By Ewoenam Kpodo
Ho, May 19, GNA – The Africa Development Council (ADC), a non-profit organisation promoting sustainable industrial development in Africa, has warned that Ghana risks recurring infrastructure disasters unless technically trained professionals are appointed to head engineering-related ministries and agencies.
The call follows a recent fire outbreak at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) Akosombo Substation in the Eastern Region, which disrupted power supply across parts of the country.
In a press release jointly signed by Dr Bright Atsu Sogbey, President, and Mr Michael Ackume, Scribe, the Council described the incident as symptomatic of deeper systemic failures in governance, maintenance culture and leadership.
It said recurring incidents such as electrical faults, substation fires and power instability highlighted the risks of prioritising political patronage over technical competence.
“The alarming spectacle of an electricity substation engulfed in flames is not merely an isolated technical malfunction; it symbolises deeper structural deficiencies in governance, planning, maintenance culture, and institutional leadership,” the release said.
The Council stressed that managing energy systems required scientific precision, risk assessment and systems thinking, noting that leaders without engineering backgrounds might struggle to effectively supervise complex power grids and transmission networks.
It warned that even a single lapse could cripple industries, disrupt healthcare delivery and endanger lives.
The ADC also referenced Ghana’s advanced plans toward nuclear energy development, emphasising that the sector allowed “infinitesimally small” margins for error.
It cited global nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi, where technical failures, human error and systemic weaknesses resulted in severe environmental and humanitarian consequences.
The release urged the adoption of a governance model that balanced political oversight with strong technical leadership.
It also noted that advanced economies often appointed seasoned professionals to lead critical technical institutions, stressing that Ghana must prioritise merit over patronage to build resilient infrastructure and sustain industrial growth.
“A society that neglects meritocracy in favour of patronage risks institutional decay and mediocrity,” it said.
The Council said the Akosombo substation fire should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers as Ghana pursues complex engineering projects and nuclear ambitions.
It urged that engineers, technocrats and other professionals be placed at the forefront of technical administration to safeguard national progress and prevent future catastrophes.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Ewoenam Kpodo