The festive season is barely over, but merrymaking for some sections of the public is already thwarted as thieves have again made away with some transformers meant to supply electric power to the people.
According to the Afienya District Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), three transformers were lost this year during the yuletide alone.
“One at White Estates, near EMEF Estates. This was a fully functional transformer serving customers. Two others which were work in progress, both in Shai areas have been vandalized.”
The latest of these crimes occurred on Friday dawn when the perpetrators attempted to steal one at Teye Kwame after an earlier theft case that occurred on Thursday, near Adom Estates in the Great Accra region.
Elsewhere in the region precisely the Prampram District, a total of 18 transformers were lost to such illegal acts, spanning the beginning of the year to the period this report was filed.
The specific locations included the Kpone Secondary School area, PS Global, Abbey lighthouse, and Tsopoli Heavens Gate among others.
The growing trend is a cause of worry because beyond the distresses created as a result of these illegalities, much of public fund is also directed toward their replacement or servicing.
According to Angelonline.com.gh sources at ECG, “the average cost of the transformers lost so far is GH¢69,000 each,” and the bigger ones are said to be more expensive.
According to ECG, the Management is “putting in measures” to prevent the criminals from further carrying out their activities.
However, according to the Management, the fight is a collective one since the company cannot alone forestall the menace.
Thus, they urged the public to be “vigilant, and when your area goes off in the night, quickly call our fault line”.
