The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has assured that engineers working to restore the damaged Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) substation at Akosombo will operate on a 24-hour shift system to ensure rapid recovery following a fire outbreak triggered by an explosion on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The Minister described the extent of damage as serious after inspecting the facility, adding that restoration works have begun alongside ongoing investigations into the incident.
Engineers from the GRIDCo and the Volta River Authority (VRA) are currently working together to isolate the affected control station and reroute power through an alternative arrangement.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, April 24, after touring the site, Mr Jinapor noted that about 1,000 megawatts of power meant to be evacuated had been disrupted due to the damage.
“The immediate focus is restoration of power. Engineers have been working around the clock. The Chief Executives of GRIDCo and VRA spent a chunk of their time here on Thursday,” he said.
“They are working to isolate the control station and feed power through an alternative arrangement. They plan to bring one unit back on today.
“Work will continue in shifts, 24/7, so that by the close of day one, the unit can be restored. Once successful, it will pave the way for the restoration of the remaining units.”
He stressed that the priority is to restore power quickly while ensuring that investigations into the cause of the fire are not compromised.
The Minister also indicated that progress is being made on transformer replacement and upgrades, following recent interventions in the power distribution sector.
