By Ewoenam Koodo, GNA
Keta (V/R), Jan 09, GNA – About 29
electricity poles belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in
Sogakope, South Tongu District and along the sea defence stretch of the
Keta-Havedzi road in the Keta Municipality have been burnt by bushfires.
The burnt poles are 21 high tension poles
and eight service poles, with some left hanging at knee level posing danger to
lives.
There are however, no power interruptions in
the areas.
Mr Godwin Gone, Keta District Manager,
Electricity Company of Ghana, said the bushfires on December 30th 2019 through
to January 1, 2020, which necessitated the assistance of fire fighters, were so
disastrous and came at a cost to the Company.
He said he was surprised at the occurrence
because “there are no farmlands or thick bushes around Keta-Adzido and
Kedzi-Vodza areas for people to burn bushes for hunting”.
The District Manager described the incident
as unfortunate and appealed to residents in the Keta Municipality to desist
from indiscriminate setting of fire to bushes during dry seasons, so as not to
plunge the area into darkness.
Mr Gone said there must be caution when
setting fires during Harmattan periods, because they could lead to unforeseen
or unintended disasters with far reaching consequences.
He said the Company was working at replacing
the poles and to ensure that power was not interrupted.
Mr Benjamin Obeng Antwi, Public Relations
Officer, ECG, Volta Region, said the incident had been reported to the police
and was hopeful the culprits would be arrested and prosecuted.
He said ECG was creating fire belts around
the poles and replacing some with steel tubular poles in Volta and Oti Regions
to avoid such occurrences.
Mr Antwi also lamented about the increasing
cases of cable theft in Keta, especially around the Nursing Training College
and called for support from the public.
GNA
