A new warehouse for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti Region is near completion.

This is to ensure safeguarding of materials from thievery and other mishaps such as the recent fire outbreak which gutted a warehouse and destroyed materials worth millions of cedis

The warehouse which is almost 75% complete will house all materials for the Region. It is expected to augment the company's operations in the region because it will curb reliance on other regions for material storage and private warehouse owners.

Deputy Minister for Power, John Abdulai Jinapor who paid a working visit to the site described the recent fire outbreak at the ECG's rented warehouse as unfortunate.

According to him, the governing board of the company realized the need to build well-structured warehouses across the country to ensure safety of materials only to hear of the fire outbreak "at a time these warehouses were nearing completion".

"We knew of storage and safety issues of our materials hence the commissioning of these projects across the country".

He said the company has set up a committee to investigate the fire outbreak and find lasting solutions and ensure all ECG facilities are well guarded from such disasters.

Communications Manager for ECG, Erasmus Kyrere-Baidoo applauded the decision of the board and their zeal to avoid recurrence of such disasters.

"When handed over to ECG on completion, we will no longer rely on Accra or Tema or anyone for material storage, every material due us will be transported straight to Kumasi as soon as it arrives at the ports," Mr Kyere-Baidoo said.