Akosombo Dam shut down completely after fire at GRIDCo substation causes nationwide power outages

The Ministry of Energy has announced that the Akosombo Dam has been completely shut down after a major fire destroyed key facilities at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) substation in Akosombo.

‎The shutdown has caused power outages in many parts of the country, as the Akosombo Dam is one of Ghana’s main sources of electricity generation.

‎Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, April 27, 2026, the Ministry’s spokesperson, Richmond Rockson, said the fire badly damaged the switch yard and control systems of the dam, making it impossible for operations to continue.

‎According to him, the switch yard at the Akosombo Substation was completely burnt and could not be repaired. He added that the main control room for the switch yard was also destroyed.

‎Mr. Rockson explained that officials had to shut down the dam immediately after the fire to prevent further damage and ensure safety.

He said the fire incident happened around 2:01 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, when flames suddenly engulfed the substation.

The GRIDCo substation at Akosombo is one of the most important facilities in Ghana’s electricity transmission network. Its destruction has affected the smooth supply of power across the country.

‎The Ministry of Energy says efforts are underway to assess the damage and restore operations as quickly as possible