Ghana: GRIDCo Sounds Alarm On ‘Galamsey’ Threat To Power Infrastructure

Ghana’s national electricity transmission company, GRIDCo, has raised alarm over the growing threat illegal mining—popularly known as galamsey—poses to the country’s power infrastructure.

The destructive activities of illegal miners have already devastated large portions of the nation’s forest belt and polluted vital water bodies, sparking public concern.

The situation has also increased operational costs for the Ghana Water Company Limited, with experts warning that the country risks importing water in the future if urgent and coordinated measures are not taken.

GRIDCo raised these concerns during a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy as part of its three-day tour of energy sector agencies.

Ing. Frank Otchere, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Engineering and Operations at GRIDCo, described the situation as “a near disaster.”

According to him, illegal miners are increasingly operating dangerously close to high-voltage transmission towers, particularly within areas cleared for power line maintenance—known as right-of-way zones.

“Now the right-of-way clearing has become lucrative for galamseyers. In several areas, we find that overnight people move in to carry out galamsey activities very close to our towers,” he said.

Otchere explained that while transmission towers may appear to be simple steel structures, they are carefully engineered with precise foundations tailored to the terrain.

Encroachment from mining activities can weaken these foundations, threatening the stability of the entire power transmission network.

“There are some towers that we have had to rush to reinforce with intermediary measures,” he revealed.

Even more worrying, Otchere disclosed that GRIDCo maintenance teams have come under attack in some areas, with staff being shot at by armed individuals while carrying out routine inspections and repairs.

“There are some areas where, when our maintenance teams go in, they get shot at, and some of them have had to run for their lives,” he said.

Otchere stressed that GRIDCo can no longer manage the threat alone and called for urgent support from national security forces to protect the country’s critical energy infrastructure.

“We are getting to a point where GRIDCo alone cannot manage. We need support from all the security forces to be able to do that,” he appealed.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Hon. Emmanuel Bedzrah, assured GRIDCo of Parliament’s support to address the situation.

He also appealed to illegal miners to desist from operating near power lines and to refrain from attacking GRIDCo personnel.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com