The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has confirmed that security agencies are investigating possible criminal elements in the recent fire incident at the Akosombo Hydroelectric Power Station.
While a technical committee has been set up to determine the root cause of the fire, law enforcement agencies are conducting parallel investigations into whether any criminal activity contributed to the incident.
Addressing the press on Monday, April 27, the Minister explained that the technical committee will carry out a detailed and independent assessment of the cause, while security agencies handle the criminal dimension.
“I am well aware that the security agencies are also conducting the criminal aspect of the investigations,” he said.
When asked whether the government suspected a possible case of arson, Jinapor stated that the government was not ruling out anything at this stage.
The fire outbreak occurred on Thursday, April 23, 2026, affecting part of the Akosombo substation switchyard. The incident disrupted power transmission and impacted a key component of Ghana’s electricity infrastructure.
The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) confirmed that the fire broke out at approximately 2:01 p.m., triggering emergency shutdowns and forcing engineers to isolate sections of the national grid. The fire is estimated to have affected between 720 megawatts and 1,000 megawatts of transmission capacity linked to the dam, one of the country’s most critical power generation assets.
Mr Jinapor assured the public that the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply within the shortest possible time. He noted that engineers are working continuously, with indications that normal supply is expected to be restored within the week.
“I have been briefed that engineers seek to restore normalcy within this week,” he added.
