Ghana halts electricity exports after Akosombo fire impacts supply

Ghana has temporarily stopped exporting electricity to neighbouring countries after a fire incident at the Akosombo Dam transmission network disrupted power delivery, prompting urgent measures to protect domestic supply.

The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition said the decision follows a blaze at a substation in Akosombo, located in the Eastern Region. The incident damaged infrastructure capable of transmitting roughly 720 megawatts, almost 70% of the capacity tied to the Akosombo system.

Deputy Energy Minister Richard Gyan-Mensah, speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Friday, April 24, described the export suspension as a short-term response to stabilise supply and manage the immediate deficit affecting local consumers.

He indicated that the situation is temporary and driven purely by emergency conditions, adding that authorities are taking necessary steps to address the disruption.

To cushion the impact, the Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Grid Company have ramped up generation from thermal plants to help offset the shortfall and keep the national grid stable.

The fire, which occurred on Thursday, April 23, reportedly destroyed key components within the substation, weakening transmission capacity and leading to outages in several parts of the country.

Engineers are currently working to restore operations and limit further interruptions. Meanwhile, the Ministry has set up a committee to investigate the cause of the fire and propose measures to prevent a similar incident in the future.