By Naa Shormei Odonkor
Kumasi, March 24, GNA – The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has refuted claims that they were responsible for the fire outbreak which completely devastated ‘Blue Light,’ a well-known shopping area located in Adum, the heart of Kumasi’s commercial center.
Mr. George Amoah, who serves as the Ashanti West Region Manager at the firm, informed the Ghana News Agency during an interview that these claims lack merit. He emphasized the importance of having both traders and citizens await the conclusions from the ongoing probe, currently being carried out by the Ghana National Fire Service.
The traders who were impacted along with several citizens are attributing the persistent electrical issues to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), leading to a series of power instabilities that culminated in one of the most devastating fires Kumasi has seen in recent times.
A massive blaze engulfed the commercial area located between the Hello FM radio station and Kumasi Central Market, wiping out merchandise worth several million Ghanaian cedis. This conflagration left numerous traders facing significant financial losses and mounting debts.
The reason behind the fire incident remains unclear, however, the traders are blaming the ECG due to frequent power disruptions, affecting Kumasi and nearby areas during that time.
The Ashanti Regional Security Committee had previously instructed the Ghana Navy Fleet Services to carry out an extensive inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama directed NADMO to arrange aid supplies and assistance for the numerous individuals affected.
Mr Amoah observed that prior to the blaze breaking out on Friday morning, electricity had been consistently available in the region throughout Thursday and into the early part of that tragic day.
“However, the company had to curtail power supply to the enclave when the fire started to enable the Ghana National Fire Service do its work and also protect life and property,” he said.
Mr. Amoah stated that the ‘Blue Light’ area hadn’t experienced any power outages for around three weeks prior to the fire incident.
He mentioned that the ECG provided a specific power distribution line named ‘Town Hall Tower,’ guaranteeing a steady energy supply because the area acted as one of the financial centers for the ECG.
“The distributive feeder serving the enclave is among the most robust in the Ashanti West Region, and over the last three weeks, we have had no outages in that area,” according to Mr. Amoah.
He also mentioned that there was another power supply option called ‘Power House Two’ that passed through the same area.
He highlighted that ensuring a consistent and dependable electricity supply within that area was among the highest priorities for the ECG.
Nevertheless, he voiced worries regarding the recurrent vandalism of transformers and the pilferage of electrical components, ultimately resulting in power disruptions at the marketplace.
Mr Amoah remembered two instances of transformer damage due to vandalism and theft of electrical components, with one event happening close to the former Melcom location, leading to a 48-hour blackout.
The second event took place approximately two weeks ago close to the Hello FM station, where a fire broke out and components like switches, fuses, and more were taken away by unidentified individuals.
Nonetheless, power was reinstated the same day since the missing items were promptly returned and the transformer was repaired.
Once more, he noticed that the structure where the fire began was considerably aged, heavily occupied, and featured numerous connections with incorrect wire dimensions.
“The wiring of the building is old, and a lot of people distribute power to their neighbors illegally with substandard electrical cables.
“Some establishments lack an earthing system entirely, whereas some possess outdated sockets that significantly endanger their overall safety,” Mr. Amoah pointed out.
He mentioned that ECG had multiple times sent representatives to the enclave to discuss with the traders about the importance of hiring certified electricians for the wiring work in their stores.
Mr Amoah stated that the ECG expressed sympathy for those affected by the catastrophic fire incident since they also suffered losses such as a transformer, around five utility poles, and several cables.
GNA
KOM/AD
