The lingering impasse between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Krobo District in the Eastern Region has steadily advanced to the destruction of state utility service lines. Consequently, the whole of the Port/Industrial City of Tema and the Eastern half of the national capital, Accra, risk being without water and interruption of electricity nationwide if efforts are not made to resolve the conflict as soon as practicable.
The looming danger stems from the fact that utility service lines from the sources of hydro electric generation, and water supply to the booster stations and bulk terminal points respectively have come under intense threat from unknown persons.
The Chronicle’s independent investigation into the cutting down of ECG’s pole carrying the 33KVA from Okwenya (Akuse Junction) on the Tema-Akosombo highway to the Ghana Water Company (GWC’s) Pumping Station at Akorley, between Somanya and Agormeda, has revealed that the agencies involve in the ECG/Krobo conflict must act swiftly before the situation goes out of control.
The Akorley Pumping Station supplies water to part of Dodowa, Adukrom Booster Station, and the entire Akuapem Ridge. Already, theories are being propounded as possible causes for the sabotage to the service line.
In the Krobo lands enclave are major installations such as the two hydro electric generation plants situated on the River Volta at Akosombo and Akuse (Kpong). Pylons carrying the Volta River Authority (VRA) heavy load of 161KVA from the generation points to the Ghana Grid Company (Gridco’s) termination point at the Tema Heavy Industrial Area near Steel Works on the Tema-Aflao highway are concentrated in the Krobo enclave.
Another essential installation in the same geographical area is the multimillion-dollar Kpong Water Treatment Plant for the GWC, which by gravity transmits water from the base of Mount Yogaga through the 42, 24 and 21 pipelines to the Booster Station at Ashaiman.
This area of Krobo land with the dense concentration of state utility service lines calls for National Security’s eagle eye.
A Security Analyst, Col Festus Aboagye (rtd), is of the notion that the approach to the ECG/Krobo impasse must be devoid of force to lead to a peaceful resolution.
The former military officer, with rich experience in international conflict resolution, wants the state to keep an eye on the situation since it started with demonstrations after outrageous bills were presented to the consumers, loss of life and injuries, and now attacks on utility service lines, means it must be handled with the needed attention by the state.
Col Aboagye (rtd) entreated the power company and the stakeholders to continue to offer round table discussion instead of the use of force, since the later was not the best option towards achieving peace.
He went on that in these situations, the police remain as the first line of action, and the military the last option should the police fail.
The military, he said, connotes use of force, hence, its deployment in every area in the present democratic dispensation must be given another view. In the act of cutting down the utility service pole, he believed that the right authorities would not ignore anything, be it local terrorists or any form of intimidation.
Meanwhile, the Konor of ManyaKrobo, Nene Sakite II, has appealed to Krobos to exercise restraint in the face of difficulties.
According to the Paramount Chief, who is President of the Eastern Region House of Chiefs, the action of saboteurs in cutting down ECG’s pole at Okwenya has brought about discomfort to the Krobo people, “and for all you know, is done by persons not associated with the prepaid matter.”
He promised continued discussions with the power company and the government for an early resolution for power to be restored to the traditional areas of Manya and Yilo Krobo.
