The Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy is wary of the impact of illegal mining on the energy sector, as heavy installations are threatened by the activities of illegal miners.
The committee has observed increasing destruction of power installations as illegal miners extend their harm to the energy sector.
Deputy Ranking Member, Collins Adomako-Mensah, revealed that installations of the Ghana Grid Company and the Bui Power Authority have all come under attack in recent times.
The parliamentary committee on energy has an oversight responsibility to investigate and inquire into the administration of ministries, departments, and agencies within the energy sector.
It also has the power to examine legislative proposals while receiving referrals on matters related to energy.
Collins Adomako-Mensah is Ranking Member, Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy
The committee has observed that power pylons belonging to power companies, and water in the Bui Dam are being adversely impacted in the latest onslaught by illegal miners.
“When we were engaging the other participants, two things came up- one has to do with galamsey and it is having a heavy, heavy toll on the energy sector, not just about water,” said Deputy Ranking Member, Collins Adomako-Mensah, speaking on the danger posed to power companies by illegal miners.
He added, “Gridco complained about galamsey. Their pylons, people are digging where they have a lot of their pylons. Yesterday we were at Bui and the Bui water situation is deteriorating because of the galamsey situation surrounding their water bodies.”
Mr. Adomako-Mensah also touched on encroachment of the WAPCO Gas Pipeline, which he described as a national security concern since it puts the operations of the Volta River Authority in danger.
“The other one is VRA’s gas plant at Tema where they’ve seen encroachers building on the major pipe line, the WAPCO Pipeline coming from all the way from Nigeria into Ghana. That is a major, major national security concern.”
Anwomaso Thermal Power Station
Members of the committee were at the Anwomaso Thermal Power Station in Kumasi on Wednesday October 1, 2025 to familiarise with issues confronting key public players in the power sector.
The committee has since visited Bui Power, NEDCo, and Gridco, among others.
Meanwhile, the committee is pleased at the country’s current energy situation.
Members attributed the current stability in generation, transmission, and distribution to the credible performance of companies such as the Volta River Authority and Ghana Grid Company.
Here is a member of the committee and MP for Yilo Krobo, Albert Nyarkotey Tetteh.
“VRA is doing very well. When it comes to power, I will say that the power is stable. In most of the plants that we have visited, they are not even operating at full capacity. We may have a few problems may be with distribution. I am saying today that if the power is off, I will not blame VRA, I will blame the devil. What we have to do is to support the energy sector and VRA is our own”
The Committee, however, wants more governmental support and investments in the energy sector to consolidate the gains as it singles out VRA for praise.
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