Minority Rejects Akosombo Fire as Cause of ‘Dumsor,’ Blames Longstanding Power Sector Failures

Story by Mariam Naadei Hammond

The Minority in Parliament has dismissed claims that the recent fire at the Akosombo substation is responsible for the ongoing power outages commonly known as dumsor affecting parts of the country.

According to the Minority, the outages predate the April 23 incident by more than a year, describing the fire as a “symptom” rather than the root cause of the crisis.

“The events of 23rd April are the latest and most dramatic symptom of a power sector left to decay under the NDC’s incompetent stewardship,” said Minority spokesperson, Collins Adomako Mensah.

He cautioned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government against using the incident as an “alibi,” arguing that Ghanaians had already been enduring persistent and unannounced power cuts across all regions long before the substation fire.

The Minority further outlined a timeline of disruptions dating back to early 2025, insisting that the underlying causes include deferred maintenance, mounting debt owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and delays in implementing an energy sector recovery plan.

Residents have also voiced frustration over the situation. Some, speaking anonymously to local media, complained about the absence of a clear load-shedding timetable. A trader in Accra said, “We don’t care who is to blame, our businesses are collapsing,” while another resident in Kumasi noted that although the fire worsened the situation, outages had already been ongoing for months.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) continues repair works on the damaged substation. However, the Minority maintains that the broader power crisis predates the blaze and should not be misrepresented.