Asking GRIDCO CEO to step aside is in his own interest — Jinapor on Akosombo fire probe

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has justified his decision to direct the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside as investigations commence into the recent fire outbreak at the Akosombo Power Control Centre.

He explained that the move is intended to ensure a fair, transparent and independent investigation into the incident, which has disrupted power transmission and contributed to outages in several parts of the country.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, April 27, 2026, Mr Jinapor said the directive followed his visit to the facility and a detailed briefing from officials.

“I visited the site on Friday, and after receiving the briefing, I asked that he step aside pending the investigation. It is in his own interest,” he stated.

The Minister dismissed claims that the directive was punitive, describing it instead as a standard procedural step to safeguard the integrity of the investigative process, especially amid widespread speculation surrounding the incident.

“You just made reference to conspiracy theories and accusations. In fact, it helps him that when he steps aside and we conduct an impartial investigation, it is done without prejudice. This is not a normal leave,” he added.

The fire, which affected critical infrastructure at the Akosombo facility, has been linked to ongoing instability in electricity supply, with several communities experiencing prolonged outages in recent days.