By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
Ashaiman, Aug. 13, GNA – Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, has given persons and businesses operating under power transmission pylons at Ashaiman Middle East one month to vacate the areas or face enforcement action.
Dr Jinapor issued the directive when he inspected a damaged transmission pylon following an incident on July 10, 2026, reportedly linked to welding activities within the power transmission corridor.
He said activities within the right-of-way of high-voltage transmission lines posed serious risks to lives, property and the national electricity supply system.
The Minister said the law did not permit people to establish structures or undertake activities under transmission pylons because the areas were reserved to protect electricity infrastructure and the public.
He expressed concern about increasing encroachment on power transmission corridors, where some areas had been converted into commercial spaces, welding sites and car parks.
Dr Jinapor said the damaged pylon was reportedly affected after an explosion occurred during welding work on a tanker, warning that failure to replace the structure could result in the collapse of the transmission line and affect adjoining pylons.
He said the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) was undertaking an emergency replacement of the damaged structure, with components being prefabricated and some installation work completed in advance to reduce the time required for the exercise.
The Minister said the GRDCo was conducting simulations to minimise power interruptions and had reduced the planned work period from two days to one day.
He said two cranes, additional workers and extended working hours would be deployed to complete the replacement, although some communities could experience temporary power interruptions during the exercise.
Dr Jinapor said affected communities would be informed ahead of the exercise and stressed that the immediate repair was only a temporary response.
He said a coordinated enforcement exercise involving the Police, Military, National Security, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and other stakeholders would be undertaken to clear the transmission corridors.
He warned that persons who failed to comply with the directive could be forcibly removed in accordance with the law, while items left under the pylons could be confiscated and auctioned.
Dr Jinapor urged companies using the space under transmission pylons as car parks and other commercial spaces to vacate, stressing that such activities endangered both workers and critical electricity infrastructure.
He said the transmission right-of-way was not vacant land but a designated safety zone intended to protect high-voltage infrastructure and the public.
Mr. Frank Otchere, the Chief Executive of the GRIDCo, said the July 10, 2026 incident occurred at about 15:00 hours when a tanker reportedly exploded during welding activities, causing part of the tanker to travel more than 300 metres and strike a GRIDCo transmission tower.
He said the damaged structure was a double-circuit tower carrying two critical transmission lines from the Volta Substation in Tema to the Achimota Substation in Accra, supplying a significant portion of Accra’s electricity.
Mr Otchere said the impact compromised the structural integrity of the tower and created the risk of collapse, which could affect neighbouring towers and cause serious damage to the transmission network.
He said the GRIDCo had reported the incident to the Police, and the matter was being handled by the Middle East Police.
He said the company had retrieved an identical spare tower from its stores and begun assembling it for immediate replacement.
Mr Otchere said the GRIDCo planned to dismantle the damaged tower and install the replacement, adding that some load reduction might be necessary during the exercise to prevent the remaining transmission lines from becoming overloaded.
He said the GRIDCo aimed to complete the replacement within 12 hours to minimise disruption to electricity supply.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Elizabeth Larkwor Baah GNA
Email: [email protected]