Mr Terry Ampofo, a Vodafone Ghana client has alleged that unsafe Vodafone fibre broadband cable exposure exposes users’ to electrocution due to metallic stiffener carrying the fibre.
The man said his brother allegedly died from electrocution by the fibre broadband extended to his home on a poll close to a high voltage electrical power cable mounted by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Narration the incident at a media briefing in Accra, Mr Ampofo said just over a year ago, the actions of agents of Vodafone Ghana allegedly resulted in the death of his junior brother Michael Yaw Twum Ampofo.
He said since the incident happened, reports after reports have indicated that Vodafone Ghana was liable because it installed fibre broadband cable too close to ECG’s 11,000 volts high-tension cable, which Mr Ampofo claimed is against industry and international standards.
He noted that the incident has led to a great loss to his late brother’s family including his three young children who lost their dependency on their father and have been left with a great deal of emotional trauma.
Mr Ampofo said one of the children who sadly discovered the father’s burnt body has since been suffering from sleep disorder.
He said it has become necessary to bring the issue to public attention because “this bad installation that killed my brother may be all over the country, and others could be affected”.
He said he finds it necessary to bring the incident to the attention of the public so that users of Vodafone broadband can take the necessary precautions to avert what has happened to his late brother.
He claimed that experts have confirmed that the metal that runs along fibre cable should not be exposed in the buildings of users.
For safety reasons, Mr Ampofo advised all Vodafone Ghana broadband customers to check how their cable is connected from outside to their houses to ensure that the fibre and ECG cable are not too close.
Response from Vodafone
When this paper contacted Vodafone Ghana, it issued a statement acknowledging knowledge the incidence.
The statement from Vodafone Ghana said the unfortunate event that led to the death of Mr Michael Yaw Twum Ampofo happened at Ashaley Botwe in the Greater Accra Region, on February 19, 2021.
Vodafone Ghana said it has cooperated fully and transparently with all the relevant agencies throughout the investigation process.
Vodafone said on October 22 2021, the authorised representative of the deceased initiated legal action against Vodafone Ghana and that the matter is currently in court and accordingly unable to make any further comments at the time of going to press.
