The Energy Minister on inspection
HOUSES and structures that have been constructed under GRIDCo and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) power lines are set to be demolished.
The Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, aka ‘Napo’, commencing inspection of the lines yesterday, as part of the measures to solve the erratic power cuts in the Ashanti Region, said it is unacceptable for developers to illegally construct houses under the power lines.
He led top officials of GRIDCo, ECG and Volta River Authority (VRA) to the GRIDCo Anwomaso Bulk Supply Point (BSP) in Kumasi, and according to the minister, the high voltage power lines pose serious threat to people and property, adding that human activities could also interrupt the power distribution.
“Construction of houses and structures under the ECG and GRIDCo power lines is not the best practice, yet the canker is still ongoing in Kumasi and it is even worse in Accra,” he said, adding “my ministry will get in touch with the Ghana Police Service and the appropriate authorities so that those structures will be demolished.”
Napo said the recent power outages in Kumasi were caused by a fallen communication pylon, which was sited wrongly on the transmission lines from the Western Region, saying “this is a case of regulatory failure.”
According to him, his ministry would not look on unconcerned for people to continue to develop under high voltage lines and exposed themselves to great danger.
Napo therefore reiterated his call for buildings sited under high voltage ECG and GRIDCo lines to be pulled down without delay.
The Energy Minister lauded GRIDCo, VRA and ECG staff for their hard work to help sustain constant institutions involved in the supply chain because the problems have not been totally solved, and assured that “my ministry will continue to support you to deliver.”
He said top technicians were working assiduously to help fix the destroyed pylons of GRIDCo so that constant power supply to the Ashanti Region would be restored soon.
Napo also said plans to construct a power generation plant (AMERI) in Kumasi to boost power supply was ongoing, adding that the project would help improve power supply.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi