Energy Crisis: GRIDCo CEO Suspended and ECG Leadership Reshuffled Following Akosombo Power Control Center Fire

Ghana’s energy sector is facing a major upheaval following a significant fire at the Akosombo Power Control Centre. Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has directed the CEO of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside immediately. This move comes as the government initiates a formal investigation into the fire incident, which occurred on April 23 and resulted in the loss of nearly 1,000 megawatts of transmission capacity, causing widespread power outages across the country.

The fire at the control center has severely hampered the national grid, with estimates suggesting a disruption of between 720 and 1,000 megawatts. To ensure an independent and transparent investigation into the cause and extent of the damage, the Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed the directive for the GRIDCo CEO to vacate his post temporarily. Simultaneously, the energy ministry has announced a major leadership shake-up at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti Region. This decision follows persistent complaints regarding erratic power supply and is intended to address the distribution challenges that have plagued the region in recent weeks.

In response to the crisis, Minister Jinapor is scheduled to address the nation on Monday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m. during the Government Accountability Series. This briefing, which will be broadcast across the Presidency’s and Information Services Department’s digital channels, aims to provide clarity on the fire incident and outline the government's roadmap for power restoration. Efforts are already underway to stabilize the national grid and enhance system resilience. The Minister is expected to discuss plans for adding more power resources and accelerating the transition toward renewable energy to prevent future occurrences of such large-scale disruptions.

The current power instability has sparked comparisons to previous periods of load shedding, prompting the government to emphasize its commitment to transparency and decisive action. While restoration of full generation capacity at the Akosombo Dam may take approximately five days, the leadership changes at GRIDCo and ECG signal a broader effort to revitalize the management of Ghana's energy infrastructure. The outcome of the impending investigation into the Akosombo fire will likely dictate further structural reforms as the government seeks to ensure a reliable and sustainable electricity supply for both residential and industrial consumers.