The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has given residents, traders, artisans and drivers operating under its high-voltage transmission lines at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region 30 days to vacate the area.
The move forms part of an intensified sensitisation and eviction exercise aimed at clearing encroachments from GRIDCo’s transmission Right of Way (RoW).
GRIDCo says the occupation of the corridor poses risks to both the public and critical electricity infrastructure.
Director for Land Management at GRIDCo, Engineer Bismark Anane, explained that the transmission corridor must remain free of encumbrances to allow the company to maintain its network and respond quickly to emergencies.
“We need a corridor that is free of any encumbrances or what we call encroachment. This is to protect the infrastructure and also to ensure public safety. If there is a snap, or a conductor falls, we need immediate access to the transmission infrastructure to be able to repair it, to restore electricity,” he said.
Despite repeated sensitisation exercises, GRIDCo says encroachment along its transmission corridors continues.
At Ejisu, some of those affected include traders, artisans, residents and drivers who have established businesses and activities within the restricted area.
Some occupants acknowledge the safety risks but are appealing for relocation arrangements before the eviction takes place.
They say abruptly losing their workplaces could affect their livelihoods and are asking GRIDCo and the relevant authorities to help identify alternative locations.
GRIDCo, however, says compensation is considered where its own projects directly affect verified residences or livelihoods.
According to Engineer Anane, affected persons are first identified through an enumeration process before measures are taken where applicable.
“Once it is verified that the project will impact either your livelihood or place of residence, GRIDCo will take measures to compensate the affected person.”
GRIDCo says keeping the Right of Way clear is essential not only to protect people living and working around the transmission lines but also to ensure engineers have unobstructed access to the network.
The company is therefore urging occupants at Ejisu to comply with the 30-day notice and vacate the transmission corridor.
