National Security to probe ECG officials over burnt meters

Deeper investigations into circumstances leading to a fire outbreak at the Oduom Bebre warehouse of the Ashanti Region branch of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in January are set to be conducted by the National Security Secretariat, the Power Minister has said.

According to a report by a nine-member committee constituted to investigate the cause of the outbreak, no trace of the 24,000 3-phase meters was found.

“Of all the debris recovered, there is not a single debris connected to the three-phase metres,” Dr Kwabena Donkor said. “This, the National Security will take up further.”

He was speaking on Friday, March 27 after the committee handed its report to him.

The committee cited arson as probable cause of the outbreak. It named the regional manager of Ashanti East District of the Company, David Asamoah, as being negligent in the discharge of his duties.

“In the wiring of the warehouse, Asamoah procured unlicensed electricians,” said Committee Chairman Charles Nii Adamah Akrong. “The work was poorly done.”

Mr Akrong also said the board secretary had no clue as to the “movement” of the meters.

“He was not informed about the movement, the arrival of the meters and so they did not make provision for any insurance policy.”

Dr Donkor expressed disappointment in ECG over the revelations.

“It also beats my imagination that ECG will hire unlicensed technicians to cable and undertake other electrical works in an ECG rented warehouse. ECG as an entity stands indicted for unprofessional project management.”

The country is said to have lost $2.8 million to the fire in January.