Minister orders audit of strategic energy installations

The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has taken decisive action following a significant fire outbreak at the Akosombo Substation, a critical hub for power distribution across Ghana. Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor has mandated an immediate and thorough audit of all strategic energy installations and infrastructure, encompassing both power and downstream oil and gas facilities.

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The question I am asking is, without prejudicing the report that would be presented, between that explosion and men moving to quench the fire, what was the time lag? Did we have CCTV cameras? Did we have emergency response systems? The report should be ready so that we can get to the root cause of the incident.

This proactive measure comes in the wake of last Thursday's incident, which resulted in an extensive loss of approximately 1,000 megawatts of power, causing considerable disruption to the national supply. While assuring the public that restoration efforts were underway, Dr. Jinapor emphasized the seriousness of the damage and the need to understand the root cause.

A seven-member committee, comprising experts from various institutions including the Ghana National Fire Service, GRIDCo, and the Volta River Authority (VRA), has been established to investigate the fire. Chaired by William Amuna, the committee has a three-week deadline to present its findings. The Minister stressed the importance of understanding the time lag between the explosion and the fire-fighting response, and whether adequate emergency systems, such as CCTV cameras, were in place.

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The briefing I got was that yesterday, there was a fire incident following an explosion, which gutted the whole building of GRIDCo. But this building has been constructed in such a way that when there is an explosion, it is contained within.

From Ghana's perspective, as reported by the Daily Graphic, this incident is more than just a technical failure; it's a critical juncture for national energy security. While international news might report the outage figures, we are focused on the immediate impact on Ghanaians and the robust steps being taken to prevent future occurrences. The audit is not just about finding fault but about reinforcing our infrastructure to withstand pressure and ensure reliable power delivery, a matter of paramount importance to the nation's development and the daily lives of its citizens.

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The immediate fo