Adum fire was not caused by power outage - ECG dispels claim

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited has addressed claims linking a recent fire at the Adum Central Market to ongoing power outages.

Ing. George Amoah, the ECG's Ashanti West Regional General Manager, stated they will wait for an official report from the Ghana National Fire Service.

He spoke with JoyNews to clarify allegations against ECG regarding the fire.

Amoah explained that the Adum Central Market has a dedicated distribution line called the Town Hall Feeder. There is also an alternative line known as Power House 2. Both lines had not experienced any outages before the fire.

According to Amoah, the Adum Central Business Center is crucial for ECG’s revenue. Therefore, it has a dedicated line to ensure reliable power supply.

“The distribution feeder serving this area is one of our best,” he said. “We have not had any outages in that area for three weeks.”

He emphasized that providing quality and reliable power is a top priority for ECG.

Despite these efforts, there have been issues with vandalism and theft of transformers and materials like cables and switches.

Amoah recalled an incident where vandals damaged a transformer near old Melcom in the market. This caused a 48-hour power outage before service was restored.

Recently, two weeks ago, more vandalism occurred near Hello FM where the fire broke out.

However, he noted that power was quickly restored after replacing stolen items and fixing the transformer.

Before Friday's fire outbreak, there was stable power on Thursday and early Friday morning. When the fire started, ECG cut off power to assist firefighters and protect lives.

Amoah mentioned that they have restored power to parts of the Central Business Center. They will monitor safety before restoring power to other areas.

He revealed that Friday’s fire resulted in losses of one transformer, five poles, and some cables for ECG.

Amoah expressed sympathy for victims affected by the devastating fire outbreak.

He pointed out that many buildings in Adum Central Business Center are old and densely populated. These structures often have improper electrical connections with inadequate cable sizes.

There have been multiple visits to educate traders about LI 2008 regulations. This law requires certified electrical professionals to ensure proper wiring standards are met.

“The wiring in these buildings is outdated,” he said. “Many people illegally share power using substandard cables.”

Some stores lack proper earthing systems or use old sockets, posing serious safety risks. He advised traders to hire certified professionals for inspections and rewiring as required by LI 2008.

Amoah clarified that last Sunday’s outage affecting parts of Greater Kumasi did not cause the fire outbreak.

While some areas experienced outages on Sunday, Adum received power from Ridge Bulk Supply Point (BSP). The issue arose from Anwomaso BSP instead.