Stakeholders have commended the Volta Region Electricity Company of Ghana, for completing a project to illuminate the Kpovi Police barrier.

The project, which was fully funded by ECG as part of it's corporate social responsibility, was commissioned by the Volta Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Archibald Letsa on Friday, November 26, 2021.

The project saw the provision of a 50KVA transformer, poles, overhead cables, single-phase meter and installation of streetlights.

This brought relief to security personnel who man the barrier and illuminated the Kpovi enclave for the safety of travelers who ply the route.

The Kpovi Police barrier which is the first Police checkpoint in the Volta Region on the Accra-Ho highway has been without power supply since its inception in 1979.

Recounting the situation before the provision of power, Sergeant Joseph Duun, underscored the hostile conditions that personnel had to work in.

According to him, “hitherto, we were using lantern, popularly known as “Bobo”, which made our work difficult because as soon as the wind blows, the lantern goes off and we couldn’t see any approaching vehicle or human being”.

Sergeant Duun, who has been stationed at the post for over a decade, added that personnel had to resort to torchlight which frequently exposed them to danger by giving away their position to the enemy.

“We also had to battle with snakes, scorpions and other reptiles in darkness which often made our work very difficult”, he said

The Head of the Volta Regional Police Public Affairs Unit, DSP Efia Tenge, said that the absence of electricity at the barrier affected communication between the personnel and the headquarters since it has been challenging charging their communication gadgets.

She commended the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Oduro Kwateng, for appealing to the ECG to provide electricity for the Kpovi barrier.

She further thanked the ECG led by the Volta Regional General Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Lumor, for coming to the aid of the Police by supplying electricity to the vital installation.

Kwodzo Owusu Ansah, a commercial driver who operates from Ho to Kumasi indicated that he has been driving along the Kpovi road to Kumasi for about 11 years and had never sighted electricity at the barrier.

“I have been traveling the stretch since 2010. I have never seen light here. It was difficult to identify if it were a Police officer or armed robbers stopping us when we get to the barrier. But today the place is well lit. I can easily identify the Police officers. We thank the ECG for their good work”, he said.

James Zigah, a resident of Ho empathised with Police personnel who man the barrier without electricity, hence had to work in the dark.

“Anytime I am driving and I get to the barrier, I feel for the Police officers because being in the dark exposes them to threats from all angles”, he said.

Mr. Zigah further asserted that the provision of electricity by ECG would have a positive impact on the lives of Police officers and commuters.

The Volta and Oti Regional General Manager of ECG, Emmanuel Lumor, indicated that his outfit is motivated by these achievements and will not relent in its quest to provide reliable, quality and safe electricity services to their cherished customers.

“We will go the extra mile to ensure that all our customers are satisfied with our services”, he said.

Mr. Lumor, however, appealed to the general public to help the company in its fight against illegal connection by reporting any illegality to the national taskforce through 0551444011, and added that “there is a 6% commission on any amount we recoup as an incentive for anyone who gives us reliable information to unearth any illegality”.