GRIDCo’s Takoradi Area has participated in a joint stakeholder engagement organised under the auspices of Karpowership Ghana Company Ltd. in the Western Region. Also joining the engagement was the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC).
The meeting brought together the local fishing community and opinion leaders at the Albert Bosomtwe Sam Fishing Harbour, Sekondi as their fishing activities fall within the operations of GRIDCo and Karpower. GRIDCo evacuates power generated from the Karpowership through the national grid.
The GRIDCo delegation was made up of the Takoradi Area Manager, Ing. Solomon Mensah supported by Emmanuel Odoom, Lines Supervisor; Dzifa Bampoh, and Joana Tetteh both of Corporate Communications. It was an opportunity for the three power companies to connect with and update the fisherfolk about work done and plans for them, while the fisherfolk also raised concerns and provided feedback. Ing. Mensah informed the gathering that due to GRIDCo’s Transmission Line connection to the Karpowership safety must be a priority for everyone working at the Takoradi Harbour.
In response to questions raised about the risk posed by the transmission lines, Ing. Solomon Mensah used the opportunity to educate participants on GRIDCo’s Right of Way, advising that they desist from using tower footings as boat anchors and storing fuel and other items under the transmission lines as unsafe and urged the fisherfolk to halt the practice to prevent any harm.
Highlights of the discussions pointed to the fact that, fisherfolks in Takoradi are considered as key stakeholders in the operations of the three organisations. Thus, the utilities were urged to design initiatives in education, health, sanitation, and employment to improve the well-being of the community.
Sandra Amarquaye, Head of Communications for Karpower, thanked representatives of GRIDCo and Ghana Gas for participating in the meeting. She suggested the three entities come together to fund a project for the fisherfolk to further consolidate relations.
Also present at the event was the Manager, Takoradi Fishing Harbour, the Ghana Police, Ghana Navy and the Ghana National Fire Service.
