Former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Titus Glover, has criticised the Energy and Green Transition Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, for directing the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside.
He described the move as a “knee-jerk reaction,” arguing that it was premature.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Glover questioned the basis for the decision, noting that investigations into the Akosombo substation fire are still ongoing.
“This is a knee-jerk reaction. This is someone who is due for pension in June and will proceed on leave prior to that. Why can’t we look at the issue going on and deal with the problem?” he questioned.
Mr. Glover maintained that, from a layman’s perspective, the fire outbreak at the Akosombo Substation appeared to be accidental.
“From a layman’s point of view, the fire outbreak at Akosombo was an accident and they are working to resolve the issue. If there is evidential proof that some people are sabotaging efforts, then we can hold them on. But we shouldn’t act based on gossip and speculation,” he stated.
The fire, which damaged key infrastructure at the facility, caused widespread power outages across Ghana and forced authorities to temporarily shut down operations at the Akosombo Dam.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage.
The Energy Minister’s directive for the GRIDCo CEO to step aside is aimed at ensuring a transparent and independent investigation.
In a related development, there has been a reshuffle in the Ashanti Regional leadership of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as part of efforts to improve efficiency and strengthen power distribution amid ongoing sector challenges.
However, Mr. Glover says leadership changes alone may not be enough to resolve the underlying problems in the power sector.
“Why can’t we look at the issue going on and deal with the problem? These people who are being sacked, are they the cause of the problem? I need some education,” he said in an interview on Adom Fm.
