Ghana’s largest hydroelectric power plant, the Akosombo Generating Station, operated by the Volta River Authority (VRA), has fully restored all six generation units to the national grid, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor confirmed on Friday.
“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” Minister Jinapor said in a Facebook post.
The Akosombo Generating Station, which produces about 1,020 MW, was disconnected from the national grid on Thursday, April 23, 2026, following a fire at the switchyard of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) substation at Akosombo.
The substation receives power from the station before transmitting it to the national grid. The incident disrupted electricity supply in many parts of the country.
Following the fire, the Energy Minister and his deputy visited the site and assured Ghanaians that engineers would work around the clock to restore the plant to full operation. He kept the public updated on the restoration exercise.
In his latest update, the Energy Minister said: “In the face of a major system disruption, and against all odds, our engineers, technicians, and emergency teams worked around the clock to restore power and stabilise the grid.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he added.
Dr. Jinapor also expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and all supporting agencies whose coordination made the power restoration possible.
Drawing inspiration from the engineers’ efforts, he said, “This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people.”
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, addressing Ghanaian workers during May Day celebrations held at Jackson Park in Koforidua on Friday, May 1, 2026, the President said the facility is now fully operational after engineers successfully resolved the technical challenges caused by the incident.
“Just yesterday, I was in Akosombo, here in the Eastern Region, to inspect the damage at the Volta River Authority electricity generation station following the devastating fire in the switchyard control room,” he said.
He continued: “I know many of you are concerned about the disruptions to electricity supply caused by the Akosombo fire, but I want to share the good news that GRIDCo and VRA engineers, working together, have been able to bypass the burnt-out control room and have restarted all six turbines at the Akosombo Generating Station.”
Kenya has temporarily lowered its sulphur fuel standards for a period of six months, allowing diesel and petrol with a maximum sulphur content of 50 mg/kg to be sold in the country.
The decision follows requests by petroleum sector stakeholders, who cited challenges in sourcing fuel that meets current compliance levels.
“Owing to constraints occasioned by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including disruptions to supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, and the need to safeguard the continuous supply of fuel critical to the economy, these concerns have been given urgent consideration,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, and signed by Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, said.
According to the Ministry, it received requests from stakeholders in the petroleum sector, including the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, regarding challenges in sourcing fuel that meets current standard compliance levels.
Upon review by technical teams and consultations with the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the National Standards Council, the request was subjected to a comprehensive technical assessment before approval.
The temporary waiver applies to the sulphur parameter for KS EAS 177:2025 – Automotive Gasoil (diesel) and KS EAS 158:2025 – Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). The maximum limit has been set at 50 mg/kg, which corresponds to the previous fuel standards before stricter limits were introduced.
The measure is temporary and will be in effect for six months. It will be reviewed at the end of that period, or earlier if global supply conditions improve. The Ministry emphasised that this is a short-term intervention designed to ensure continued fuel availability and sustain economic stability during the current period of global supply disruption.
Kenya had been gradually adopting stricter fuel quality standards, including lower sulphur limits, to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The new limits under the East African Community standards were intended to align with global best practices.
However, the supply crisis has forced a temporary reversal to ensure that the country does not run out of fuel.
According to the Ministry, Kenya might have faced severe shortages as suppliers struggled to find compliant fuel in a disrupted global market without the waiver.
The temporary lower standard ensures that diesel and petrol can be sourced from a wider range of refineries, including those that may not yet meet the strictest sulphur limits.
However, higher sulphur content in fuel can contribute to increased air pollution, with potential health and environmental impacts.
The Ministry acknowledged the trade-off but emphasised that the measure is necessary to safeguard economic stability.
“It is against this backdrop and in full consideration of the need to safeguard the welfare of Kenyan consumers and the stability of the economy, that the Ministry has approved this request,” the press release stated.
Ghana is strategically planning to enhance the employable skills of electric wiring professionals in the country in order to export their services abroad.
In this regard, the Ministry of Youth Development and Employment and the Energy Commission are forging a strategic collaboration to introduce language proficiency as a core subject to be examined during the Electrical Wiring Certification Examination in the country soon.
The Minister for Youth Development and Employment, Hon. George Opare Addo, who disclosed this, said there is a fund at the ministry to support the training of prospective electric wiring professionals in language proficiency to achieve this objective.
He explained that this added value will enable Ghana to export professionals in the sector to Europe and other parts of the world, where they are in high demand.
Speaking as the Guest Speaker at the 24th Electrical Wiring Certification and Awards Ceremony, under the theme “Training Today’s Youth, Certifying Tomorrow’s Electrical Experts” in Accra on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, Hon. Opare Addo asserted that the electrical wiring profession provides an avenue for the country’s youth to acquire employable skills.
George Opare Addo
He urged them to take advantage of the opportunity, noting that the domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors of the nation need trained professionals to ensure efficiency, safety, and professionalism.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Adwoa Serwaa Bondzie, expressed concern about the insufficient number of females in the electrical wiring profession.
She urged Ghanaians to encourage more women to enroll in the profession to help address the imbalance.
She noted that only 36 females out of the 1,179 candidates who qualified last year, and stressed that the figure should increase to a more appreciable number this year.
She pledged to seek funding support from industry players, the Ministry of Youth Development and Employment, and other stakeholders to support the participation and success of female candidates.
The Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, Prof. John Gatsi, emphasized that professionalism in the electrical wiring profession is non-negotiable.
According to him, it was for this reason that Ghana implemented the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 2008), which were enacted to strengthen the delivery and regulation of the practice in the country.
To support this objective, he said the Energy Commission has consistently developed training manuals and organized workshops for professionals in the sector to ensure high standards in their work.
In an interview with the overall best candidate among the 2025 electrical wiring professionals, Daniel Odom expressed joy at the honour and pledged to work to encourage more professionals in the sector to sit for the certification examination.
He was awarded GH₵5,000 to motivate other prospective electric wiring professionals to strive for excellence.
Out of the 1,386 people who sat for the examination, 1,179 candidates passed, representing an 85% success rate, and were awarded certificates.
Belgium’s government has said it is planning to buy its nuclear reactors from French power giant Engie in order to secure the country’s energy supplies, the BBC reported, citing Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
The government hopes for “a full takeover” of the nuclear fleet, including Belgium’s seven ageing nuclear reactors.
The move would also mean suspending plans to decommission nuclear operations in Belgium.
“This government is choosing safe, affordable, and sustainable energy, with less dependence on fossil fuel imports and more control over our own supply,” De Wever posted on X.
The move would reverse the phase-out of nuclear energy legislation approved in the early 2000s amid safety concerns, which prohibited the building of new nuclear power plants and limited the operating lifetimes of existing ones to 40 years.
Only two of Belgium’s seven nuclear reactors are currently operational—located at plants in Doel and Tihange—and their operating licences were recently extended until 2035.
The other five reactors were shut down between 2022 and 2025, and plans to dismantle them will now be suspended.
Engie and the government said they aim to reach an agreement on the takeover of the nuclear stations by 1 October.
In a joint statement with Engie, the Belgian government said the move also highlights its aim to extend the operations of existing nuclear reactors and to develop “new nuclear capacity” in Belgium.
“By doing so, the Belgian government is taking responsibility for Belgium’s long-term energy future, with the objective of building a financially and economically viable activity that supports security of supply, climate objectives, industrial resilience, and socio-economic prosperity,” the statement added.
Belgium is one of a number of European countries revising their nuclear strategy, making a complete U-turn after years of reluctance to invest in nuclear energy.
All seven nuclear reactors had at one point been set to close by 2025.
The reactors have long been controversial. They have been shut down repeatedly for safety checks and have sparked concerns in neighbouring countries.
Tensions flared in 2015 when plans to use the reactors beyond their 40-year design life were met with complaints from cities across nearby borders.
The German city of Aachen even began offering iodine tablets to residents in 2017 over safety fears about the reactors at Tihange, following closures due to cracks and water leaks.
Nigeria has appointed Joseph Tegbe as the new Minister for Power, replacing Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned from the position a few days ago to pursue his governorship ambition.
The appointment of Joseph Tegbe is subject to confirmation by the Senate, in accordance with the country’s Constitution, a statement issued on Thursday by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga revealed.
Mr. Tegbe, who is from Oyo State, is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience across the public and private sectors.
He is a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led initiatives in fiscal policy reform and institutional transformation.
He has advised government institutions and private-sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks, and investment structuring.
Mr. Tegbe is currently the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), coordinating bilateral development cooperation with China.
His experience includes engagements in the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reforms involving key agencies.
President Tinubu said the nomination is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to reform the power sector, enhance grid stability, and attract sustainable investment.
He expressed confidence that Mr. Tegbe will bring his expertise to advance reforms and improve outcomes in the sector.
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, says the recent fire that gutted the switchyard of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) Limited substation at Akosombo in the Eastern Region presents an opportunity for the country to upgrade critical infrastructure.
The fire incident, which occurred on Thursday, April 23, cut about 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power from the Akosombo generation plant from the national grid, disrupting electricity supply across the country and triggering complaints from Ghanaians on social media.
President Mahama on Thursday, April 30, visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of the incident and told engineers and officials that the setback presents a chance to rebuild with improved systems.
“This presents an opportunity because now that this adversity has happened, it gives us an opportunity to replace it with a more modern control room that will serve this Akosombo plant and let it work for more generations yet to come,” he said.
He commended technical teams for their swift response in restoring operations, noting progress already made in stabilising power generation.
“You have four of the turbines back on, and I’m told you’re working another miracle, and that I’ll get good news soon, with the remaining two turbines also coming back on,” he added.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting key state energy institutions, describing both GRIDCo and the Volta River Authority (VRA) as critical to Ghana’s power sector.
“VRA will continue to be one of the foremost state-owned enterprises, and every support the government can give you, we will continue to give you,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Energy, John Jinapor, confirmed that five power generation units of the dam have been successfully restored, with the remaining unit expected to return to operation in the next few days.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has restored electricity supply to the Afram Plains following a major outage triggered by damage to a marine cable in the early hours of Monday.
Speaking in an interview, the General Manager for External Communications at ECG, Dr. Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, explained that the fault occurred about 400 metres into the River Afram, cutting off power to the entire Donkorkrom District.
He indicated that immediately after the incident, the Eastern Regional Maintenance Team mobilised to the site to conduct an assessment.
“Our initial checks confirmed a serious fault on the marine cable, which made it impossible to transmit power across the river,” he noted.
Dr. Ayiku further revealed that a specialised Cable Test Van was deployed from Accra to help locate the exact point of failure.
Although the team arrived on Tuesday and began work, operations were briefly disrupted on Wednesday when the vehicle became stuck in a swampy section while tracing the fault.
He highlighted the intervention of the District Chief Executive for Afram Plains South, Moses Tangbe, who played a pivotal role in resolving the challenge.
“The DCE personally ensured that the Test Van was pulled out safely, demonstrating strong leadership and commitment throughout the process,” he said.
Despite the difficult terrain, ECG engineers, with support from local residents, adopted a practical and innovative recovery approach.
Two boats were deployed, along with community divers, to lift sections of the submerged cable from the river. The team carefully navigated the water until the damaged portion was identified and repaired.
“In the absence of specialised marine cable joints, the team improvised with standard cable joints to restore supply. They also constructed a temporary wharf to prevent the repaired section from coming into direct contact with the river,” Dr. Ayiku explained.
He emphasised that the coordinated effort and ingenuity of the team helped avert what could have been a prolonged outage across the Afram Plains.
Dr. Ayiku commended all stakeholders involved, including the Eastern Regional Management and Maintenance Team, the Accra Sub-Transmission Cable Test Van Team, the Donkorkrom District Team, and residents of Ekye Amanfrom and Adawso, for their dedication and resilience.
“Thanks to their collective effort, power has now been fully restored, bringing relief to affected communities,” he stated.
ECG also expressed its appreciation to all who contributed to the restoration effort and extended an apology to its cherished customers and the general public for the inconvenience caused.
Nigeria’s largest thermal power plant operator, Egbin Power Plc, has confirmed a tragic incident that claimed the life of a contractor during underwater maintenance activities at its plant in Lagos.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, around 8 p.m., when a diver engaged in underwater operations within the plant’s lagoon water pump system reportedly fell into the water during maintenance work and was tragically caught in a running pump impeller, leading to his death.
The contractor was said to have been working inside the pump to retrieve or stabilize a pumping machine that had fallen into the water section of the facility.
However, the situation turned fatal when the equipment unexpectedly came into operation while the diver was still inside the restricted area.
In a statement issued by Felix Ofulue, Head of Corporate Communications and Brand, the company’s Board and Management expressed deep sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, loved ones, and colleagues of the deceased.
“Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time,” the company said.
The statement noted that immediately following the incident, established emergency response, safety, and reporting protocols were activated, and the relevant authorities were promptly notified.
The company added that it is cooperating with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders as part of ongoing efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It further stated that a thorough review of the situation is currently underway.
The company emphasized that it remains firmly committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all personnel and contractors, and to maintaining the highest standards across its operations.
Egbin Power Plant, which has an installed capacity of 1,320 MW comprising six units of 220 MW each, was temporarily shut down and undergoing maintenance on its cooling systems prior to Tuesday’s unfortunate incident.
According to management, the plant will remain shut until investigations into the incident are concluded.
Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, on Tuesday launched the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Programme in the country, unveiling a pilot phase that will deliver 10,000 cylinders of clean cooking gas to households nationwide.
The launch took place during a high-level policy dialogue on clean cooking, gender equality, and child protection, bringing together regional leaders, policymakers, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to advance access to safer and more sustainable cooking solutions across West Africa.
Delivering a keynote address, President Bio described access to clean cooking as both a public health and development priority, revealing that nearly 10,000 Sierra Leoneans died in 2021 from air pollution linked to cooking with firewood and charcoal.
“What we confront today is not confined to Sierra Leone but Africa as a whole. Lack of access to clean cooking demands our collective response,” the President stated.
He noted that the effects of indoor air pollution continue to disproportionately impact women and children, stressing that the issue is not abstract but rooted in poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity.
He also recalled witnessing firsthand the health burden carried by women exposed daily to smoke from biomass cooking methods.
President Bio said that when his administration assumed office in 2018, there was no clear accountability framework for clean cooking, adding that the government has since established a dedicated Clean Cooking Delivery Unit to coordinate reforms and accelerate progress.
He called on the private sector to invest in clean cooking solutions, noting that the market potential is significant and that policy foundations are already in place.
He further emphasized that women should not only be beneficiaries of the transition but also active entrepreneurs and leaders in the clean energy value chain.
“Our women do not lack solutions; they lack champions,” he said, urging stakeholders to use the next 100 days to engage communities already transitioning to cleaner cooking systems.
President Bio reaffirmed that Sierra Leone is ready to lead, while commending ECOWAS for supporting regional efforts to ensure that no woman dies due to a lack of access to clean cooking energy.
His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone.
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio described the issue as one affecting the daily realities of mothers and families across the country.
She said many women still cook over open flames, exposing themselves and their children to dangerous smoke.
She noted that over 600,000 schoolchildren currently benefit from the government’s school feeding programme, but many meals are prepared using open-fire methods that expose cooks, teachers, and pupils to harmful emissions.
“This must change,” she said, calling for cleaner cooking systems in schools and homes nationwide.
Minister of Energy Cyril Arnold Grant said the launch signaled Sierra Leone’s readiness to expand access to clean cooking.
He disclosed that 72 percent of households rely on firewood, 22 percent use charcoal, while only 1.5 percent currently use clean cooking solutions.
He described energy poverty as a driver of gender inequality and poor health outcomes.
Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, highlighted the urgent need to scale up clean cooking adoption nationwide.
Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Clean Cooking Alliance, ECOWAS, and other regional dignitaries also delivered statements supporting the initiative.
The First Lady of Kenya, Madam Rachel Ruto, as well as Global Ambassador for the Clean Cooking Alliance, a former Second Lady of Ghana Madam Samira Bawumia, delivered special addresses.
Former Second Lady of Ghana Samira Bawumia
The launch marks a significant step in Sierra Leone’s transition toward cleaner household energy, improved health outcomes, women’s empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Mohammed, has been removed, a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed.
According to the statement, Mohammed’s removal was carried out “in the public interest” and in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
It added that the decision forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to strengthen regulatory efficiency and deepen reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The President has also approved the nomination of Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation,” the statement said.
The NMDPRA is one of the key regulatory agencies established under the Petroleum Industry Act to oversee operations in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors, including licensing, distribution, storage, transportation, and pricing compliance.
The leadership change comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to stabilise the petroleum industry, improve domestic supply, attract investments, and strengthen regulatory oversight.
The Presidency described Umar as a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.
According to the statement, he has built a reputation in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and execution of large-scale projects.
Umar is a graduate in Accounting from Bayero University, Kano, and also attended Harvard Business School.
Pending his confirmation by the Senate, the Presidency said the most senior official within the NMDPRA would oversee the agency in an acting capacity.
President Tinubu also commended the outgoing CEO, Saidu Mohammed, for his service to the country and wished him success in his future endeavours.
“The President remains committed to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth,” the statement added.
Former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr. Samuel Dubik Mahama, has cautioned against politicising the current challenges facing Ghana’s energy sector, urging stakeholders to focus on practical solutions to address recent power outages.
Speaking on Accra-based Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Mr. Mahama stressed the need for critical reflection to prevent recurring power supply issues.
According to him, the country risks persistent challenges if those managing the sector fail to take decisive and honest steps to address inefficiencies within the system.
Samuel Dubik Mahama Esq.
“We are at a point where we must reflect; otherwise, the problem will reoccur. It’s not just one issue—we have to be honest with ourselves and take bold decisions,” he stated.
Mr. Mahama argued that the energy sector, particularly ECG, should be managed as a business entity, noting that budgetary constraints have affected its ability to operate efficiently. He also pointed to systemic waste within the sector, indicating that eliminating inefficiencies could significantly improve performance and service delivery.
“It’s essential to view the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as a business, including its upstream operations,” he said.
The former ECG boss further highlighted the need to invest in energy storage systems to manage excess power generated during the day before resorting to additional thermal generation.
He noted that electricity demand in the country is growing rapidly, making it imperative for policymakers to adopt sustainable and forward-looking strategies.
“We also need to find ways to store excess energy generated during the day before considering additional thermal power. Demand for energy is growing at a very rapid rate,” he added.
Ghana is sitting on a resource it continues to misclassify as a nuisance. Every day, large volumes of solid waste are collected across urban Ghana, especially in Greater Accra, only to be transported and dumped at considerable cost. Public authorities spend heavily to manage it, citizens suffer from the consequences of poor disposal, and the economy absorbs the hidden costs of flooding, disease risk, land degradation, and urban disorder. Yet a significant part of this waste could be converted into dispatchable electricity and real economic value.
This is why Ghana must rethink solid waste management, not as a sanitation headache alone, but as a commercial and energy opportunity. Waste-to-Energy should no longer be treated as a peripheral environmental idea. It should be elevated into mainstream infrastructure, sanitation, and energy policy. The issue is simple: Ghana can keep paying to bury waste, or it can begin to monetise it.
The concept of the Waste-to-Energy makes a compelling case that Accra’s rising waste volumes, overstretched landfill capacity, environmental degradation, public health concerns, and flooding linked to poor waste disposal now require a practical and bankable intervention. That diagnosis is correct. But the national response must now move from concern to structured action.
Landfilling is not waste management. It is value destruction. For too long, landfilling has been treated as the default answer to Ghana’s municipal waste challenge. But landfills do not solve the problem. They merely store it temporarily while generating new environmental, social, and fiscal burdens.
Government pays to collect waste, pays to transport it, pays to dispose of it, and later pays again for the consequences. Those consequences are familiar: blocked drains, periodic flooding, foul odour, methane emissions, health hazards, degraded landscapes, and rising pressure to secure more land for disposal. In rapidly growing cities, this model is becoming economically indefensible.
Land is too scarce and too valuable to keep allocating increasing portions of it to dumping waste. Public funds are too constrained to keep financing a system that produces little productive return. In business terms, landfilling is a weak asset strategy. It absorbs resources, compounds liabilities, and creates almost no enduring value. A modern economy should not keep funding a system whose core output is accumulated waste and deferred risk.
Waste is not just rubbish. It is fuel. The fundamental policy mistake has been to treat municipal solid waste only as a problem to be removed, rather than as a resource to be processed. That mindset must change.
Waste-to-Energy offers Ghana a clear alternative. Instead of paying only for disposal, the country can convert part of its waste stream into power. Waste becomes feedstock. Feedstock becomes electricity. Electricity becomes revenue. Alongside this, the waste handling system itself can support tipping fees or structured waste charges, creating a more circular commercial arrangement. That is why Waste-to-Energy should not be discussed only in environmental language. It is equally a business model, an infrastructure model, and an energy model.
The concept proposes a modern Waste-to-Energy power plant using supercritical incineration technology to process municipal solid waste and convert it into electricity. More importantly, it frames the idea as a utility-scale and commercially structured intervention, not merely a sanitation experiment. That is precisely how Ghana should approach it. The country must stop seeing waste as a cost to be hidden and start seeing it as value to be captured.
Ghana needs the right kind of power, not just more megawatts. Ghana’s electricity system needs diversity, reliability, and strategic balance. Hydro remains important, but it is exposed to hydrological uncertainty. Thermal generation is essential, but it is tied to fuel supply, fuel pricing, and foreign exchange pressures. Solar has an expanding role, but its intermittency means it cannot on its own provide all the system reliability a modern economy needs without complementary support.
Waste-to-Energy belongs in this conversation because it offers dispatchable power generated from an urban resource that is produced every day. Unlike solar and wind, municipal waste does not disappear at sunset. In a large city, waste generation is constant. That gives Waste-to-Energy a unique place as a sanitation-linked source of firm energy. Successful international waste-to-energy plants such as TuasOne in Singapore, Bao’an and Longgang in Shenzhen, CopenHill in Copenhagen, Spittelau in Vienna, Palm Beach REF 2 in the United States, Dublin Waste to Energy in Ireland, Rozenburg in the Netherlands, Isséane in France, and Sharjah in the UAE demonstrate that well-structured WtE systems can simultaneously improve sanitation, reduce landfill dependence, and contribute dependable electricity and heat to the energy mix.
Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor
This is why the commercial structure matters. The potential generator should be enabled to sign a dispatchable Power Purchase Agreement with the Electricity Company of Ghana. That is essential for project bankability, operational planning, and proper integration into the power system. Without such commercial discipline, even technically promising projects struggle to move beyond concept stage.
A country that complains simultaneously about waste and power constraints should recognise the strategic logic of linking both problems to one practical solution. The economics are broader than many assume. One of the weaknesses in public discussion of Waste-to-Energy is that it is often judged too narrowly. Analysts look at the electricity output and ask whether it justifies the investment. That is an incomplete way to assess the model.
The real value lies across the wider chain. There is value in structured waste handling. There is value in tipping fees. There is value in reducing landfill dependence and extending landfill life. There is value in lowering some of the flood and health risks associated with poor waste disposal. There is value in job creation across waste logistics, plant operations, engineering support, and maintenance. There is value in freeing urban land for more productive uses. And there is value in making the capital city cleaner, more orderly, and more investable. In other words, Waste-to-Energy should be assessed not just as a power plant, but as a multi-benefit infrastructure platform.
This distinction is important because the true cost of Ghana’s current waste model is spread across many parts of the economy. It appears in sanitation budgets, health burdens, emergency drainage works, urban productivity losses, private household costs, and investor perception. Once these wider costs are recognised, the case for Waste-to-Energy becomes significantly stronger.
Accra cannot build a modern future on a dumping-ground model. No serious capital city can remain competitive while depending on an outdated waste disposal regime. A city battling with unmanaged waste, choked drains, odour, visual blight, and flood-related sanitation failures is not merely facing an environmental problem. It is facing an economic efficiency problem.
Businesses lose time and productivity. Households bear avoidable risks. Government spending becomes reactive instead of strategic. Urban confidence weakens. The city’s attractiveness for investors, residents, and visitors declines.
A cleaner city is therefore not just a public good. It is an economic necessity. Waste-to-Energy supports that objective by reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill, improving discipline in waste flows, and creating a productive use for part of the municipal waste stream. It aligns sanitation management with economic output. That makes it far more strategic than the traditional collect-and-dump model.
Waste-to-Energy is not without challenges. Feedstock quality must be understood. Collection systems must be reliable. Environmental safeguards must be robust. Emissions compliance must be non-negotiable. Project size must match actual waste availability. Contracts must allocate risk properly. Operators must have genuine technical competence. But none of these issues is a valid reason for inaction. They are reasons for discipline.
The concept note appropriately recommends a prefeasibility study covering waste availability, site selection, plant sizing, environmental and social safeguards, grid connection, and commercial structuring, together with coordinated multi-agency action. That is exactly the right starting point. Infrastructure does not fail because it is ambitious. It fails because it is poorly prepared.
The greater risk for Ghana is not that it attempts Waste-to-Energy. The greater risk is that it continues pouring public money into an inefficient landfill model whose long-term economics are steadily worsening.
The Reset SolutionFirst, government should formally recognise Waste-to-Energy as a strategic solution sitting at the intersection of sanitation management and energy policy.
Second, the national narrative should change. Waste-to-Energy is not about burning refuse for its own sake. It is about converting unmanaged waste into structured economic value.
Third, it should support a serious prefeasibility study to establish waste volumes, calorific value, logistics, technology options, site suitability, grid integration, environmental safeguards, and indicative project economics.
Fourth, it should establish a multi-agency implementation framework involving the relevant sanitation authorities, environmental regulators, city authorities, and energy institutions. Waste-to-Energy will not succeed under fragmented administration.
Fifth, the commercial structure should be designed around bankability. Waste supply must be assured. Delivery obligations must be clear. Payment discipline must be built into the model. And the potential generator must be supported to secure a dispatchable PPA with ECG.
The country now faces a clear choice. It can continue to spend scarce public resources collecting, transporting, and burying waste while bearing the wider costs of poor disposal. Or it can begin to treat waste as industrial input, energy feedstock, and a recoverable source of value.
Waste-to-Energy will not solve every sanitation problem, and it will not replace all other forms of generation. But it can solve several important problems at once. It can reduce landfill pressure. It can improve urban sanitation outcomes. It can add dispatchable power to the grid. It can create jobs. And it can turn a recurrent public burden into a productive infrastructure asset.
Ghana should no longer keep burying what it can monetise. Solid waste is not merely rubbish. It is untapped fuel, untapped revenue, and untapped strategic value hiding in plain sight.
Tunisia’s President, Kais Saied, dismissed the country’s Minister for Energy and Trade, Fatma Thabet, on Tuesday ahead of a parliamentary meeting to review controversial draft laws on renewable energy contracts.
The presidency announced the dismissal in a brief statement, offering no explanation. The move comes amid sharp criticism from unionists and lawmakers over five government-approved bills regulating concessions to foreign companies, primarily for the installation of solar panels.
According to the proposed bills, foreign firms could exploit the energy produced by the panels for 20 years, renewable once for an additional 10 years, with the first five years exempt from taxes. The energy would be sold to the Tunisian state electricity and gas company, known as STEG.
When presenting the proposed bills, the government argued that they would “boost Tunisia’s energy independence, guarantee its energy supply, and lower electricity production costs.” Tunisia imports the majority of its energy needs, placing a major strain on the annual budget due to subsidies on fuel, electricity, and gas.
According to the state secretary for energy transition, Wael Chouchane, renewable energy accounted for 9% of Tunisia’s grid in April, with a target of 35% by 2030.
The government recently announced investment projects worth nearly $600 million to install solar panels with a combined capacity of 600 megawatts, equivalent to a quarter of the country’s annual consumption. These projects would focus on marginalized areas with low economic growth but abundant sunshine, such as central and southern Tunisia.
In a statement on Tuesday, the powerful UGTT trade union denounced the draft bills, saying they “perpetuate dependence [on foreign countries] and weaken national sovereignty.” It demanded “fair and equitable partnerships” between STEG and foreign firms.
MP Bilel El Mechri, who recently criticized what he called “energy colonisation,” welcomed the minister’s dismissal and demanded that she be “tried for compromising national sovereignty.”
Housing Minister Salah Eddine Zouari will take up Chiboub’s tasks on an interim basis, the presidency said.
Ghana’s largest hydroelectric power plant, the Akosombo Generating Station, operated by the Volta River Authority, has restored four of its six generation units to the national grid, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor confirmed on Tuesday night.
The Akosombo Generating Station, which produces about 1,020 MW, was disconnected from the national grid on Thursday, April 23, 2026, following a fire at the switchyard of the Ghana Grid Company substation at Akosombo.
This substation receives power from the station before feeding it into the national grid.
The incident disrupted electricity supply in many parts of the country.
Following the fire, the Energy Minister and his deputy visited the site and assured Ghanaians that engineers would work extra hours to restore the plant to full operation.
The minister wrote on Facebook at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday: “At 9:09 p.m., the fourth unit at Akosombo Dam was successfully brought into operation, an encouraging step that strengthens power generation and reflects the dedication and expertise of the team behind the effort.”
Earlier, at about 8 p.m., he posted: “I confirm that earlier today, the third unit at Akosombo was successfully put into operation. This milestone will improve power generation and enhance supply reliability.”
According to the minister, the progress reflects the government’s continued commitment to maintaining a resilient power system.
“This progress underscores our resolve to emerge from this unfortunate fire incident stronger, with a renewed focus on stability and reliability in power supply,” he added.
The disruption has sparked widespread complaints, particularly from businesses that rely heavily on the national grid.
Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition
Thursday’s incident prompted the Energy Minister, who was in the northern part of the country at the time, to return to Accra to assess the damage at Akosombo.
During his visit, the minister announced a seven-member committee, chaired by William Amuna, current Board Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana, to investigate the incident.
According to the minister, the fire was unusual and requires a thorough probe to determine its root cause.
“The damage is quite extensive. It’s quite serious. From the briefing I received, there was a significant situation that we need to get to the bottom of,” he said.
The committee is expected to present its findings within two to three weeks.
“We expect that within two to three weeks, they should be ready with a report so that we can determine the root cause of this challenge and all the issues surrounding this unfortunate incident,” the minister added.
Following the fire, the Energy Minister and his deputy visited the site and assured Ghanaians that engineers would work around the clock to restore the plant to full operation. He kept the public updated on the restoration exercise.
In his latest update, the Energy Minister said: “In the face of a major system disruption, and against all odds, our engineers, technicians, and emergency teams worked around the clock to restore power and stabilise the grid.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he added.
Dr. Jinapor also expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and all supporting agencies whose coordination made the power restoration possible.
Drawing inspiration from the engineers’ efforts, he said, “This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people.”
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, addressing Ghanaian workers during May Day celebrations held at Jackson Park in Koforidua on Friday, May 1, 2026, the President said the facility is now fully operational after engineers successfully resolved the technical challenges caused by the incident.
“Just yesterday, I was in Akosombo, here in the Eastern Region, to inspect the damage at the Volta River Authority electricity generation station following the devastating fire in the switchyard control room,” he said.
He continued: “I know many of you are concerned about the disruptions to electricity supply caused by the Akosombo fire, but I want to share the good news that GRIDCo and VRA engineers, working together, have been able to bypass the burnt-out control room and have restarted all six turbines at the Akosombo Generating Station.” 
