By: Jude Tackie
Residents of the Anloga community in the Volta Region of Ghana found themselves at the centre of a concerning incident last weekend, as a group of individuals allegedly tampered with a local transformer in an attempt to carry out traditional rites. This caused widespread power outages and resulted in physical altercations.
According to eyewitness accounts, a group of people descended upon the transformer, removing several fuses to cut power to the entire community. When one community member approached the group to inquire about their actions, he was reportedly beaten by the individuals.
The community member, who has not been named, subsequently filed a police report and sought medical attention for his injuries.
However, upon his return, he was arrested after someone filed a complaint alleging that he had injured one of the individuals involved with a cutlass.
The man was detained in the police cell over the weekend but was eventually granted bail on Sunday. After his release, he proceeded to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) office to report the incident.
In a surprising twist, the local Assemblyman reportedly informed the ECG that he had authorized the group to carry out the actions at the transformer, claiming that they were performing traditional rites. This revelation has raised concerns among the ECG officials, who have criticized the Assemblyman’s decision as a clear violation of proper procedures.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the Assemblyman is said to have previously advised the community member against confronting the group, warning him that if he had been killed, no one would have been held responsible.
As of now, one of the fuses removed from the transformer remains unaccounted for, and the community has been relying on makeshift wiring to restore power, raising serious safety concerns.