The Volta Directorate of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) has embarked on a field trip to assess the damage caused to electricity poles by wildfires during this year’s harmattan period.
The assessment trip took the team to Hohoe and Afadzato South areas, especially to Fodome Ahor, where wildfire has swept through the forest and burning down electricity high tension service lines, inflicting huge economic loss to the power provider and its clientele.
Mr. Philip Agbezudor, Regional Manager of PURC, disclosing the development to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview say the bushfire menace is becoming an annual ritual, demanding a different approach to combating it and avoid heavy economic losses. He said these unfortunate incidents caused widespread power outages, affecting some businesses and communities. A team from Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is working on-site, to restore power but they could not confirm when supplies would resume.
“We urge everyone to refrain from burning bushes near ECG installations. Such actions not only lead to prolonged power outages but also result in significant financial losses for the company and inconvenience to the public. Let us work together to safeguard our power infrastructure,” Mr. Agbezudor added.
Ms. Christina Jato-Kaleo, General Manager ECG Volta/Oti, speaking in an interview with the GNA on the subject disclosed that a total of 78 high tension poles have been destroyed by bushfires in the Volta and Oti regions. Specifically, cuts across 11 districts of ECG including Ho, Hohoe, Akatsi, Denu, Keta, Nkwanta, Kpando Dambai, Kpeve, Sogakope, Jasikan
She said the economic implication of the losses amounts to GHC686,346.18 indicating that apart from the monetary cost repercussion, customers would have to endure the absence of power until the situation normalizes. Mr. Jato-Kaleo however appealed to the public to help protect ECG poles and transformers by avoiding bushfires saying such activities could disrupt supplies to customers.
GNA
