Temporary GRIDCo control room to be completed by September – Energy Minister Jinapor

Minister for Energy and Green Transition, 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 development comes in response to the devastating fire outbreak that occurred on April 23 at the GRIDCo substation, an incident that significantly disrupted electricity supply across the country and exposed vulnerabilities within Ghana’s power transmission infrastructure.

The fire damaged the control room at the Akosombo Switchyard and forced the shutdown of all six generation units at the Akosombo Dam, resulting in the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power from the national grid. The disruption triggered intermittent power outages in several parts of Ghana and prompted emergency restoration operations by key agencies within the energy sector.

In a Facebook post shared on Wednesday, May 20, Mr Jinapor stated that the temporary facility would be equipped with modern control systems to ensure improved operational efficiency and stability while longer-term infrastructure plans are being developed.

According to the Minister, the government is also engaging stakeholders within the power sector on plans to construct an ultra-modern permanent control room that will strengthen the resilience, reliability, and safety of Ghana’s electricity transmission network.

“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.

Mr Jinapor further disclosed that he had received a detailed briefing from GRIDCo officials led by Ing. Frank Otchere regarding ongoing emergency restoration works at the affected facility. The briefing reportedly covered measures being implemented to restore full operational stability as quickly as possible and prevent future incidents of a similar nature.

Among the key interventions currently underway are the installation of enhanced fire protection systems for both the temporary and permanent control facilities. Energy experts believe the additional safety measures are critical to protecting vital national power infrastructure and minimising risks of widespread outages in the future.

The Minister also praised GRIDCo, the Volta River Authority, and the technical teams involved in the restoration efforts for their commitment and swift response following the incident.

The April fire outbreak renewed public concerns about the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure, especially at a time when demand for stable electricity supply continues to grow across industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.

Government officials say the planned upgrades form part of broader efforts to modernise the country’s power transmission systems and improve energy security nationwide.