The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Gas Company, Judith Adjobah Blay, has warned illegal miners and farmers against encroaching on the company’s gas pipeline infrastructure, cautioning that any damage could disrupt power generation and cause nationwide outages.

She gave the warning at the Nzema Manle Queen Mothers Conference 2026, held over the weekend in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, under the theme, “The Role of Queen Mothers in the Development of Nzema Manle.”

Judith Blay said the company’s pipelines were increasingly being encroached upon by illegal mining and farming activities.

“Our pipelines are being intruded upon, sometimes by galamseyers and sometimes by farmers,” she said.

She noted that Ghana Gas operates more than 400 kilometres of high-pressure gas pipelines, describing the network as a critical national asset that must be protected.

The CEO disclosed that the company had recruited local residents to help monitor the pipelines but called on Queen Mothers to support its community sensitisation efforts.

She said the company would mark its pipeline right-of-way, extending 17.5 metres on each side of the pipelines, to create a total corridor of 35 metres in line with international standards.

“We are going to mark them, 17.5 metres on each side, making 35 metres, and that is the standard for pipeline rights-of-way around the world,” she said.

She added that the areas would be marked in yellow and identified with appropriate warning signs to alert residents and other land users to the dangers.

Blay stressed that damage to the high-pressure pipelines could have devastating consequences for nearby communities and the country as a whole.

“Anything that happens is going to be very disastrous, not for the perpetrators alone, but for the entire community. And if anything happens to the pipelines, it will affect power generation in the country and cause power outages,” she warned.

Responding to the warning, the Acting President of the Nzemanle Queen Mothers Association and Queen Mother of the Lower Town Axim and Nsein Traditional Area, Awulae Hemah Adalakyie II, pledged the association’s support in educating community members about the dangers of encroaching on gas pipelines.

She cautioned that negligence or interference with the infrastructure could endanger entire communities.

“I have to let them know that this is what is at hand. So they have to be very, very cautious because, as our CEO said, the slightest mistake could wipe out the core of the community and nearby communities, which we don't want,” she said.

She urged residents to ensure that everyone who uses the land, including children, farmers and other community members, was aware of the pipelines and the need to stay clear of them.

“I will urge everyone to be careful. We should tell our children, those who go to the farm, our mothers or whoever is on the land, whether it is registered land or not, to be cautious of the pipelines because it is a serious issue,” she stated.

She added that an explosion could have severe consequences, stressing that traditional authorities were determined to protect lives and prevent such a tragedy.

Speaking about the association, Awulae Hemah Adalakyie II said it covered the whole of Nzemaland and was being revived after its activities declined about five years ago.

“For now, we are just a few, but, as I said, it used to be vibrant. So we are trying as much as possible to raise it up again to the level it was five years ago,” she said.

She explained that the association brings together Queen Mothers across Nzemaland to promote development and advance the welfare of women and their communities.