Minority rejects Akosombo substation fire as cause of power outages

During a press conference on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Collins Adomako-Mensah, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Energy Committee, stated that the power crisis, referred to as "dumsor," had been affecting Ghanaians since January 25, 2026, long before the April 23, 2026, fire. He argued that the government is responsible for the crisis and that the fire is merely a symptom of a decaying energy sector. Adomako-Mensah cautioned against attempts to shift blame, insisting that the government must take responsibility for the broader challenges.

He cited persistent, unannounced blackouts across the country and multiple emergency and maintenance notices from the Electricity Company of Ghana ECG as evidence of a strained system predating the Akosombo incident. The Minority highlighted the severe impact on households and businesses, including lost income for small businesses and families struggling without power, emphasizing that these conditions existed before the substation fire.