A looming disaster is threatening Ashaiman Lebanon as petrol tanker welders and other artisans continue to operate under high-tension transmission lines belonging to the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), despite a directive by the Minister of Energy and Green Transition to vacate the area.
The continued activities of the artisans have raised concerns among residents, some of whom fear that the uncontrolled operations could trigger a major catastrophe.
The gravity of the situation became apparent on Friday, July 10, 2026, when an explosion involving a petrol tanker being welded at Ashaiman Middle East reportedly sent a metal fragment more than 300 metres into a high-tension transmission tower.
The incident damaged parts of the tower and disrupted electricity supply.
A visit by The Ghanaian Times yesterday, to ascertain the situation at first hand revealed that more than 3,000 artisans and their associates continued to occupy portions of restricted buffer zones around high-voltage transmission lines.
Welding, metal fabrication, mechanical repairs and other commercial activities were being carried out dangerously close to the installations.
The activities stretch across about seven kilometres within the Ashaiman Municipality, raising serious concerns about public safety and the protection of critical electricity transmission infrastructure.
According to GRIDCo, the incident compromised the structural integrity of the affected tower, which carries two critical transmission circuits supplying power from the Volta Substation in Tema to the Achimota Substation in Accra.
The incident has renewed concerns about the continued encroachment on electricity transmission corridors and the potential consequences of allowing hazardous activities to continue beneath high-voltage lines.
During an inspection of the damaged tower on Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, directed all persons and businesses operating under the transmission pylons to vacate the areas within one month.
He warned that those who failed to comply could face forced eviction and possible confiscation of their belongings.
Dr Jinapor said the directive was aimed at protecting lives and property and preventing further damage to the country’s critical electricity infrastructure.
However, some of the artisans operating in the affected areas told The Ghanaian Times that they were unaware of the ultimatum and had not received any formal notice from the authorities.
Checks by the newspaper further indicated that several occupants were yet to be officially engaged on the directive or informed about arrangements for their removal.
The artisans have consequently appealed to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, GRIDCo and the relevant metropolitan and municipal assemblies to engage them and clearly communicate the directive before the deadline expires.
They said adequate engagement would help prevent confusion and enable them to make alternative arrangements while ensuring that the safety concerns surrounding the transmission infrastructure were addressed.
Meanwhile, the apparent inability of the local police to effectively manage the situation has prompted calls for the intervention of the National Security and other relevant state agencies to enforce safety regulations.
Stakeholders have warned that the continued presence of welding shops, petrol tanker repair activities, mechanical workshops and other unauthorised businesses under high-voltage transmission lines poses a grave threat to lives and property.
With thousands of people operating within the restricted areas, there are fears that another incident could result in fatalities, extensive property damage and a major disruption to electricity supply.
Authorities are, therefore, being urged to act decisively before the one-month ultimatum expires to avert what could become a preventable disaster.
FROM IAN MORTEY AND KEN AFEDZI, ASHAIMAN
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