Man D!es After Contact with High Voltage During Building Works

A construction project in Twifo Praso turned tragic on Monday, May 12, when a middle-aged man, Samuel Kwame Afezei, lost his life after being electrocuted while working on the third floor of a building near a high-voltage power line.

The incident occurred in the Zongo area of the Twifo Atti Morkwa District in Ghana’s Central Region.

The building in question is situated dangerously close to a transformer and power lines operated by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), raising serious concerns about safety at the site.

According to eyewitnesses and community leaders, residents had repeatedly warned about the building’s hazardous location, but their concerns were ignored.

Richmond Banny, the Assembly Member for the Zongo-Anogyan Electoral Area, confirmed that he had personally reported the risks to both ECG officials and the district engineer.

“We saw this coming,” he said. “I raised these safety concerns long ago, but nothing was done. Political interference made it difficult for any real action to be taken.”

The death of Mr. Afezei has sparked fear among tenants living on the first and second floors of the building, who now worry for their own safety. Some have reportedly begun looking for alternative housing.

In response to the tragedy, Mr. Banny has urged the Twifo Atti Morkwa District Chief Executive to step in and ensure stricter enforcement of building safety regulations. “We cannot afford to lose more lives because of inaction,” he said.

Residents are calling for an immediate inspection of all buildings near electrical infrastructure in the district to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the incident and determine whether any parties may be held responsible for negligence.