GRIDCo Mallam substation fire causes power outages in Accra

A fire at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) substation in Mallam during the early hours of Monday, October 14, 2026, resulted in widespread power outages across several parts of Accra. The incident, which occurred at approximately 2:36 a.m., disrupted electricity supply to major residential and commercial hubs, including Lapaz, Anyaa, Awoshie, and Mallam. According to GRIDCo, the blaze primarily affected a transformer and critical control boards, necessitating immediate intervention from the Ghana National Fire Service to prevent further damage to the facility's infrastructure.

Firefighters from the Adjen Kotoku and Amasaman fire stations were dispatched to the scene and successfully contained the inferno. Their prompt response prevented the fire from spreading to other high-voltage installations within the substation. While the immediate danger was neutralized, the damage to the transmission equipment caused an automatic shutdown of supply lines to the western parts of the capital. GRIDCo’s technical teams were deployed shortly after to assess the extent of the destruction and begin the process of rerouting power to the affected districts.

By the afternoon, GRIDCo reported that power had been partially restored to most of the affected communities. However, engineers are still working to replace the damaged transformer and repair the control boards to bring the substation back to full capacity. The company issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience caused to residents and businesses, thanking the public for their patience during the emergency repairs. A formal investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the fire, although preliminary reports suggest a technical fault in one of the transformers may have been the trigger.

As the national grid operator, GRIDCo’s Mallam substation serves as a vital link in the distribution of electricity from generation plants to distribution firms serving the Greater Accra Region. The company has assured the public that technical assessments are ongoing to ensure the long-term stability of the transmission network in the area. Until the replacement transformer is fully commissioned and integrated, technical teams will continue to monitor the national transmission system to maintain stability and prevent further disruptions.