VRA attributes intermittent outages to cable theft

The Volta River Authority (VRA) said on Wednesday that the regular intermittent power outages in parts of the country is not a load management or shedding exercise, or a deliberate attempt by the authority.

It explained that the irregularities in the national power supply was due to the rampant stealing of its copper cables and appealed to the public to help arrest perpetrators, who cut the cables at night.


Briefing the newsmen on the operations of the Authority in Sunyani, Alhaji Mohammed Siam, Head of Public Relations of the VRA, however said it is imperative for all and sundry to support and protect the transmission lines “if we want to enjoy regular power and water supply”


He expressed regret that cable theft has assumed alarming proportion in the country.


Alhaji Siam explained that though the Authority had strengthened its internal security apparatus, perpetrators operated and cut the cables at night, and community members ought to serve as watch dog and help apprehend them.

He said with the support from the police and the public 30 people were arrested in the Northern Region and prosecuted.


Alhaji Siam said unpredicted natural disasters also contribute to power blackouts while sometimes faults could be traced from the source of power generation, transfer and distribution.


To improve on power reliability in the Sunyani Municipality, Mr Joshua Koranteng, Sunyani District Supervisor of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company, explained that demand for electricity had increased and the company had expand its activities to meet the demand.


He said it had improved on its capacity systems, upgraded power lines, and sub stations in the Sunyani Central Business District and replaced obsolete equipment.