GRIDCo attributes widespread power outage to faulty Akosombo–Volta line

The Ghana Grid Company Limited, known as GRIDCo, has declared the widespread power outage that affected multiple regions across Ghana on Thursday, August 20, 2026, to be caused by a significant fault on the Akosombo–Volta transmission line. This fault was detected at approximately 4:30 a.m., leading to the automatic disconnection of the Akosombo generating units and several thermal power stations.

GRIDCo explained that the automatic shutdown was a safety procedure aimed at maintaining the stability and integrity of the National Interconnected Transmission System.

The incident led to a disruption of electricity supply to numerous communities in Accra and other parts of the country. GRIDCo emphasized that its engineers, in collaboration with other power sector agencies, swiftly isolated the impacted transmission line and initiated the process of restoring power to the affected regions. They stated that electricity had already been restored to some areas, while efforts to restore power in others that were still in darkness were ongoing.

GRIDCo further disclosed that all pertinent technical teams were mobilized and actively engaged in efforts to bring power back to full capacity as quickly and securely as possible. They issued an apology to the customers who were inconvenienced by the outage, assuring them of regular updates as the restoration process continued. Additionally, GRIDCo urged customers to exercise patience and cooperate with the technical teams as they worked diligently to fully restore power to all affected areas.