Suspected cable thief electrocuted after breaking into Kumasi Power Substation

A man believed to be attempting to steal electrical cables has died from electrocution at the Adoato Substation 'B' of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Kumasi, Ashanti Region.

The lifeless body of the unidentified middle-aged man was discovered Saturday morning, lying face-up within the substation. One of his hands was gripping a live copper cable, while the other held a pair of pliers, suggesting he had been attempting to tamper with high-voltage wiring.

Authorities believe the deceased accessed the secured facility illegally through an underground tunnel, bypassing on-site security to reach the substation unnoticed.

Ing. Peter Kofi Fletcher, General Manager of the Ashanti Sub-Transmission Area of ECG, who visited the scene with his team, revealed that the incident caused significant damage. He explained that the vandalized cables were critical to the power supply in parts of Kumasi, and their destruction left several communities in the dark.

Ing. Fletcher lamented that this was the second such incident at the same substation within four months. He pointed out a worrying trend of cable theft at ECG installations, often attributed to scrap metal scavengers who target substations for copper wiring.

He called on the public to assist in identifying and reporting individuals involved in such criminal activities, warning that the cost of repairs and lost revenue due to service outages is unsustainable for the company.

The deceased’s body has since been transported to the morgue by the police, who have launched an investigation into the matter.