High tension pylons in twin city under threat

Galamsey operators and sand winners have started digging the foundations of high tension pylons of the Ghana Grid Company (GRiDCo) for either gold ore or sand.

Besides, the galamsey operators are also said to be removing some of the metallic bars of the pylons for use in their operations.

The worst affected areas are Kanssawurodu, where sand winners are causing a great havoc through Esiama to Tarkwa, where the galamsey operators are also doing brisk illegal mining under the pylons.

The situation has made many of the pylons weak and susceptible to collapse if any heavy storm is to hit the area.

The Area Manager for GRiDCo, Mr George Kweku-Mensah Impraim, told the Daily Graphic that the pylons carried 161,000 volts of power and any collapse of the pylons could cause serious damage to property and loss of lives within the immediate environs.

Warning

He warned that if a single line dropped, communities within the radius of more than eight kilometres could burn to ashes.

Mr Impraim said GRiDCo was doing its best to sensitise those engaged to desist from the practice but the operators, sand winners and galamsay operators had not come to terms with the reality.