The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has confirmed the shutdown of the Akosombo Dam following a destructive fire that ravaged a GRIDCo substation, resulting in widespread power outages across the country. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, April 23, 2026, disrupted operations and temporarily halted power transmission. The affected substation, with a transmission capacity of approximately 720 megawatts, represents nearly 70 percent of the network linked to the Akosombo Dam.
Richmond Rockson, Director of Communications at the Ministry, explained that the blaze destroyed critical infrastructure, rendering continued operations impossible. “The fire completely consumed the facility, leaving nothing salvageable. The primary control room of the switchyard has been reduced to ashes. When we arrived, even accessing the site was extremely difficult,” he stated.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, April 27, 2026, Mr Rockson explained that authorities were left with no option but to halt operations at the dam. “So, what the effect has been is that we had to shut down the Akosombo Dam completely, and that is what is causing the power outages across the country,” he added.
The Akosombo Dam is a critical power source in Ghana’s energy mix, generating about 20% of the country’s electricity needs and serving as a key stabiliser for the national grid, particularly during peak demand periods.
Source: William Narh
