In a brazen act of theft, unknown individuals have stolen a transformer belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Bunso, located in the Abuakwa South District of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The stolen transformer, a 100kVA unit valued at GH¢ 75,000, was taken on the night of Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
Remarkably, the theft occurred right next to the Bunso Police Station, near the Bunso Police barrier, and on the property of the CSIR-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute. Despite the close proximity to law enforcement and the Fire Service command, the perpetrators managed to carry out their operation undetected while personnel were on duty.
This audacious theft has led to significant power outages, affecting the research institute, nearby households, and other institutions in the area for over a week. The loss of power has disrupted daily activities and caused considerable inconvenience to the affected residents and institutions.
Mr. Ernest Asante Appiah, the New Tafo District ECG Manager, voiced his concerns about the frequent attacks on ECG installations. He assured the public that efforts are underway to replace the stolen transformer, although this will incur an additional 20 percent cost.
Mr. Appiah also called for increased vigilance and proactive measures from security agencies to prevent such incidents in the future. He emphasized that the actions of these criminal elements pose a significant threat to the stability of power supply in the region and must be addressed promptly.
The ECG and local authorities are appealing to anyone with information about the theft to come forward, hoping to swiftly bring the culprits to justice and restore normalcy to the affected areas.
