The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has commissioned a seven-member committee to investigate the fire that erupted at the GRIDCo substation in Akosombo.
This move comes as authorities ramp up efforts to stabilise the national grid and restore electricity to affected areas.
During an on-site assessment at the Akosombo facility, the Minister described the gravity of the incident, noting that a rigorous inquiry is essential to determine the precise origin of the flames.
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He remarked that “The damage is quite extensive. It’s quite serious. From the briefing I got, there was quite a situation that we need to get to the bottom of.”
Leadership of the committee has been entrusted to William Amuna, a seasoned engineer and former chief executive within the energy sector who currently serves as the board chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana.
To ensure the investigation is both thorough and impartial, the panel will consist of specialists drawn from the Ghana National Fire Service, National Security, and the Energy Commission, alongside representatives from other pertinent bodies.
Regarding the composition of the group, the Minister stated, “We are setting up a seven-member committee chaired by an experienced engineer, with experts from the Fire Service, National Security, the Energy Commission and other institutions to conduct a detailed investigation.”
The committee has been tasked with a swift turnaround, with the Minister indicating that a formal report should be submitted within the next fourteen to twenty-one days. He further noted, “We expect that within two to three weeks, they should be ready with a report so that we can get to the root cause of this challenge, and all the issues surrounding this unfortunate incident.”
While the Minister emphasised the importance of uncovering the technical failures behind the fire, he maintained that the government’s primary focus remains the immediate restoration of power supply to the public.
