Volta River Authority — state-owned enterprise generating electricity and operating the Akosombo facility, leading efforts on power transmission resilience and regional energy training.
… He specifically praised engineers from Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Volta River Authority for restoring operations at the Akosombo Hydroelectric Plant following a recent fire incident. …
President John Mahama has announced the full restoration of electricity generation at the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam following recent disruptions caused by a fire at the Volta River Authority (VRA) switchyard control room. …
… The Minister also commended the leadership and staff of key state power institutions, including Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority, and Electricity Company of Ghana, for their coordination and swift response in restoring power supply. …
The Director of Human Resources at the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and board member of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Wonder Victor Kutor, ESQ, has called on prison inmates to view themselves as an integral part of the national fabric. …
… Engineers from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and GRIDCo have been working around the clock to bypass damaged control systems and synchronise the massive turbines back onto the national high-voltage transmission line. …
… During the visit on Thursday, April 30, the President inspected ongoing restoration works and praised the Volta River Authority for their swift response in stabilising the situation, describing the fire outbreak at the Akosombo control room as an opportunity to modernise the faci …
… During the visit, the President praised engineers from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) for restoring four out of six generating units within a week, returning about 550 megawatts to the system. …
… The AGM was on the theme, “Strengthening governance and accountability for members’ confidence.” Hydro Co-operative Credit Union was established by the staff members of the Volta River Authority (VRA) in March 1971 with a mission of helping members to attain a lifetime of financi …
… He commended the staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA) for their swift response and professionalism, describing them as among the best in the world. …
President John Dramani Mahama has commended the Volta River Authority for its response to the recent fire outbreak at the Akosombo control room, describing the incident as an opportunity to modernise the facility. …
The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre has urged sweeping reforms in Ghana's electricity transmission infrastructure following an investigation into the Akosombo Substation fire, which was attributed to insulation failure caused by ageing infrastructure. ASEC called for strengthened maintenance practices, improved fire protection systems, and implementation of regular thermal imaging inspections across major substations.
Why it matters
Africa Sustainable Energy Centre calls for sweeping electricity infrastructure reforms following Akosombo fire, urging strengthened maintenance and thermal imaging across major substations nationwide.
The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre has urged sweeping reforms in Ghana's electricity transmission infrastructure following an investigation into the Akosombo Substation fire, which was attributed to insulation failure caused by ageing infrastructure. ASEC called for strengthened maintenance practices, improved fire protection systems, and implementation of regular thermal imaging inspections across major substations.
An investigation committee concluded that a fire at the Akosombo Substation resulted from insulation failure in ageing cables in the low-voltage panel rather than deliberate sabotage. The committee found that cables installed decades ago had deteriorated over time, becoming brittle and allowing abnormal electrical current flow.
The 2024 State Ownership Report shows 35 of 54 state-owned enterprises turned a profit, but the sector posted a net loss of GH¢9.68 billion after tax, worse than the GH¢7.14 billion loss in 2023, driven by losses at a handful of giant utilities and currency revaluation effects from the weakening cedi.
An opinion piece argues that Ghana's restored macroeconomic stability—including Cedi appreciation, 3.3% inflation, 6% GDP growth, and 45.3% debt-to-GDP ratio in 2025—creates the foundation for a structured partnership between government and business to drive economic transformation.
The Volta River Authority's Senior Staff Association has petitioned the Minister of Energy against the government's proposed Private Sector Participation arrangement for the Northern Electricity Distribution Company, calling it a "disguised privatisation" that would transfer core utility functions to private operators and contradict the President's assurances on state ownership.
Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority, has been named Energy Sector Chief Executive of the Year at the 10th Ghana CEO Summit in Accra, marking his second consecutive recognition of this award. The honour recognises his exemplary leadership and strategic direction in Ghana's energy sector and VRA's reliable electricity supply and contribution to affordable power generation.
Ghana's Energy Minister announced that a temporary control room for Ghana Grid Company at Akosombo Switchyard will be completed by the end of September 2026, following an April fire that caused over 1,000 megawatts of power loss. Government is also planning to construct a permanent modern control room to strengthen the nation's power transmission infrastructure.
Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition, visited Akosombo Switchyard to assess progress on construction of a temporary control room structure, part of efforts to strengthen power transmission operations. The visit included briefings from GRIDCo Chief Executive Frank Oware and VRA Chief Executive Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo.
The Volta River Authority Academy has launched a two-week regional training programme on clean mini-grid design, installation and inspection to accelerate rural electrification across West Africa. The 'training of trainers' programme, delivered in partnership with ECREEE and Takoradi Technical University, draws 20 engineers and technical practitioners from ECOWAS countries and aims to establish a skilled workforce capable of deploying sustainable, decentralised solar energy systems.
Staff groups at the Volta River Authority and Northern Electricity Distribution Company have rejected a government proposal for Private-Sector Participation in northern power distribution, saying it would transfer operational control to private entities while leaving structural challenges unaddressed and leaving NEDCo workers idle. They argue the arrangement, which would split asset management between NEDCo and a private participant, would compromise supply reliability and service quality, and amounts to "full privatisation disguised as participation."
Persistent losses by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) pose a risk to Ghana's fiscal balance and debt sustainability following the IMF bailout, according to a corporate governance consultant. The article contextualizes Ghana's SOE sector from independence through economic crises of the 1980s–90s, which reduced government capacity to finance operations and worsened SOE performance.
The Volta River Authority says it is stepping up efforts to help bridge Ghana's engineering skills gap through the VRA Academy and strategic regional training initiatives, with a focus on building local technical capacity to support the country's growing energy and engineering sectors.
The Institute of Internal Auditors Ghana launched its 25th anniversary celebrations, pledging to deepen its footprint through expansion into northern Ghana and continued investment in professional development. The institute, founded in March 2000 with 30 members, now has approximately 300 members including more than 176 Certified Internal Auditors.
Ghana's Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth rose to 111.3 in February 2026 from 103.3 in February 2025, recording a 7.7 per cent growth rate. The services sector accounted for 47.6 per cent of expansion, industry contributed 44.2 per cent, while agriculture and net indirect taxes contributed 5.5 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively.
Ghana's economy expanded by 7.7 percent in February 2026, nearly double the 3.9 percent growth from February 2025, driven by strong performances in the industry and services sectors. The Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth showed industry growing at 9.6 percent and services at 7.4 percent, though agriculture slowed to 3.8 percent.
The Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh has written to President Mahama warning that recurring power outages, known as "dumsor," are destroying businesses and livelihoods, with cold store operators, restaurants, salons and small-scale manufacturers particularly affected. He also criticised the GHS1 fuel levy, which was justified as a measure to stabilise electricity supply and reduce fuel prices, yet outages have worsened and fuel costs have risen.
Annoh-Dompreh has written an open letter to President Mahama calling for executive intervention on energy sector challenges including a resurgence of power cuts, the plight of cocoa farmers facing price cuts and lost investments, food security concerns, and an institutional crisis at the Environmental Protection Authority.
Ghana's Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth rose to 111.3 in February 2026 from 103.3 in February 2025, representing a 7.7 percent expansion. The services sector led growth at 47.6 percent contribution, followed by industry at 44.2 percent and agriculture at 5.5 percent, with the industry sector recording the strongest sectoral growth at 9.6 percent.
Ghana Grid Company Limited's board of directors convened its inaugural direct engagement with staff in a durbar at the company's Tema head office, providing a platform for open dialogue and formally recognising engineers and technicians who restored operations at Akosombo Generating Station following an April 2026 fire incident.
The Volta River Authority has urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, strictly enforce environmental laws, and improve emergency preparedness to reduce flooding and environmental degradation in communities along the Volta Lake and downstream areas.
The Volta River Authority has urged stakeholders to enforce environmental laws strictly and improve emergency preparedness to mitigate flooding and environmental degradation in communities along the Volta Lake and downstream areas. The call was made during the 2026 Annual Stakeholder Workshop on Emergency Preparedness and Environmental Management Plans in Ho.
Professor Douglas Boateng argues that while solar should lead Africa's energy strategy for the next six years due to its speed and modularity, sustainable energy security requires a disciplined integration of hydro, gas, thermal, wind, geothermal, bioenergy, ocean wave, and nuclear power—not dependence on any single source.
Fish farmers in Ghana have been urged to adopt stronger biosecurity measures and vaccination practices as disease outbreaks such as Streptococcus infections and Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus continue to affect aquaculture productivity. A technical training workshop organized by the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, Virbac, and the Blue Food Innovation Hub stressed that strict biosecurity practices are the most effective way to reduce disease spread and farm losses.
President John Mahama has pledged that Ghanaian workers will be the first to benefit as the government moves beyond macroeconomic stabilisation to prioritise job creation and growth, stating that stability must be converted into tangible opportunities for citizens across households and sectors.
On inauguration day, Ghana's Presidential Transitions Act automatically removes all board members from every state-owned enterprise simultaneously, requiring the new government to undertake months-long appointment cycles that consume significant political energy and administrative bandwidth.
President Mahama visited Fuveme in Anloga District to assure residents of government commitment to fast-track coastal protection works under the World Bank-supported West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme (WACA), which will include sea defence structures, groynes, and mangrove planting to address persistent tidal surges and erosion. The project has reached the design stage with procurement expected to commence soon.
Energy Minister John Jinapor has assured Ghanaians that the country's energy supply is currently stable despite recent concerns, praising VRA and GRIDCo staff efforts. He noted government is installing over 2,500 new transformers nationwide to strengthen the power distribution network.
Finance professor Godfred Bokpin criticises ongoing inefficiencies in Ghana's power sector as a result of poor leadership and weak long-term planning, trapping consumers in reactive policymaking and rising costs. He calls for clarity and accountability from political leadership on when Ghana can expect lasting solutions and suggests the energy minister should resign if sustained improvements are not delivered.
Lawyer Kofi Bentil attributed Ghana's recurring energy challenges to political interference rather than technical leadership failure, arguing the sector would function effectively if insulated from politics and professionals allowed to operate without undue interference.
Kofi Bentil, Senior Vice-President of IMANI Africa, has criticised authorities for insincere communication about Ghana's power outages, arguing that energy challenges stem not only from technical issues but also from poor public messaging and political interference in sector decision-making.