The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), has commenced demolishing exercise on its Right of Way to ward off encroachers.

According to GRIDCo, affected communities include some areas behind the Fiesta Royale Hotel, Ayigbe Town, Bawaleshie, Adjringano and American House. The exercise, it indicated, is to rid GRIDCo’s Right of Way of encroachers, whose activities pose a threat to its transmission towers and a danger to the lives of encroachers.

Contained in a statement dated July 12, 2022, it recounted that in October 2021, in partnership with identified District Assemblies and the Media, GRIDCo undertook a “nationwide Right of Way sensitization exercise to educate encroachers” of the risk associated with their activities along the Company’s Right of Way. GRIDCo highlighted that during that sensitisation exercise, it urged compliance with timelines provided in media publications to prevent any inconveniences.

“Operations including, drilling, excavation works, lorry parks, shops, garages, bars, and real estate undertaken within the RoW reservations are strictly prohibited. These activities pose danger to human life and property as transmission line faults can result in human casualties and damage to property.”
GRIDCo

Under the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967 (LI 542) as amended by Regulation No. LI 1737 of 2004, GRIDCO emphasized that it is an offence for persons or institutions to “conduct any form of activity in relation to the lands around the location of power transmission lines and towers” in the country.

“GRIDCo continues to collaborate with all relevant state institutions to remove property and structures identified as illegal human activities, within its Right-of-Way to safeguard public safety and ensure the reliability of power transmission.”
GRIDCo

During the demolition exercise, some of the squatters accused GRIDCo and the authorities of not being truthful about the real reason for the demolition. They claimed the place was being demolished to make way for certain car dealers to use it to display and sell their cars

GRIDCo notified encroachers prior to demolition

It will be recalled that the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) in March 2021 announced plans to demolish illegal structures around its ‘Right-of-Way’ locations in parts of Accra. The exercise was expected to take place although no specific timelines were stated.

A statement signed by the Corporate Communications Manager of GRIDCo, Ebenezer Amankwah, indicated that the areas to be heavily affected will be the Tema-Achimota-Mallam transmission lines which run through Ashaiman Middle East, Dzorwulu, American House, Adzei Kodzo and Mempeasem. It noted that the exercise was to rid the areas of illegal occupants and encroachers, whose activities prevent access to the transmission towers.

The demolition exercise was to enable “unimpeded access to the transmission towers by GRIDCo Engineers and Contractors in order for construction works to be carried out to ensure adequate and quality power transmission to the Greater Accra region and adjoining areas”.

Year after year, the power transmission company faces challenges with the activities of encroachers along its transmission towers and lands across the country, particularly in Accra.

However, the company assured, it will continue to work with the relevant state institutions to remove properties and structures and to curb all forms of human activities, within the Right-of-Ways.