Parliament’s Select Committee on Energy has raised alarm over how illegal mining threatens Ghana’s energy sector.

The committee says vital power installations are increasingly at risk as illegal miners extend their destructive activities to energy facilities.

Deputy Ranking Member Collins Adomako-Mensah revealed that installations belonging to the Ghana Grid Company (Gridco) and the Bui Power Authority have recently come under attack.

He stressed that galamsey, once associated mainly with water pollution, now poses a direct danger to electricity production and transmission.

“Gridco complained about galamsey. Their pylons are being undermined as people dig around them. Yesterday we were at Bui, and the water situation is worsening because of galamsey around their water bodies,”

Mr. Adomako-Mensah explained.He also cited the encroachment of the WAPCO Gas Pipeline, describing it as a national security threat that could disrupt the operations of the Volta River Authority (VRA).

The Energy Committee, which oversees ministries, departments, and agencies in the sector, has already visited Bui Power, NEDCo, and Gridco to assess the challenges.Despite the threats, the committee expressed satisfaction with the country’s current energy stability.

Members praised the Volta River Authority and Gridco for maintaining reliable generation, transmission, and distribution.

Albert Nyarkotey Tetteh, MP for Yilo Krobo and a member of the committee, commended the VRA:

“VRA is doing very well. Power is stable, and many plants are not even operating at full capacity. If the lights go off, I will not blame VRA, I will blame the devil. What we need to do is support the energy sector because VRA is our own.”

The committee, however, called for stronger government support and investments to consolidate gains in the energy sector while singling out VRA for commendation.