Former Greater Accra Regional Minister and Tema East MP, Titus Glover, has criticised the decision by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, directing the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company, Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside, describing the move as premature and reactionary.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Glover questioned the rationale behind the directive, particularly as investigations into the recent fire at the Akosombo substation remain 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 stated.
He further argued that, based on preliminary observations, the fire incident appeared accidental and should not immediately trigger punitive administrative action without conclusive evidence.
“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 added.
The fire, which damaged critical infrastructure at the Akosombo Dam, resulted in widespread power outages and forced a temporary shutdown of operations at the facility.
Authorities have indicated that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and full extent of the damage. The Minister’s directive for the CEO to step aside is understood to be part of efforts to ensure transparency and independence in the investigative process.
In a related development, there has been a leadership reshuffle within the Ashanti Regional operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana, aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening power distribution amid ongoing sector challenges.
However, Mr Glover maintained that leadership changes alone may not resolve the underlying issues.
“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.
