Major Power Outage Hits Ashanti, Central Regions and Tema Following Akosombo Substation Fire

On April 25, 2026, a major fire at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) substation in Akosombo triggered widespread power outages across southern and middle Ghana. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) confirmed that the incident severely curtailed electricity supply to the Ashanti and Central Regions, as well as the industrial heartland of Tema. This disruption has left thousands of homes and critical institutions in darkness, highlighting the fragility of the national grid during a sudden infrastructure failure.

The blackout has had a profound impact on major urban centers and educational institutions. In the Ashanti Region, the city of Kumasi and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) were among the hardest hit. Similarly, in the Central Region, disruptions were reported in Cape Coast, Pedu, and the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The industrial hub of Tema faced significant setbacks, with production slowing down at major manufacturing plants such as Olam Grains and Nestlé, raising immediate concerns about the economic cost of the outage to the manufacturing sector.

ECG has assured the public that engineering teams are working around the clock to restore power and stabilize the grid. While the immediate focus remains on restoration, the incident has reignited a national conversation regarding the vulnerabilities of Ghana’s power infrastructure. Small businesses and healthcare facilities have also reported disruptions, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of substation failures on essential services and the local economy.

Formal investigations into the cause of the fire are expected to commence shortly as part of the efforts to prevent future occurrences. Beyond the immediate technical repairs, the incident underscores the urgent need for improved response systems and infrastructure upgrades within the energy sector. As ECG and GRIDCo work toward a full recovery, stakeholders continue to call for more robust preventive measures to safeguard the nation's energy security.