds.
