GRIDCo, ISD Undertake 12-Day Sensitisation Exercise on Transmission Line Encroachment

The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), in collaboration with the Information Services Department (It SD), has embarked on a 12-day field sensitisation exercise to educate residents, artisans, traders and drivers operating within its high-voltage transmission corridors in the Ashanti Region.

As part of the exercise, GRIDCo has given occupants encroaching on its Transmission Right of Way (RoW) 30 days to vacate the affected areas.

The exercise is aimed at addressing persistent encroachment on GRIDCo's transmission corridors, which the company says poses serious risks to public safety and critical electricity infrastructure.

The Director of Land Management at GRIDCo, Engineer Bismark Anane, explained that transmission corridors must remain free from encumbrances to enable the company to maintain its network and respond promptly to emergencies.

He said keeping the corridors clear would also allow engineers to gain immediate access to transmission infrastructure in the event of a fault, such as a snapped conductor or a fallen transmission line.

"With this exercise, we can protect the infrastructure and also ensure public safety. If there should be a snap or a conductor falls, we need immediate access to the transmission infrastructure to be able to repair it and restore electricity," he explained.

Despite repeated sensitisation exercises conducted by GRIDCo in collaboration with the ISD, encroachment along the company's transmission corridors continues to be a concern.

Areas identified as being affected include Ahodwo, Sokoban, Daaban, Apayoo, Akrofoum, Ampabame No. 1, Odumase, Afrancho, Ejisu Market, Kwamo and Adadietem, among others.

Some occupants acknowledged the potential safety risks associated with operating under high-voltage transmission lines but appealed to the authorities to consider providing alternative locations for them.

They said an abrupt loss of their workplaces could adversely affect their livelihoods and businesses.

GRIDCo reiterated that keeping its Transmission Right of Way clear was essential not only for protecting people living and working around the transmission lines but also for ensuring that engineers had unobstructed access to the network for maintenance and emergency repairs.

The company has therefore urged all occupants within affected transmission corridors across the Ashanti Region to comply with the 30-day directive and vacate the areas within the stipulated period.