President John Dramani Mahama has undertaken a working visit to the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) substation at Akosombo in the Eastern Region following a major fire outbreak that disrupted power transmission and caused a significant loss to the national grid.
The incident reportedly affected over 1,000 megawatts of electricity, prompting urgent restoration works to stabilise supply across the country.
During the visit, the President inspected ongoing repair and recovery efforts and engaged engineers and technical staff working to restore full operations at the facility.
He commended their swift response and professionalism in managing the situation, describing their efforts as critical to safeguarding the national electricity system.
According to President Mahama, the government remains focused on restoring reliable power supply while strengthening the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent future disruptions.
He expressed surprise at the scale of the fire but praised the technical competence of engineers from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and GRIDCo, noting their longstanding record of efficiency and professionalism.
The President said the situation, though unfortunate, presents an opportunity to modernise the ageing control systems at the substation, some of which date back several decades.
He indicated that replacing the damaged facility with a modern control system would enhance long-term efficiency and ensure stability for future generations.
President Mahama also revealed that progress had already been made in restoring power, with several turbines back in operation and work ongoing to return the remaining units to full capacity.
He commended the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, led by John Abdulai Jinapor, for coordinating recovery efforts and keeping him updated on progress.
Describing GRIDCo and VRA as “twin institutions” critical to Ghana’s power sector, the President reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting them with the resources needed to strengthen operations.
He urged engineers and staff to continue their efforts, assuring them of full government backing as restoration work continues to secure stable electricity supply nationwide.
