Illegal electrical connection culprits to face the law – Minister

Most markets in Ghana are congested and therefore susceptible to fire outbreaks. These infernos have become rampant in recent times with attendant results of loss of goods and structures worth thousands of cedis.

In the wake of recent unexplained market infernos, especially at the Kantamanto and the Tema Station markets which were contained by the Ghana Fire Service, government has directed that, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)  conduct a nation-wide inspection of all markets with a view to look out for all illegal electricity connections.

In a statement signed by a Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the ECG is expected to move immediately to begin the exercise. Illegal connections have been identified as one of the causes of fires in the markets, he said.

According to Ofosu, government has also directed the security agencies to coordinate with the management of the ECG to apprehend and prosecute any person or group of persons found to have engaged in illegal electrical connections in the markets.

The directives form part of measures by government to curb the recent spate of fire outbreaks in markets around the country, he said.

Government. Ofosu said is assuring traders and the general public that it will adopt all measures necessary to prevent the outbreak of further fires in markets.

He however urged the public and those operating in the markets to also remain vigilant and be careful with naked fires, electrical equipment and connections in their stalls.

By Pascal Kelvin Kudiabor