President John Dramani Mahama has praised the dedication and resilience of workers at the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) following a recent fire outbreak at the Akosombo power plant’s control room.
During a visit to the facility, the President described the incident as unfortunate but expressed confidence in the technical competence of the staff to restore full operations.
“We heard about the sad event the fire outbreak in your control room and of course, Ghanaians have felt the impact,” he said. “But knowing VRA, I was not surprised when I heard our engineers say they would find a way to bring things back on. You have some of the best personnel anywhere in the world.”
President Mahama commended the workers for their swift response, noting that their expertise had already led to the restoration of four out of the plant’s six turbines.
He added that he was optimistic about the remaining units being brought back online soon.
“You work hard, and your sacrifice is appreciated.
This may be an act of God, no one could have expected such a fire, especially in a control room that has been in use since 1964,” he remarked.
The President also framed the incident as an opportunity for renewal, emphasizing the need for modernization.
“They say adversity is an opportunity. This gives us the chance to replace the old control room with a more modern facility that will serve future generations,” he said.
Reaffirming government support, President Mahama assured both institutions of continued backing to strengthen Ghana’s power sector.
“VRA will remain one of the foremost state-owned enterprises, and together with GRIDCo, you are like twins of the same mother. Government will continue to provide every support you need,” he concluded.
The visit forms part of the President’s broader effort to assess the impact of the incident and ensure the stability and resilience of the country’s energy infrastructure.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
