Akosombo Power Crisis Eases as Three Generation Units Fully Restored – Energy Ministry
The Energy Ministry says Ghana’s power grid has reached a key recovery milestone after restoring three generation units at the Akosombo Hydroelectric Plant following a substation fire that disrupted electricity supply nationwide.
- Three Akosombo generation units have been restored, marking 50% recovery after the substation fire.
- The fire disrupted power supply and led to emergency load management
- Engineers are working to fully restore electricity stability nationwide.
The Ministry of Energy has confirmed a major milestone in efforts to restore Ghana’s power supply, announcing that three out of six generation units at the Akosombo Hydroelectric Plant are now fully operational following a devastating substation fire.
The recovery, described as a critical halfway point, comes just four days after a fire gutted the plant’s control room, severely affecting power evacuation and forcing emergency load management in several parts of the country.
Speaking on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Energy Ministry spokesperson Richmond Rockson said the return of the third turbine has delivered a significant boost to national electricity supply.
He explained that engineers were confronted with an unprecedented technical challenge after the fire destroyed key control systems, compelling them to work under intense pressure to restore operations.
“The good news is that I can confirm to you that earlier today, the third unit came back on stream,” he said in an interview with Citi FM, noting that this marks a 50% restoration of Akosombo’s generation capacity.
Engineers praised for rapid recovery
Rockson commended technical teams from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and GRIDCo for their swift and coordinated response to the crisis, describing the pace of recovery as a reflection of strong technical expertise.
“You could see the zeal and enthusiasm in dealing with a problem that has never occurred in this country. About 50% of Akosombo’s capacity is now operational, and work is ongoing to restore the rest,” he added.
Political debate over handling of crisis
The Ministry also responded to calls from the Minority in Parliament for the dismissal of the Energy Minister, describing the demands as politically motivated.
Officials insisted the fire was an unforeseen technical incident and argued that the rapid progress made within 96 hours demonstrates effective crisis management and coordination.
Power supply expected to improve
With three generation units now feeding into the national grid, authorities expect a noticeable improvement in electricity supply, particularly in the Ashanti, Central, and Tema regions that were hardest hit by the disruption.
Engineers are currently working to restore the fourth unit, with full recovery and grid stabilisation expected by the end of the week.
