Ghana, Akosombo: The Ministry of Energy has confirmed the complete shutdown of the Akosombo Dam following a major fire at the Ghana Grid Company substation in Akosombo. The incident has led to widespread power disruptions across the country.
According to reports cited on 27 April 2026, the fire caused significant damage to critical infrastructure at the substation, forcing authorities to suspend operations at the dam as a safety precaution.
A spokesperson for the Ministry, Richmond Rockson, stated that the blaze severely damaged the switch system, making it inoperable. He explained that the switchyard was completely destroyed, including the primary control room, which was no longer accessible for inspection.
Due to the extent of the damage, the dam was shut down entirely, contributing to outages in several parts of the country. Officials noted that the Akosombo facility plays a central role in national electricity generation.
The fire reportedly began around 2:01 pm on 23 April when the substation was engulfed in flames. The damage has also affected electricity transmission and distribution networks, requiring urgent intervention.
The Minister of Energy and Green Transition has instructed the CEO of GRIDCo, Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside pending investigations into the incident. A major leadership reshuffle has also been carried out at the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Ashanti Region following recent power disruptions.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing while efforts continue to restore stability to the power system.
Source: Ghana Web
