Mampong ECG workers run away

Asante Mampong, April 23, GNA - Workers at the Asante Mampong office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have fled the town for fear of their lives.

This followed an assault on them and the extensive destruction and looting of the company's premises by some youth who went on rampage last week as a result of a fire outbreak that destroyed some houses in the town.

Now, the taps are not running due to power cut at the Ghana Water Company pumping station and some parts of the town are also in darkness. Mr Thomas Edward Attakora, Sekyere West District Chief Executive, made this known when Miss Shirley Ayokor Botchway, the Deputy Minister for Information, visited the ECG offices at Mampong on Friday as part of her visit to the district.

She also visited the fire-ravaged offices of the Mighty FM, a local radio station that got burnt last week due to alleged frequent power cuts and the damaged fire tender of the Ghana National Fire Service that was destroyed by the angry youth.

At the time of the Deputy Minister's visit to the ECG's offices, only one caretaker was available with all the doors locked while the stones and sticks which were used by the mob to destroy the louvers and furniture were scattered all over the compound. Mr Attakora said the mob also seized money from the company's cashier and bolted with it.

He described the rampaging youth as "a bunch of rogues" who took advantage of the situation to steal and rob people. DSP Lord Obeng-Mensah, the Asante Mampong District Police Commander, said five members of the gang who were arrested by the police had been remanded while the leader who engaged the police in exchange of fire was shot and killed.

Miss Botchway also inspected the District Offices of the Information Services Department in the Sekyere West, Afigya Sekyere and Kwabre districts.