Hodzo: Residents of Hodzo have endured five days without electricity, prompting calls for action against recurring outages caused by bushfires.
According to Ghana News Agency, the latest blackout, which affected the community and surrounding areas, was reportedly caused by bushfires that destroyed electricity poles supplying power to the area. Mr. Alfred Adadzi, the Assembly Member of the Area, noted that similar incidents occur annually during the dry season across several communities.
"This has become a yearly problem, not only in Hodzo but in many smaller communities. It is something that can be prevented," Mr. Adadzi stated. The recurring outages are attributed to indiscriminate bush burning and a lack of collective responsibility among some community members, who often expect authorities to fix the damage.
Opinion leaders, including chiefs, have been urged to intensify public education and enforce measures to discourage such practices. Some residents also called on the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited to adopt proactive strategies, including protecting electricity poles in high-risk areas with fire-resistant materials. "From what we have seen elsewhere, these poles can be protected so that even when fires occur, they are not destroyed," another resident said.
They stressed that the continuous use of public funds to repair avoidable damage placed a burden on the national purse and delayed development efforts. The Electricity Company of Ghana appealed for a collaborative approach between communities and the Company to break the cycle and ensure a stable power supply.