The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has announced that it is joining forces with National Security to conduct a nationwide operation to safely relocate individuals illegally occupying areas under high-tension power lines, addressing a long-standing safety concern.

This follows a recent fire incident at Kwame Nkrumah Circle on Wednesday, 5th June, which resulted in significant financial burdens for GRIDCo due to extensive repair works on damaged power lines, highlighting the importance of addressing safety risks posed by illegal settlements under high-tension power lines.

Although laws are in place to safeguard these areas from encroachment, ineffective enforcement has long been a significant obstacle, hindering efforts to protect the high-tension power lines and adjacent areas from illegal settlements and unauthorized activities.

Dzifa Bampoh, Head of Corporate Affairs at GRIDCo, explained that the comprehensive nationwide initiative seeks to remove all unauthorized entities and individuals encroaching on high-tension power line areas, prioritizing the security and reliability of the power infrastructure and ensuring public safety.

“Nobody should be living under a transmission line, so this is not just about this ECOMOG area; there are slum communities at Fiesta Royale; there’s Bawleshie, Adjiringanor, Ashiaman. I mean, it’s not just even in Accra; we have Kumasi; we have the Western Region. We have a lot of galamsey activities that impact even the structure of these towers and because we do have legislation that backs it, it makes it an offense for anyone, persons, or institutions to be on these lines.”
Dzifa Bampoh

Furthermore, Dzifa Bampoh also expressed optimism, noting that the Greater Accra Regional Minister has demonstrated a strong commitment to collaborating with GRIDCo to prevent illegal human settlements and encroachment around their facilities.

She asserted that while GRIDCo has endeavored to enforce regulations and safeguard its infrastructure, the company has encountered persistent resistance and pushback from various stakeholders, hindering its ability to effectively implement and enforce the necessary safety measures.

She also noted that the challenges with GRIDCo’s facilities extend beyond the current settlement issue, suggesting that there are broader infrastructure and maintenance concerns that need to be addressed.

“GRIDCo needs significant support to execute a campaign that clears people from under the transmission lines”. – Dzifa Bampoh

GRIDCo’s Right-of-Way Challenges

Furthermore, Dzifa Bampoh elaborated that one of the most significant operational challenges GRIDCo faces is maintaining the “right-of-way” for its vast network of transmission lines, spanning approximately 6,700 kilometers nationwide, which poses significant logistical and management difficulties.

Fire guts parts of Kwame Nkrumah Circle ECOMOG

“These are very high kilovolts of transmission lines that, God forbid, were it to touch anyone, there won’t be anything, it will just be ashes”. – Dzifa Bampoh

She assured that, notwithstanding the numerous challenges, GRIDCo remains resolute in its commitment to prioritizing national safety and will persist in its efforts to mitigate risks and ensure the reliable transmission of electricity across the country.

Meanwhile, Hon. Peter Tobu, a Parliament’s Defense and Interior Committee member, urged the government to equip the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) with modern resources and equipment.

He indicated that this will prevent a recurrence of the extensive damage caused by the recent fire incident at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and enhance their response capabilities.

“The Ghana National Fire Service has made a statement that is public knowledge, that they are not well equipped. For them to come saying it themselves, shows a level of desperation and frustration they suffered over the years. I want to believe that a call for retooling of the Ghana National Fire Service is a call in the right direction”.
Hon. Peter Tobu

Hon. Peter Tobu appealed to the newly appointed Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey, to conduct a thorough review and assessment of all agencies under his ministry, including the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the devastating incident on June 5th does not recur.