Residents in Bunso in the Eastern Region, have been disconnected from the national grid following the theft of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) transformers in the area.
The 100kVA transformer, valued at GH¢ 71,000, was stolen from the CSIR- Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute enclave, right next to the Bunso police station.
This has led the community in darkness over the past week.
The theft, according to the Eastern Region ECG, adds up to a number of growing attacks on their installations in recent times.
The company is, however, working to replace the transformer which will come with an extra 20 per cent cost.
They are also waiting on the security agencies to investigate to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book.
The ECG management further urged the security services to be proactive and vigilant to prevent further thefts.
In recent months, there have been several transformer thefts across the country, prompting ECG to appeal to the public to be on the lookout for transformer thieves in their neighbourhoods.
The incident happened on the dawn of Friday, February 2, 2024.
A statement issued by ECG said the 200kVA transformer, which served residents of Nkumkrom, was pushed down from its pole mount, plunging the entire community into darkness.
It estimated the 200kVA transformer at Gh¢ 80,000.00.
In October 2023, the Volta Regional Police Command arrested three suspects for attempting to steal a transformer at Adaklu Tsrefe.
They climbed the electric poles, disconnected the transformer and pushed it down.
Residents of Adaklu Tsrefe apprehended the suspects and later handed them over to the Volta Regional Police Command for further investigation.
According to the General Manager of ECG in the Volta Region, Christina Jatoe-Kaleo, a hunter from Adaklu Tsrefe, was on his way to the forest when he saw the suspects around the ECG transformer.