Akosombo Dam Shut Down After Massive GRIDCo Substation Fire
A major fire at the GRIDCo substation in Akosombo has forced authorities to completely shut down the Akosombo Dam, causing widespread power outages across Ghana after critical transmission systems were destroyed.
- A major fire at the GRIDCo substation in Akosombo destroyed the switchyard and key control systems
- Authorities were forced to completely shut down the Akosombo Dam as a safety measure
- The Ministry of Energy says the incident has significantly disrupted Ghana’s power generation
The Ministry of Energy has confirmed the complete shutdown of the Akosombo Dam following a major fire outbreak at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) substation at Akosombo, leading to widespread power interruptions across the country.
According to the Ministry, the blaze caused extensive destruction to critical infrastructure at the substation, compelling authorities to halt operations at the dam as a precautionary measure.
Speaking on Citi FM, the Ministry’s spokesperson, Richmond Rockson, described the severity of the incident, noting that key components of the facility were completely destroyed.
He explained that the fire wiped out the switchyard system, making continued operations impossible. “The switch yard at the Akosombo Substation is completely burnt down and not salvageable. The primary control room is also completely gone. It was even difficult for us to access the area during the assessment,” he said.
He further stated that due to the magnitude of the damage, authorities had no choice but to shut down the Akosombo Dam entirely.
“That is what necessitated the shutdown of the dam, which has led to outages in many parts of the country. Akosombo is a major component of our power generation system,” he added.
The fire reportedly started around 2:01 pm on Thursday, April 23, and quickly spread through the substation, a key hub in Ghana’s electricity transmission network.
