A fire on a transformer at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) Mallam Substation at about 2:36am on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, cut electricity supply to parts of Accra, including Lapaz, Anyaa and Awoshie. GRIDCo says power has since been restored to some of the affected areas, with work ongoing to reconnect the rest.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday by its Corporate Communications Section, GRIDCo said a fault triggered the fire on one of the transformers at the facility, disrupting supply to communities served by the substation.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded to the incident and contained and extinguished the fire. GRIDCo engineers have started investigating the cause, and the company says arrangements are underway to replace the damaged transformer as soon as possible.
No timeline has been given for full restoration of power or for the transformer replacement.
Mallam substation fire: what happened at 2:36am
According to GRIDCo, the fault occurred at about 2:36am on Wednesday, October 14, and set one of the substation’s transformers on fire.
The incident immediately affected electricity supply to parts of Accra fed through the Mallam Substation, a key bulk supply point serving the western part of the capital.
The cause of the fault has not yet been established. GRIDCo says its technical team is investigating.
Areas affected by the GRIDCo Mallam power outage
The Ghana National Fire Service named the following communities as likely to be affected by the outage:
- Lapaz
- Anyaa
- Awoshie
- Mallam and surrounding communities served by the substation
GRIDCo’s statement referred more broadly to “parts of Accra” served by the substation, so the list above may not be complete. Residents in nearby areas who lost power in the early hours of Wednesday may also have been affected.
GRIDCo power restoration update
GRIDCo says supply has been restored to parts of the affected areas. Engineers are working to reconnect customers in the remaining communities “as quickly as possible.”
The company has also started steps to replace the damaged transformer. Until that happens, some customers may experience continued interruptions or reduced supply.
“GRIDCo sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused,” the company said, thanking customers and stakeholders for their patience and understanding.
Mallam substation fire at a glance: before and after
- Time of fault: about 2:36am, Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Equipment affected: one transformer at the Mallam Substation
- Fire status: contained and extinguished by GNFS
- Power status: restored to some areas; reconnection ongoing elsewhere
- Cause: under investigation by GRIDCo engineers
- Transformer: replacement process initiated; no date given
Another blow to power reliability in Accra
The incident adds to a series of power disruptions in the capital this year. In August, GRIDCo was forced to explain a nationwide blackout and announced measures to strengthen the grid. GhanaTrends covered that in GRIDCo’s explanation of the latest blackout.
This week, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is also carrying out planned daytime maintenance outages in parts of Accra, Tema, Volta and Eastern regions from October 12 to 16.
GRIDCo, incorporated in December 2006 and operational since August 1, 2008, runs Ghana’s National Interconnected Transmission System. It transmits electricity from 11 wholesale suppliers, including the Volta River Authority, to 31 bulk customers and distribution utilities. More about the company is available on the official GRIDCo website.
What the Mallam outage means for residents and businesses
Households and businesses in Lapaz, Anyaa, Awoshie and nearby areas lost power overnight, with some still waiting for supply to return on Wednesday.
Shops, cold stores, small manufacturers and others who depend on steady power may face losses until full restoration. Residents are advised to switch off sensitive appliances to protect them from surges when power returns.
Because the damaged transformer is yet to be replaced, the substation may operate with reduced capacity for some time, which could affect supply reliability in the area.
What happens next
GRIDCo engineers will continue investigating the cause of the fire and work to restore power to all remaining customers.
The company is also moving to replace the affected transformer. Residents should look out for further updates from GRIDCo and ECG on full restoration and any load management arrangements while repairs continue.
Key details at a glance
- Fire broke out at GRIDCo’s Mallam Substation at about 2:36am on October 14, 2026.
- A fault triggered the fire on one of the substation’s transformers.
- Lapaz, Anyaa and Awoshie are among the communities affected.
- Ghana National Fire Service contained and extinguished the fire.
- Power restored to some areas; work ongoing for the rest.
- Cause of the fire is under investigation.
- GRIDCo has begun steps to replace the damaged transformer.
FAQs
What caused the fire at GRIDCo Mallam substation?
GRIDCo says a fault triggered a fire on one of the transformers at about 2:36am on October 14, 2026. The exact cause is still being investigated by its engineers.
Which areas are affected by the Mallam power outage?
The Ghana National Fire Service named Lapaz, Anyaa and Awoshie among the affected communities. Other parts of Accra served by the Mallam Substation were also hit.
When will power be fully restored in Lapaz and Awoshie?
GRIDCo has restored power to some areas but has not given a timeline for full restoration. It says work is ongoing to reconnect remaining customers as quickly as possible.
The early-morning fire at GRIDCo’s Mallam Substation has left parts of western Accra, including Lapaz, Anyaa and Awoshie, dealing with power cuts. The fire is out and supply is gradually returning, but with the cause under investigation and the damaged transformer yet to be replaced, residents will be watching closely for GRIDCo’s next update on full restoration.
