GRIDCO hints at demolition in its exclusive zones

Ho, Sept 7, GNA - The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO) Limited might be compelled to demolish structures erected less than 50 feet from its high tension towers unless those involved took steps to vacate those areas. This is to protect the public interest and public safety. Mr Albert Quainoo, the Head of Public Relations of GRIDCO, said this when a team from the Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) visited some sites in the Ho Municipal area where the Company's exclusive areas were encroached upon by sand winners and business premises.

On the Akrofu-Bame road sand winners said to operate in the night have excavated sand dangerously close to one of the 69 kilo volt towers while near the Ho Polytechnic, "New York City Spot and Guest House", said to be highly patronized is precariously located under one of the towers on which a danger sign was conspicuously placed.

The owner of the spot said to be absent when the team visited the place was alleged to have ignored several warnings to stop developing the structure and instead extended it.

Mr Quainoo said in the event that there should be any problem with any of the towers, the lives of those within the exclusive zones would be in grave danger.

He said the supply of electricity to areas around Ho up to Kpassa in the Volta Region would be cut off for as long as took to eplace any collapsed tower due to sand winning and other illegal activities. Mr Quainoo appealed to communities to help protect those towers against encroachment and to report any illegal activities within 50 feet of the towers to the Police or the Electricity Company of Ghana. He said the Company would mount public education through the Information Services Department and the local radio stations on the issue.

Meanwhile the Police in Ho have arrested one person in connection with sand winning close to one of the towers on the Akrofu-Bame road. Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander, said the police would mount 24- hour surveillance in the area until further notice to curtail all illegal activities.