The Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly (ONMA) and the Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana have disconnected a number of illegal electrical connections at Abofu Park, a suburb of Achimota.
The area occupied by squatters was brought to the attention of (ONMA). The Chief Executive of the Municipality Hon. Boye Laryea then went on a working visit to this place some weeks prior to the illegal disconnections.
The disconnection took effect on 3rd July, 2019.
Mr. Phillip Lutterodt, field investigator for Accra West Region of the Power Distribution Services Ghana said, his boss together with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) gave him the authority to inspect, disconnect and serve letters to the culprits.
He cautioned that they are here with the police and if any one challenges the (PDS), that person(s) will be arrested and placed under police custody since it is against the laws of this country to connect electricity illegally.
Some of the squatters took to their hills as they saw the authorities approaching. Others also unplugged their illegal wires and left.
Mr. Lutterodt, in the cause of the exercise detected a lot of illegal connections in this area. Most of the wires are left hanging. According to him, this is not a certified work of the Power Distribution Services Ghana (PDS).
He stressed: “We went round to check and as you can see I have pulled down a lot of the wires, some of them were buried under ground, we have pulled them up, that is not a good way of wiring. We are disconnecting and we will disconnect all.”
According to Mr. Phillip Lutterodt, as the disconnections are ongoing, the culprits were simultaneously served with letters to appear before PDS office at Accra West. They were given two weeks ultimatum to come and explain why they committed such unlawful acts.
He also noticed that some of the connections have bypassed the main power source, which means that the meter is not reading their power consumption. Clearly, they are consuming electricity without paying bills to Power Distribution Services Ghana (PDS).
He further stated that officers from (PDS) will come in their numbers to check and disconnect all illegal wires in two weeks within Abofu squatter’s arena.
Edited: ZIPWEB
Source: GHANA / onmaonline.com
By:Onmamedia