GRIDCO's temporary control room to be ready in September-Minister

Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced that the temporary control room being constructed for the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) at the Akosombo Switchyard is expected to be completed by the end of September 2026.

The temporary facility is being developed following the April 23 fire outbreak at the GRIDCo substation, which disrupted electricity supply and led to intermittent power outages in several parts of the country after all six generation units at the Akosombo Dam were shut down.

The fire incident affected the control room at the switchyard and resulted in the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power from the national grid, prompting emergency restoration efforts by power sector agencies.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 20, Dr. Jinapor disclosed that government is also engaging stakeholders within the energy sector on plans to construct a modern permanent control room to strengthen Ghana’s power transmission infrastructure.

“The Temporary Control Room, which will be housed with modern control systems, is expected to be completed by the end of September 2026.

Government is also engaging power sector stakeholders on the construction of an ultra-modern permanent Control Room to strengthen the resilience and reliability of Ghana’s power transmission infrastructure,” he stated.

According to the Minister, he received a detailed briefing from GRIDCo officials led by the company’s Chief Executive, Ing. Frank Otchere, on the ongoing emergency restoration works, including the installation of enhanced fire protection systems for both the temporary and permanent facilities.

Dr. Jinapor commended GRIDCo, the Volta River Authority (VRA), and the technical teams involved in the restoration exercise for their dedication and commitment to restoring stability to the national power grid.

The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition says the intervention forms part of broader efforts to improve the reliability, resilience, and operational efficiency of Ghana’s electricity transmission system.