Man electrocuted during attempted theft at Tamale NEDCo substation

An unidentified man, believed to be in his 30s, has died from electrocution at a Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) substation in Tamale. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, October 24, resulted in a significant power outage that affected various sections of the Tamale Business District. Technical teams from NEDCo discovered the body inside the facility's control room after investigating the cause of the sudden electrical failure following reports of a loud noise in the area.

According to David Quarshie Doe, a NEDCo engineer, the utility provider was alerted to the situation after police officers on duty nearby reported hearing a loud noise emanating from the substation shortly before the local grid went dark. Upon entering the control room, technicians found the deceased with visible signs of high-voltage electrocution. Evidence at the scene suggested the man was in the process of stealing metal components, as several pieces of equipment had already been detached and placed into a bag found next to the body.

The unauthorized entry into the high-voltage installation caused immediate disruption to commercial activities throughout the central business district. While technical teams worked to secure the site and assess the damage to the control systems, utility officials expressed concern over the persistent challenge of infrastructure vandalism. They emphasized that substations are restricted, high-risk zones and warned the public about the lethal dangers of tampering with electrical equipment.

Following the discovery, law enforcement officers were called to the scene to document the incident and assist in the removal of the deceased. The body was subsequently transported to the morgue at the Tamale Teaching Hospital for preservation and identification. Both NEDCo and local police have initiated a joint investigation into the security breach to determine how the individual managed to bypass safety barriers to access the control room.