Perhaps the Greater Accra Region Minister, Henry Quartey, who has been hailed for the yeoman’s job he is doing to bring Accra back to life, would have to visit Oyarifa in the La Nkwantanang Municipality, in Accra, to witness first-hand how a two-floor storey building, intended to be used as a Shopping Mall, which is situated under a High Voltage Transmission line at Oyarifa-Ghana Flag Junction, is springing up fast.
High Voltage Transmission Lines are overhead power lines used for efficient bulk power transmission. Since power needs to be transmitted over long distances, the voltage level of transmitted power is increased to reduce the current to minimize the power losses during transmission.
Scientists say ELF radiation from power lines are harmful to the body which can cause headache, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia and lead to hypertension, irritability, listlessness, decline in energy levels, and obesity amongst others.
The building, New Crusading GUIDE gathered is being constructed by the Tourism
Development Fund Administrator and 2020 parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Agona East, Prince Yaw Essah.
According to residents, shoppers and other business owners in the area, the building poses serious threats to human lives considering its position under a High Voltage transmission line and are therefore calling on the authorities to ensure that the building is demolished.
Independent investigations conducted by this paper, following complaints from people revealed that Prince Yaw Essah, who claims to be an Akufo-Addo boy allegedly has no permit to construct the building.
It also emerged that, the La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly has not issued permit for the construction of the said shop.
However checks from the Assembly revealed that, the construction of the said shop came by an “Order From Above” and there is nothing the Assembly could do to remedy the situation.
Speaking to the Public Relations Officer of the Assembly, he denied knowledge of the development at Oyarifa but indicated that the Works Department of the Assembly may have details of whatever was happening and would communicate to the media. He however failed to revert on the matter.
Also, speaking to the Mr. Peter Amoah, an Estates Developer who sold the parcel of land to Prince Yaw Essah, he admitted selling “16 feet” space to Yaw Essah but realized that Prince Yaw Essah extended and was building his shop closer to the main road.
He said, what is happening is against the agreement he had with Prince Yaw Essah when he sold the parcel of land to him. According to Mr. Peter Amoah, as an Estates Developer, he was aware of the consequences of building close to the main road hence he ensured that all his clients adhered to the tenets of their agreement.
He also revealed that per the agreement with his clients, their buildings must be in line with a fence wall which was already erected as demarcation to guide whoever was building, “but Prince Yaw Essah extended his portion and encroached the road.”
When asked if he had given documents to Prince Yaw Essah after selling of the parcel of land to him, he said “No.”
According to him, he decided to hold on to the documents because Prince Yaw Essah forfeited the agreement he had with him.
Mr. Peter Amoah however wondered how Prince Yaw Essah managed to get his Permit to build when he has no documents covering the land.
A source at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the Agency could not have given permit to anyone to build close or under a High Tension transmission line.
He said “Even while there is no scientific evidence, ELF radiation is a health hazard. Hence, it is not safe to live near power lines. That is why we are against such act,” the source said.
Meanwhile, all afforts to contact Prince Yaw Essah to respond to the story proved futile as his line was ‘switched off’ as at the time of going to press.
