The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has announced a total suspension of electricity exports following a substation fire near the Akosombo Dam that removed nearly 1,000 megawatts from the national grid.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Friday, April 24, 2026, Ministry spokesperson Richmond Rockson stated that the government has implemented emergency measures to prioritize domestic power needs. He explained that all currently generated electricity is being redirected to ensure the stability of the local supply across the country while repairs continue at the damaged facility.

The disruption follows a major fire at a substation linked to the Akosombo Dam, one of Ghana’s primary power generation assets. The loss of nearly 1,000 megawatts represents a significant portion of the country's peak demand, which typically stands at approximately 4,400 megawatts.

Restoration Progress and Technical Challenges

Engineers are working under a phased restoration plan to bring the dam’s six units back online.

According to Rockson, the immediate goal is to reactivate the first unit within 24 hours. Once the first unit is operational, technical teams intend to replicate the process across the remaining units to fully restore the plant's capacity.

While initial engineering briefings suggested a five-day timeline for full restoration, Rockson expressed confidence that the experience of the technical teams might allow for a faster recovery once the initial units are stabilized. He confirmed that gas supplies remain stable and are not a factor in the current power deficit.

Reserve Shortages and Future Capacity

The ministry acknowledged that the scale of this disruption has highlighted a lack of sufficient reserve margins within the national power system. Rockson noted that a resilient grid typically requires a 20% reserve margin, which Ghana currently lacks, making it difficult to absorb sudden shocks like the Akosombo fire.

In response to these systemic vulnerabilities, the government has reiterated plans to add 1,200 megawatts of conventional power and 200 megawatts of solar power with battery storage to the national grid. Additional projects are also being pursued to establish between 200 and 400 megawatts of dedicated reserve capacity to prevent future outages of this magnitude.