ECG concern about destruction of wooden poles by bushfires

Ho, Feb. 9, GNA- The Volta Region risked being without electricity over an indefinite period unless the present rate at which wooden electricity poles were being burnt by bushfires was checked. Mr Felix Fiebor, Volta Regional Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) gave the warning at an abortive forum on the 2004 budget at Ho on Monday.

The forum, which brought together Chiefs, District Chief Executives, Presiding Members and officials of the District Assemblies as well as heads of Departments, had been rescheduled for Tuesday February 10, due to lack of communication.

Mr Fiebor said so far more than 26 poles had been burnt in the Nkwanta, Kpando and Peki areas and there were indications that similar destruction was taking place in other areas in the region.

He said it costs over two million cedis to replace a pole and that it was incumbent on Chiefs, District Assemblies and voluntary organisations and individuals to help stem the dangerous phenomenon to complement the efforts by the ECG to protect the poles.

He said the ECG only made limited provisions to replace poles, which were destroyed accidentally but not large-scale replacement due to bushfires.

Togbe Akliku Ahorney II, Volta Regional Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said it was unfortunate that a recommendation for early burning by November by a committee, which studied the phenomenon in the region last year, was not implemented. Mr Steve Selormey, Volta Regional Co-ordinating Director said one way of dealing with the problem was to set an example of people who would be caught setting such fires.

He said the situation is serious because even in the Keta District where there is little bush to burn, the phenomenon is rife. The forum identified hunters and cattle herdsmen as the main groups likely to be behind the phenomenon.