Accra: The Government has set up a seven-member committee to investigate the recent explosion and fire outbreak at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) Akosombo Substation on the afternoon of Thursday, April 23, 2026, which caused extensive damage to the facility.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, addressed the media after inspecting the site, describing the incident as serious and unusual and stressing the need for a thorough investigation to determine the root cause. Mr. Jinapor stated that the committee will be chaired by Dr. William Mumuni, a former GRIDCo Chief Executive Officer and current Board Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The committee will include experts from the Ghana National Fire Service, National Security, the Energy Commission, and other relevant institutions.
The Minister indicated that the committee must complete its work within two to three weeks and present a detailed report. He noted that although the explosion destroyed parts of the facility, the switchyard remained intact due to the design of the building, which contained the impact of the explosion. Mr. Jinapor emphasized that the immediate priority was the restoration of power, adding that engineers were working around the clock to restore supply through alternative arrangements.
He explained that efforts were underway to bring at least one unit back on stream by the end of the day, with teams working in shifts to ensure continuous progress. "Once the first unit is restored, it will pave the way for the restoration of the remaining units," he said, noting that the affected facility contributes about 1,000 megawatts to the national grid. Mr. Jinapor further disclosed that a nationwide audit of all energy installations would commence Monday to assess system readiness and prevent future occurrences.
The Minister assured the public that the government was working closely with relevant agencies to restore power and stabilize the system as quickly as possible. He added that parallel investigations by institutions such as National Security and the Ghana National Fire Service would not be affected by the committee's work.