Stephen A. Quaye-Akuse
18 June 2007
THE VOLTA River Authority [VRA] and Electricity Company of Ghana [ECG] apart from struggling to find a lasting solution to the current energy crisis, are also suffering from intermittent cutting of high-tension cables by criminals.
Suspects take advantage of the quiet atmosphere often enjoyed during the middle of the day at Akuse and illegally climb the pylons and cut the cables, that supply electricity to Tema and other parts of the country, for sale.
But whenever signals get to the VRA and ECG officials of any damage, they quickly rush to the damaged site and repair the lines. This was confirmed to the paper by the Akuse District Police Commander, ASP Bernard Twum-Barimah, when this reporter called for confirmation of the complaints it had been receiving about the rampant cutting of cables by criminals.
ASP Twum Barimah narrated to the paper how a suspect, Sampson Lumor, 32, a resident at Akuse got seriously burnt and later died when trying to steal high-tension cables in the town.
He said Lumor, on June 11 around 2.30 pm, climbed a pylon and cut a live cable.
But when he was about to cut a second cable, it came into contact with another cable, exploded and electrocuted him; throwing him to the ground with serious burns.
The case was reported to the Police who rushed to the crime scene with VRA security men and other security personnel in the District and sent the suspect to the Akuse Government Hospital for medical treatment.
According to the District Police Commander, a 24-hour Police guard was mounted on him but he died at mid-night on June 13.
Chronicle investigation revealed that other residents in Akuse Township were shocked when they heard the news since Lumor was reported to have asked the Police to put up a patrol team that would go round the District to ensure that criminal activity was stopped in areas such as Kpong, Odumase Krobo, Somanya, Asutuare, Akuse and other nearby villages.
He also hinted of forming watchdog committees in the aforementioned towns and villages to help check criminal activities which are eating very deep into the resources of the VRA and other companies around.
Commenting on the issue, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Felix Asare-Darko advised criminals to turn a new leaf since when arrested by the Police, would be dealt with drastically.
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