A fire outbreak at a substation in Akosombo in Ghana’s Eastern Region has severely damaged a high-capacity transmission system, disrupting electricity supply across parts of the country.
The Spokesperson and Head of Communications at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Richmond Rockson, confirmed that the incident affected a system with a transmission capacity of about 720 megawatts, describing the scale of damage as significant.
He indicated that the affected system accounts for nearly 70% of the power transmission capacity linked to the Akosombo Dam.
Speaking in an interview Citi FM on Friday, April 24, Mr Rockson described the incident as a major setback to the national power system.
“The system that got affected was about 720 megawatts,” he said, adding, “That system transmits power to major parts of the country, so this is a significant hit. The Akosombo Dam generates a little over 1,000 megawatts.”
The fire, which broke out on Thursday, April 23, is reported to have destroyed critical components within the substation. The damage has since had a ripple effect on other transmission points, resulting in power outages in several communities nationwide.
Officials say the incident has placed additional pressure on the national grid, given the importance of the affected system in distributing electricity generated from the Akosombo Dam, which remains one of the country’s key power sources.
Mr. Rockson further disclosed that the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, is expected to visit the site to assess the extent of destruction and receive direct briefings on the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has commenced a full-scale investigation to establish what triggered the outbreak and to prevent similar occurrences in future.
The incident is being described by officials as a major setback to the stability of the national power transmission network, with restoration efforts expected to follow assessments on the damaged equipment.
