Omanghana
John Dramani Mahama has described the recent fire at the Akosombo Dam substation as an unfortunate incident that also presents a major opportunity to modernize the country’s power infrastructure.
During a visit to the site on April 30, 2026, the president toured the damaged facility operated by Ghana Grid Company and held discussions with engineers from the Volta River Authority to assess the extent of the damage caused by the April 23 fire.
Mahama noted that the affected control room had been in operation since 1964 and described the incident as an “act of God” that highlights the urgent need for an upgrade. He emphasized that the government intends to replace the outdated system with a modern, automated hydroelectric control facility capable of serving future generations.
He also praised the technical teams from VRA and GRIDCo for their rapid response, noting that their ability to restore parts of the system despite significant damage demonstrated strong local expertise and institutional capacity.
The president framed the planned upgrade as part of a broader national effort to strengthen energy resilience and prevent similar disruptions in the future.
The fire initially knocked more than 1,000 megawatts of power off the national grid, leading to widespread outages across Ghana. However, significant progress has been made in restoring supply.
As of April 30, four of the six generating units at the dam have been brought back into operation, with the remaining units expected to be fully restored by the end of the week, according to the Ministry of Energy.
In the wake of the incident, the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo has been directed to step aside while a full investigation is conducted into the cause of the fire.
The developments mark a critical moment for Ghana’s energy sector, as authorities work not only to restore power but also to rebuild a more modern and resilient electricity system.
Source: Omanghana
