The Ghana Grid Company, GRIDCo, has cautioned it will start surcharging encroachers on its lands, the amount incurred in evicting them from the properties.
A statement issued by the power supply company said the impact of encroachment on its lands could prolong outages experienced by some customers if the situation is not checked.
GRIDCo says the unwarranted use of its lands for various activities which carry transmission lines, poses risk to the public and impact the need for maintenance works on the lines by the company.
Citing the Transmission Line Protection Regulations, 1967, as amended in 2004, the power supply company said it is an offence for persons or institutions to conduct any form of activity in relation to the lands around the location of power transmission lines.
It says activities including drilling, excavating, lorry parks, shops, garages, bars, real estate, operated in the area extending up to twenty (20) meters on each side from the centre line of the transmission towers are prohibited.
Aside the instances of casualties and damage to properties, GRIDCo again maintains that outages to customers could also be prolonged due to restricted access to the Right-of-Ways.
The CEO of GRIDCo, Jonathan Amoako-Baah also lamented the development, and assured that the outfit will do whatever is necessary to prevent interference.
“We are also ready to undertake demolition exercises, where necessary, as part of our mandate to ensure the right thing is done. We are committed to carrying out our mandate as a power transmitter and will do whatever is necessary to prevent interference,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, GRIDCo maintains that though it is working with the relevant state institutions to remove properties and structures and to curb all forms of human activities, within the Right-of-Ways, the company may even be compelled to surcharge the costs incurred during such exercises to the encroachers.
“The company may even be compelled to surcharge the costs incurred during such exercises to the encroachers,” the statement added.