The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC) has called for sweeping reforms to Ghana’s electricity transmission infrastructure following investigations into the recent fire outbreak at the Akosombo Substation, warning that the incident exposed critical weaknesses within the country’s power system.
According to the energy policy think tank, the findings of the investigation should serve as a catalyst for urgent action to strengthen grid reliability, improve maintenance practices and enhance the resilience of critical power infrastructure.
The committee tasked with investigating the incident concluded that the fire was caused by insulation failure associated with ageing equipment rather than sabotage, a finding ASEC says underscores the growing risks posed by ageing transmission assets.
In a statement issued after the release of the report, the Centre commended the investigation committee for its work and welcomed the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition’s commitment to implementing the recommendations.
However, ASEC stressed that the incident should not have escalated into a major outage and highlighted the need for immediate investments in modern infrastructure and preventive maintenance systems.
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“The fire should be viewed as a wake-up call for Ghana’s power sector,” the Centre stated.
ASEC noted that the incident revealed significant technical and operational gaps across the transmission network, particularly in relation to infrastructure maintenance, protection systems and emergency preparedness.
Among its key recommendations is the adoption of routine infrared thermographic inspections across substations, transformers and cable networks.
The Centre explained that thermal imaging technology can detect overheating, insulation degradation and other hidden defects before they develop into major failures capable of disrupting electricity supply.
According to ASEC, proactive inspections would help utilities identify vulnerabilities early, reduce equipment damage and improve overall system reliability.
The organisation also called for the installation of modern fire detection and automatic fire suppression systems at critical power facilities nationwide.
It argued that advanced technologies capable of detecting smoke and abnormal heat levels at an early stage could significantly minimise the impact of similar incidents in the future.
ASEC further expressed concern over findings that one transformer continued supplying power to the fault after another transformer had already tripped during the incident.
The Centre said the situation points to possible shortcomings in protection coordination and fault isolation systems within the transmission network.
To address the issue, it recommended a comprehensive review of relay settings, fault protection mechanisms and short-circuit coordination studies across the national grid.
ASEC also highlighted the importance of building stronger redundancy into Ghana’s power infrastructure.
The organisation called for additional backup communication systems, alternative power supplies and redundant transmission pathways to ensure that localised equipment failures do not evolve into widespread power disruptions.
According to the Centre, strengthening redundancy measures would improve grid stability and reduce the risk of major outages affecting businesses and households.
ASEC additionally advocated a transition from traditional reactive maintenance approaches to predictive maintenance models supported by advanced technologies.
It recommended the use of artificial intelligence, condition monitoring systems, thermal imaging analytics and asset health management platforms to provide real-time insights into the condition of critical equipment.
The Centre believes such technologies would enable utility operators to identify emerging faults and intervene before failures occur, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Describing the Akosombo Substation incident as a national warning signal, ASEC said the electricity sector must seize the opportunity to modernise its operational practices and strengthen the reliability of the transmission network.
The organisation stressed that investments in grid resilience are becoming increasingly important as electricity demand continues to grow and the country pursues broader industrialisation and economic transformation goals.
ASEC pledged to support the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, GRIDCo, ECG, VRA, Ghana Gas and other industry stakeholders in implementing reforms aimed at creating a safer, more reliable and future-ready electricity system.
The Centre maintained that strengthening infrastructure, enhancing safety systems and adopting modern maintenance technologies will be critical to preventing future disruptions and ensuring sustainable energy delivery across Ghana.
